As the early believing body of Christ church grew in popularity, the religious and political systems of the day looked for a way to change the scriptural norms which defined Christianity. In fact, the worldly powers sought to recast the apostolic doctrine into a form of philosophy, and to some degree they were successful in deceiving the casual church goer.
For example, the teaching that God is three-headed, or that God is triune, a triad and what the modern day religious culture propagates as the trinity. In this context, it is critical to understand that there is no trinity within the scriptures. Only One God and He willingly became our Saviour. And ye shall call His Name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; I Timothy 3:16; Titus 3:4-7; Revelation 1:8)
Thus, to argue against the trinity teaching would be like arguing against a straw man -- which would have no benefit here. So let's look at how we got to this point from an historical perspective.
First, we should understand that the trinity (God in three persons) is Antinomian. It is contrary to the first commandment, wherein the scripture saith, "Hear O Israel the Lord thy God is One!" (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31; Galatians 3:20; Hebrews 1:3) We also know that the trinity is Turtullian's adaptation of Plato's Timaeus. These philosophical thoughts were originally carried into Rome by Pythagoras in the 6th century BC, from the philosophy school of pagan Alexandria.
Turtullian, a student of Platonic Philosophy while in Rome, applied a philosophical rule to Christianity, which mandates that Logos (a Greek philosophy term) must be separate from the original God in Christ doctrine that the scriptures teach.
"To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself." (II Corinthians 5:19)
Further, the theory that God is multiple and not One and Only who is Lord of all is nothing short of polytheism. And if I may add -- blasphemy. Because nowhere in the scriptures is God described as three persons. Neither does the scriptures describe God as a co-existent, co-eternal multiple headed God. In the New Testament, there are no trinitarian statements or speculations concerning a three-headed Godhead.
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (I Timothy 3:16)
Therefore, the trinity- triune G/god(s) teaching emerges from ancient Egyptian and Babylonian traditions of men, and has not foundation in the scriptures. So, when the worldly systems that opposed the apostolic doctrine -- as preached on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 -- these had to find a solution to stop the believing body of Christ church from growing. As we know, they had already tried persecuting believers and that was not working. Thus, instead, they decided to recast the Christian church doctrines and beliefs in a manner that would create confusion.
What did these do? These changed Jesus instruction and example -- to be water baptized -- to be specific to infants which translated into sprinkling instead of full immersion -- wherein we are buried with Christ and when we come up from the water resurrected with Christ -- or as we say here, becoming "clothed" in His righteousness. Repentance was changed to penance, wherein one's sins are confessed to another man instead of the Lord of Glory.
The wording of the great commission (as the religious institutions call it) in Matthew 28:19 was changed to titles -- instead of the precious, holy Name of the Lord Jesus. Thankfully, we have two other accounts of this same commission wherein the wording was not changed from the Name of Jesus to the titles - Father, Son, Holy Ghost.
As well, the Acts 2:36-41 salvation message was watered down to individuals joining a religious organization. The greatest love story ever told was diluted to One God to three distinct persons. With the apostles' doctrine (Acts 2:42) changed, the triune G/god teaching was able to take root. This has led to the majority of believers today not even knowing in whom they serve.
Again, the word Trinity never appears in the New Testament, nor did Jesus and His followers intend to contradict the Shema in the Hebrew Scriptures -- the first commandment wherein we are instructed to “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)
Beyond the witness of the apostles, and the Word, there are historical references that point to the emergence of a false teaching within the church. These are listed below for your learning and edification.
"The doctrine of the trinity, as a statement of what God is, in Himself, CANNOT be justified on the basis of scripture." (Encyclopedia Britannica)
Dr. M. Burrows, professor Yale Divinity School wrote: "...the trinity was a major preoccupation of Egyptian theologies... three gods are combined and treated as a single being addressed as singular. In this way the spiritual force of Egyptian religion shows a direct link with Christian theology." (Morenz, S. Egyptian Religion. Cornell: University Press; 1973:254-257)
From the History of Christianity:
"It may be doubted whether Plato himself impersonated the Logos, the reason of the Deity; with him it was rather an attribute of the Godhead... Platonism had gradually absorbed all the more intellectual class... (Plato’s philosophy) was attempting to renew Paganism, and was the recognized and leading tenet in the higher Mysteries." (D. Milman. History of Christianity, Vol.2 p355)
From An Ecclesiastical History:
"This Platonic philosophy was adopted by such of the learned at Alexandria, who wished to be accounted Christians, and yet to retain the name, the garb, and the rank of philosophers. In particular, all those who in this second century presided in the schools of the Christians at Alexandria, Athenagoras, Pantaenus and Celmens Alexandria, are said to have approved of it. These men were persuaded that true philosophy, the great and most salutary gift of God, lay in scattered fragments among all the sects of philosophers: therefore it was the duty of every wise man, and especially of a Christian teacher, to collect those fragments from all quarters, and to use them in defense of religion." (J. Mosheim. An ecclesiastical history. Charlestown; 1694-1755 :1:152)
From the History of Christianity:
"If Paganism was conquered by Christianity, it is equally true that Christianity was corrupted by Paganism. The pure Deism of the first century Christians ... was changed by the Church of Rome, into the incomprehensible dogma of the Trinity. Many of the pagan tenets, invented by the Egyptians and idealized by Plato, were retained as being worthy of belief." (E. Gibbon. History of Christianity. Republished by Arno Press; 1972)
Other references:
"The Trinity is a corruption borrowed from the heathen religions, and engrafted on the Christian faith." (A Dictionary of Religious Knowledge. Lyman Abbott; 1875. section on ‘Trinity’ pg. 944)
“The term trinity is not itself found in the Bible. It was first used by Tertullian at the close of the 2nd century, but received wide currency [common use in intellectual discussion] and formal elucidation [clarification] only in the 4th and 5th centuries.” (New Bible Dictionary)
"No theologian in the first three Christian centuries was a trinitarian in the sense of a believing that the one God is tripersonal, containing equally divine “persons”, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." (Encyclopedia Brittanica)
"That God is One, absolutely One-One in Essence and in Person-is the corner-stone of true theology"...."we hope to be able to set forth sufficient evidence to warrant the conclusion, that the doctrine to which we refer [the Trinity] may fairly be classed among the corruptions of Christianity, as one of the numerous departures from "the simplicity that is in Christ." (Stanford University Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
From The Origin of the Doctrine of the Trinity in the Christian Church", 1883, Morning Light Journal, Oxford University -- "To Jesus and Paul the Doctrine of the Trinity was apparently never known. They say nothing about it. "
E. Washburn Hopkins, Professor, Yale University writes: "It is IMPOSSIBLE to document what we now call Orthodoxy [The Trinity] in the first two centuries of Christianity"
Dr. Harold Brown, Trinitarian Professor, Reformed Theological Seminary in "Heresy and Orthodoxy in the History of the Church" writes: "The Modalists were the successors to the Apostles, NOT the Trinitarians. The Trinitarians expropriated the term "Catholic" (Universal) from the writings of Ignatius. When they increased in power and numbers they branded the Modalists, who preached one God, as Heretics and styled their group as Catholic."
Dr. Friedrich Loofs, Trinitarian Historian, Professor at the University of Halle in "The History of the Primitive Church" writes: "It must also be conceded by Trinitarians that the Doctrine of the Trinity, as now believed in, DID NOT find general acknowledgment until the 4th Century...."
In conclusion, the Trinity is NOT demonstrable by either logic or by scriptural proofs; the Trinity is NOT a Biblical doctrine.; the Trinitarian dogma is in the last analysis, a late 4th century invention; the doctrine (trinity) developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies. It was never taught before the second/third century and most certainly not apostolic.
However, the biggest issue with the false trinity teaching is that it takes away from the good news gospel message, wherein the One True God of the Old Testament willingly took upon Himself the form of man -- as a Son -- so that we might have abundant life in Him. Yes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the One eternal, ever-living God: infinite in power, holy in nature, attributes and purpose; and possessing absolute, indivisible deity.
This one true God has revealed Himself as Father in creation; through the only begotten Son redemption; and as the Holy Ghost by emanation. (I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; II Corinthians 5:19; Joel 2:28)
The Scripture goes further than simply attempting to prove the existence of God; it asserts, assumes and declares that the knowledge of God is universal (Romans 1:19, 21, 28, 32; 2:15). God is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient as well as invisible, incorporeal, without parts, without body, and therefore free from all limitations. He is Spirit (John 4:24), and “a spirit hath not flesh and bones” (Luke 24:39)
“One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:6).
In the book of Hebrews, we understand that before the incarnation, this one true God manifested Himself in diverse ways, including appearing in the tent to Abraham. But in this current dispensation of grace, He manifest Himself as a Son, who walked among men. He was in the same world that He created.
“In Him [Jesus] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9)
“For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell” (Colossians 1:19)
Jesus -- both human and divine. in His humanity, He was man; in His deity, He was and is God. His flesh was the lamb, or the sacrifice of God. He is the only mediator between God and man. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 2:5)
The Lord pitched the tent. Jesus said, "he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9) Jesus said, "I and My Father are one." (John 10:30) Jesus said, If you know Me, you know My Father as well. From now on, you know Him and have seen Him." (John 14:7) Jesus said, "And he that sees Me sees Him that sent Me." (John 12:45) "Then said they unto Him [Jesus], "Where is Thy Father?" Jesus answered, "Ye neither know Me, nor My Father: if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also." (John 8:19, 27)
Jesus said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," saith the Lord, "which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8)
Search the scriptures for yourself and know that not all that comes from the church pulpits is truth.
Stand in the offering plate.
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