TRINITY

Texts: 1 Corinthians 14:33; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

The word, Trinity is not found in the Bible. But there are different views on trinity. Though there are three most prominent theories on trinity. These three theories will be considered below:

THREE VIEWS ABOUT TRINITY

1. One God who manifest in different forms (as father, son and Holy spirit)

Some taught that God is one, but normally changes his personality to be the father, then the son, and then the spirit; depending on the task at hand.

But, the passages below refutes that, in that the three were seen/heard at the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:16, 17): two were seen as separate being by Stephen (Acts 7:55); also, separate entity specified in these passages:(1 Timothy 2:5; John 20:17; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Mark 15:34; Luke 23:46; Acts 2:24; Mark 13:32; Hebrew 9:24; Revelation 4:8; 5:7; 1 Corinthian 15:24, 28; John 17:3).

2. The Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God; and yet there are not three Gods but one God. The persons are co-eternal and co-equal, all alike are uncreated and omnipotent.

Some stated that the father, son and the holy spirit, though are separate being; but they form the Godhead called trinity, and they are all equal, they are everlasting and are all powerful.

The passages below stated that Jesus is not equal with God:

Jesus said in John 14:28 – “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I”.

The following passages also indicated that Jesus is not equal with the Father; (John 5:19; John 6:38; John 7:16; Mark 13:32; Acts 5:31; Philippians 2:9; 1 Corinthian 15:24-28; Hebrews 2:9 (compare Psalm 8:5, 6); John 5:26 &27; John 20:17; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Hebrew 1:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:3).

Jesus Christ has a God and a Father; but the Father does not have a God, hence they cannot be said to be equal

2 Corinthians 1:3-Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.

Revelation 3:12 - The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.

John 20:17- Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’

3. There is no trinity, the Father is the only God. All other heavenly beings are subject to Him.

Some believe that there is only one God, the father only, and others are subordinates.

These passages indicated that there is only one God who is the Father only (1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 4: 5 & 6, 1 Corinthian 15:27 & 28 (Matthew 28:18)).

PASSAGES THAT SEEMS TO SUPPORT TRINITY

The following passages/meanings are seen by some to have supported trinity; we will look at some of them:

God (elohim) -Some see elohim as a plural word, thus supporting trinity

The word Elohim is seen to have meanings that includes "gods/god".

For example, in Exodus 12:12, -"the gods (elohim) of Egypt"; god in 1 Kings 11:33, Chemosh "the god (elohim) of Moab"; the spirits of the dead in 1 Samuel 28:13 brought up at the request of King Saul "I saw god"; to a prophet in Exodus 4:16 or to the most high that was referenced as the "elohim" of Israel.

The use of Elohim are also found in; Exodus 20:23; 1 Kings 18:27; Psalm 82:1&6; Exodus 7:1.

Three in one: (1 John 5:7; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; Matthew 28:19; Matthew 3:16)

Some claimed that since the passages above mention three persons together in one statement, it indicated trinity.

But, in 1 John 5:7 – some versions like NASB, NIV, do not have the father, son and Holy Spirit in this passage.

In 1 Timothy 5:21, three persons were mention together; but they are not seen to denote trinity.

Those passages do not say that they are equal or they form single entity called God.

The following passages refer to the father as the only God; Ephesians 4:2-6, 1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 (Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power).

And lastly, God is one- (Galatians 3:20; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Deuteronomy 6:4).

I and the father are one: (John 10:30)

Some see this passage as meaning that since Jesus said that he and the father are one, it supports trinity, but Christ explained what he meant in the verses that follows in John 10:31-36;

(31 Then again the Jewish leaders picked up stones to kill him.

32 Jesus said, “At God’s direction I have done many a miracle to help the people. For which one are you killing me?”

33 They replied, “Not for any good work, but for blasphemy; you, a mere man, have declared yourself to be God.”

34-36 “In your own Law it says that men are gods!” he replied. “So if the Scripture, which cannot be untrue, speaks of those as gods to whom the message of God came, do you call it blasphemy when the one sanctified and sent into the world by the Father says, ‘I am the Son of God’?)

Also, the following passages gave instances of different persons been referred to be one; but do not suggest equality or trinity (John 17:21&22; 1 Corinthian 3:6&8).

Making himself equal with God: (John 5:18)

Some say that from the passage above, Jesus was making himself equal with God, which they claimed to support trinity theory. But in John 5:19, Jesus clarified that he was not doing that; and he does what he sees in his father.

Equal with God (Philippian 2:6)

This passage in some Bible versions render that Jesus did not think it as robbery to be equal with God. Other versions like NASB have different rendering. The passage was about humility, and one cannot be painted to be humble from what was translated in KJV that "Jesus did not think it as robbery to be equal with God" . Philippian 2:6 was mistranslated in certain versions of the Bible when compare with the whole chapter.

Also, it was written that Jesus was raised above his companions in Hebrew 1:9, if his companions are God and the Holy Spirit, and he is said to be already equal with them, then raising Him above his companions will mean that he must be above the father and the spirit. Or, who are the companions?

The Word was God: (John 1:1)

Some say that since the passage said that the word was God, hence, Christ is God, and form part of the trinity. The word god was also used to refer to people and angel-Psalm 82:6, John 10:34; 1 Corinthians 4:4- The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

CONCLUSION

The Bible says that there is one God, who is the Father, one Lord who is Jesus Christ.

The Father is above all, and in all.

1 Corinthians 8:6 - yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live

Ephesians 4:5&6 -5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

1 Corinthians 15:27-28 - 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

Thus, there is no such thing as trinity in the Bible-nothing like trinity where three persons are making up one God; or where one person changes personality to become father, son or spirit.