Post by iris89 on Dec 4, 2007 11:14:38 GMT -5
Sequel # 9 to The Trinity, So Called The Central Doctrine of Christianity Is NOT As Billed:
INTRODUCTION:
Some Muslims say the following with respect the Trinity,
<<<" Most Christians today claim that God Almighty came down to earth in a form of a human being and died for our sins to forgive all of us. This is a belief that I struggled with for 3 years of my life. I was between Christianity and Islam not knowing which religion is the right one. I knew that both can not be true. One of them had to be false." [source - What does the Bible say about Jesus? (Answering Trinity and Isaiah 9:6 in particular) at www.jews-for-allah.org/Jews-and-Muslims-Agree/no-trinity.htm on 12/03/2007]>>>.
This item by an individual who is now a member of Islam of course does not properly state what the Trinity is, but just a superficial understanding of it by many so called Christians who lack a correct understanding of the Trinity. Let's look a superficial dictionary definition:
<<<" Trinity [Lat.,=threefoldness], fundamental doctrine in Christianity, by which God is considered as existing in three persons. While the doctrine is not explicitly taught in the New Testament, early Christian communities testified to a perception that Jesus was God in the flesh; the idea of the Trinity has been inferred from the Gospel of St. John. The developed doctrine of the Trinity purports that God exists in three coequal and coeternal elements-God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (see creed 1). It sees these "persons" as constituted by their mutual relations, yet does not mean that God in his essence is Father, or a male deity. Jesus spoke of a relation of mutual giving and love with the Father, which believers could also enjoy through the Spirit." [source - Answers.com, at www.answers.com/topic/trinity on 12/03/2007]>>>.
And the Catholic Encyclopedia says, <<<" Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic Faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is all One, the Glory Equal, the Majesty Co-Eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father Uncreate, the Son Uncreate, and the Holy Ghost Uncreate. The Father Incomprehensible, the Son Incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost Incomprehensible. The Father Eternal, the Son Eternal, and the Holy Ghost Etneral and yet they are not Three Eternals but One Eternal. As also there are not Three Uncreated, nor Three Incomprehensibles, but One Uncreated, and One Uncomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not Three Almighties but One Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not Three Gods, but One God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not Three Lords but One Lord. For, like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord, so are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say, there be Three Gods or Three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father, and of the Son neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is One Father, not Three Fathers; one Son, not Three Sons; One Holy Ghost, not Three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore or after Other, None is greater or less than Another, but the whole Three Persons are Co-eternal together, and Co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity is Trinity, and the Trinity is Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity." [source - The Catholic Encyclopedia under the The Athanasian Creed]>>>.
And,
The Trinitarian dogma, The Cyclopoedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, New York 1871, by John M'Clintock and James Strong, Vol. II, page 560-561, states, <<<"We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the
persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.....The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal...So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Ghost almighty...So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet there are not three Gods, but one God...The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding...And in this Trinity none is afore or after other; none is greater or less than another. But the whole three persons are coeternal together, and coequal. So that in all things, as is afore said, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity." [this is the Athanasian Creed quoted in the above mentioned Cyclopoedia]>>>.
Now that we have adequately defined what the false doctrine of the Trinity is, let's reason on its plausibility.
As can be seen, believers in the Trinity like to believe in the logically impossible; to wit, that is, the Trinity, is not three gods in one God, but one god in three persons - a 'three-in-one-god' which is impossible. Why so?
First, the Inspired Word of Almighty God (YHWH) specifically states over and over again that there is only one (true) God and gives him a personal name found in most Bibles at Exodus 6:3 as follows,
"3 (Authorized King James Bible; AV) And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
3 (American Standard Version; ASV) and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Jehovah I was not known to them.
3 (1884 Darby Version; DARBY) And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as the Almighty *God; but by my name Jehovah I was not made known to them.
3 (English Revised Version: ERV) and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH I was not known to them.
