One God or a Trinity?

by James and Deb Flint Introduction What does the Bible teach about God? What does the Bible teach about Jesus? Are God and Jesus the same? The Trinity Where did the Doctrine of the Trinity come from? History of the Trinity More recent History of the Trinity In the Beginning was the Word ogos !onclusion The " Big #roblems with the Trinity $uestions

Introduction When we o%en God&s boo' the Bible( we read how im%ortant it is to ha)e a correct understanding of who God really is( and who Jesus really is* It is so im%ortant that Jesus tells us that our sal)ation de%ends on it+ "And this is life eternal, that they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." ,John -.+"/ What does the Bible teach about God? 0rom the first boo' to the last( the Bible tells us that God is one God( and there are no other gods besides Him* Thousands of years ago( God s%o'e to Israel by Moses( the man who led them out of 1gy%t+ "Hear O Israel: the LO ! our "od is one LORD: and you shall love the LO ! your "od with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might." ,Deuteronomy 2+345/ ater 6ing Da)id of Israel wrote+ "O LO !, there is none li#e you, neither is there any God beside you, a$$ording to all that we have heard with our ears." ,- !hronicles -.+78/ God( s%ea'ing through the %ro%het Isaiah( said+

"You are %y witnesses, says the LO !, and %y servant whom I have $hosen, that you may #now and &elieve me, and understand that I am He. 'efore %e there was no "od formed, nor will there be after me." ,Isaiah 3"+-8/ "(or thus says the LO ! who $reated the heavens, who is "od, who formed the earth and made it, who has esta&lished it, who did not $reate it in vain, who formed it to &e inha&ited: )I am the LO !, and there is no other." ,Isaiah 35+-9/ When we come to the :ew Testament( we find the same message re%eated( telling us that God is one* The a%ostle #aul said+ "Yet for us there is only one God, the (ather, of *hom are all things, and we for Him, and one lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live." ,!orinthians 9+2/ "One lord, one faith, one &a+tism, One God and Father of all, who is a&ove all, and through all, and in you all." ,1%hesians 3+542/ "(or there is one God, and one mediator &etween "od and men, the man Jesus Christ." ,- Timothy 7+5/ There are many other )erses throughout the Bible that tell us that God is the only one true God( and that there are no other gods besides Him* 0or a more com%lete list of references consider the following+ God is one: Job "-+-5; <echariah -3+=; Malachi 7+-8; Matthew -=+-.( 7"+=; Mar' 7+.( -8+-9( -7+7=("7; u'e -9+-=; John 9+3-; >omans "+"8; - !orinthians 9+3(2; Galatians "+78; 1%hesians 3+2; - Timothy 7+5; James 7+-=( 3+-7* The LORD (Yahweh) is the only true God: 1?odus 9+-8( =+-3( Deuteronomy 3+"54"=( .+=( "7+-7438; - @amuel 7+7; 7 @amuel .+77( 77+"7; - 6ings 9+7"("=(28( -9+-.4"=; 7 6ings 5+-5( -=+-54-=; - !hronicles -2+75472; 7 !hronicles 2+-3( -"+=; :ehemiah =+2; Job =+9; #salms -9+"-( 27+7(542( .-+-2(-=( .7+-9( ."(75( 9"+-9( 92+94-8( 9=+24--( =8+-47( =2+345( --9+7.; -"2+3( -39+-"; Isaiah ".+-2478( 38+-9475( 3-+3( 3"+-84-"( 33+249(73( 35+54.(-3(-9(7-477( 32+=; Jeremiah "+--( 5+.( -8+24 -2( -2+78; Hosea -"+3; Joel 7+7.; Mar' -7+"7; John -"+-2( -3+79( -.+"; Acts -=+72; >omans -2+7.; - !orinthians 9+342( -8+78; Galatians 3+9; - Timothy -+-.( 7+5( 2+-54-2; John 5+78; Jude 75; >e)elation -5+3* The Father alone is the one true God:

