The Holy Trinity a doctrine by man (continued)
Quantity or quality
Majority is not always the right majority
Of the Christians the majority belongs to churches that teach the Trinity — the doctrine that the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit together form one God. But that does not mean that this doctrine, something a person has to believe, is in accordance with what the Bible says.
Real Christians do know that the Trinity may have become an official doctrine of the major Christian Church, but for the Church of God and the people of God it must be clear that such a teaching is not in harmony with the Bible?
A formula for a doctrine developed centuries after the beginning of Christianity
The Nazarene Jew Jeshua, born in Bethlehem and brought up in Nazareth, went as an adult teaching about his heavenly Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
This Jewish rabbi choose 12 disciples when he was alive and afterwards took another Jewish scholar to join the first followers of Christ. Those chosen ones wrote the last books of the canonical Bible, which was completed in the first century C.E.
They warned already for the false teachings that led people away from the truth. Several people enjoyed the Greek philosophical writers and their ideas which were different from the Jewish teachings, but more attractive because they were sounded more magic and gave some nicer hopes than those the Jews and Christians came to hear.
It did not take three hundred years to fabricate enough followers or groups who could join together agreeing with the Roman leaders to adjust their teachings to the Greek and Roman gods. Their ideas became officially formulated in 325 C.E. at a council in the city of Nicaea in Asia Minor, now Iznik, Turkey.
According to the New Catholic Encyclopedia, the creed attributed to the Council of Nicaea set out the first official definition of ‘Christian orthodoxy,’ including the definition of God and Christ.
Why, though, was it deemed necessary to define God and Christ centuries after the Bible was completed? Is the Bible unclear on these important topics?
Cleaner Graphics
It were proud human beings who thought to be much clearer than God. There were even such leaders who were convinced that ordinary human beings even could not understand God’s Words and therefore they needed to be explained by especially trained scholars or theologians. This shows clearly how they underestimated God’s Power and doubted the power of the Word of God and the love of God that He would give every person, baby, child, learned or feeble-minded enough insight to find truth, God, and honour God.
When Constantine became sole ruler of the Roman Empire, professed Christians were divided over the relationship between God and Christ.
Was Jesus God? Or was he created by God?
To settle the matter, Constantine summoned church leaders to Nicaea, not because he sought religious truth, but because he did not want religion to divide his empire.
The clear picture had to be that there should not be too much to bring heavy disputes or of trivialities fighting people in his empire.
When Constantine asked the bishops, who may have numbered into the hundreds, to come to a unanimous accord, his request was in vain. There were too many different groups proclaiming their teachings had to be followed. Those who liked the Greek philosophers and those who held onto Greek-Roman culture also were in the majority. therefore the Roman Emperor also wanting to please the market vendors asked to bring those gods of the majority of the empire as the most important ones and to make them also Christian gods. He then proposed that the council adopted the ambiguous notion that Jesus was “of one substance” (homoousios) with the Father. This unbiblical Greek philosophical term laid the foundation for the Trinity doctrine as later set forth in the church creeds.
From the the fourth century, the Trinity idea grew harder and by the 11th century, it had spread around the whole region of what we know today as Europe and Asia.
Spreading more to the West, encountering many Germanic and Celt gods the Roman Catholic Church took the opportunity to integrate those gods and traditions in their religion.
Statements from the Nicaean Creed
Compare some scriptures saying with the basic statement from the creed attributed to the Council of Nicaea.
What the Nicene Creed says:
“We believe . . . in one Lord Jesus Christ . . . that is of the substance of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God.”
This means for many Christians that they take Jesus to be the very God, Him being one and the same as God, the heavenly Father of us all and the Divine Creator of heavens and earth.
What the Bible says:
- “My Father is greater than I [Jesus]*.” — John 14:28.
- “I [Jesus]* ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God.” — John 20:17.
- “To us there is but one God, the Father.” — 1 Corinthians 8:6.
- “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” — 1 Peter 1:3.
