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The following are questions
with answers taken from various Wikipedia articles. This is
to highlight some relevant points on the subject—"Why Some
People Refuse To Believe In The Trinity"—which people should
understand before continuing the bible study. The answers
are excerpt taken from the full articles written on the
subject. You can readily study the full articles written on
the subject by clicking on the source link after each
answer. Note: The answers to the following religious
questions are taken from various Wikipedia articles due to
their neutral point of view principle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view
However, it is still highly recommend that you search the
internet for more information on the subject.
___________
The concept
of monotheism–belief in one God, tends to be dominated by the concepts of God
in the Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism, Christianity
and Islam. All three
Abrahamic religions claim to be monotheistic,
however, Christianity's complex
Trinitarian doctrine conflicts with
Jewish and Muslim concepts of
monotheism
(Lesson-2B.1).
From the preceding lessons,
we've also studied that
monotheism in Christianity differ significantly. (Lesson-2A.4)
Although,
many professing Christians would like to believe that their
religions believe and worship the same God. But, on a
practical and theological level they simply cannot––there's
just no choice in the matter. They may all want to believe
in the One God (monotheism), but the content of their
beliefs varies wildly—they have different conception of God
(Lesson-2B.2).
Thus, in reality, Christian religions do not believe and
worship the same God because the vast
majority of Christians are Trinitarian monotheist, while a
small percentage of Christians are Unitarian monotheist who
do not believe in the Trinity (Lesson-2B.3). They are
sometimes referred to as "Nontrinitarians". Let us
continue our study so we may come to understand the reason
why some people refuse to believe in the Trinity.
Nontrinitarianism
2E.1
What is "Nontrinitarianism"?
From the
Wikipedia article on the
Nontrinitarianism, these are written:
Nontrinitarianism includes
all Christian belief systems that
reject as non-scriptural, wholly or
partly, the doctrine of the
Trinity—the doctrine that the God of
the Bible is three distinct entities
in one being, and that these three
entities are eternal and equal in
nature, authority, and knowledge.
The absence of the Trinity is not of
necessary importance to all
nontrinitarians. Persons and groups
espousing this position generally do
not refer to themselves
affirmatively by the term. The
Unitarians have adopted a name that
speaks of their belief in God as
subsisting in a theological or
cosmic unity. Modern nontrinitarian
views differ widely on the nature of
God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nontrinitarianism
Nontrinitarianism
includes all
Christian belief systems that reject as
non-scriptural, wholly or partly, the
doctrine of the Trinity.
-
The
absence of the Trinity is not of
necessary importance to all
nontrinitarians.
-
Modern
nontrinitarian views differ widely
on the nature of God, Jesus, and the
Holy Spirit.
-
The
Unitarians have adopted a name that
speaks of their belief in God as
subsisting in a theological or
cosmic unity.
The earliest form
of Christianity is "not Trinitarian"
2E.2
What is the earliest form of
Christianity, according to Nontrinitarians?
From the Wikipedia articles
on Nontrinitarianism and Apostolic age, these are
written:
Forms
All nontrinitarians take
the position that the
doctrine of the earliest
form of Christianity
(see Apostolic Age) was
not Trinitarian.
Typically,
nontrinitarians believe
Christianity was altered
as a direct and indirect
consequence of the
edicts of Emperor
Constantine I, which
resulted in the eventual
adoption of Trinitarian
Christianity as the
official religion of the
Roman Empire. Because it
was during a dramatic
shift in Christianity's
status that the doctrine
of the Trinity attained
its definitive
development,
nontrinitarians
typically consider the
doctrine questionable.
Nontrinitarians see the
Nicene Creed as an
essentially political
document, resulting from
the subordination of
true doctrine to state
interests by leaders of
the Catholic Church, so
that the church became,
in their view, an
extension of the Roman
Empire.
Source: Wikipedia,
Nontrinitarianism,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nontrinitarianism
(as of Apr. 9, 2010,
18:49 GMT).
The Apostolic Age
of the history of
Christianity is
traditionally the period
of the Twelve Apostles,
dating from the
Crucifixion of Jesus (c.
26–36) and the Great
Commission until the
death of John the
Apostle (c. 100).