3 (Rotherham Bible of 1902; RB) I appeared, therefore, unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as GOD Almighty,--although, by my name Yahweh, was I not made known to them;
3 (1989 Reina-Valera Actualizada; RVA89) Yo me aparecí a Abraham, a Isaac y a Jacob como Dios Todopoderoso; pero con mi nombre Jehovah no me di a conocer a ellos.
3 (1999 Sagradas Escriuiras Version Antigua; SEV) y me aparecí a Abraham, a Isaac y a Jacob como Dios Omnipotente, mas en mi Nombre el SEÑOR (YHWH) no me notifiqué a ellos.
3 (Youngs Literal Translation: YLT) and I appear unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty; as to My name Jehovah, I have not been known to them;"
[[As noted in the preamble to the American Standard Version; (ASV) Almighty God (YHWH) personal name was originally used over 7,000 times, but scribes stopped using it due to an ancient Jewish superstition that counted his name as two sacred to use.]]
Yet Trinitarians claim that three entities make up one god, but the very fact that Almighty God (YHWH) as shown above has a personal name of his own and Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, his only begotten Son also has a personal name, Yeshua is the original Hebrew proper name for Jesus of Nazareth, <<<" It is the most proper to call Him Yeshua, since only in the Hebrew does His name have any meaning. In Hebrew Yeshua means both "Salvation," and the concatenated form of Yahoshua, the "L-RD who is Salvation." The name Jesus has no intrinsic meaning in English, except as it is known as His name in English. (Therefore, we cannot deny the name Jesus, since this name commonly identifies the Messiah to English speaking people.) "[source - Yeshua the Messiah, at www.messianic.com/articles/yeshua.htm on 12/03/2007]>>>. And last, the 'Holy Ghost' is not a spirit being like the other two claimed members of the Trinity, but Almighty God's (YHW's) power or force. A brief examination will quickly show this from the scriptures as follows,
Jesus (Yeshua) spoke of the holy spirit as a "helper," and he said it would teach, guide, and speak as recorded at John 14:16-17, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (AV). And this same thought is carried at John 16:13, ""Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." (AV). The Greek word he used for helper (pa·ra'kle·tos) is in the masculine gender. Thus, when Jesus referred to what the helper would do, he used masculine personal pronouns as shown at John 16:7- 8, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (AV). On the other hand, when the neuter Greek word for spirit (pneu'ma) is used, the neuter pronoun "it" is properly employed. This fact is conveniently over looked or hidden by most Trinitarian translators as admitted in the "New American Bible Catholic Bible," regarding John 14:17: "The Greek word for 'Spirit' is neuter, and while we use personal pronouns in English ('he,' 'his,' 'him'), most Greek MSS [manuscripts] employ 'it.'" So when the Bible uses masculine personal pronouns in connection with pa·ra'kle·tos at John 16:7, 8, it is conforming to rules of grammar, not expressing a doctrine.
In fact, the Hebrew word here rendered Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, or Spirit which is translated from 'ru'ach' meaning "breath; wind; spirit." Thus the idea that the holy spirit is the third person of a Trinity, when in fact the Bible does not support the Holy Ghost or Spirit as being a being at all, is absurd. For example, "The Catholic Encyclopedia:" states, "Nowhere in the Old Testament do we find any clear indication of a Third Person." And Catholic theologian Fortman states, "The Jews never regarded the spirit as a person; nor is there any solid evidence that any Old Testament writer held this view. . . . The Holy Spirit is usually presented in the Synoptics [Gospels] and in Acts as a divine force or power." Whereas, "The New Catholic Encyclopedia" states, "The O[ld] T[estament] clearly does not envisage God's spirit as a person . . . God's spirit is simply God's power. If it is sometimes represented as being distinct from God, it is because the breath of Yahweh acts exteriorly." It also states, "The majority of N[ew] T[estament] texts reveal God's spirit as something, not someone; this is especially seen in the parallelism between the spirit and the power of God." And "A Catholic Dictionary," states, "On the whole, the New Testament, like the Old, speaks of the spirit as a divine energy or power."
