In each blog, I often reference many different topics that I've already covered (or will soon cover), and maybe you've missed. Please review my blogs to read more...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
___________________________
The doctrine of the trinity is so fundamental to Christianity that no one finds it necessary to explain, prove, or in any way substantiate the "doctrine" with Scripture. And don't you dare speak against this "holy" doctrine of the church!
Some would rather keep moving forward believing the lies of Christendom than put in any work of their own and to:
Act 17:11 ... examine the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
Some of you will no doubt call me a heretic for denying the "Holy Trinity"... which is exactly what I'm about to do.
The ever so popular hymn goes:
"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Al-mighty, God in three persons, Blessed trinity"
The world's "leading" Theologians tell us that God is composed of THREE persons:
[1] God the Father,
[2] God the Son,
[3] and God, the Holy Ghost [Spirit]
A simple rule to follow in general:
Whenever someone is trying to teach you a doctrine that is UN-Scriptural, they will usually used words that are UN-Scriptural.
First of all, the word trinity is not found ANYWHERE in Scripture.
Second, three is NEVER used in reference to Who or What God is.
Third, God is NEVER referred to as a person.
Fourth, God's Holy Spirit is NEVER called "God".
Fifth, Christ is the Son. He cannot be the Father.
Jesus told us Himself, quite clearly:
Joh 14:24 ... the Father is GREATER than I.
The Holy Spirit is not once referred to as God, God is never referred to as a trinity, or a person consisting of three, and Jesus is the Son of the Father, and still...
This cornerstone doctrine of the church - the holy trinity still exists.
If I go to my Hastings Dictionary and look up the word "trinity"... right away, the definition starts out with an almost "disclaimer" tone.
It is sometimes asked why we are not given a definite statement that there are three Persons in the Godhead. One reason for the absence of any such categorical and dogmatic teaching is probably to be found in the fact that the earliest hearers of the gospel were Jews, and that any such pronouncement might (and probably would) have seemed a contradiction of their own great truth of the unity of the Godhead.
Of course it was a "contradiction" to the Jews... it was nonsense to the Jews then, and it's a contradiction to the Scriptures now!
In fact, this ideal did not even come into existence until long AFTER the Scriptures were written and sealed... that alone should tell you something. It was man, poking his nose (once again) where it doesn't belong!
____________________________
Interlude
This is a great quote that I cannot help but to share here. It was actually in reference to a different topic, but the shoe also fits in this case.
It fully expresses my feelings in a way that I'm unable to so eloquently write:
"The simple statements [of Scripture] would never have caused untold confusion which still seems to surround it, if the commendable zeal of the early fathers and the Nicean council against the Arian faction had not led them to invent a creed, calculated to clear up its meaning.
The supposition that men could express clearly and concisely what the Scriptures had failed to clarify is repugnant to anyone who has imbibed but a modicum of the self-effacing disposition which is in Christ Jesus.
The early fathers of the church not only fought for their own superiority in the church but their councils actually considered their creeds superior to the inspired utterances of the Scriptures."
________________________
This whole doctrine has been derived by a room full of stuffy guys sitting around a table in their intellectual caps, and their philosophical gowns, that they might impress themselves with their theological genius, while trying to elevate their own superiority amongst their exclusive club!
And what do we do?
"Oh, well much smarter men than us said it was true... so it MUST be true!"
Rev 18:4-5 Come out of her my people, that ye be NOT partakers of her sins, and that ye receive NOT of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
More from Hastings:
"The Christian doctrine of God as existing in three Persons and one substance is NOT demonstrable by LOGIC or Scriptual PROOF..."
I'm almost shocked that Hastings admitted that, BUT...
"but, a necessary HYPOTHESIS, above reason but not contrary to it."
First, let me give you a definition of "hypothesis"... this is from Google:
"a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation."
... and in philosophy:
"a proposition made as a basis for reasoning, without any assumption of its truth."
Here's an even more telling definition from Webster's Dictionary:
"A system or theory imagined or assumed to account for what is not understood. An unproved theory.