Deuteronomy "7+2; 7 @amuel .+94-3; - !hronicles -.+--4-3( 7=+-8+ #salms 7+.( 9=+724 7=; Isaiah 37+-( 2-+-47( 2"+-2( 23+9; Jeremiah "+3(-=( "-+=; Malachi -+2( 7+-8; Matthew --+75( 73+"2; Mar' -8+-9( -"+"7; u'e -8+7-( -9+-=; John -+-9( 5+3"433( 2+7.(35( 9+3-4 37(53( -3+79( -.+-4"( 78+-.; Acts .+55452; >omans -+.( -5+2; - !orinthians -+"( 9+2( --+"( -5+73; 7 !orinthians -+74"( --+"-; Galatians -+-45; 1%hesians -+74"(-.( 3+542( 5+78( 2+7"; #hili%%ians -+7( 7+--( 3+78; !olossians -+74"( "+-.; - Thessalonians -+-4"( "+--(-"; 7 Thessalonians -+-47( 7+-2+ - Timothy -+7; 7 Timothy -+7; Titus -+3; #hilemon "+ Hebrews -7+.; James -+7.( "+=; - #eter -+74"; 7 #eter -+-.; 7 John "(=; Jude -+ >e)elation -+2* The LORD God (the Father) is Almighty and Supreme: Genesis -9+75; 1?odus 78+"45( 77+78; Deuteronomy -8+-.; Joshua "+--(-"( 77+77; @amuel .+"43; - 6ings -9+-.4"=; - !hronicles 7=+--; #salm 3.+7(.( 9"+-9( =.+=( --8+-(-"2+-472; Isaiah 7+--(-.( 72+-"4-3( 33+73; Daniel 7+3.( "+7=( --+"2; <echariah 2+5( Matthew 3+-8( 73+"2( Mar' 5+.( u'e 3+9( 9+79( John 5+33; Acts .+39( -2+-.; >omans -2+7.; - !orinthians "+7"( --+"( -5+73479; 7 !orinthians 2+-9; 1%hesians "+-3( 3+2; Timothy -+-.( 2+-34-2; Hebrews .+-; Jude 75; >e)elation -+9( 3+9( --+-.( -5+"43( -2+.(-3( -=+2(-5( 7-+77* What does the Bible teach about Jesus? The Bible re)eals that the ord Jesus !hrist is God&s only son( born of the )irgin Mary to ta'e away the sins of the world* God( through the %ower of the Holy @%irit( enabled Mary to concei)e and ha)e a baby named Jesus+ "And, &ehold, you will conceive in your wom&, and &ring forth a son, and shall $all his name J,-.-. He will &e great, and will be called the Son of the Hi hest: and the Lord "od will give him the throne of his father !avid. And he will reign over the house of Ja$o& for ever/ and of his #ingdom there will &e no end. 0hen said %ary to the angel, How $an this &e, sin$e I do not #now a man1 And the angel answered and said to her, 0he Holy -+irit will $ome u+on you, and the +ower of the Highest will overshadow you: therefore, also, that holy one who is to be born of you will be called the son of God." , u'e -+"-4"5/ "'ut when the fullness of the time had $ome, "od sent forth his -on, made of a woman, made under the law." ,Galatians 3+3/ Therefore Jesus !hrist was both the @on of God and the @on of Man ,by a woman/( as God was his 0ather and Mary his mother* Son o God! Because Jesus was literally the son of God( he had a real father4son relationshi% with God*

"*ho in the days of his flesh, when he had offered u+ +rayers and su++li$ations, with vehement $ries and tears to Him who was able to save him from death, and was heard &e$ause of his godly fear. 0hough he was a son, yet he learned obedience &y what he suffered". ,Hebrews 5+.49/ He learned from( and s%o'e to his 0ather often+ "And it $ame to +ass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to +ray, and $ontinued all night in +rayer to "od." , u'e 2+-7/ Son o "an As the son of man( Jesus inherited a mortal nature and the tem%tation to sin+ "In as mu$h then as the $hildren have +arta#en of flesh and &lood, he himself likewise shared in the same/ that through death he might destroy him who had the +ower of death, that is the devil" ,Hebrews 7+-3/ "(or what the law $ould not do, in that it was wea# through the flesh, "od sending his own -on in the likeness of sinful flesh, on a$$ount of sin, $ondemned sin in the flesh" ,>omans 9+"/ 0or more com%lete references %lease consider the following )erses+ #esus $egan his li e at $irth: Genesis "+-5( -"+-5( -.+9( 77+-9; Deuteronomy =+2(.( -9+-54-=; 7 @amuel .+--4-3; !hronicles -.+--4-3; #salm 9=+7.( -"=+-54-2; Isaiah .+-3( 3=+-45; Jeremiah -+5( "8+7-; Micah 5+745; Matthew -+78473( 7+-42; -"+"5( 75+"3; u'e -+"84"5 ,see -+-"4-./( 7+38(57 ,see -+98/( --+58; John .+37( 9+52( -7+3-( -.+5(73; Acts 7+77473( -5+-9; >omans 3+-.( 9+794"8( =+7"( --+7; - !orinthians 7+.; Galatians -+-5( "+-2( 3+3; 1%hesians -+"45; 7 Thessalonians 7+-"; 7 Timothy -+=4-8; Titus -+74"; - #eter -+-47(--(-=47-; >e)elation -"+9( -.+9* #esus as Son o God and Son o "an: :umbers 7"+-=; Deuteronomy -9+-54-=; - @amuel -5+7=; Job =+"74""( ""+-7; #salm 98+-.; Isaiah 3.+"( 55+94=; Jeremiah "8+-7; <echariah 2+-7( -"+.; Malachi "+2; Matthew 73+"8433; Mar' -"+72; u'e 7-+7.("2; John "+7( 9+38( -=+5; Acts 7+77( .+52( -"+"9( -.+"-; >omans 5+-5; - !orinthians -5+7-(3.; 1%hesians 7+-5( 3+-"; - Timothy 7+5; >e)elation -+-"( 3+-3* Are God and Jesus the same?