Hence as can readily be seen, neither the Jews nor the early Christians viewed the holy spirit as part of a Trinity. That teaching came centuries later. As "A Catholic Dictionary," notes: "The third Person was asserted at a Council of Alexandria in 362 . . . and finally by the Council of Constantinople of 381." Interestingly this being approximately three and a half centuries after holy spirit filled the disciples at Pentecost! No, the holy spirit is not a person and it is not part of a Trinity. The holy spirit is God's active force that he uses to accomplish his will. It is not equal to God but is always at his disposition and subordinate to him as clearly shown by scripture and by historical reference.
The doctrine of the Trinity was hotly debated in the 4th century and is man made. When Luther blew the lid off the RCC that salvation is by faith and not by works, he didn't go far enough to eradicate the doctrine of the Trinity as well. But the mainstream churches still staunchly support it, rather than giving far more credence to what the scriptures teach us - than from what has come out of man made creeds. This false doctrine is shown false by among other things the fact that the Holy Spirit is nowhere in the Bible ever depicted as a person - but rather as a dove, John.1:32, "And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him." (AV), as a big wind and forked tongued flame at Acts 2:1-4, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (AV).
So we see the need to daily examine the scriptures as did the Bereans as recorded at Acts 17:11, "These were more noble than those in Thesalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (AV), do not let your guard down. Remember Titus 2:1, "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:" (AV).
For a more indepth understanding of the 'Holy Ghost' can be gained from the second part of, "Sequel # 8 to The Trinity, So Called The Central Doctrine of Christianity Is NOT As Billed:" by Iris the Preacher (2007), for those who are interested.
The fact is, there is no question that Almighty God (YHWH), the Father; Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, his only begotten Son; and the 'Holy Spirit' are three separate and different entities. The first two are spirit beings with the Almighty God (YHWH) being the superior and having always existed; Jesus (Yeshua) Christ being the first of creation per Colossians 1:15, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" (AV); and Revelation 3:14, "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;" (Authorized King James Bible; AV). And as previously shown, the 'Holy Ghost' is NOT a spirit being, but Almighty God's (YHWH's) active force or power. Given these facts, a Trinity is IMPOSSIBLE as it requires three like things which here do not exist.
First, The first two, the spirit beings, are NOT co-eternal as one, Almighty God (YHWH), has always existed (had no beginning); whereas, the only begotten Son of his, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, as previously shown was the first of creation - the first thing Almighty God (YHWH) created so obviously he did not always exist. Thus, no co-eternity.
This is further shown by two scriptures as follows:
John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; (AV).
John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. (AV)
By the words of Jesus, Jesus was not eternal; he was given to have life in himself and lives because of the Father. A eternal being cannot be given to have life in themselves, and they do not depend on others to live.
Second, The first two, the spirit beings, are NOT CO-EQUAL as clearly testified to by the Son, Jesus (Yeshua) at John 14:28, "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I." (Authorized King James Bible; AV)." (Authorized King James Bible; AV) and we all know he does not lie. This is also shown by John 12:59-60, and many more scriptures, "For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." (AV) ; and John 17:4-5, where he, Jesus (Yeshua), prays to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." (AV); and John 3:17 which clearly shows him as being sent by a superior one of higher authority, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (AV); and John 17:6 where he, Jesus (Yeshua), clearly shows that his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), who sent him gave him everything he had, "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." (AV).
Let's now see what one of the greatest mathematicians and scientist of all times had to say on the subject.
SIR ISAAC NEWTON'S TAKE ON THE TRINITY:
Now a little background, <<<" in the early 1670's, Newton was absorbed by the doctrine of the Trinity. On this topic he studied extensively not only the Bible, but also much of the Church Fathers. Newton traced the doctrine of the trinity back to Athanasius (298- 373); he became convinced that before Athanasius the Church had no trinitarian doctrine. In the early 4th century Athanasius was opposed by Arius (256-336), who affirmed that God the Father had primacy over Christ. In 325 the Council of Nicea condemned as heretical the views of Arius. Thus, as viewed by Newton, Athanasius triumphed over Arius in imposing the false doctrine of the trinity on Christianity.
