The doctrine of the Trinity is not just “traditional”; it has a firm basis in Scripture.
In my Christmas Day article (Our God Contracted tI hammered home the traditional view that Jesus Christ is God. One of our correspondents has complained at this, claiming to be a supporter of AiG, but denying that Jesus is God, and referring to the doctrine of the Trinity as “unbiblical” and the Nicene Creed as “foolishness.”
Statement of Faith
I believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, not just because it is traditional, but because I believe it to be biblical. The Answers in Genesis Statement of Faith requires belief in the Trinity—and I sign to say I agree with this Statement of Faith once a year: a requirement which I am always delighted to fulfil. Our Statement of Faith is thoroughly Trinitarian, stating:
The Godhead is triune: one God, three Persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (Section C1)
It might be helpful once more to rehearse our reasons for holding to this teaching.
There is One God
The scripture makes clear that there is only one God.
I am the LORD and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. (Isaiah 45:5)
There are many other references that could be given. See also: Isaiah 46:9; 1 Corinthians 8:5–6; Galatians 4:8-9.
Divine Attributes Held by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Having started by emphasising that there is only one God, we now see that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit all have divine attributes.
All three Persons are called God.
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father” (Philippians 1:2)
“For in Him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” ( Colossians 2:9)
“But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’” (Acts 5:3; emphasis mine)
All three Persons are the Creator.
“But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)
“He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:15–17)
“The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (Job 33:4)
All three Persons are eternal.
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” (Psalm 90:2)
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)
“who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God” (Hebrews 9:14)
One could go on and on listing divine characteristics of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three have the attributes of God, yet there is just one God. The only way we can reconcile these facts is to understand the concept of the Trinity—one God, three Persons. It is also clear from this analysis that the doctrine of the Trinity is not something gleaned from just one verse out of context—the concept is derived by analysing scripture as a whole. This makes it a very certain and scriptural doctrine.
The Trinity in Genesis 1
With this important background, we can even see evidence for the Trinity right at the beginning of the Bible, in Genesis 1.
The Father is in overall supervision. The whole of creation is made by His command. Yet, we read that God said, “Let there be light.” In John’s Gospel, Jesus is described as the Word of God—and also as the Light. We can see, then, that the creation was made through Jesus—and this is supported by Colossians 1:15–17. Finally, in Genesis 1:2, we read about the Spirit “hovering over the face of the waters.” That accounts for all three Persons of the Trinity at the very start of things.
For that reason, we see evidence for the Trinity in the world around us. Time can be expressed as past, present, and future. Matter can exist as solid, liquid, and gas. Space has the dimensions height, length, and width. The analogy is not perfect, but we can see expressions of the Trinity in these elements of the universe. Perhaps it is no accident that the strongest simple 2-D shape is that of a triangle.
Conclusion
At Answers in Genesis, we are not going to apologize for our belief in the doctrine of the Trinity. As a biblical organization, we must adhere to the truths of Scripture, including the teaching about the Trinity. It is sad that at least two people should choose to refer to themselves as our supporters, yet deny that this important doctrine is in Scripture. Belief in the Trinity is not an optional extra. Psalm 2 reminds us that we should “Kiss (or worship) the Son, lest He be angry with you.” The Son demands worship, and is worthy of worship, even though we are to worship only the One God.
Little David claims that I do not believe in the eternal Divinity of Jesus our great **GOD AND SAVIOR**
However I believe in the **ETERNAL DIVINITY OF JESUS** but not in the eternal Divinity of the holy spirit!
Jesus is called **GOD** 7 times in God's Word and is called **LORD** over 200 times in the New Testament, and is **WORSHIPED** 12 times in the New Testament, and God's Word tells us to only **WORSHIP GOD** in Revelation 22:8,9 below!! While the holy spirit is never called **GOD** or **LORD** in God's Word and is **NEVER WORSHIPED** in God's Word!!
Revelation 22:8,9: I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, "**DON'T DO THAT** A am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who **KEEP THE WORDS** of this book. **WORSHIP GOD**!!
Revelation 5:11-14: Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands and 10 thousand times 10 thousand. In a loud voice they were saying: "Worthy is the **LAMB**, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and under the earth and on the sea and all that is in them, saying: "To Him who sits on the throne and to the **LAMB** be praise and honor and glory and power, **FOR EVER AND EVER**!" The 4 living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and **WORSHIPED**! {Why was not the holy spirit worshiped here along with the Father and Jesus??}
The **WORSHIP** of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can also be found in Matthew 2:2,8,11; 14:33; 28:9,17 Luke 24:52 and John 9:38!! {Any worship of the holy spirit can not be found in God's Word!!}
And in Hebrews 1:1-3,6,8; Paul is inspired to write: "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word... God says, "Let all God's angels **WORSHIP HIM**!!" and about His Son God says, "Your throne, **O GOD** will last for ever and ever!!"
John 1:18: No one has ever seen God, **BUT THE ONE AND ONLY SON**!! who is **HIMSELF GOD** and in closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known!!
Titus 2:13-14: We wait for the **BLESSED HOPE**--the glorious appearing of our great **GOD AND SAVIOR**, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to glorify Himself a people that are **HIS VERY OWN**, eager to do what is good!
It is also very interesting to note that there will only be **TWO THRONES** for Jesus and His Father in the eternal heavenly New Jerusalem:
Revelation 22:3: **THE THRONE OF **GOD** AND OF THE LAMB** will be in the City!!! {The New Jerusalem} and His servants will serve Him.