We ha)e seen that the Bible teaches there is only one God and Jesus !hrist is His son* Is it %ossible that Jesus and God are both made of the same substance( or are both co4eAual and co4eternal? The following tables highlight some of the differences between Jesus and God( which ha)e been recorded for us in God&s Word+ These differences demonstrate that God and Jesus are two uniAue( different beings* The change in belief is summariBed as follows+

God %annot $e tempted

#esus was tempted

"Let no man say when he is tem+ted, I "'e$ause himself hath suffered when he am tem+ted &y "od: for "od $annot &e was tem!ted, he is a&le to hel+ those tem+ted with evil, nor does he tem+t any who are tem+ted." ,Hebrews 7+-9/ man:" ,James -+-"/ "(or we do not have a high +riest who $annot sym+athi2e with our wea#nesses/ &ut was in all !oints tem!ted as we are, yet without sin." ,Hebrews 3+-34-5/ God %annot $e seen "dwelling in ina++roa$ha&le light/ whom no man has seen, nor $an see." ,-Timothy 2+-2/ God &nows e'erything "Can anyone hide himself in se$ret +la$es so that I will not see him1 says the LO !. !o not I fill heaven and earth1" ,Jeremiah 7"+73/ #esus was seen "0his is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his dis$i+les, after he was raised from the dead." ,John 7-+-3/ #esus learnt "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with "od and man." , u'e 7+57/ "0hough he was a -on, yet he learned obedience &y the things whi$h he suffered/" ,Hebrews 5+9/ "'ut of that day and that hour no one #nows, neither the angels whi$h are in heaven, nor the Son, &ut only the (ather." ,Mar' -"+"7/ God %annot die "-ee now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with me... " live for ever." ,Deuteronomy "7+"=438/ #esus died "(or I delivered unto you first of all that whi$h I also re$eived, how that #hrist died for our sins a$$ording to the s$ri+tures." ,-!orinthians -5+"/

"*ho only hath immortality" ,- Timothy 2+-2/ "I am he that liveth, and was dead/ and, &ehold, I am alive for evermore, Amen/" ,>e)elation -+-9/ God is su$(e%t to no one "I am the LO !: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another," ,Isaiah 37+9/ #esus is su$(e%t to God "my (ather is reater than "." ,John -3+79/ "'ut I would have you #now, that the

These di eren%es demonstrate that God and #esus are two uni)ue! di erent $eings* The Trinity @o far in this boo'let e)erything that was said was su%%orted by Auotes from the Bible( and only the Bible* Howe)er when discussing the Trinity that will not be %ossible( because the Trinity is something that originates from outside the Bible* :owhere in the Bible do we find the word CTrinity&( nor do we find the Trinitarian terms CGod the son& or CGod the Holy @%irit&* >eligious historians and commentators( who belie)e in the doctrine of the Trinity( admit that the doctrine is not a teaching from the Dld Testament+ ",3egetes and theologians today are in agreement that the He&rew 'i&le does not $ontain the do$trine of the 0rinity." ,Mircea( 1( editor* The 1ncyclo%edia of >eligion* Trinity* :ew Eor'; -=9.; -5+53/ Do we read of the Trinity in the :ew Testament? In the same %ublication( we read+ ",3egetes and theologians agree that the 4ew 0estament also does not $ontain an e3+li$it do$trine of the 0rinity." ,Mircea( 1( editor* The 1ncyclo%edia of >eligion( Trinity* :ew Eor'; -=9.; -5+53/ The gradual de)elo%ment of the doctrine of the Trinity( after the com%letion of the Bible( is well 'nown and not denied e)en by those who belie)e the doctrine* !onsider the statement from the :ew !atholic 1ncyclo%edia+ "0he formulation )one "od in three +ersons5 was not solidly esta&lished, $ertainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its +rofession of faith, +rior to the end of the 6th $entury. 'ut it is +re$isely this formulation that has first $laim to the title of 0rinitarian dogma. $mon the $!ostolic Fathers% there had been nothin even remotely a!!roachin such a mentality or !ers!ective." ,:ew !atholic 1ncyclo%edia* :ew Eor'+ Guild #ublishers; -=2.4-=.3* Trinity; -3+7==/ How is it that the doctrine of the Trinity( which is not to be found in God&s Word( has become such a %o%ular church teaching? If the ideas sha%ing the doctrine of the Trinity do not come from the A%ostolic 0athers( where did these ideas come from? Where did the Doctrine of the Trinity come from? Trinities of gods were taught in non4!hristian religions since ancient times* In Meso%otamia one such Ctrinity& was Anu ,the god of the s'y/( 1nlil ,the god of the earth/ and 1a ,the god of the waters/* Another trinity( in ancient Babylon( was made u% of the three gods :imrod( @emiramas and TammuB* Grou%ing of gods in triads was also common in 1gy%t( Greece and >ome in the centuries before and after !hrist*