Newton further asserted that, in order to support trinitarianism, the Church deliberately corrupted the Bible by modifying crucial texts. For example, Newton claimed that the well-known words of I John 5:7 ("there are three that bear record in heaven, the father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one") were not in the original, pre-4th century Bible (Newton, it seems, was not a King James only man). Newton writes that "the Fathers...preferred to desert the Scriptures than not to condemn Arius". Soon thereafter a universal corruption of Christianity followed the central corruption of doctrine: in the 4th century trinitarianism fouled every element of Christianity.
Newton's anti-trinitarianism is evident also in his interpretation of Revelation. According to Newton, the seventh seal began in the year 380, when trinitarianism was officially ratified at the Council of Constantinople. The great apostasy was not Romanism, but trinitarianism, "the false infernal religion", to quote Newton's own words." [source - ON NEWTON AND THE TRINITY, by John Byl, Ph.D. from data in, Christianson (p.253) refers to it as Keynes Ms.2, from the Keynes Manuscript Collection, King's College, Cambridge, England.]>>>.
As can readily be seen, Newton saw the doctrine of the Trinity as nothing but false doctrine which he called "the false infernal religion."
In another case one writer said the following with respect Newton and the Trinity, <<<" In one of Newton's manuscripts (Yahuda Ms. 1.4) we find a discussion of the Arian controversy in the context of an exegesis of a vision in the book of Revelation, with which he had a bit of a fascination. On Newton's view, the primary purpose of Revelation was "to describe & obviate the great Apostacy," which "was to begin by corrupting the truth about the relation of the Son to the Father in putting them equal." For this reason, on Newton's view, the vision in Revelation 5, in which a figure is seen upon a throne and gives to the Lamb a scroll, is not a mere set of images by a doctrinal system put in imagistic form. In particular, it is a prophecy showing the true relation between Father and Son: "the Son's subordination, & that by an essentiall character, his having the knowledge of futurities only so far as the father communicates it to him." The scroll is originally sealed; Newton points to this as evidence that the Son's receiving of knowledge from the Father is not eternal. This knowledge "was not given to the Lamb at his first generation but since his resurrection; he meriting it by his obedience to death."
See Part Two of Sequel # 9 to The Trinity, So Called The Central Doctrine of Christianity Is NOT As Billed:
INTRODUCTION:
Some Muslims say the following with respect the Trinity,
<<<" Most Christians today claim that God Almighty came down to earth in a form of a human being and died for our sins to forgive all of us. This is a belief that I struggled with for 3 years of my life. I was between Christianity and Islam not knowing which religion is the right one. I knew that both can not be true. One of them had to be false." [source - What does the Bible say about Jesus? (Answering Trinity and Isaiah 9:6 in particular) at www.jews-for-allah.org/Jews-and-Muslims-Agree/no-trinity.htm on 12/03/2007]>>>.
This item by an individual who is now a member of Islam of course does not properly state what the Trinity is, but just a superficial understanding of it by many so called Christians who lack a correct understanding of the Trinity. Let's look a superficial dictionary definition:
<<<" Trinity [Lat.,=threefoldness], fundamental doctrine in Christianity, by which God is considered as existing in three persons. While the doctrine is not explicitly taught in the New Testament, early Christian communities testified to a perception that Jesus was God in the flesh; the idea of the Trinity has been inferred from the Gospel of St. John. The developed doctrine of the Trinity purports that God exists in three coequal and coeternal elements-God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (see creed 1). It sees these "persons" as constituted by their mutual relations, yet does not mean that God in his essence is Father, or a male deity. Jesus spoke of a relation of mutual giving and love with the Father, which believers could also enjoy through the Spirit." [source - Answers.com, at www.answers.com/topic/trinity on 12/03/2007]>>>.