Now - theory:
Theory, a speculative plan... a formulation of underlying principles of certain observed phenomena which has been verified to SOME degree... a conjecture; guess."
At least Hastings got one thing right... the trinity doctrine is definitely a hypothesis - it doesn't even have enough evidence to elevate itself into the definition of a theory.
If there is no logic, no Scriptural proof, then why would anyone believe in this strange doctrine?
The question shouldn't be:
"Glen - why DON'T you believe in the trinity?!"
The question should be:
"Why DO you?!"
Why?! Especially when the Bible is quite simple and direct as to Who and What God is, and as to how many "Gods" there are.
I know I've mentioned this in other blogs, but this reminder proves necessary once again:
God WARNS us against...
"Adding to" or "taking away from" His Word (Rev 22:10-18)
We are to rightly "divide" God's Word (2 Tim 2:15-18)
We are to "...distinguish the things that DIFFER" (Php 1:10)
...and have a "PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS" (2 Tim 1:13-14)
Also, we are to shun the "TRADITIONS OF MEN" (Col 2:8)
...and the "WISDOM OF THIS WORLD" (1 Cor 1:20 & 1 Cor 3:19)
... and to "EXPOSE those who CONTRADICT" (Tit 1:9)
Scripture PLAINLY teaches us that God the Father is ONE.
one + one + one = ONE?! NO!
God is most definitely NOT a TRIUNE Godhead, and we'll get to the simplicity of the Scriptures below.
(Note: I don't even like using that word "Godhead" - it's been made to imply more than it actually means which is solely "Divinity" [G2305 - theiotes].)
___________________________
Elohim
First, let's start with the Hebrew word Elohim.
Doctor Ed DeVries, President of the School of Biblical & Theological Studies has tried to explain the doctrine of the trinity.
"Since the word Trinity IS NOT FOUND ANYWHERE IN THE RECEIVED TEXT or in its offspring (the Authorized Version and other biblical translations derived from the received text), many argue that the doctrine of the Trinity is NOT A BIBLICAL ONE. However, when a person comes to understand the THEORY [here we go, back to understanding man's theories again] that is embodied in the terminology they can NOT HELP BUT FIND PROOF OF THE TRINITY THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE. The doctrine of the Trinity is believed by ALL Christian groups. Some groups profess to be Christian and DO NOT believe in the Trinity, however, NONE OF THESE GROUPS ARE TRULY CHRISTIAN..." (emphasis mine).
Well... there you have it, straight from the mouth of "Doctor DeVries"... according to him, I am not truly a Christian.
Apparently, because I believe in what the Holy Scriptures actually say, versus what they DO NOT say.
(Any argument from silence, no matter the topic, is not worth your time.)
Why? Because I don't "understand the THEORY that is embodied in the TERMINOLOGY".
If I want to "find proof of the trinity throughout the Bible", my first step would NOT be coming to "understand the theory that is embodied in the terminology".
My first step is to CONSULT the Bible - not man's theories! Seriously, the nerve of these people!
Do you know why we are told that we must "understand the THEORY that is EMBODIED in the TERMINOLOGY"?
Because the "trinity" is NOT found ANYWHERE in Scripture!
Dr. DeVries CANNOT express his thoughts in the language of inspiration, because his thoughts are NOT inspired by the very Holy Spirit he attempts to explain to us!
Can you imagine Jesus saying in Mat 11:25...
You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to those that understand the theory that is embodied in the terminology.
This is a perfect example of "the wisdom of this world" which is "foolishness with God" (1 Cor 3:19).
Thank God that He does not work that way...
... for God "has revealed them unto babes." (Mat 11:25)
The above so-called "teacher", and so-called "doctor of theology" says that one can COME UP with [invent] a term, THEN develop a theory based on the term [not on truth, not on law, not on the Scriptures, but based on the "term" he has just invented], and finally, when you come to understand the theory embodied in the term, you will then be able [is it first necessary to say 'abracadabra'?] TO FIND THE TRUTH OF THAT THEORY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE BIBLE?!
If the "truth" of the trinity could be found anywhere in Scripture, let alone throughout the entirety, it wouldn't be called a hypothesis, or a theory Dr. DeVries.