Source: Wikipedia,
Apostolic Age,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolic_Age
(as of Apr. 9, 2010,
18:52 GMT).
Origins:
According to The
Outline of History
by H. G. Wells: "We
shall see presently
how later on all
Christendom was torn
by disputes about
the Trinity. There
is no evidence that
the apostles of
Jesus ever heard of
the Trinity at any
rate from him."
Nontrinitarians
claim the roots of
their position go
back further than
those of their
counterpart
Trinitarians. The
biblical basis for
each side of the
issue is debated
chiefly on the
question of the
divinity of Jesus.
Nontrinitarians note
that in deference to
God, Jesus rejected
even being called
"good", that he
disavowed
omniscience as the
Son,[4]
and that he referred
to ascending unto
"my Father, and to
your Father; and to
my God, and to your
God", and that he
said "the Father is
the only true God."
Additionally, Jesus
quoted Deuteronomy
6:4 when saying in
Mark 12:29 "The most
important one (commandment),"
answered Jesus, "is
this: 'Hear, O
Israel, the Lord our
God, the Lord is
one."
They also state that
the Nicene Creed was
established
approximately 300
years after the time
of Jesus on earth as
a result of conflict
within pre-Nicene
early Christianity. Nontrinitarians also
cite scriptures that
warn the reader to
beware the doctrines
of men (e.g. Mat.
15:9; Eph. 4:14).
Source:
Wikipedia,
Nontrinitarianism,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nontrinitarianism
(as of Apr. 9, 2010,
18:49 GMT).
All nontrinitarians
take the position that the
doctrine of the earliest
form of Christianity was
"not Trinitarian".
-
Nontrinitarianism was
the belief during the
Apostolic Age (c
26-100). that is
traditionally the
period of the Twelve
Apostles, dating
from the Crucifixion
of Jesus (c. 26–36)
and the Great
Commission until the
death of John the
Apostle (c. 100).
-
According to The
Outline of History
by H. G. Wells: "We
shall see presently
how later on all
Christendom was torn
by disputes about
the Trinity. There
is no evidence that
the apostles of
Jesus ever heard of
the Trinity at any
rate from him."
-
Typically, nontrinitarians
believe Christianity was
altered as a direct and
indirect consequence of
the edicts of Emperor
Constantine I, which
resulted in the eventual
adoption of Trinitarian
Christianity as the
official religion of the
Roman Empire.
-
Because it was
during a dramatic
shift in
Christianity's
status that the
doctrine of the
Trinity attained its
definitive
development.
-
Nontrinitarians see the
Nicene Creed as an
essentially political
document, resulting from
the subordination of
true doctrine to state
interests..
-
Nontrinitarians claim
the roots of their
position go back further
than those of their
counterpart
Trinitarians.
They also state that
the
Nicene Creed was
established
approximately 300
years after the time
of Jesus on earth as
a result of conflict
within pre-Nicene
early Christianity.
Why Trinitatianism became the predominant religion
of the Roman Empire
2E.3
If the earliest form of Christianity during the time
of Jesus and the Apostles is not Trinitarian, what
is the basic reason, why Trinitarianism eventually
became the predominant belief after 300 years?
Note: the
following answers are taken from the
preceding Wikipedia articles given
above, we can read the following:
Typically,
nontrinitarians believe Christianity was
altered as a direct and indirect
consequence of the edicts of Emperor
Constantine I, which resulted in the
eventual adoption of Trinitarian
Christianity as the official religion of
the Roman Empire.
-
Because
it was during a dramatic shift in
Christianity's status that the
doctrine of the Trinity attained its
definitive development,
nontrinitarians typically consider
the doctrine questionable.
-
Nontrinitarians see the Nicene Creed
as an essentially political
document, resulting from the
subordination of true doctrine to
state interests by leaders of the
Catholic Church, so that the church
became, in their view, an extension
of the Roman Empire.
-
They
also state that the Nicene Creed was
established approximately 300 years
after the time of Jesus on earth as
a result of conflict within
pre-Nicene early Christianity.