And the Catholic Encyclopedia says, <<<" Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic Faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is all One, the Glory Equal, the Majesty Co-Eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father Uncreate, the Son Uncreate, and the Holy Ghost Uncreate. The Father Incomprehensible, the Son Incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost Incomprehensible. The Father Eternal, the Son Eternal, and the Holy Ghost Etneral and yet they are not Three Eternals but One Eternal. As also there are not Three Uncreated, nor Three Incomprehensibles, but One Uncreated, and One Uncomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not Three Almighties but One Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not Three Gods, but One God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not Three Lords but One Lord. For, like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord, so are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say, there be Three Gods or Three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father, and of the Son neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is One Father, not Three Fathers; one Son, not Three Sons; One Holy Ghost, not Three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore or after Other, None is greater or less than Another, but the whole Three Persons are Co-eternal together, and Co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity is Trinity, and the Trinity is Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity." [source - The Catholic Encyclopedia under the The Athanasian Creed]>>>.
And,
The Trinitarian dogma, The Cyclopoedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, New York 1871, by John M'Clintock and James Strong, Vol. II, page 560-561, states, <<<"We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the
persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.....The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal...So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Ghost almighty...So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet there are not three Gods, but one God...The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding...And in this Trinity none is afore or after other; none is greater or less than another. But the whole three persons are coeternal together, and coequal. So that in all things, as is afore said, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity." [this is the Athanasian Creed quoted in the above mentioned Cyclopoedia]>>>.
Now that we have adequately defined what the false doctrine of the Trinity is, let's reason on its plausibility.
As can be seen, believers in the Trinity like to believe in the logically impossible; to wit, that is, the Trinity, is not three gods in one God, but one god in three persons - a 'three-in-one-god' which is impossible. Why so?
First, the Inspired Word of Almighty God (YHWH) specifically states over and over again that there is only one (true) God and gives him a personal name found in most Bibles at Exodus 6:3 as follows,
"3 (Authorized King James Bible; AV) And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
3 (American Standard Version; ASV) and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Jehovah I was not known to them.
3 (1884 Darby Version; DARBY) And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as the Almighty *God; but by my name Jehovah I was not made known to them.
3 (English Revised Version: ERV) and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH I was not known to them.
3 (Rotherham Bible of 1902; RB) I appeared, therefore, unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as GOD Almighty,--although, by my name Yahweh, was I not made known to them;
3 (1989 Reina-Valera Actualizada; RVA89) Yo me aparecí a Abraham, a Isaac y a Jacob como Dios Todopoderoso; pero con mi nombre Jehovah no me di a conocer a ellos.
3 (1999 Sagradas Escriuiras Version Antigua; SEV) y me aparecí a Abraham, a Isaac y a Jacob como Dios Omnipotente, mas en mi Nombre el SEÑOR (YHWH) no me notifiqué a ellos.
3 (Youngs Literal Translation: YLT) and I appear unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty; as to My name Jehovah, I have not been known to them;"
[[As noted in the preamble to the American Standard Version; (ASV) Almighty God (YHWH) personal name was originally used over 7,000 times, but scribes stopped using it due to an ancient Jewish superstition that counted his name as two sacred to use.]]
Yet Trinitarians claim that three entities make up one god, but the very fact that Almighty God (YHWH) as shown above has a personal name of his own and Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, his only begotten Son also has a personal name, Yeshua is the original Hebrew proper name for Jesus of Nazareth, <<<" It is the most proper to call Him Yeshua, since only in the Hebrew does His name have any meaning. In Hebrew Yeshua means both "Salvation," and the concatenated form of Yahoshua, the "L-RD who is Salvation." The name Jesus has no intrinsic meaning in English, except as it is known as His name in English. (Therefore, we cannot deny the name Jesus, since this name commonly identifies the Messiah to English speaking people.) "[source - Yeshua the Messiah, at www.messianic.com/articles/yeshua.htm on 12/03/2007]>>>. And last, the 'Holy Ghost' is not a spirit being like the other two claimed members of the Trinity, but Almighty God's (YHW's) power or force. A brief examination will quickly show this from the scriptures as follows,
Jesus (Yeshua) spoke of the holy spirit as a "helper," and he said it would teach, guide, and speak as recorded at John 14:16-17, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (AV). And this same thought is carried at John 16:13, ""Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." (AV). The Greek word he used for helper (pa·ra'kle·tos) is in the masculine gender. Thus, when Jesus referred to what the helper would do, he used masculine personal pronouns as shown at John 16:7- 8, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (AV). On the other hand, when the neuter Greek word for spirit (pneu'ma) is used, the neuter pronoun "it" is properly employed. This fact is conveniently over looked or hidden by most Trinitarian translators as admitted in the "New American Bible Catholic Bible," regarding John 14:17: "The Greek word for 'Spirit' is neuter, and while we use personal pronouns in English ('he,' 'his,' 'him'), most Greek MSS [manuscripts] employ 'it.'" So when the Bible uses masculine personal pronouns in connection with pa·ra'kle·tos at John 16:7, 8, it is conforming to rules of grammar, not expressing a doctrine.