Not only that, but continuing with Dr. DeVries, he also claims:
"The CONCEPT of the Trinity is the very CONCEPT OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD, and since God reveals himself to his children, it only makes sense that ALL Christian churches would believe in and DEFEND the DOCTRINE of the Trinity."
When a man with a Doctorate in Theology degree tries to tell me that the very "existence of God" is a "concept"... it's time to stop listening.
To make things worse, "the very concept of the existence of God" is based on this concept of an UN-Scriptural trinity.
This guy is the President of a Biblical College, cranking out thousands of students who are taught the exact same thing!
All of the above just to finally get to what Dr. DeVries says about the Hebrew word Elohim.
"Since the word Trinity is used to represent God as a triune being [Who uses that word to represent God? It's not used by ME], what is triune? Noah Webster defined the word triune to mean, 'three in one.' This means that God, a singular being, exists in a PLURAL manner... The Hebrew name for God used in all known manuscripts is ELOHIM... The word ELOHIM means three in one."
Noah Webster defined the English word "triune" as three in one, therefore Elohim means three in one... huh?! Are you kidding me?!
The Hebrew word Elohim [pronounced eloheem] is the plural form of Eloah which answers to "The Deity".
The Greek equivalent word generally used in the New Testament for God is Theos which means PLACER (God), literally DISPOSER or ARBITER.
There's not a SINGLE valid dictionary or lexicon in which you'll find "three in one" as the definition to Elohim.
Go ahead and look... if you find one I'll send you a crisp new $100 bill. The "Doctor" is trying to validate his own vanity with this un-Scriptural nonsense.
Trinity in Nature
Since we can't find the trinity in Scripture... maybe we can justify our beliefs through nature? The "Doctor" continues in his article "The Trinity Illustrated in Nature".
Seriously?! This is what we now rely on as valid Biblical scholarship?
This is where I'd had enough of this guy's babbling nonsense... no more Dr. DeVries.
Can you imagine a presentation on serious secular subjects such as medicine, aviation, or physics being written like this? This guy would be laughed to scorn by his peers!
Let's start with a verse Trinitarians claim adds credence to this hypothesis.
No doubt, the first one they'll call out is:
1 Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, [1] the Father, [2] the Word, and [3] the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
The first time I began to dig into this subject is when I found out that the words (above) in blue... are NOT Scripture and they should NOT be in ANY Bible.
Those words in blue are NOT contained in ANY Greek Manuscript which was written earlier than the 15th century. Nor, is it cited by ANY of the Greek ecclesiastical writers, or early Latin Church fathers.
It should read:
1 Jn 5:7-8 seeing that three there are that are testifying [G3140 - martureo], the spirit, and the water, and the blood; and the three are for the one thing.
If you look to the footnotes in your own Bible, you'll likely see this recorded. If not, research it yourself - this is a well known fact and has been known about for a long time.
The verse above is dealing with baptism not some fabled trinity! Those three also "testify" in the crucifixion of Jesus. When Jesus gave the Spirit back to The Father, what happened?
Joh 19:34-35 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record [G3140 - martureo, testified], and his record is true: and he knows that he saith true, that ye might believe.
What about John 10:30?
I and my Father are one.
First of all, please note what it does NOT say... Jesus did NOT say
"I and my Father are one God."
Do the Scriptures plainly tell us that there is only ONE GOD?
Do they tell us Who that ONE GOD is?
Do they tell us the relationship of Jesus to that ONE GOD?
Yes - they do, and we'll get to some of them later... for now, you only need ONE Scripture passage to explain all of the questions above:
1 Cor 8:5-6 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, as there be gods many, and lords many, but to US there is but ONE GOD, the FATHER, OF Whom are ALL THINGS [including Jesus], and we in Him; and [there is but] ONE LORD Jesus Christ, BY Whom are all things, and we by him.
A bit of common sense will tell you that the Father and the Son are not the same person. But what does the next verse say?
1 Cor 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge:
How many Gods are there according to the passage above?