From the
Wikipedia article on
First
Council of Constantinople,
these are written:
This Council's
decision regarding the Holy Spirit also gave
official endorsement to the concept of the
Trinity. By the end of the 4th century, the
Byzantine Emperor Theodosius "issued a
decree that the doctrine of the Trinity was
to be the official state religion and that
all subjects shall adhere to it"
Source: Wikipedia,
First Council of
Constantinople,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Constantinople
(as of Feb. 10, 2010, 10:24 GMT).
Thus, by the
end of the 4th century the doctrine of the
Trinity was decreed by Emperor Theodosius to be
the official state religion of the Roman Empire
and that all subjects shall adhere to it"
2E.3
Why do Nontrinitarians reject the doctrine of the
"Trinity"?
Irrationality
Trinitarians
say
that
"the
doctrine
of
the
Trinity
is
[...]
a
deep
mystery
that
cannot
be
fathomed
by
the
finite
mind."[6]
Criticism
of
the
Trinitarian
doctrine
includes
the
argument
that
its
"mystery"
is
essentially
an
inherent
irrationality,
where
the
persons
of
God
are
claimed
to
share
completely
a
single
divine
substance,
the
"being
of
God",
and
yet
not
partake
of
each
others'
identity.
Nontrinitarians
claim
that
the
perplexity
of
the
Trinitarian
arguments,
which
have
included
the
use
of
philosophy,
is
contrary
to
the
Biblical
principles
of
simplicity
and
clarity
in
doctrine.[7].
Source:
Wikipedia,
Nontrinitarianism,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nontrinitarianism
(as
of
Apr.
9,
2010,
21:26
GMT).
The
Trinity
as a
mystery
is
essentially
an
inherent
irrationality.
-
The
argument
that
its
"mystery"
is
essentially
an
inherent
irrationality,
where
the
persons
of
God
are
claimed
to
share
completely
a
single
divine
substance,
the
"being
of
God",
and
yet
not
partake
of
each
others'
identity.
-
The
perplexity
of
the
Trinitarian
arguments,
which
has
included
the
use
of
philosophy,
is
contrary
to
the
Biblical
principles
of
simplicity
and
clarity
in
doctrine
Scriptural
Support
Critics
argue
that
the
Trinity,
for
a
teaching
described
as
fundamental,
lacks
direct
scriptural
support,
and
even
some
proponents
of
the
doctrine
acknowledge
that
direct
or
formal
support
is
lacking.
The
New
Catholic
Encyclopedia
says,
"The
doctrine
of
the
Holy
Trinity
is
not
taught
[explicitly]
in
the
[Old
Testament]",
"The
formulation
'one
God
in
three
Persons'
was
not
solidly
established
[by
a
council]...prior
to
the
end
of
the
4th
century".
Similarly,
Encyclopedia
Encarta
states:
"The
doctrine
is
not
taught
explicitly
in
the
New
Testament,
where
the
word
God
almost
invariably
refers
to
the
Father.
[...]
The
term
trinitas
was
first
used
in
the
2nd
century,
by
the
Latin
theologian
Tertullian,
but
the
concept
was
developed
in
the
course
of
the
debates
on
the
nature
of
Christ
[...].
In
the
4th
century,
the
doctrine
was
finally
formulated"[9].
Encyclopædia
Britannica
says:
"Neither
the
word
Trinity
nor
the
explicit
doctrine
appears
in
the
New
Testament,
nor
did
Jesus
and
his
followers
intend
to
contradict
the
Shema
in
the
Old
Testament:
“Hear,
O
Israel:
The
Lord
our
God
is
one
Lord”
(Deuteronomy
6:4).
[...]
The
doctrine
developed
gradually
over
several
centuries
and
through
many
controversies.
[...]
by
the
end
of
the
4th
century,
under
the
leadership
of
Basil
of
Caesarea,
Gregory
of
Nyssa,
and
Gregory
of
Nazianzus
(the
Cappadocian
Fathers),
the
doctrine
of
the
Trinity
took
substantially
the
form
it
has
maintained
ever
since."[10]
The
Anchor
Bible
Dictionary
states:
"One
does
not
find
in
the
NT
the
trinitarian
paradox
of
the
coexistence
of
the
Father,
Son,
and
Spirit
within
a
divine
unity."[11]
The
question
of
why
such
a
central
doctrine
to
the
Christian
faith
would
never
have
been
explicitly
stated
in
scripture
or
taught
in
detail
by
Jesus
himself
was
sufficiently
important
to
16th
century
historical
figures
such
as
Michael
Servetus
as
to
lead
them
to
argue
the
question.
