<< For the overwhelming majority within Christendom the traditional teaching about the Trinity is »self-evident«, moreover, if someone does not believe this doctrine, that person will certainly not be recognised. For the Jews it is absolutely unacceptable. They can only belief what God said and what the prophets taught. For them strict monotheism >>

The Godhead has always been a challenge for theologians. Why people fuss over God isn’t easily understood and why so many different views exist about Him is totally incomprehensive.

The teaching about God is so important to each denomination that it is always found in the first article of faith. Within Christianity a dispute always arises about whether there is one, unique God, a two-person God, or a triune God existing in three separate persons of the same nature from eternity. In reality many different views and concepts are in existence which people are not even aware of. And within these different views exist many variations; each group is convinced they are right. We shall deal with this subject only from the standpoint of God’s Word letting the Scriptures speak for itself. What is not explicitly expressed within the Scriptures is not real Truth but instead man’s interpretation.

Everything begins with God. The Bible is the only book on earth where we find the testimony of the Almighty from the very beginning. Therefore the Bible is the only required absolute, the measuring rod of all things, in reference to God. The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testament alike, are divine legacies for us. Nothing can be added or taken from it. The testimony of God is complete and final. It starts with the Creator and the creation report including the whole course of human history, the salvation plan, and ends after the last judgement, in the new heaven and the new earth (Isa. 65: 17; 2 Pt. 3: 13; Rev. 21: 1). The single epochs during the span of the Old and New Testament clearly show their significance and goal. From these we are also told where we came from and where we are going.

About God and God’s Word uncounted volumes have been written and are still being published. The christological disputes, known as the »Arianic dispute«, from the 4th century are well known to all who are acquainted with church history. People have tried to understand what cannot be understood, they tried to explain what couldn’t be explained. Men in church history began to use philosophical terms to describe the revelation of God in Christ which is the actual stumbling stone and rock of offence (Ps. 118: 22; Isa.
28: 16; Mt. 21: 42-44; 1 Pt. 2: 6-8 a. o.). Calling it theology, they have imposed their own ideas into scriptural teachings. To this day they are part of the problem, causing arguments and trying to give explanation, without divine revelation.

As announced in the Old Testament the religious builders would reject the stone. They did not know where to place Him. He did not fit into their building. What our Lord has said is still valid, »The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner. Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.« (Lk. 20:
17-18). Peter has referred to the same Scripture (Isa. 8: 14-15; Ps. 118: 22) before the High Counsel, »This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. « (Acts 4: 11). For some He is set to fall upon and for others to raise them up. So it was prophesied by Simeon (Lk. 2: 34). Only where He builds His own Church will He also have pre-eminence in all things (Col. 1: 14-20). There He is known as the chief-cornerstone and also as the headstone, the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. There His Own serve Him, believe Him and they stand with Him. Where men are building their own church, He is never given His rightful place, and becomes a stumbling stone (1 Pt. 2: 6-8).

Self-evidence?

Many things considered self-evident have been found to be just the opposite. In reality, nothing is self-evident.

For the overwhelming majority within Christendom the traditional teaching about the Trinity is »self-evident«, moreover, if someone does not believe this doctrine, that person will certainly not be recognised. For the Jews it is absolutely unacceptable. They can only belief what God said and what the prophets taught. For them strict monotheism — the belief in only one unique God, besides Whom there is no other — is the highest and first commandment which must never be broken. The teaching about different persons is seriously in opposition to the first commandment, which came forth from the lips of God Himself. For Muslims to believe that God, whom they call Allah, has a son in heaven is the most terrible blasphemy on earth. The main utterance of faith in Islam is, »There is no God except Allah!«

What is self-evident for some, is not for others. Conformity is found in the respective religions and denominations of which there are many, proclaiming they are right.

If the unscriptural terminology »Trinity« was in the New Testament and signified that God manifested Himself for our salvation as our Father in heaven, as our Redeemer in Christ the Son on earth, and through the Holy Spirit, then one could tolerate the same. But when it means that the eternal God brought into existence a second and a third person of God, and these three are one in everything, then we have to research such a teaching and ask, »Where is it found in the Bible?« The answer to this question is, »Nowhere!« Secondly we must know when and how such teachings and ideas began. In literature concerning this theme many things, which never occurred, can be read. We cannot go into detail about them, but it should be understood by all that »unscriptural terminology« cannot contain »scriptural truth«. Many have had the courage to deal with this subject critically and are asking, if those who represent the Trinity, even know what they believe and how they can comprehend one God in three persons?

In the »Catechism of the Catholic Church« concerning the subject of the Trinity, on pg. 66, § 251 we read the following, »In order to articulate the dogma of the Trinity, the Church had to develop its own terminology with the help of certain notions of philosophical origin: ”substance,” ”person” or ”hypostasis,” ”relation,” and so on. …« Admittedly hypothetical, philosophical terms were used to formulate the Trinity dogma. Paul warned us against philosophy (Col. 2: 8). Philosophers can use their philosophy as they like, but please, not about God. What has philosophy to do with the Almighty?

Some state, the first person is the »origin without origin«; and the other two have their origin in Him etc. It must be seriously asked: Does God, how ever understood, exist from eternity in heaven as three individual divine persons of the same substance? Is that even possible?