After the death of the a%ostles( such ideas began to come into !hristianity( @eigfried MorenB in his boo' C1gy%tian >eligion& notes+ "...the trinity was a ma7or +reo$$u+ation of ,gy+tian theologies... three gods are $om&ined and treated as a single &eing addressed as singular. In this way the s+iritual for$e of ,gy+tian religion shows a dire$t lin# with Christian theology." ,MorenB( @* 1gy%tian >eligion* !ornell+ Fni)ersity #ress; -=."+753475./ It is interesting that it was in 1gy%t that the subGect of the Trinity was discussed by the church leaders( because in the %reface to 1dward Gibbon&s CHistory of !hristianity& we read of the influence of 1gy%tian religion on their discussions+ "If 8aganism was $on9uered &y Christianity, it is e9ually true that Christianity was $orru+ted &y 8aganism. 0he +ure !eism of the first $entury Christians ... was $hanged &y the Chur$h of ome, into the in$om+rehensi&le dogma of the 0rinity. %any of the +agan tenets, invented &y the ,gy+tians and ideali2ed &y 8lato, were retained as &eing worthy of &elief." ,1* Gibbon* History of !hristianity* >e%ublished by Arno #ress; -=.7/ The %owerful influence that non4!hristian %hiloso%hies had on !hristianity is again ac'nowledged in a religious dictionary+ "0he 0rinity is a $orru+tion &orrowed from the heathen religions, and engrafted on the Christian faith." ,A Dictionary of >eligious 6nowledge* yman Abbott; -9.5* section on CTrinity& %=33/ @ome of these ancient trinities are still worshi%%ed today* In 1gy%t( a trinity ,made u% of the three gods called Dsiris( Isis and Horus/ is worshi%%ed* i'ewise in India( the three gods( Brahma( @hi)a and Hishnu( are worshi%%ed as a trinity in the Hindu faith* Another great influence on the de)elo%ment of the !hristian Trinity were the teachings of the Gree' #hiloso%her #lato* At the center of #lato&s %hiloso%hy( was the teaching of a trinity made u% of the IFn'nown 0atherI( Ithe ogosI or reason and the IWorld @oulI* The following Auotation from a historian highlights the great influence #lato&s %hiloso%hies had on %eo%le during the time %eriod when the doctrine of the Trinity was being de)elo%ed+ "It may &e dou&ted whether 8lato himself im+ersonated the Logos, the reason of the !eity/ with him it was rather an attri&ute of the "odhead... 8latonism had gradually a&sor&ed all the more intelle$tual $lass... :8lato5s +hiloso+hy; was attem+ting to renew 8aganism, and was the re$ognised and leading tenet in the higher %ysteries." ,D* Milman* History of !hristianity( Hol*7 %"55/* Gree' #hiloso%hy( such as #lato&s trinity( was %o%ular amongst the intellectual class and was readily acce%ted by the well4educated and influential church leaders* It was these leaders who formulated the doctrine of the !hristian trinity* The following Auotation

highlights the subtle but %owerful influence Gree' #hiloso%hy had on !hristianity during the %eriod when the doctrine of the Trinity was de)elo%ed+ "0his 8latoni$ +hiloso+hy was ado+ted &y su$h of the learned at Ale3andria, who wished to &e a$$ounted Christians, and yet to retain the name, the gar&, and the ran# of +hiloso+hers. In +arti$ular, all those who in this se$ond $entury +resided in the s$hools of the Christians at Ale3andria, Athenagoras, 8antaenus and Celmens Ale3andria, are said to have a++roved of it. 0hese men were +ersuaded that true +hiloso+hy, the great and most salutary gift of "od, lay in s$attered fragments among all the se$ts of +hiloso+hers: therefore it was the duty of every wise man, and es+e$ially of a Christian tea$her, to $olle$t those fragments from all 9uarters, and to use them in defense of religion." ,J* Mosheim* An ecclesiastical history* !harlestown; -2=34-.55 +-+-57/ The trinities of )arious religious grou%s( including #lato&s( are summariBed in the diagram below*

History of the Trinity The influence of %aganism and Gree' %hiloso%hy on !hristianity resulted in church debate and di)ision* In an effort to resol)e the di)ision of the !hristian church( the >oman 1m%eror !onstantine called for a s%ecial meeting of church leaders* Although !onstantine was not greatly concerned about !hristian doctrine( he clearly understood that religious di)ision was a threat to his em%ire* The meeting he ordered was held in "75 AD( and became 'nown as the !ouncil of :icaea* Des%ite his basic understanding of !hristian teachings( !onstantine %resided and acti)ely guided the discussions at this meeting*