The
Geneva
City
Council,
in
accord
with
the
judgment
of
the
cantons
of
Zürich,
Bern,
Basel,
and
Schaffhausen,
condemned
Servetus
to
be
burned
at
the
stake
for
this
and
his
opposition
to
infant
baptism.
Source:
Wikipedia,
Nontrinitarianism,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nontrinitarianism
(as
of
Apr.
9,
2010,
21:26
GMT).
Based on the above reference, the doctrine of the Trinity lacks direct scriptural support as declared by the following encyclopedias and Bible dictionary:
-
The New Catholic Encyclopedia says, "The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is not taught [explicitly] in the [Old Testament]", "The formulation 'one God in three Persons' was not solidly established [by a council]...prior to the end of the 4th century".
-
Encyclopedia Encarta states: "The doctrine is not taught explicitly in the New Testament, where the word God almost invariably refers to the Father. [...] The term trinitas was first used in the 2nd century, by the Latin theologian Tertullian, but the concept was developed in the course of the debates on the nature of Christ [...]. In the 4th century, the doctrine was finally formulated"[9].
-
Encyclopædia Britannica says: "Neither the word Trinity nor the explicit doctrine appears in the New Testament, nor did Jesus and his followers intend to contradict the Shema in the Old Testament: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:4). [...] The doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies. [...] by the end of the 4th century, under the leadership of Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus (the Cappadocian Fathers), the doctrine of the Trinity took substantially the form it has maintained ever since."[10]
-
The Anchor Bible Dictionary states: "One does not find in the NT the trinitarian paradox of the coexistence of the Father, Son, and Spirit within a divine unity."
Based on
the information from the above Encyclopedia's and Bible
Dictionary, it is very clear that the doctrine of the
Trinity is not taught explicitly in the Old and New
Testament of the Holy Bible.
This
is the basic reason why Nontrinitarians reject the
doctrine of the Trinity because it lacks direct
scriptural support or simply the doctrine of the
Trinity is not taught in the Bible.
Thus, the argument that the Trinitarian doctrine is a
“mystery” is essentially an inherent irrationality. The
perplexity of the Trinitarian arguments, which has
included the use of philosophy, is contrary to the
Biblical principles of simplicity and clarity in
doctrine. Their failure to explain the doctrine using
the verses of the Bible does not make the Trinity a
mystery, for how can anyone explain a supposedly
biblical doctrine that is simply not taught in the
Bible.
____________________
2E.4
More commentaries about the Trinity Doctrine from various
sources.
-
The Dictionary of the Bible -
Edited by James Hastings (1963), PAGE 1015:
TRINITY,
THE: The Christian doctrine of God (q.v.) as
existing in three Persons and one Substance is not
demonstrable by logic or by scriptural proofs,… The term
Trias was first used by Theophilus of Antioch (c. A.D.
180),… not found in scripture… The chief Trinitarian
text in the New Testament is the baptismal formula in
Mt. 28:19. Note: (No one was baptized in this spirit,
every one in the bible was rather baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ. Trinitarians do not know the name of
the one spirit (God). Mt. 28:19 says baptize in the
name of.
"Mt. 28:19: Go ye therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost:"
-
Dictionary of the Bible - by John
L. McKenzie S.J., (1965), PAGE 899:
"The Trinity
of persons within the unity of nature is defined in
terms of persons and nature which are Greek
philosophical terms; actually the terms do not appear in
the Bible. The Trinitarian definitions arose as the
result of long controversies in which these terms and
other such as essence and substance were erroneously
applied to God by some theologians."
-
The Encyclopedia Americana - 1956,
VOL. XXVII, PAGE 294L:
"Christianity derived from Judaism
and Judaism was (and still is) strictly Unitarian
(Oneness - believing that God is only one). The road
which led from Jerusalem to Nicea was scarcely a
straight one. Fourth century Trinitarianism did not
reflect accurately early (Originally Apostolic)
Christian teaching regarding the nature of God; it was
on the contrary, and deviation from this teaching."