ONE - the Father. Not a combination of the Father, AND the Son, AND the Holy Ghost.
Just the Father alone.
Jesus is NOT an equal part of this ONE GOD.
Jesus is ONE LORD.
Also notice - the third person of this fabled trinity, is not even mentioned.
This is not hard... it's spelled out clearly above. It's only hard for those who need to wrestle and twist Scripture in order to meet their own "Theological doctoral theories" (see 2 Pet 3:16).
ALL is OUT of God the Father.
ALL is THROUGH Jesus, the Christ.
God the Father is the first cause of ALL because ALL is out of Him. EVEN Jesus is come OUT of the Father!
Don't believe me?
Then do you believe Jesus own words?
Joh 16:27-28 For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me [Jesus], and have believed that I CAME OUT from God. I [Jesus] CAME FORTH from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
Jesus didn't come out from the trinity. He came out of the Father.
After Jesus came out from the Father, ALL of creation came out from The Father, and THROUGH Jesus.
Col 1:15-17 Who [Jesus] is the Image [visible] of the Invisible God [The Father], the FIRSTBORN of EVERY creature: For by Him were ALL things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created THROUGH Him, and FOR Him: And He is BEFORE ALL things, and by Him all things consist [G4921 - sunistao; banded together, have cohesion].
The Father did not come out of the Son - Christ came out from The Father and all of creation came through Jesus.
Jesus is NOT The Supreme Deity - The Father is, and one day ALL will be submitted back to The Father... INCLUDING Jesus!
1 Cor 15:28 ...then shall the Son [Jesus] ALSO Himself be subject unto Him [The Father] that put ALL things under Him, that God [The Father] may be ALL in ALL.
1 Tim 2:5 For there is ONE God [The Father], and ONE Mediator between God and men, THE MAN Christ Jesus;
This is the only way that we can get to The Father... through Jesus!
Joh 14:28 ... I [Jesus] go unto The Father: for My Father IS GREATER than I.
1 Cor 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and The Head of Christ IS GOD [The Father].
Jesus also has a God:
Eph 1:17 That THE GOD OF our LORD Jesus Christ, The Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:
Jesus is subject to God:
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father OF our Lord Jesus Christ...
Col 1:3 We are thanking the God and Father OF our Lord Jesus Christ...
1 Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father OF our Lord Jesus Christ...
This should go without saying, but The Father DOES NOT have a god.
____________________________
In Part 2 we'll get to the "Holy Ghost [Spirit]"...
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
___________________________
The doctrine of the trinity is so fundamental to Christianity that no one finds it necessary to explain, prove, or in any way substantiate the "doctrine" with Scripture. And don't you dare speak against this "holy" doctrine of the church!
Some would rather keep moving forward believing the lies of Christendom than put in any work of their own and to:
Act 17:11 ... examine the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
Some of you will no doubt call me a heretic for denying the "Holy Trinity"... which is exactly what I'm about to do.
The ever so popular hymn goes:
"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Al-mighty, God in three persons, Blessed trinity"
The world's "leading" Theologians tell us that God is composed of THREE persons:
[1] God the Father,
[2] God the Son,
[3] and God, the Holy Ghost [Spirit]
A simple rule to follow in general:
Whenever someone is trying to teach you a doctrine that is UN-Scriptural, they will usually used words that are UN-Scriptural.
First of all, the word trinity is not found ANYWHERE in Scripture.
Second, three is NEVER used in reference to Who or What God is.
Third, God is NEVER referred to as a person.
Fourth, God's Holy Spirit is NEVER called "God".
Fifth, Christ is the Son. He cannot be the Father.
Jesus told us Himself, quite clearly:
Joh 14:24 ... the Father is GREATER than I.
The Holy Spirit is not once referred to as God, God is never referred to as a trinity, or a person consisting of three, and Jesus is the Son of the Father, and still...
This cornerstone doctrine of the church - the holy trinity still exists.
If I go to my Hastings Dictionary and look up the word "trinity"... right away, the definition starts out with an almost "disclaimer" tone.