It was at this !ouncil of :icaea it was decided that !hrist was made of the same substance as God* In the !reed written at the council no mention was made of the Holy @%irit being a third %erson of the Godhead ,that came later/* It was howe)er( a )ery significant meeting that laid the foundation for the doctrine of the Trinity* Those who reGected the decision made at the !ouncil of :icaea( and refused to acce%t that God and Jesus were eAual( continued for a short time* Howe)er( em%eror Theodosius decided against them( confirmed the :icaean !reed( and called for another !ouncil meeting* It was at this meeting( the !ouncil of !onstantino%le in "9- AD( that the church leaders decided the Holy @%irit was on the same le)el as God and !hrist* 0or the first time( the doctrine of the Trinity came into being* 1)en after this !ouncil of !onstantino%le( there were many that o%%osed the teaching( and often %aid with their li)es for e?%ressing their )iews* The Trinity was more fully defined and recorded as the Athanasian creed which states+ "*e worshi+ one "od in trinity, and trinity in unity, neither $onfounding the +ersons nor dividing the su&stan$e. (or the +erson of the (ather is one/ of the -on, another/ of the Holy -+irit, another. 'ut the divinity of the (ather and of the -on and of the Holy -+irit is one, the glory e9ual, the ma7esty e9ual. -u$h as is the (ather, su$h also is the -on, and su$h the Holy -+irit. 0he (ather is un$reated, the -on is un$reated, the Holy -+irit is un$reated. 0he (ather is infinite, the -on is infinite, the Holy -+irit is infinite. 0he (ather is eternal, the -on is eternal, the Holy -+irit is eternal. And yet there are not three eternal 'eings, &ut one eternal 'eing. -o also there are not three un$reated 'eings, nor three infinite 'eings, &ut one un$reated and one infinite 'eing. In li#e manner, the (ather is omni+otent, the -on is omni+otent, and the Holy -+irit is omni+otent. And yet there are not three omni+otent 'eings, &ut one omni+otent 'eing. 0hus the (ather is "od, the -on is "od, and the Holy -+irit is "od. And yet there are not three "ods, &ut one "od only. 0he (ather is Lord, the -on is Lord, and the Holy -+irit is Lord. And yet there are not three Lords, &ut one Lord only. (or as we are $om+elled &y Christian truth to $onfess ea$h +erson distin$tively to &e &oth "od and Lord, we are +rohi&ited &y the Catholi$ religion to say that there are three "ods or Lords. 0he (ather is made &y none, nor $reated, nor &egotten. 0he -on is from the (ather alone, not made, not $reated, &ut &egotten. 0he Holy -+irit is not $reated &y the (ather and the -on, nor &egotten, &ut +ro$eeds. 0herefore, there is one (ather, not three (athers/ one -on, not three -ons/ one Holy -+irit, not three Holy -+irits. And in this 0rinity there is nothing +rior or +osterior, nothing greater or less, &ut all three +ersons are $oeternal and $oe9ual to themselves. -o that through all, as was said a&ove, &oth unity in trinity and trinity in unity is to &e adored. *hoever would &e saved, let him thus thin# $on$erning the 0rinity." The com%le?ity of the creed is stri'ing* !onsider the difference between the Athanasian creed( recorded after the !ouncil of !onstantino%le in "9- AD( and the sim%le CA%ostles& !reed& of around -58 AD+ I &elieve in "od Almighty, And in Christ Jesus, His only -on, our Lord,

*ho was &orn of the Holy -+irit and the <irgin %ary. *ho was $ru$ified under 8ontius 8ilate and was &uried. And the third day rose from the dead *ho as$ended into heaven, And sits on the right hand of the (ather, (rom where he $omes to 7udge the living and the dead/ And in the Holy -+irit 0he holy $hur$h, 0he resurre$tion of the flesh, 0he life everlasting. The %hange in $elie is summari+ed as ollows: Apostles ,reed Athanasian ,reed God Almighty JJJK God the 0ather Jesus !hrist His only @on JJJK God the @on born of the Holy @%irit JJJK God the Holy @%irit More recent History of the Trinity 0or much of !hristianity&s history the %enalty for denying the doctrine of the Trinity was death* 0or e?am%le the British %arliament in -239 %assed a law ma'ing it com%ulsory to e?ecute the death %enalty on anyone o%%osing Trinitarian teaching* It wasn&t until -9-" that the death %enalty for those o%%osing the Trinity was remo)ed from British aw* During these times there were those who ris'ed death and continued to deny the teaching of the Trinity stating it was introduced from non4Biblical sources* @o strong was their faith in the truth of the Bible they were willing to die rather than acce%t a false teaching which was introduced only years after !hrist* -ow did this happen. When !hristianity was forced u%on %agan >ome( many %agan teachings were absorbed into !hristianity and the %ure !hristian teachings of the first century were %olluted* Although many con)erted in name to !hristianity( they still held on to their %agan %ractices and beliefs* The church com%romised for those acce%ting this new faith( and %ermitted many %agan teachings and ideas to be mi?ed with !hristianity* The Trinity is only the most ob)ious of the non4Biblical ideas to ha)e entered into !hristian thin'ing* -ow %ould God allow this to happen. 0or many !hristians it is almost unthin'able that God would ha)e allowed such a thing to ha%%en* But it should not be* The Dld Testament tells how God&s %eo%le Israel re%eatedly turned from God&s teachings to many false religious %ractices ,including worshi% of idols/* Why should :ew Testament belie)ers be any better?