-
The Encyclopedia of Religion, Vol.
15, 1987:
Development
of Trinitarian Doctrine. Exegetes and theologians today
are in agreement that the Hebrew Bible does not contain
a doctrine of the Trinity, even though it was customary
in past dogmatic tract on the Trinity to cite texts like
Genesis 1:26, "Let us make humanity in our image, after
our likeness" (see also Gn. 3:22, 11:7, Is 6:2-3) as
proof of plurality in God. When it states, "Let us make
humanity in our image, after our likeness" God is
talking to us, the church. The Trinitarians completely
miss the spiritual teachings of Genesis. Genesis is also
a great book with much spiritual insight.
The Hebrew
Bible depicts God as the father of Israel and employs
personifications of God such as Word (Davar), Spirit (ruah),
Wisdom (hokhmah), and Presence (Shekhinah), it would go
beyond the intention and spirit of the Old Testament to
correlate these notions with later Trinitarian doctrine.
Further,
exegetes and theologians agree that the New Testament
also does not contain an explicit doctrine of the
Trinity. God the Father is the source of all that is (Pantkrator)
and also the father of Jesus Christ: "Father" is not a
title for the first person of the Trinity but a synonym
for God." "The language of the Bible, of early Christian
creeds, and of Greek and Latin theology prior to the
fourth century is "economic" (oikonomia, divine
management of earthly affairs). It is oriented to the
concrete history of creation and redemption: God
initiates a covenant with Israel, God speaks through the
prophets, God put on son flesh in Christ, God dwells
within a Spirit. In the New Testament there is no
reflective consciousness of the metaphysical nature of
God ("immanent trinity"), nor does the New Testament
contain the technical language of later doctrine (hupostasis,
ousia, substantia, subsistentia, prosopon, and persona).
Some theologians have concluded that all post-biblical
Trinitarian doctrine is therefore arbitrary. While it is
incontestable that the doctrine cannot be established on
scriptural evidence alone."
Dogmatic development took place
gradually, against the background of the emanationist
philosophy of Stoicism and Neo-Platonism (including the
mystical theology of the latter). By the close of the
fourth century the Orthodox teaching was in place: God
is one nature, three persons (miaousia, treis
hupostaseis). In the West, Tertullian (d.225?)
formulated an economic Trinitarian theology that
presents the three persons as a plurality in God."
From the above commentaries we
can read some of the reasons used by other people, why they refuse
to believe the doctrine of the Trinity.
- The Dictionary of the Bible -
Edited by James Hastings (1963), PAGE 1015:
- The Christian doctrine of God (q.v.) as existing in
three Persons and one Substance is not demonstrable by logic or by
scriptural proofs.
-
Dictionary
of the Bible - by John L. McKenzie S.J., (1965), PAGE 899:
- The Trinity of persons within the unity of nature is
defined in terms of persons and nature which are Greek philosophical
terms; actually the terms do not appear in the Bible.
- The Trinitarian definitions arose as the result of
long controversies in which these terms and other such as essence and
substance were erroneously applied to God by some theologians.
- The Encyclopedia Americana - 1956,
VOL. XXVII, PAGE 294L:
- "Christianity derived from Judaism
and Judaism was (and still is) strictly Unitarian
(Oneness - believing that God is only one).
- The road
which led from Jerusalem to Nicea was scarcely a
straight one. Fourth century Trinitarianism did not
reflect accurately early (Originally Apostolic)
Christian teaching regarding the nature of God; it was
on the contrary, and deviation from this teaching."
- The Encyclopedia of Religion, Vol.
15, 1987:
- Exegetes and theologians today are in agreement that
the Hebrew Bible does not contain a doctrine of the Trinity,
- Further, exegetes and theologians agree that the New
Testament also does not contain an explicit doctrine of the Trinity.
- Some theologians have concluded that all
post-biblical Trinitarian doctrine is therefore arbitrary (based on or
subject to individual judgment or preference). While it is incontestable
(obviously true) that the doctrine cannot be established on scriptural
evidence alone."
______________________
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