It is sometimes asked why we are not given a definite statement that there are three Persons in the Godhead. One reason for the absence of any such categorical and dogmatic teaching is probably to be found in the fact that the earliest hearers of the gospel were Jews, and that any such pronouncement might (and probably would) have seemed a contradiction of their own great truth of the unity of the Godhead.
Of course it was a "contradiction" to the Jews... it was nonsense to the Jews then, and it's a contradiction to the Scriptures now!
In fact, this ideal did not even come into existence until long AFTER the Scriptures were written and sealed... that alone should tell you something. It was man, poking his nose (once again) where it doesn't belong!
____________________________
Interlude
This is a great quote that I cannot help but to share here. It was actually in reference to a different topic, but the shoe also fits in this case.
It fully expresses my feelings in a way that I'm unable to so eloquently write:
"The simple statements [of Scripture] would never have caused untold confusion which still seems to surround it, if the commendable zeal of the early fathers and the Nicean council against the Arian faction had not led them to invent a creed, calculated to clear up its meaning.
The supposition that men could express clearly and concisely what the Scriptures had failed to clarify is repugnant to anyone who has imbibed but a modicum of the self-effacing disposition which is in Christ Jesus.
The early fathers of the church not only fought for their own superiority in the church but their councils actually considered their creeds superior to the inspired utterances of the Scriptures."
________________________
This whole doctrine has been derived by a room full of stuffy guys sitting around a table in their intellectual caps, and their philosophical gowns, that they might impress themselves with their theological genius, while trying to elevate their own superiority amongst their exclusive club!
And what do we do?
"Oh, well much smarter men than us said it was true... so it MUST be true!"
Rev 18:4-5 Come out of her my people, that ye be NOT partakers of her sins, and that ye receive NOT of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
More from Hastings:
"The Christian doctrine of God as existing in three Persons and one substance is NOT demonstrable by LOGIC or Scriptual PROOF..."
I'm almost shocked that Hastings admitted that, BUT...
"but, a necessary HYPOTHESIS, above reason but not contrary to it."
First, let me give you a definition of "hypothesis"... this is from Google:
"a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation."
... and in philosophy:
"a proposition made as a basis for reasoning, without any assumption of its truth."
Here's an even more telling definition from Webster's Dictionary:
"A system or theory imagined or assumed to account for what is not understood. An unproved theory.
Now - theory:
Theory, a speculative plan... a formulation of underlying principles of certain observed phenomena which has been verified to SOME degree... a conjecture; guess."
At least Hastings got one thing right... the trinity doctrine is definitely a hypothesis - it doesn't even have enough evidence to elevate itself into the definition of a theory.
If there is no logic, no Scriptural proof, then why would anyone believe in this strange doctrine?
The question shouldn't be:
"Glen - why DON'T you believe in the trinity?!"
The question should be:
"Why DO you?!"
Why?! Especially when the Bible is quite simple and direct as to Who and What God is, and as to how many "Gods" there are.
I know I've mentioned this in other blogs, but this reminder proves necessary once again:
God WARNS us against...
"Adding to" or "taking away from" His Word (Rev 22:10-18)
We are to rightly "divide" God's Word (2 Tim 2:15-18)
We are to "...distinguish the things that DIFFER" (Php 1:10)
...and have a "PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS" (2 Tim 1:13-14)
Also, we are to shun the "TRADITIONS OF MEN" (Col 2:8)
...and the "WISDOM OF THIS WORLD" (1 Cor 1:20 & 1 Cor 3:19)
... and to "EXPOSE those who CONTRADICT" (Tit 1:9)
Scripture PLAINLY teaches us that God the Father is ONE.
one + one + one = ONE?! NO!
God is most definitely NOT a TRIUNE Godhead, and we'll get to the simplicity of the Scriptures below.
(Note: I don't even like using that word "Godhead" - it's been made to imply more than it actually means which is solely "Divinity" [G2305 - theiotes].)
___________________________
Elohim
First, let's start with the Hebrew word Elohim.
Doctor Ed DeVries, President of the School of Biblical & Theological Studies has tried to explain the doctrine of the trinity.