In fact God not only allowed it to ha%%en( in the Bible He warns us that the teachings of the church would be corru%ted+ "Let no man de$eive you &y any means: for that day will not $ome, unless there is a falling away first" ,7 Thessalonians 7+"/ "(or I #now this, that after my de+arture grievous wolves will enter in among you, not s+aring the flo$#. Also of your own selves men will arise, s+ea#ing +erverse things, to draw away dis$i+les after them" ,Acts 78+7=4"8/ "(or the time will $ome when they will not endure sound do$trine/ &ut after their own lusts they will hea+ to themselves tea$hers, having it$hing ears. And they will turn away their ears from the truth, and will &e turned to fa&les" ,7 Timothy 3+"43/ "0here will &e false tea$hers among you... many will follow their +erni$ious ways/ &e$ause of whom the way of truth will &e evil s+o#en of" ,7 #eter 7+-/ "... many false +ro+hets are gone out into the world" ,- John 3+-4"/ i)ing nearly 7888 years after these words were written( we ha)e the benefit of loo'ing bac' o)er history and seeing the changes that ha)e occurred in !hristian doctrine* If we belie)e that the Bible&s warnings are true( then we should be able to identify these changes( reGect them and return to true !hristianity* The only way we can be sure we belie)e the truth( is to carefully study the Bible for oursel)es* We must be careful to study the whole Bible and not sim%ly loo' for isolated )erses and ma'e them fit our e?isting beliefs* Many !hristians( who in sincerity belie)e the Trinity( are unaware of the many influences outside the Bible that sha%ed the doctrine* In an effort to find %roof for their beliefs they often use isolated )erses and ignore the conte?t in which the )erses were written* Here is an e?am%le+ / and my Father are one* "I and my (ather are one." ,John -8+"8/ If we were to ta'e this )erse in isolation we might be e?cused for thin'ing that John su%%orted the doctrine of the trinity( although there is no mention of the Holy @%irit* The %roblem with ma'ing this )erse into a Trinitarian statement is that to Cbe one& in Bible language does not mean to be one %erson( it means to agree+ "that they may &e one, as You, (ather, are in me, and I in You/ that they also may be one in us, that the world may &elieve that You sent me". ,John -.+7-/

In conte?t( when reading the rest of the cha%ter it is seen that Jesus is not saying he is God at all* In the )erse before( Jesus clearly says that he is not eAual to His father+ "%y (ather, who ave them to me% is reater than all/ and no man is a&le to +lu$# them out of my (ather5s hand." ,John -8+7=/ The Jews who hated Jesus and were always loo'ing for an e?cuse to 'ill him( accused him of blas%hemy and of ma'ing himself eAual with God+ "0he Jews answered him, saying, )*e do not stone you for a good wor#, &ut for &las+hemy/ and &e$ause you, &eing a man, ma#e yourself "od." ,John -8+""/ This was their accusation( but Jesus of course did not blas%heme( and he did not say he was God* Jesus corrects them in the ne?t )erse+ "Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, )I said, You are gods51 If he $alled them gods, to whom the word of "od $ame, and the s$ri+ture $annot &e &ro#en, why do you say of him, whom the (ather has san$tified, and sent into the world, )You &las+heme5, because " said% " am the Son of God1 If I do not do the wor#s of my (ather, then do not &elieve me. 'ut if I do, though you do not &elieve me, then &elieve the wor#s: that you may #now, and &elieve, that the (ather is in me, and I in him." ,John -8+"34"9/ When Jesus said+ "Is it not written in your law/ "I said, You are gods"" he was Auoting from #salm 97 where the di)inely a%%ointed %riests and elders of Israel were gi)en the title of Cgods&* They were gi)en this title because they acted on behalf of God and s%o'e in the name of God* Therefore( Jesus is saying( Iif men in the Dld Testament were called CGod&( why are you getting so u%set when I am sim%ly saying I am the @on of God?I #utting this )erse into conte?t with the rest of the cha%ter( the rest of the boo' and the rest of John&s writings( it becomes clear that Jesus was saying he was of one mind with God+ "As the (ather #nows me, even so #now I the (ather." ,John -8+-5/ In the same way Jesus was one with the 0ather( we can also be one with Jesus and the 0ather+ In the Beginning was the Word In the first cha%ter of John we read the following words+ "In the &eginning was the *ord, and the *ord was with "od, and the *ord was "od. 0he same was in the &eginning with "od. All things were made &y him." ,John -+-4"/ There is %robably no )erse in the Bible which has caused more disagreement* This is because it is undeniably a difficult )erse* Howe)er the most common understanding of the )erse goes something li'e this+