* all italics are ours
A Book of books not mentioning the Trinity
In case God would have found the Trinity an important and essential part of faith, you would think He would have included it in His Word, compiled in 66 books of the Bible. But nowhere in the Bible or Holy Scriptures you shall be able to find the word ‘Trinity‘ or an explicit saying that Jesus is God or that God is Jesus or that there is a person who is a god spirit, who would also be God.
Jesus said that
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. ” (John 4:23)
That truth has been recorded in the Bible. (John 17:17)
Does the Bible teach that the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit are three persons in one God?
For one thing, the Bible does not mention the word “Trinity.” For another, Jesus never claimed to be equal to God. Instead, Jesus worshipped God. (Luke 22:41-44)
The apostles noticed how several people went away from the truth and warned their followers and those who were looking for the truth to be careful for false teachings, only to stick to the Word of God as presented to the world in the Holy Scriptures.
For Jesus as well as for his disciples the truth has been recorded in the Bible.
Only One to be worshipped in spirit and truth
1 These words spake Yahushua, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true Elohim, and Yahushua the Messiah, whom thou hast sent. 4 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.
6 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. 7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name which thou gavest me, and I have kept them, and not one of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:1-23 RNKJV)
As Jesus wanted to be his followers in unity with him like he is in unity with God, in case this union would mean Jesus is God than all followers of Jesus being in the same union as Christ with God would also be God. But from the text it is clear that those following Jeshua, the Christ or Messiah, would have to be consecrated by the Godly Truth, God His Message Which is Truth. It also tells us that Jesus intercedes for those who believe in him. At other places in the Scriptures we are also told that Jesus is the mediator between God and man. In case Jesus would be God He can not be the mediator because the talking would go straight to Him and all decisions would have to be made by God Himself and not by the son of God.
You could say when the son is also God who could take distance of his position, but then either he shall stay god or will be not God. For one thing, the Bible does not mention the word “Trinity.” For another, Jesus never claimed to be equal to God. Instead, Jesus worshipped God. On several occasions, he prayed and even learned others to pray, not to him but to his heavenly Father.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10 RNKJV)
Jesus does not speak about his will nor his kingdom but about the Will of God and the Kingdom of God, where God’s Will has to be fulfilled.
Nearing the end of his life, when he had gone as usual to the Mount of Olives, followed by his disciples Jesus also asked his disciples to pray not to fall into temptation. He himself also withdrew about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and began to pray. Then he asked his Father to spare him this cup of difficulties he was going to face, but also said that only, not his (Jesus) will but God His Will be done. In case Jesus is God than always Jesus will, would also be God’s Will.
39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, (Luke 22:39-45 RNKJV)
Also when Jesus would be God he would know everything and would know that man can do nothing to God and that God cannot die, because God is an eternal Spirit.
24 Elohim is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24 RNKJV)
Seen or not seen and not to be given
A third line of evidence concerns Jesus’ capabilities and him telling the truth or not.
When Jesus is God, Who is all-knowing and never telling lies (Numbers 23:19; Psalm 119:160), he would have told lies when his disciples asked him who he was, if they could sit next to him in God’s Kingdom and when he said he did not know when he would come back.
Also, God would have lied when He said that nobody can see God and live (Exodus 33:20) because lots of people saw Jesus and stayed alive. Jesus even brought some back to live on this earth again.
19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of יהוה before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. (RNKJV)
20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
22 But Yahushua answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 25 But Yahushua called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. (Matthew 20:20-25)
Jesus told those around him that he had heard the truth from God and would not like to be a son nor a father of a lie. (John 8:40-45). He knew and told others that he could not do anything without his heavenly Father (Jehovah God) Who has sent him (Jesus) is greater than him (Jesus).
17 But Yahushua answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that Elohim was his Father, making himself equal with Elohim.
19 Then answered Yahushua and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of יהוה: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. (John 5:19-36 RNKJV)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.
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. (John 14:17-31 RNKJV)
Jesus’ relationship with followers
A fourth line of evidence concerns Jesus’ relationship with his followers. Even after he was raised from the dead to the spirit realm, Jesus called his followers “my brothers.” (Matthew 28:10)
Were they brothers of Almighty God? Of course not! But through their faith in Christ — God’s preeminent Son — they too became sons of the one Father. (Galatians 3:26)
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