"Since the word Trinity IS NOT FOUND ANYWHERE IN THE RECEIVED TEXT or in its offspring (the Authorized Version and other biblical translations derived from the received text), many argue that the doctrine of the Trinity is NOT A BIBLICAL ONE. However, when a person comes to understand the THEORY [here we go, back to understanding man's theories again] that is embodied in the terminology they can NOT HELP BUT FIND PROOF OF THE TRINITY THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE. The doctrine of the Trinity is believed by ALL Christian groups. Some groups profess to be Christian and DO NOT believe in the Trinity, however, NONE OF THESE GROUPS ARE TRULY CHRISTIAN..." (emphasis mine).
Well... there you have it, straight from the mouth of "Doctor DeVries"... according to him, I am not truly a Christian.
Apparently, because I believe in what the Holy Scriptures actually say, versus what they DO NOT say.
(Any argument from silence, no matter the topic, is not worth your time.)
Why? Because I don't "understand the THEORY that is embodied in the TERMINOLOGY".
If I want to "find proof of the trinity throughout the Bible", my first step would NOT be coming to "understand the theory that is embodied in the terminology".
My first step is to CONSULT the Bible - not man's theories! Seriously, the nerve of these people!
Do you know why we are told that we must "understand the THEORY that is EMBODIED in the TERMINOLOGY"?
Because the "trinity" is NOT found ANYWHERE in Scripture!
Dr. DeVries CANNOT express his thoughts in the language of inspiration, because his thoughts are NOT inspired by the very Holy Spirit he attempts to explain to us!
Can you imagine Jesus saying in Mat 11:25...
You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to those that understand the theory that is embodied in the terminology.
This is a perfect example of "the wisdom of this world" which is "foolishness with God" (1 Cor 3:19).
Thank God that He does not work that way...
... for God "has revealed them unto babes." (Mat 11:25)
The above so-called "teacher", and so-called "doctor of theology" says that one can COME UP with [invent] a term, THEN develop a theory based on the term [not on truth, not on law, not on the Scriptures, but based on the "term" he has just invented], and finally, when you come to understand the theory embodied in the term, you will then be able [is it first necessary to say 'abracadabra'?] TO FIND THE TRUTH OF THAT THEORY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE BIBLE?!
If the "truth" of the trinity could be found anywhere in Scripture, let alone throughout the entirety, it wouldn't be called a hypothesis, or a theory Dr. DeVries.
Not only that, but continuing with Dr. DeVries, he also claims:
"The CONCEPT of the Trinity is the very CONCEPT OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD, and since God reveals himself to his children, it only makes sense that ALL Christian churches would believe in and DEFEND the DOCTRINE of the Trinity."
When a man with a Doctorate in Theology degree tries to tell me that the very "existence of God" is a "concept"... it's time to stop listening.
To make things worse, "the very concept of the existence of God" is based on this concept of an UN-Scriptural trinity.
This guy is the President of a Biblical College, cranking out thousands of students who are taught the exact same thing!
All of the above just to finally get to what Dr. DeVries says about the Hebrew word Elohim.
"Since the word Trinity is used to represent God as a triune being [Who uses that word to represent God? It's not used by ME], what is triune? Noah Webster defined the word triune to mean, 'three in one.' This means that God, a singular being, exists in a PLURAL manner... The Hebrew name for God used in all known manuscripts is ELOHIM... The word ELOHIM means three in one."
Noah Webster defined the English word "triune" as three in one, therefore Elohim means three in one... huh?! Are you kidding me?!
The Hebrew word Elohim [pronounced eloheem] is the plural form of Eloah which answers to "The Deity".
The Greek equivalent word generally used in the New Testament for God is Theos which means PLACER (God), literally DISPOSER or ARBITER.
There's not a SINGLE valid dictionary or lexicon in which you'll find "three in one" as the definition to Elohim.
Go ahead and look... if you find one I'll send you a crisp new $100 bill. The "Doctor" is trying to validate his own vanity with this un-Scriptural nonsense.
