The Bible and The Trinity

1. The Bible and The Trinity

2. There is one God God has a son and has power God’s son was born to Mary Jesus is the mediator between God and man Jesus will hand over the Kingdom to God There are 3 Gods God, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit Father, Son and Holy Spirit are co-eternal These 3 are the same God They are all equally omnipotent The Bible The Trinity

3. The Simple Gospel Message • I Tim 2:3-6 (KJV) • “For this isgood and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; • 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. • 5For there isone God, • and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; • 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”.

4. Does my chosen Bible Translation matter? • “Is it true that some translations are ‘stronger’ and others ’weaker’ on the doctrine of the deity of Christ? • Yes, it is. …..anyone who has spent a great deal of time sharing the gospel with people who deny the deity of Christ, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, [or Christadelphians] knows that using a modern translation such as the NIV makes one’s work much easier.” • “The King James only Controversy” James White

5. The New King James Version • “The triquetra (from a Latin word meaning “three-cornered”) is an ancient symbol for the Trinity. • It comprises three interwoven arcs, distinct yet equal and inseparable, • symbolizing that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are distinct yet equal Persons and indivisibly one God.”

6. The English Standard Version • ESV in a circle  • “This hundred member-team, which shares a common commitment to the truth of God’s Word • and to historic Christian orthodoxy, • is international in scope and • includes the leaders of many denominations.”

7. The English Standard Version cont • “To God’s Honour and Praise • We know that no Bible translation is perfect or final; but we also know that God uses the imperfect and inadequate things to his honor and praise. • So to our triune God and to his people we offer what we have done……” • Soli Deo Gloria “To God alone be the glory”

8. The English Standard Version • Deut 6:4 “Hear O Israel: The LORD your God is one.” (margin - or The LORD our God is one LORD; or The LORD is our God, the Lord is one or The Lord is our God, the LORD alone.)”

9. The English Standard Version • Mark 12:28 “….’Which commandment is the most important of all?’ Jesus answered, “The most important of all is, “Hear O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one.And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”’”

10. The New King James Version • Deut 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” (margin – or The LORD is our God, the LORD alone (that is, the only one))

11. The New King James Version • Mark 12:28 “…. ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’ Jesus answered him ‘The first of all the commandments is, “Hear O Israel, the LORD our God the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” This is the first commandment.’”

12. The Bible’s Divine Family Tree

13. The Trinitarian Family Tree

14. Straight simple Scripture • 1 Corinthians 8:4 (NKJV) • “….. and that there isno other God but one. • 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth …. • 6 yet for us there isone God, the Father, of whom areall things, and we for Him; • and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom areall things, and through whom we live.”

15. Straight simple Scripture • John 17:1-3 (NKJV) Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father,the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,…... • 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You,the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. … • 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, arein Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, …that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one…”

16. Greek Philosophy • Milman: • “It may be doubted, whether Plato himself impersonated the Logos, the Word or Reason, of the Deity; with him it was rather an attribute of the Godhead….. • Platonism gradually absorbed all the more intellectual class, it hovered over, as it were and gathered under its wings the other religions of the world.”

17. Greek Philosophy • Dr Mosheim: • The Platonic philosophy was adopted by such of the learned of Alexandria, as wished to be accounted Christians and yet to retain the name, the garb and the rank of philosophers. • In particular those who in this 2nd century presided over the schools of the Christians at Alexandria: Athenagoras, Pantaenus, and Clemens Alexandria, are said to have approved of it. These men were persuaded that true philosophy …. lay in scattered fragments in all the sects……”

18. Greek philosophy (ers) creeping like wolves into the early church • AD 168 Theophilus • “In like manner also the three days before the luminaries, are types of the Triados, (or Trias) of God, His word and His wisdom” (Triads) • AD ~198 Tertullian – Hagenbach • “”The Latin term Trinitas , which has a more comprehensive doctrinal import was introduced by Tertullian.”

19. Where did it all go wrong? • Dr Mosheim(Ecclesiastical History) : • “This philosophy imprudently adopted by Origen and other Christians, did immense harm to Christianity. • For it led the teachers of it to involve in philosophic obscurity many parts of our religion, which were in themselves plain and easy to be understood; and to add to the precepts of the Saviour no few things, of which not word can be found in the Holy Scriptures. • Finally it alienated the minds of many, in the following centuries (i.e. from the 2nd) from Christianity itself, and produced a heterogeneous species of religion, consisting of Christian and Platonic principles combined.”