There are different teachings among the Orthodox Church and the Church of Rome: For instance, how the Holy Ghost as a person came into being, namely whether from the Father alone or proceeding from the Father and the Son. On page 65, § 247, in the same catechism we find the following statement, »The affirmation of the filioque* does not appear in the Creed confessed in 381 at Constantinople. (This is very interesting in regards to time). But Pope St. Leo I, following an ancient Latin and Alexandrian tradition, had already confessed it dogmatically in 447 (so late?), even before Rome, in 451 at the Council of Chalcedon, came to recognise and receive the Symbol of 381. The use of this formula in the Creed was gradually admitted into the Latin liturgy (between the eighth and eleventh centuries) (that means about a thousand years after the apostles). The introduction of the filioque* into the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed by the Latin liturgy constitutes moreover, even today, a point of disagreement with the Orthodox Churches.«

All versions of how the Holy Spirit came into existence and about the Godhead in general are concepts of the mind. What has a Latin liturgy, a creed that was made into a dogma so late in history, to do with Christ and the apostles? Nothing. Every revelation of God is a reality and is found and witnessed in His Word. God did not explain Himself, He is too glorious for our knowledge (Job 36: 26). He revealed Himself, but still remains hidden to many.

Men have fought even unto death over this theme. What does God Himself have to say? That is our question. Men say many confusing things about God; what He says about Himself is clear , and that is what we wish to look at. Is He one God only who manifests Himself in the New Testament as Father above us, in the Son with us, in the Holy Spirit in us, or are there three different persons who agree as one? What does the Scripture have to say? There is no other authority for anyone who truly believes God.

The classic teaching of the Trinity has been believed and adopted by all churches including those held by the state, that all three persons are equally great, equally almighty, equally omniscient and also equally eternal. Where do we find this taught in the Bible? Nowhere! It is called »the mystery of God’s life within the Blessed Trinity«, a »theologia« which is revealed unto us by the »oikonomia« (Catechism of the Catholic Church, pg. 62, § 236). This is in itself contradictory, because if the Almighty is divided into three, we no longer have one Almighty. We also would love to think that one Almighty, Eternal, Omniscient God who is omnipresent would be sufficient by Himself. This one Eternal God has, as Scripture overwhelmingly reports, only spoken by Himself, never to another person. Even when He swore, He only did it by Himself. The following serve as examples: Thus saith the Lord, »By myself have I sworn …« (Gen. 22: 16). »I have sworn by myself …« (Isa. 45: 23). »The Lord God hath sworn by himself …« (Am. 6: 8). Heb. 6: 13 confirms that whenever God wants to emphasise something with an oath, He always does it by Himself. God’s concern is that we hear the penetrating words of His mouth, »Unto thee it was shown, that thou mightest know that the Lord, he is God; there is none else beside him. Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord, he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath; there is none else.« (Dt. 4: 35 + 39).

Very peculiar

In our generation, the worship of the so-called Trinity is emphasised in a peculiar way. The Pope announced the years 1997, 1998 and 1999 to be very special in which, as the declaration goes, the three divine persons are worshipped in a successive order, and in the »holy year 2000« all three are to be worshipped together. The Pentecostal and charismatic preachers have their place in the inter-denominational meetings. Their eloquent speech is obviously influenced by the spirit of this age, especially the way they speak of the »person« of the Holy Ghost, from »Good morning, Holy Spirit! I greet you! I embrace you! I love you!« right to »Holy Spirit, I glorify you, I worship you!« Those attending such meetings are taken by passion; they stream together from all different denominations and expect a new move of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes even using loud music, creating an atmosphere unconducive to God’s Spirit, not discerning that this kind of worship of the Holy Spirit was totally foreign to the Church of the living God. There has never been anything like this. Also they give no consideration to God’s Word. According to the testimony of the Scriptures, there is to be no detached glorification of the Spirit, for Jesus Himself said, »… Nevertheless, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself, but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come.« and, »He shall glorify me ; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine; therefore said I that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.« (Jn. 16: 7-15).

We are not splitting hairs, we are anxious concerning the Truth. In general the formula about the Trinity, which developed into a teaching from various councils, reads like this, »One God in three persons: the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Ghost is God, and these three divine persons are one God«. Where do we find this taught in the Bible? Nowhere! In eternity and throughout the Old Testament there is neither trace nor indication of the worship of three persons. In the New Testament writings we see the terminology, »God the Father« — for instance: »Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ …« — but not a single time the term »God the Son« is used. Rather we find »Son of God, Son of the Most High, Son of man, Son of David« etc. Also not once do we find in God’s Word the term »God the Holy Ghost«, rather »the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ« etc. In the Old Testament »the Spirit of the Lord — Ru’ach Yahweh« is used 378 times. Such facts are of great importance. Why dispute for the Trinity doctrine without realising that only God has no point of reference? His manifestations, the Son of God, Spirit of God, and the Holy Ghost, are His reference points as He is the origin. If they were eternally self-existing persons of God, they would not need God as a reference point. Word of God, love of God, grace of God etc. all point to the only One, true God.

Not one prophet or apostle has ever spoken a benediction using the triune formula as being practised in churches world-wide today where the clergy say, »The blessing of God the Father, of God the Son and God the Holy Ghost be with you.« The same applies to the form of prayer, »Glory be to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost«. Such a terminology is nowhere mentioned in the Bible. We never find any prayer or action recorded in the Bible using the esteemed formula, »In the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Ghost«. Paul, being commissioned supernaturally, said that all we do in word and deed should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus (Col. 3: 17). The proclamation of the Gospel, prayer, salvation, healing, and deliverance — all these take place in the name of Jesus Christ.

Some know and practice the Aaronite way of benediction ordained of God Himself, »The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace!« (Num. 6: 24-26). The Apostle Paul mentions blessing and grace at the beginning of each of his letters, at least fourteen times, and pronounces the same at the end, but each time in a different way. Paul didn’t attempt to introduce a creed, or formality, as all denominations have done. The apostles and those in the first century church were not an organisation, but instead were a living organism of Christ. They stood under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit and knew to whom worship was due: »To God, only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.« (Rom. 16: 27).