"At the $reation of the world was Christ, and the Christ was with "od, and Christ was "od. 0he same was in the &eginning with "od. All the world was made &y him." ,John -+-4" %ara%hrase/ The abo)e Auote is a %ara%hrase( a non4literal translation which few %eo%le would consider highly reliable( howe)er it does reflect the way that many( if not most( %eo%le read John -+-* There are se)en things which are Auestionable about the %ara%hrased reading abo)e+ -* The %reface to the Gos%el of John is %oetry ,John -+-4-9/* This may be stating the ob)ious( but it is im%ortant to remember this when inter%reting the )erse* 7* The "In the &eginning..." of John is ob)iously related in some way to the "in the &eginning" of Genesis -+-( but com%arison with the same "&eginning" in - John -+- ,a letter which may ha)e accom%anied John&s Gos%el/ shows that the "&eginning" which John is tal'ing about( concerns not the beginning of the earth( but the beginning of the Gos%el witnessed by the a%ostles ,com%are the use of the same Gree' word Cbeginning& in Mar' -+-( u'e -+7( John 2+23( 9+75( -5+7.( -2+3( -st John -+-( 7+.(-"(73( "+--( 7nd John 5(2/* >ather than being the "in the &eginning" of Genesis -+-( John is ma'ing a com%arison between the Genesis "&eginning"( and the more im%ortant new "&eginning" found in his own Gos%el* It also is worth noting here that the word "'eginning" is a title of !hrist ,!olossians -+-9( >e)elation "+-3( 7-+2( 77+-"/* "* "...was the *ord"+ John&s "word" is ob)iously closely related in some way to !hrist( but the "word" is not sim%ly another name for Jesus* If John had meant to write )in the &eginning was Jesus Christ5 then he would ha)e done so* Also it is often o)erloo'ed that the "word" is only one 'ey word here; the C ife& ,)s*3/( and the C ight& ,)s*.4=/( are also %arts of what John is saying* :one of these words( CWord&( C ife&( C ight& are sim%le substitutions for the name of Jesus of :aBareth* 3* "...and the *ord was with "od": 1)en without any 'nowledge of the original Bible languages it is clear that what follows cannot be the sim%le statement IJesus J GodI that %eo%le want to read( because if the Word is sim%ly Jesus he cannot %hysically be "with "od" ,on the right hand of God %erha%s?/ and yet "&e "od" at the same time* 5* "...and the *ord was "od": This is not the only %ossible translation of this %hrase* Alternati)e renderings ha)e included "and what "od was, the *ord was", "the *ord was divine" and so on* But if we remember what !hrist himself said about the meaning of the word IgodsI in John -8+"34"5 ,mentioned earlier/ then this does not ha)e to be the Trinitarian statement that many thin'* 2* "He..": The choice of "he" rather than "it" is the wor' of the 1nglish Bible translators( not John* The %ronoun here is no different from the usual word for Cit& used for Cword& when it occurs in other conte?ts* The same is true of the ca%ital CW& of "the *ord" = this is not in the original te?t* It is odd that the translators gi)e "he" and a ca%ital letter to "*ord"( but do not always do so for "life" and "light" 4 again this is not a distinction made by John*

.* ".. was in the &eginning with "od": This is a re%eat of John&s earlier "with "od" statement( but in different words* John&s re%eated em%hasis here that the Word is something that is present with God( but distin%t from God( is often o)erloo'ed* John is choosing words carefully here to ma'e clear that the word is not identical to God* Most im%ortantly John re%eats in -+7 the im%ortant time factor; When was the word with God? 4 "in the &eginning" 4 the Mar' -+- beginning not Genesis -+-* 9* "All things were made &y him...": This is a maGor 'ey to the conte?t* By com%aring this with the rest of John&s writings we can see that by "all things" John is not %rimarily concerned with the %lants and animals of Genesis* What John is concerned with here( and throughout his writings( is the "new $reation" found in the :ew Testament 4 which is )ery different from the old creation of Genesis* @imilar language is used by #aul in !olossians -+-2 and 1%hesians "+=( but in both cases com%arison with #aul&s conte?t ,com%are !olossians -+-54-9( "+=4-8 and 1%hesians 7+-8( "+-8( 3+73/ shows that the creation which #aul is referring to was made by means of !hrist* This new creation is the creation of new men and women who are born again( and has nothing to do with the old creation of Adam and 1)e who were born of the dust ,com%are 7 !orinthians 5+-.( Galatians 2+-5( James -+-9( >e)elation "+-3/* ogos A correct understanding of John -+-4" hinges on a%%reciating what "the *ord" means in conte?t* The Gree' word IlogosI ,which is translated IwordI in John -/( does not in itself mean IJesusI* The word Clogos& is also translated elsewhere in the Bible as+ a$$ount, $ommuni$ation, intent, reason, tidings, $ause, do$trine, +rea$hing and saying* "Logos = A word, uttered &y a living voi$e, em&odies a $on$e+tion or idea." ,1nhanced @trong&s e?icon( Da' Harbor( WA+ -==5/ 0urther we read in @trong&s Gree' dictionary that+ "A "ree# +hiloso+her named Hera$litus first used the term Logos around >?? '.C. to designate the divine reason or +lan whi$h $oordinates a $hanging universe. 0his word was well suited to John5s +ur+ose in John @." ,1nhanced @trong&s e?icon( Da' Harbor( WA( -==5/ The word IlogosI can refer to the inner thought ,a di)ine reason/ which is e?%ressed outwardly in words or other communication* In the beginning God had this inner thought* His singular %ur%ose was centered in !hrist* When !hrist was born( this IwordI was turned into flesh and blood* Jesus was "the word made flesh" ,John -+-3/* The thought( the %ur%ose( the reason that was in God&s mind in the beginning( ,the IlogosI/ was e?%ressed outwardly in the %erson of Jesus !hrist*

What about "the *ord was "od"? >emembering that the IWordI is God&s inner thin'ing or %ur%ose( we read in #ro)erbs+ "As he :a man; thin#s in his heart, so is he." ,#ro)erbs 7"+./ The same is also true of God* As God thin's( so is He* Therefore God&s thin'ing ,His IlogosI/ is God( "the word was "od"* "4o man has seen "od at any time. If we love one another, "od dwells in us, and His love is +erfe$ted in us... *hoever will $onfess that Jesus is the -on of "od, "od dwells in him, and he in "od... "od is love/ and he who dwells in love dwells in "od, and "od in him." ,- John 3+-74-5/ !onclusion Within the %ages of God&s word( we ha)e all the information we need to be sa)ed( it alone is the source of truth+ "And that from a $hild you have #nown the holy s$ri+tures, whi$h are a&le to ma#e you wise to salvation through faith whi$h is in Christ Jesus. All s$ri+ture is given &y ins+iration of "od, and is +rofita&le for do$trine, for re+roof, for $orre$tion, for instru$tion in righteousness: 0hat the man of "od may &e +erfe$t, throughly furnished to all good wor#s" ,7 Timothy "+-54-./ We read throughout the %ages of the Dld and :ew Testaments that+

God is the almighty creator( the 0ather and the only one true God* Jesus !hrist is His son( born of Mary after the %ower of the Holy @%irit came u%on her( and caused her to concei)e*

The " Big #roblems with the Trinity If God is a Trinity( why didn&t He tell us in His Boo' the Bible? If Jesus is coeAual with God( why did he say "my (ather is greater than I" ,John -3+79/? How is it %ossible that an im%ortant doctrine would be de)elo%ed many hundreds of years after the deaths of the a%ostles? Why should we belie)e a doctrine that is not clearly recorded in God&s word( es%ecially since we are warned+ "... If any one +rea$hes any other gos+el to you than what you have re$eived, let him &e a$$ursedA" ,Galatians -+=/ >eGecting the doctrine of the Trinity means ta'ing a stand that will ma'e you unwelcome in the maGority of churches* Howe)er( these churches teach the Trinity not because it is in the Bible( but because it was forced on the entire !hristian world in the 3th !entury( and

any Auestioning of the doctrine was %unished with %ersecution in most of the centuries since* Today the reaction of the maGority is not %ersecution but an emotional res%onse 4 scorn( fear or anger 4 which is easier to deal with( but still un%leasant and intimidating* In the time of !hrist( the true belie)ers were only a minority and !hrist encourages them( and us( with the following words+ ",nter in &y the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and &road is the way, that leads to destru$tion, and there are many who go in there: 'e$ause narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, whi$h leads to life, and there are few who find it." ,Matthew .+-"4-3/ "(or many are $alled, &ut few are $hosen." ,Matthew 77+-3/ If we are serious about our sal)ation( which de%ends on us 'nowing the only true God and Jesus !hrist ,John -.+"/( then we must be serious about studying God&s Word and understanding the truth* Ta'e the wonderful e?am%le of the %eo%le of Berea who+ "... re$eived the word with all readiness of mind, and sear$hed the s$ri+tures daily, whether those things were so." ,Acts -.+--/ If we are to o%en God&s word and read it in an intelligent and logical manner( %utting aside our %reconcei)ed ideas( acce%ting all we see and not brushing aside those things in the Bible which conflict with what we ha)e been told before( only then we will really learn what God is telling us* The truth is li'e "hidden treasure" ,Matthew -"+33/( we must search it out with determination and commitment* 0inally( consider the words of wise 6ing @olomon+ "... in$line your ear to wisdom, and a++ly your heart to understanding/ Yes, if you $ry after #nowledge, and lift u+ your voi$e for understanding/ If you see# her as silver, and sear$h for her as for hidden treasures/ 0hen you will understand the fear of the LO !, and find the #nowledge of "od. (or the LO ! gives wisdom: out of His mouth $omes #nowledge and understanding." ,#ro)erbs 7+7/
James and Deb Flint

$uestions -* 7* "* 3* 5* 2* .* 9* What does the Bible teach about God? What does the Bible teach about Jesus? Are God and Jesus eAual? Where was Jesus before he was born? ist 5 differences between Jesus and God Does the Bible mention the Trinity? Where does the doctrine of the Trinity come from? 1?%lain the meaning of II and my 0ather are oneI

=* What are the meanings of Cthe Beginning& in John? -8* What are the meanings of C ogos&?

@cri%ture Auotations ta'en from the :ew 6ing James Hersion( !o%yright L Thomas :elson Inc* I@B:+ 9-49.38=42-43 #ublished and %rinted by+ 0rintland 0u$lishers G*0*O* 1o2 345! -ydera$ad 466 663! /ndia