Why doesn't the holy spirit or 7 spirits of God have a **THRONE** if he is God??? Why will there only be **TWO THRONES** in the eternal heavenly New Jerusalem??? and the holy spirit is not mentioned in the description of our eternal home in the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:1-27 and Revelation 22:1-5!! And so God's Word clearly shows that the holy spirit does not have **ETERNAL DIVINITY**
Revelation 3:21: Jesus says, "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on **MY THRONE**, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on **HIS THRONE**!!
Revelation 5:13,14: Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: To Him who sits on the throne and to the **LAMB** be praise and honor and glory and power **FOR EVER AND EVER**!" The 4 Living Beings said, **AMEN** and the Elders fell down and worshiped!!
“I will give you many of the Scriptures in God's Word and I expect you to give your complete exegesis of all of the Scripture which show that Jesus is not **CO-EQUAL** with the Father...”
End quote.
Richard, are you trying to say Jesus is as eternally divine as God the Father except he’s just not “ **CO-EQUAL** “ ??
"Richard, there are no verses that deny Jesus' **CO-EQUALITY** with the Father." {???}
**BUT WHAT DOES GOD's WORD SAY**??
There are 7 passages in the New Testament which state that we should **ONLY PRAY TO GOD THE FATHER**!Such as:
Matthew 5:6-10; 14,15: Jesus says, "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and **PRAY TO YOUR FATHER** who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans , for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for **YOUR FATHER KNOWS** what you need before you ask Him. This, then, is how you should pray : 'Our **FATHER** in heaven, hallowed by your name, **YOUR KINGDOM COME**, YOUR WILL BE DONE**, on earth as it is in heaven.. {Luke 11:4 adds "Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us!"} For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your **HEAVENLY FATHER** will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your **FATHER** will not forgive your sins!"
John 17:17: Jesus said to His Father, "Sanctify them with the Truth **YOUR WORD IS TRUTH**
Revelation 1:1: The Revelation from Jesus Christ, which **GOD GAVE HIM**!
Deuteronomy 18:18,19:: The Lord said to Moses, "I will raise up a Prophet from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put My words in His mouth. He will tell them everything **I COMMAND HIM**. I Myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to My words that the Prophet speaks in My name!"
John14:10; 23,24; 28: Jesus says, "The words I say to you I do not speak on My own authority. Rather it is the Father, living in Me, who is doing the work... Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching, My Father will love them and We will come and make our home with them... These words you hear are not My own **THEY BELONG TO THE FATHER WHO SENT ME**... You have heard Me say, 'I am going away and am coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would be glad I am going to the Father, for the **FATHER IS GREATER THAN I !"
John 6:37,39,44,65: Jesus says, "**ALL** that the **FATHER** gives Me **WILL** come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will **NEVER** drive away... And this is the **WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME**, that I shall **LOSE NONE** of all that **HE** has given Me, but raise them up at the Last Day.... No one can come to Me **UNLESS** the **FATHER** who sent Me **DRAWS HIM**, and I will raise him up at the Last Day!!... No one can come to Me **UNLESS** the **FATHER** has **ENABLED THEM**!!"
'In the beginning I created a subdivision and built houses' Did I personally do the earth work, the paving, the concrete, the electric, phone, water and sewer? Did I personally frame, roof, wire, Sheetrock and paint the houses? Did I personally plant trees, grass, flowers and install a sprinkler system? Ummm...no I directed others to do it. So does this make me some kind of 'Trinity' or person composed of multiple persons? How about applying some common sense. "And God said, Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness" - Gen 1:26. It should be obvious then God has others working as one with Him. Isn't this our goal also? We don't need to follow elaborate systematic schemes. Just follow the instructions God gives as explained by Jesus and God will take care of the rest.
When Jesus came, he was none to happy with the Pharisees; the theologians of the day. They claimed to have all this complicated doctrine one must follow to have eternal life. Of course only they could understand it and teach it to others. This in effect made them superior and put others in submission to them. Jesus came to set us free from all this b.s. Yet nowadays it's being repeated all over again by some who claim to follow Jesus. But beware of them, they are wolves in sheeps clothing trying to get you to follow them and their fancy doctrines rather than simply following the teachings of Jesus.
Your first post provides an good example of a categorical reasoning error known as the fallacy of equivocation.
The Genesis account I cited clearly applies the plural Elohim followed by a singular verb while your analogy uses only a singular pronoun “l” followed by a singular verb.
There’s a huge difference.
Your argument commits the fallacy of equivocation by “equivocating” the Genesis plural with your singular pronoun analogy.
My argument uses Genesis 1:1 which says Elohim (plural) bara (singular).
Your faulty analogy responds sorta like: so what, I built a house!
Your reasoning is flawed my friend.
Ever heard the “apples and oranges” comparison error, you might want to check that error out too.
Bad reasoning continues to plague your arguments making them look silly.
In your second post above you commit your choice fallacy once again by bringing out the ad hominems. Ad hominem is another reasoning error which fallaciously attacks the person making the argument instead of attacking the person’s argument in a fair exchange.
So now you insinuate I'm a Pharisee, a wolf in sheeps clothing and all that and Jesus must really be mad at me.
What was that you keep saying about judging other people???
How does your name calling, your barrage of judgements and accussations refute the Trinity???!!
I’m actually not offended, I expect to be insulted and insulted repeatedly.
The fact is, there are no valid arguments against the Trinity and your failed counter attempts keep helping me prove that
Wow, thanks for the Hebrew lesson, lol! You are confused right from the beginning (no pun intended). You are going to have to decide if Elohim means Gods or a plurality of majesty. You posit it means the latter because of the singular verb 'bara' (create). Then you turn around and accuse me of equivocation for my example using the singular "I" after you just posited Elohim is is to be understood as singular. You are truly deluded and intellectually dishonest as proved under the topic God vs gods. You think if you use enough big words no one will notice???