In fact, the Hebrew word here rendered Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, or Spirit which is translated from 'ru'ach' meaning "breath; wind; spirit." Thus the idea that the holy spirit is the third person of a Trinity, when in fact the Bible does not support the Holy Ghost or Spirit as being a being at all, is absurd. For example, "The Catholic Encyclopedia:" states, "Nowhere in the Old Testament do we find any clear indication of a Third Person." And Catholic theologian Fortman states, "The Jews never regarded the spirit as a person; nor is there any solid evidence that any Old Testament writer held this view. . . . The Holy Spirit is usually presented in the Synoptics [Gospels] and in Acts as a divine force or power." Whereas, "The New Catholic Encyclopedia" states, "The O[ld] T[estament] clearly does not envisage God's spirit as a person . . . God's spirit is simply God's power. If it is sometimes represented as being distinct from God, it is because the breath of Yahweh acts exteriorly." It also states, "The majority of N[ew] T[estament] texts reveal God's spirit as something, not someone; this is especially seen in the parallelism between the spirit and the power of God." And "A Catholic Dictionary," states, "On the whole, the New Testament, like the Old, speaks of the spirit as a divine energy or power."
Hence as can readily be seen, neither the Jews nor the early Christians viewed the holy spirit as part of a Trinity. That teaching came centuries later. As "A Catholic Dictionary," notes: "The third Person was asserted at a Council of Alexandria in 362 . . . and finally by the Council of Constantinople of 381." Interestingly this being approximately three and a half centuries after holy spirit filled the disciples at Pentecost! No, the holy spirit is not a person and it is not part of a Trinity. The holy spirit is God's active force that he uses to accomplish his will. It is not equal to God but is always at his disposition and subordinate to him as clearly shown by scripture and by historical reference.
The doctrine of the Trinity was hotly debated in the 4th century and is man made. When Luther blew the lid off the RCC that salvation is by faith and not by works, he didn't go far enough to eradicate the doctrine of the Trinity as well. But the mainstream churches still staunchly support it, rather than giving far more credence to what the scriptures teach us - than from what has come out of man made creeds. This false doctrine is shown false by among other things the fact that the Holy Spirit is nowhere in the Bible ever depicted as a person - but rather as a dove, John.1:32, "And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him." (AV), as a big wind and forked tongued flame at Acts 2:1-4, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (AV).
So we see the need to daily examine the scriptures as did the Bereans as recorded at Acts 17:11, "These were more noble than those in Thesalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (AV), do not let your guard down. Remember Titus 2:1, "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:" (AV).
For a more indepth understanding of the 'Holy Ghost' can be gained from the second part of, "Sequel # 8 to The Trinity, So Called The Central Doctrine of Christianity Is NOT As Billed:" by Iris the Preacher (2007), for those who are interested.
The fact is, there is no question that Almighty God (YHWH), the Father; Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, his only begotten Son; and the 'Holy Spirit' are three separate and different entities. The first two are spirit beings with the Almighty God (YHWH) being the superior and having always existed; Jesus (Yeshua) Christ being the first of creation per Colossians 1:15, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" (AV); and Revelation 3:14, "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;" (Authorized King James Bible; AV). And as previously shown, the 'Holy Ghost' is NOT a spirit being, but Almighty God's (YHWH's) active force or power. Given these facts, a Trinity is IMPOSSIBLE as it requires three like things which here do not exist.
