I have a red flag feeling when I see the word "trinity".
I find it can be traced back to Tertullian's vain philosophies and deceit that Paul warns about. Who knows where Tertullian got it but the trinity is not a new doctrine , it can be seen in Babylon with Baal, Ishtar and Tammuz. Christian theology was largely organized and nurtured in the schools of Alexandria, and Alexandria was not only the meeting place of East and West, it was also the place where the decrepit theology of Egypt was revivified by contact with the speculative philosophy of Greece. The library at Alexandria burned and the first person blamed for the destruction is none other than Julius Caesar himself. In 48 BC, Caesar was pursuing Pompey into Egypt when he was suddenly cut off by an Egyptian fleet at Alexandria.
This however is what I do believe about the Godhead..
Genesis 1 God created....
Exodus 3:4 I AM
Isaiah 43 :1-2, 10-15 Redeemer, no Savior beside me.
Isaiah 46:9-11 No other God , end from beginning
Isaiah 49:16 I have inscribed you on my palms.
John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word and the Word....
John 8:58 Before Abraham was , I AM.
John 14:9-11 He that has seen me has seen the Father.
John 1:18 in the bosom of the Father
Colossians 2:9 ALL the fullness of the Godhead bodily
1 Corinthians 8:6 For us there is ONE God, the FATHER.
You can play with "echad" all you want. But you are being intellectually dishonest. You posted that NO WHERE DOES THE BIBLE EXPLICITLY TEACH MONOTHEISM. I gave you two verses. Okay for some reason you want to reject Deut 6:4, but you dishonesty ignore the other verse I gave you: Isaiah 45:5
"I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me,"
David, I do expect you to post a retraction.
A real Christian would.
End quote chuckk
Chuckk, I was simply trying to apply your faulty “explicit” argument to monotheism because you keep saying there’s no “explicit” teaching for the Trinity, apparently because the term “trinity” is not found in scripture. All I was suggesting is the term “monotheism” is also not found in scripture so therefore it follows (according to your argument) that monotheism must also not be “explicitly” taught as well. I could have explained myself better, so I’m not faulting you for not following me here, my apologies
I believe in monotheism but not in the context in which you’ve presented it
The "goddess" referred to is Ashetoreth, which may also be referred to as "Ishtar" or "Astarte." The Hebrew people speak of the Astartes in plural. "She" is symbolized by a dove, horse, lion, and sphinx, within a star, within a circle representing Venus.
If you look at the scripture from kings, "she" is mention with another "god", and "he" is mentioned in singular context.
1 King 11:5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
There is one other "god" mentioned later on in the chapter, and he is referred to as "elohim" But there is a reason for that as well.
Chemosh is spoken in plural, and referred to as the "plural of majesty."
Interestingly, if you go to the Encyclopedia Brittannica and look up Elohim, this will be the first paragraph.
"Elohim, singular Eloah, (Hebrew: God), the God of Israel in the Old Testament. A plural of majesty, the term Elohim—though sometimes used for other deities, such as the Moabite god Chemosh, the Sidonian goddess Astarte, and also for other majestic beings such as angels, kings, judges (the Old Testament shofeṭim), and the Messiah—is usually employed in the Old Testament for the one and only God of Israel, whose personal name was revealed to Moses as YHWH, or Yahweh (q.v.). When referring to Yahweh, elohim very often is accompanied by the article ha-, to mean, in combination, “the God,” and sometimes with a further identification Elohim ḥayyim, meaning “the living God.”
It is always used in plural. Additionally, no mention of Milcom, because the name is spoken in singular context.
**WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE LAW** Galatians 3:25
In the Old Covenant Law in Exodus 20:2: God says, "You shall have no other gods before Me!"
However, in the New Covenant our Lord and Savior is called **LORD** over 200 times and also **LORD OF LORDS* in Revelation 17:14. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is also called **GOD** **SEVEN TIMES** in the inspired New Testament in the following Scriptures and the {*7*} times Jesus is called **GOD** will be numbered {*1*} thru {*7*}.
God the Father Himself called our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ **GOD** in Hebrews 1:6 below!! It was also prophesied in the OT in Isaiah 9:6 that Jesus would be called **MIGHTY GOD** in the future!!
Isaiah 9:6--7: For unto us a **CHILD** is born, to us a **SON** is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor ,**MIGHTY GOD**! and **PRINCE OF PEACE**. Of the greatness of His government **THERE WILL BE NO END**. He will reign on David's throne and over His Kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness **FROM THAT TIME ON AND ****FOREVER****.
John 1:1-3,18: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the {*1*} **WORD WAS GOD**. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that as been made...No one has ever seen God, but the One and only Son, who is {*2*}**HIMSELF GOD** and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known!
John 20:27-29: Jesus said to the doubting Thomas, "Put your finger here in My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe!" Thomas said to Him, My Lord and {*3*} **MY GOD**!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed!" {And so since Chuckles does not believe he is not blessed by Jesus!!}
Hebrews 1:1-3,6,8: 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 al things by **HIS POWERFUL WORD! After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven... When God brings His firstborn into the world He says, "Let all God's angels **WORSHIP HIM**.... About the Son He says, "Your throne, {*4*}**O GOD**, will last for ever and ever, a scepter of justice will be the scepter of **YOUR KINGDOM**!"
Titus 2:13,14: We wait for the **BLESSED HOPE**--the glorious appearing of our **GREAT {*5*} GOD AND SAVIOR**, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify a people that are **HIS VERY OWN**, eager to do what is good!!
Philippians 2:5-10: In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Who being in very nature {*6*} **GOD**, did not consider Equality with {*7*} **GOD** something to be used to His own advantage; rather He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance like a man, he humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the **HIGHEST PLACE** and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus **EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW**, in heaven and on earth!! {Including Chuckles!!}
"Chuckk, I was simply trying to apply your faulty “explicit” argument to monotheism because you keep saying there’s no “explicit” teaching for the Trinity, apparently because the term “trinity” is not found in scripture. All I was suggesting is the term “monotheism” is also not found in scripture so therefore it follows (according to your argument) that monotheism must also not be “explicitly” taught as well. I could have explained myself better, so I’m not faulting you for not following me here, my apologies."
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No worries David, but I'm still not on board. It is Not about the terms "Trinity" & "Monotheism". For example: Without using the word "Trinity", Scripture could explicitly say the nature of God is pluralistic composing the essence of three as one. And these three are the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But it doesn't,
Yet we do have an explicit teaching of monotheism in Isaiah 43:10
"Says YHWH .........know and trust me and understand that I am he no god was produced before me, nor will any be after me."
Now that is explict monotheism without ever using the term.
""Trinity", but it's understood what people mean when they use that term."
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I would venture a guess that if you went to an average Christian Church and asked 100 people to explain the Orthodox doctrine of the Trinity, 95 of them couldn't do it. But those same 95 will say without hesitation, if you don't believe in the Trinity, you're not saved/born again 😂
Yet we do have an explicit teaching of monotheism in Isaiah 43:10
"Says YHWH .........know and trust me and understand that I am he no god was produced before me, nor will any be after me.
End quote:
Isaiah 49:16 Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;
thy walls are continually before me.
Yep, pretty clear to me. Now for those that have been brainwashed the scriptures may take a while to sink in. Depending on the level of "education" one has about the Godhead and "Trinity"