20. Where & when did the Trinity appear? • ….The First General Council in Nicaea AD 325, summoned to resist the false teaching of one Arius, “who held that our blessed Lord was a creature, and not a perfect God.” • Athanasius, a chief speaker at the Council of Nicaea, was leader of the orthodox party in the dispute with Arius and his followers. • The latter part of the Creed, which contains a full statement of the Divine Nature of the Holy Spirit, was added at the second General Council AD 381. • It met at Constantinople to condemn the false teaching of Macedonius, who denied the Godhead of the Holy Spirit.

21. Changing Beliefs • The three Creeds – Statements of Faith • The Apostle’s Creed (late 2nd Century refs, full ref in 4th Century) • The NiceneCreed (AD 325 and 381) • The AthanasianCreed (date uncertain, but after AD 373, when Athanasius died.).

22. The Apostles Creed (part) • “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth: • And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, • Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, • Born of the Virgin Mary.” • suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. • I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. • * catholic = universal, broad-minded, liberal

23. The Nicene Creed • “I believe in one God the Father Almighty, • Maker of heaven and earth, And all things visible and invisible: • And in the Lord Jesus Christ, • the only-begotten Son of God, • Begotten of his Father before all the worlds, • God of God, • Light of Light, • Very God of Very God, • begotten not made, • Being of one substance with the Father; • by Whom all things are made.

24. The Nicene Creed (cont) • Who for us men and for our salvation, • came down from heaven, • And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, • And was made a Man, • and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; • and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, • and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; • and He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end..

25. The Nicene Creed (cont) • And I believe in the Holy Ghost, • the Lord and Giver of life, • who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; • who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; • who spake by the Prophets. • And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. • I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins; • and I look for the resurrection of the dead, • and the life of the world to come. Amen.

26. Government Opposition • Gibbon: • “Theodosius declared his resolution of expelling, from all the churches in his dominions, the bishops and the clergy, who should obstinately refuse to believe or at least profess the doctrine of the Council of Nice. …. • In the space of 15 years he promulgated at least 15 severe edicts against the heretics: more especially against those who rejected the Trinity…..”

27. The Creed of St Athanasius • 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.

28. The Creed of St Athanasius (cont) • The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible: and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. • The Father eternal, the Son eternal: and the Holy Spirit eternal. Yet they are not three eternals: but one eternal. • As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensible, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible. • So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty. And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty. • So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

29. The Creed of St Athanasius (cont) • So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord; And yet they are 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 are 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.

30. The Creed of St Athanasius (cont) • The Holy Spirit 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 Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. • And in this Trinity none is afore or after another; none is greater or less than another. • But the whole three persons are coeternal, and coequal. • So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

31. And it continues • He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity. • Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. • For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man.

32. The Creed of St Athanasius (cont) • God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of substance of His mother, born in the world. • Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. • Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood. • Who, although He is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ. • One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of that manhood into God.

33. The Creed of St Athanasius (cont) • One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person. • For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ; • Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead; • He ascended into heaven, He sits on the right hand of the Father, God, Almighty; • From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

34. The Creed of St Athanasius (cont) • At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies; • and shall give account of their own works. • And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. • This is the catholic faith, • which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved.

35. What does the Bible say? • 1 Corinthians 15:24 (NKJV) • “Then comesthe end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. • 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy thatwill be destroyed isdeath. • 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.”But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it isevident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. • 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, thenthe Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.”

36. Arguments against the Trinity • The early church believers, opposed it, denounced it and separated from it • The ideas must be reasonable and logical to humans • Calling it a mystery, because you can’t explain it, is unreasonable • The language used must be Biblical • The true doctrine must fit everything the Bible says • If there was a Trinity, would the Bible say that? • The Bible’s authority out ranks the church.

37. 1. Opposition of the Early Church • Mosheim: “The subject of this fatal controversy, which kindled such deplorable divisions throughout the Christian world, was the doctrine of three persons in the Godhead…” • Milman: “The first civil wars, which divided Christianity, were those of Donatism* and the Trinitarian controversy”. • *African sect who denied their faith and disposed of their Bibles when persecuted, but then started up again. Demanded personal purity.

38. 1. Early Believers refuse new ideas • P.E. White: “The very refusal of the early believers to receive the doctrine is sufficient refutation of the tenet to seekers after truth in these modern times: it is the verdict of history against the truth of the Trinity • “…. Men – converts from philosophic sects – quickly took to themselves not only the reins of this simple body, but arrogated to themselves the right to decide upon the beliefs of their flock.”

39. 2. Logic and Reason • Thomas Hartwell Horne (Trinitarian): • “No doctrine is established or is admissible from Scripture, that is either repugnant to them • or contrary to reason • or the analogy of faith… • The different parts of a revelation, which comes from God, must all be reconcilable with one another • and with sound reason.”

40. 3. It’s a mystery • Dr Watts • “Almighty God to theeBe endless honours done,The undivided ThreeAnd the mysteriousOne!Where reason fails with all her powers,There faith prevails and love adores.”

41. 3. Mystery? Don’t be silly. • Archbishop Secker (Sermons): • “Indeed let any proposition be delivered to us, as coming from God or from man, we can believe it no farther than we can understand it: • and therefore, if we cannot understand it at all, we cannot believe it at all – I mean explicitly; but only be persuaded that it contains some truth or other, though we know not what. • Again were any doctrine laid down, whichwe saw clearly to be self contradictory or otherwise absurd, that could never be an object of our faith. • For there is no possibility of admitting, upon any authority, a thing for true, which we evidently perceive to be false. • Nor would calling such a thing mysterious, mend the matter in the least.”

42. 3.Mysteries Revealed in Scripture • Romans 16:25-26 (KJV) • 25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, • and the preaching of Jesus Christ, • according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, • 26 But now is made manifest, • and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, • made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

43. 4. Scripture words must be used • Bishop Taylor: “St. Paul left an excellent precept to the Church to avoid ‘the profane newness of words’, that is, it is fit that the mysteries revealed in Scripture should be preached and taught in the words of Scripture, and with their simplicity, openness, easiness and candour and not with new and unhallowed words.”

44. 4. “Profane newness of words” • 1 Timothy 4:7 (KJV) • 7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyselfrather unto godliness. • 1 Timothy 6:20-21 (KJV) • 20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profaneand vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. • 2 Timothy 2:14-16 (KJV) • 14 Of these things putthem in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. • 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. • 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

45. 5. Supporters deny the Biblical basis • Dr South: • “… there is no such position as this, that ‘one and the same God is three different persons’ formally and in terms, to be found in the Sacred Writings either OT or NT, • neither is it pretended that there is any word of the same signification or importance with the word Trinity, used in the scriptures with relation to God… • …. there being no text in it (O.T.) that plainly or expressly holds forth a Trinity of persons in the Godhead”

46. 5. More still • Bishop Beveridge: “There are many things though they are not read expressly and definitely in the holy Scripture, yet by common consent of all Christians are attained from it. For instance that in the ever blessed Trinity……..” • William Barclay: “Nowhere does the New Testament identify Jesus with God.”

47. 6. Would the Old Test say that? • Is 45:5 “I amthe LORD, and there isnone else, there isno God beside me: …. 6That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there isnone beside me. I amthe LORD, and there isnone else. • Is 45:21 …there isno God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there isnone beside me. 22Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I amGod, and there isnone else. • Acts 24:14 “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:”

48. 6. Would the New Testament say that? • Eph 4:4 “There isone body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who isabove all, and through all, and in you all.” • Luke 1:31 "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.” • 35 “….. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God”.

49. 7. The Church’s Authority • Rev James Hughes: “My belief in the Trinity is based on the authority of the Church: no other authority is sufficient. I will show from reason that the Athanasian Creed and the Scripture are opposed to one another.”

50. Arguments against the Trinity • The early church believers, opposed it, denounced it and separated from it • The ideas must be reasonable and logical to humans • Calling it a mystery, because you can’t explain it, is unreasonable • The language used must be Biblical • The true doctrine must fit everything the Bible says • If there was a Trinity would the Bible say that • The Bible’s authority out ranks the church.