First, The first two, the spirit beings, are NOT co-eternal as one, Almighty God (YHWH), has always existed (had no beginning); whereas, the only begotten Son of his, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, as previously shown was the first of creation - the first thing Almighty God (YHWH) created so obviously he did not always exist. Thus, no co-eternity.
This is further shown by two scriptures as follows:
John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; (AV).
John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. (AV)
By the words of Jesus, Jesus was not eternal; he was given to have life in himself and lives because of the Father. A eternal being cannot be given to have life in themselves, and they do not depend on others to live.
Second, The first two, the spirit beings, are NOT CO-EQUAL as clearly testified to by the Son, Jesus (Yeshua) at John 14:28, "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I." (Authorized King James Bible; AV)." (Authorized King James Bible; AV) and we all know he does not lie. This is also shown by John 12:59-60, and many more scriptures, "For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." (AV) ; and John 17:4-5, where he, Jesus (Yeshua), prays to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." (AV); and John 3:17 which clearly shows him as being sent by a superior one of higher authority, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (AV); and John 17:6 where he, Jesus (Yeshua), clearly shows that his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), who sent him gave him everything he had, "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." (AV).
Let's now see what one of the greatest mathematicians and scientist of all times had to say on the subject.
SIR ISAAC NEWTON'S TAKE ON THE TRINITY:
Now a little background, <<<" in the early 1670's, Newton was absorbed by the doctrine of the Trinity. On this topic he studied extensively not only the Bible, but also much of the Church Fathers. Newton traced the doctrine of the trinity back to Athanasius (298- 373); he became convinced that before Athanasius the Church had no trinitarian doctrine. In the early 4th century Athanasius was opposed by Arius (256-336), who affirmed that God the Father had primacy over Christ. In 325 the Council of Nicea condemned as heretical the views of Arius. Thus, as viewed by Newton, Athanasius triumphed over Arius in imposing the false doctrine of the trinity on Christianity.
Newton further asserted that, in order to support trinitarianism, the Church deliberately corrupted the Bible by modifying crucial texts. For example, Newton claimed that the well-known words of I John 5:7 ("there are three that bear record in heaven, the father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one") were not in the original, pre-4th century Bible (Newton, it seems, was not a King James only man). Newton writes that "the Fathers...preferred to desert the Scriptures than not to condemn Arius". Soon thereafter a universal corruption of Christianity followed the central corruption of doctrine: in the 4th century trinitarianism fouled every element of Christianity.
Newton's anti-trinitarianism is evident also in his interpretation of Revelation. According to Newton, the seventh seal began in the year 380, when trinitarianism was officially ratified at the Council of Constantinople. The great apostasy was not Romanism, but trinitarianism, "the false infernal religion", to quote Newton's own words." [source - ON NEWTON AND THE TRINITY, by John Byl, Ph.D. from data in, Christianson (p.253) refers to it as Keynes Ms.2, from the Keynes Manuscript Collection, King's College, Cambridge, England.]>>>.
As can readily be seen, Newton saw the doctrine of the Trinity as nothing but false doctrine which he called "the false infernal religion."
In another case one writer said the following with respect Newton and the Trinity, <<<" In one of Newton's manuscripts (Yahuda Ms. 1.4) we find a discussion of the Arian controversy in the context of an exegesis of a vision in the book of Revelation, with which he had a bit of a fascination. On Newton's view, the primary purpose of Revelation was "to describe & obviate the great Apostacy," which "was to begin by corrupting the truth about the relation of the Son to the Father in putting them equal." For this reason, on Newton's view, the vision in Revelation 5, in which a figure is seen upon a throne and gives to the Lamb a scroll, is not a mere set of images by a doctrinal system put in imagistic form. In particular, it is a prophecy showing the true relation between Father and Son: "the Son's subordination, & that by an essentiall character, his having the knowledge of futurities only so far as the father communicates it to him." The scroll is originally sealed; Newton points to this as evidence that the Son's receiving of knowledge from the Father is not eternal. This knowledge "was not given to the Lamb at his first generation but since his resurrection; he meriting it by his obedience to death."
See Part Two of Sequel # 9 to The Trinity, So Called The Central Doctrine of Christianity Is NOT As Billed: