THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS

"Beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve Him, and shalt swear by His name. Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; (For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you)..." -Deut. 6:12-15. In this article we will be looking at the history of the Trinity, and how various contemporary Trinitarians view the Godhead. To begin this next set of questions, we need to bring out some historical facts (all of which can be verified at any public library). Namely when, how, and by whom the doctrine of the trinity made it's entrance into portions of today's "Christianity".

Quote Colliers Encyclopedia, 1982, pg. 480 TRINITY. ...The Christian doctrine that God exists in three persons... The doctrine of the Trinity is generally held to be a mystery above reason... HISTORY OF THE DOGMA. It is generally agreed that the doctrine was formulated with progressively increasing clarity as its terminology developed*...*(Later in this article there's a list of some of these terms) TRADITION. The tradition concerning the doctrine of the Trinity falls into three chronological periods, spanning respectively the time before, during, and after the Arian controversy of the fourth century... In brief, the ante-Nicene Fathers taught the real distinction and divinity of the three persons and the perfect unity of the Godhead... But in their attempts at a philosophical interpretation of the dogma, the ante-Nicene Fathers used certain expressions which favor subordinationism... Theologians commonly defend the orthodoxy of these early Fathers, while admitting that certain of their expressions were inaccurate and eventually dangerous... THEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION. ...The Latins followed the lead of St. Augustine (d.430), (see below) who founded the psychological theory of the Trinity... Developed, completed in detail, and perfected in terminology by the Scholastics (see below), the theory received it's classic form from St.Thomas

Aquinas (see below)..."

Quote Encyclopedia Americana, 1983, pgs. 685 thru 687 "AUGUSTINE, ST. (354-430), Christian bishop... theologian, and philosopher... AUGUSTINIANISM. ...Platonic and Neo-Platonic influences united with Augustine's religious beliefs, qualities of mind, and cast of character... Characteristically, his principal argument is Platonic in nature and is based upon the mind's possession of immutable truths... In Augustine faith and reason are most closely allied. Hence it is wrong to departmentalize his mind and to think that he offers an exclusively rational and purely philosophical approach to God..."

Quote World Book, 1987, pg. 349 "MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY. During the Middle Ages, Western philosophy developed more as a part of Christian theology than as an independent branch of inquiry. The philosophy of Greece and Rome survived only in it's influence on religious thought.

St. Augustine was the greatest philosopher of the early Middle Ages... A system of thought called "scholasticism" dominated medieval philosophy from about the 1100's to the 1400's. The term scholasticism refers to the method of philosophic investigation used by teachers of philosophy and theology in the newly developing universities of western Europe. The teachers were called scholastics... Scholasticism was basically generated by the translation of Aristotle's works into Latin, the language of the medieval Christian church. These works presented medieval thinkers with the problem of reconciling Aristotle's great body of philosophical thought with the Bible and Christian doctrine. His philosophy combined Aristotle's thought with theology, and it eventually became the official philosophy of the Roman Catholic Church..."

Quote Colliers Encyclopedia, 1982, pgs. 373 thru 376 "AQUINAS, ST. THOMAS (1226-1274), ...From the earliest days of his teaching it became apparent to his contemporaries that he was laying the foundations of a revolution in theology and philosophy... His meeting at Orvieto with his fellow Dominican, William of Moerbeke, led to... Thomas' series of commentaries, in which there is a careful effort to arrive at Aristotle's essential teachings..."

Quote Encyclopedia Americana, 1983 TRINITY. The term Trinity" (Greek troas) was first used by Theophilus of Antioch (fl.c. 180 A.D.)... Judaism emerged...as the purest form of monotheism in the ancient world... The full development of Trinitarianism took place in the West, in the Scholasticism of the Middle Ages, when an explanation was undertaken in terms of philosophy and psychology, especially of the recovered Aristotlianism of the 13th century. The classical exposition is found in the works of St. Thomas Aquinas, whose views on this subject have dominated most of later Christian theology, both Roman Catholic and Protestant.

Quote World Book, 1984, vol. 19 "TRINITY... was first defined by the earliest council of churches. This was the first council of Nicea in 325...

Question. Does the Bible teach that it's acceptable to use the traditions of men in order to make and add unto the doctrine or commandments of men, or does it warn against it? "...The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise

in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men..." -1 Corinthians 3:19-21. "...I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes... and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father: and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him" -Luke 10:21-22. "...Whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee..." -Matthew 16:15-17. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him..." -Colossians 2:8-10. "...In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men... Full well ye reject the commandment of God that ye may keep your own tradition" -Mark 7:6-9. "...The first of all commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord" -Mark 12:29. Question. Does the word of God state, or imply that a fuller revelation of the Godhead would be forthcoming, or does the Bible rather warn against coming false prophets who would bring in heretical doctrines? "...Teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables..." -1 Timothy 1:3-4. "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" -1 Timothy 4:16. "Be not carried away with diverse and strange doctrines..." -Hebrews 13:9. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils..." -1 Timothy 4:1. "...There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them... And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of" -2 Peter 2:1-2. "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son" -2 John 9.

Question. If the Trinity doctrine was not even defined until the beginning of the 4th century, which doctrine was current with numerous adherents up until that time (according to history)? Quote Webster's Dictionary (1959) "MONARCHIANISM... An anti-trinitarian doctrine or theory current in the church of the 2nd & 3rd centuries in several forms, the common principle of which was that God is a single being... The adherents of this latter type (called also modalists) were numerous..."

Question. Are the teachings of contemporary Trinitarians compatible with, or contradictory of, the scriptures? Quote What we mean by Divine Trinity is that there are three separate and distinct persons in the Godhead, each one having His own personal spirit body, personal soul, and personal spirit in the same sense each human being... has his own body, soul, and spirit... Thus there are three separate persons in divine individuality and divine plurality... The word God is used either as a singular or a plural word, like sheep".

The Scriptures Compare The buck our sheep is one buck. "The Lord our God is one Lord" -Mark 12:29. For there is one sheep. "For there is one God..." -1 Timothy 2:5. But sheep is one. "...But God is one" -Galatians 3:20. Have we not all one buck? Hath not one sheep sired all our lambs? "Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us?" -Malachi 2:10.

To us there is but one sheep, the buck. "To us there is but one God, the Father..." -1 Corinthians 8:6. One sheep and buck of all. "One God and Father of all..." -Ephesians 4:6. If we say that sheep is one, that there is one sheep, and that we have one sheep, then we have disqualified that we could possibly have three separate individual sheep. What number of God has the Bible declared the Lord to be? "The Lord our God is one Lord" -Mark 12:29.

Quote "We teach there is one God manifest in three persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost... Individually each is called God; collectively they can be spoken of as one God because of their perfect unity... However, there are some particulars which relate to each individual person of the deity as to position, office, and work that could not be attributed to either of the other members of the Godhead".

The Scriptures Question. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE SON? "...There is but...one Lord Jesus Christ..." -1 Cor.8:6, & Eph.4:5. "...I will be a Father unto you...saith the Lord..." -2 Cor.6:18. "Now the Lord is that Spirit..." -2 Cor. 3:17. Question. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE FATHER? "...There is but one God, the Father..." -1 Corinthians 8:6. "God is a Spirit..." -John 4:24. "...God was manifest in the flesh..." -1 Tim. 3:16, with "...The Father...was manifested to

take away our sins..." 1 John 3:1,5. Question. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE SPIRIT? "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all... All these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit..." -1 Corinthians 12:4-6,11. "God is a Spirit..." -John 4:24.

Quote "Jesus had said, 'If I go not away, the Helper (Holy Spirit) shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you' (John 16:7)... From heaven Jesus still exercises lordship over us, but, not being physically with us now, He transmits His directions by means of the Holy Spirit who makes Christ real to us."

The Scriptures "Jesus saith unto him... I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you... At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you" -John 14:9,18,20. "...Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" -Matthew 28:20. "...The mystery which...now is made manifest to his saints... is Christ in you..." -Colossians 1:26-27. "...There is but...one Lord Jesus Christ..." -1 Corinthians 8:6, Eph. 4:5. "Now the Lord is that Spirit..." -2 Corinthians 3:17. "...Christ is all, and in all" -Colossians 3:11. Quote "The doctrine of the Trinity itself, however, is not a Biblical doctrine... It is the product of theological reflection upon the problem... The ecclesiastical doctrine of the Trinity is not only the product of genuine Biblical thought, it is also the product of philosophical speculation, which is remote from the Bible".

Quote "When one does speak of an unqualified Trinitarianism, one has moved from the period of Christian origins to, say, the last quadrant of the 4th century... From what has been seen thus far, the impression could arise that the Trinitarian dogma is in the last analysis a late 4th century invention. In a sense this is true... The formulation 'one God in three persons' was not established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the 4th century. But it is precisely this formulation that has first claim to the title "the Trinitarian dogma"

Question. Is it acceptable to formulate a new doctrine not expressively stated by Jesus and the Apostles in the Scriptures? The Scriptures "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them... Thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise... All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction... that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. I charge thee therefore before God... Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables . But watch thou in all things..." -2 Timothy 3:13- 4:5. As was noted in the quote from Colliers' Encyclopedia one problem with the Trinity, from its inception into Christianity, has been the subordination of the Son to the Father. To apparently resolve this issue Trinitarians merely developed extra- Biblical terminology and merged philosophy with scripture. Subordinationism is the belief that the person of the Son is in subjection to, and inferior to, the person of the Father. The problem with subordinationism is the definition of God. God is all-powerful (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient), all-present (omnipresent), and eternal. If the Son is subservient to the Father, then it cannot be said that He is omnipotent. If certain information is withheld from the Son, He cannot be said to be omniscient, and etc. As can be seen by the above quotes, modern Trinitarians hold the belief that three separate individuals in the Godhead each hold claim to the title "God", not just collectively, but also individually. Question. Do the Scriptures bear witness to this perfect "equality of persons" in the Godhead, or do they prove that those who believe the Son is separate in person must accept the Son as being inferior (a semi-God, or junior God) to God the Father?

Question. IF THE SON IS A SEPARATE PERSON FROM THE FATHER, IS HE OMNIPOTENT? Answered Jesus... "I can of mine own self do nothing..." -John 5:30. "...My Father is greater than I" -John 14:28. Question. IF THE SON IS A SEPARATE PERSON FROM THE FATHER, IS HE OMNISCIENT? "...Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father" -Mark 13:32. Question. IF THE SON IS A SEPARATE PERSON FROM THE FATHER, IS HE OMNIPRESENT? "...Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him" -John 11:14-15. Question. IF THE SON IS A SEPARATE PERSON FROM THE FATHER, IS/WAS HE ETERNAL? "For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee"-Hebrews 1:5. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son..." -John 3:16. If the above scriptures show God the Father, and Jesus, the Son of God, to be separate persons, then Jesus does not fit the description of God! And that is the fatal shortcoming of the Trinity dogma. For Jesus said- "...If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins" -John 8:24. Jesus Christ is not the ultimate head of the Trinitarian Christian Church! ("Christ...is the head of all principality and power" -Col.2:8-10). Neither do Trinitarians see the Father when they look upon Jesus ("...he that hath seen me hath seen the Father..." -John 14:9). In lip service they profess to believe in His deity, but in their hearts, He is something less than God Almighty.

On the other hand the Bible does teach that... JESUS IS OMNIPOTENT-

"...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" -Matthew 28:18. JESUS IS OMNISCIENT"...Lord, thou knowest all things..."-John 16:30, 21:17. JESUS IS OMNIPRESENT"...Christ...that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things" -Ephesians 4:7,10. "...Christ...filleth all in all" -Ephesians 1:20.23. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" -Matthew 18:20. JESUS IS ETERNAL...Verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am" -John 8:58. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" -Heb. 13:8. After reading the previous verses, we can come to only one conclusion- Jesus, the Son of God, is composed of two complete, though contrasting, natures: humanity and Deity (the one Almighty God). Question. Do the scriptures teach that Jesus is both God and the flesh and bone Son of Man? "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" -Isaiah 9:6. "Jesus...said...destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up... He spake of the temple of His body." -John 2:19,21. Together with...Christ was raised up by the glory of the Father..." -Rom. 6:4. "I Jesus...am the root and the offspring..." -Revelation 22:16. "...God was manifest in the flesh..." -1 Timothy 3:16. "In the beginning was the Word, and...the Word was God...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us..." -John 1:1,14. As was quoted from Collier's the trinity doctrine was formulated as it's terminology developed. That is because there are no scriptures available to trinitarians that, in their literal context, describe their belief of separate Persons in the Godhead. The following Trinitarian words or phrases are not found anywhere in the entire BibleTrinity, Holy Trinity, Divine Trinity, Triune Three-in-one, Three-of-one "God the Son", "God the Holy Ghost" Separate Persons, Separate Egos, Separate Individuals, etc. Divine Plurality, Divine Individuality, Divine Unity "Mystery Above Reason" If you desire to profess a purely scriptural doctrine of the Godhead, you must discard these words and/or phrases! Compare this reliance on unscriptural terminology with a

truly Biblical alternative.

Question. In contrast to the Trinity dogma, ask yourself, does the Oneness doctrine rely upon philosophical speculation, or extra-biblical terminology to express it's doctrine? Or, does the doctrine of the Oneness of God rely solely, and totally upon the faithfulness of the literally stated Word of God? 1) One and only one God. "...God is one" -Galatians 3:20. "For there is one God..." -1 Timothy 2:5. 2) God is a (one) Spirit. "God is a Spirit..." -John 4:24. "There is...one Spirit..." -Ephesians 4:4. 3) God was manifest in the flesh. "...God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" -1 Timothy 3:16. 4) This manifestation was called the Son of God. "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name...God with us" -Matthew 1:23. "...Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest..." -Luke 1:31-32. 5) This manifestation of God in the flesh was not just a member of the Godhead, rather all the fullness of the Godhead dwelled in Him, and we are COMPLETE in Him. "I Jesus...I am the root and the offspring..." -Revelation 22:16. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy...and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him..." -Colossians 2:8-10. Conclusion "Jesus...both Lord and Christ" -Acts 2:36. "...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" -John 5:23. "...Before Abraham was, I am" -John 8:58.

"...If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins" -John 8:24. "And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God" -John 20:28. "Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." -1 John 5:20