Trinity in Nature
Since we can't find the trinity in Scripture... maybe we can justify our beliefs through nature? The "Doctor" continues in his article "The Trinity Illustrated in Nature".
Seriously?! This is what we now rely on as valid Biblical scholarship?
This is where I'd had enough of this guy's babbling nonsense... no more Dr. DeVries.
Can you imagine a presentation on serious secular subjects such as medicine, aviation, or physics being written like this? This guy would be laughed to scorn by his peers!
Let's start with a verse Trinitarians claim adds credence to this hypothesis.
No doubt, the first one they'll call out is:
1 Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, [1] the Father, [2] the Word, and [3] the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
The first time I began to dig into this subject is when I found out that the words (above) in blue... are NOT Scripture and they should NOT be in ANY Bible.
Those words in blue are NOT contained in ANY Greek Manuscript which was written earlier than the 15th century. Nor, is it cited by ANY of the Greek ecclesiastical writers, or early Latin Church fathers.
It should read:
1 Jn 5:7-8 seeing that three there are that are testifying [G3140 - martureo], the spirit, and the water, and the blood; and the three are for the one thing.
If you look to the footnotes in your own Bible, you'll likely see this recorded. If not, research it yourself - this is a well known fact and has been known about for a long time.
The verse above is dealing with baptism not some fabled trinity! Those three also "testify" in the crucifixion of Jesus. When Jesus gave the Spirit back to The Father, what happened?
Joh 19:34-35 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record [G3140 - martureo, testified], and his record is true: and he knows that he saith true, that ye might believe.
What about John 10:30?
I and my Father are one.
First of all, please note what it does NOT say... Jesus did NOT say
"I and my Father are one God."
Do the Scriptures plainly tell us that there is only ONE GOD?
Do they tell us Who that ONE GOD is?
Do they tell us the relationship of Jesus to that ONE GOD?
Yes - they do, and we'll get to some of them later... for now, you only need ONE Scripture passage to explain all of the questions above:
1 Cor 8:5-6 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, as there be gods many, and lords many, but to US there is but ONE GOD, the FATHER, OF Whom are ALL THINGS [including Jesus], and we in Him; and [there is but] ONE LORD Jesus Christ, BY Whom are all things, and we by him.
A bit of common sense will tell you that the Father and the Son are not the same person. But what does the next verse say?
1 Cor 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge:
How many Gods are there according to the passage above?
ONE - the Father. Not a combination of the Father, AND the Son, AND the Holy Ghost.
Just the Father alone.
Jesus is NOT an equal part of this ONE GOD.
Jesus is ONE LORD.
Also notice - the third person of this fabled trinity, is not even mentioned.
This is not hard... it's spelled out clearly above. It's only hard for those who need to wrestle and twist Scripture in order to meet their own "Theological doctoral theories" (see 2 Pet 3:16).
ALL is OUT of God the Father.
ALL is THROUGH Jesus, the Christ.
God the Father is the first cause of ALL because ALL is out of Him. EVEN Jesus is come OUT of the Father!
Don't believe me?
Then do you believe Jesus own words?
Joh 16:27-28 For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me [Jesus], and have believed that I CAME OUT from God. I [Jesus] CAME FORTH from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
Jesus didn't come out from the trinity. He came out of the Father.
After Jesus came out from the Father, ALL of creation came out from The Father, and THROUGH Jesus.
Col 1:15-17 Who [Jesus] is the Image [visible] of the Invisible God [The Father], the FIRSTBORN of EVERY creature: For by Him were ALL things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created THROUGH Him, and FOR Him: And He is BEFORE ALL things, and by Him all things consist [G4921 - sunistao; banded together, have cohesion].
The Father did not come out of the Son - Christ came out from The Father and all of creation came through Jesus.
Jesus is NOT The Supreme Deity - The Father is, and one day ALL will be submitted back to The Father... INCLUDING Jesus!
1 Cor 15:28 ...then shall the Son [Jesus] ALSO Himself be subject unto Him [The Father] that put ALL things under Him, that God [The Father] may be ALL in ALL.
1 Tim 2:5 For there is ONE God [The Father], and ONE Mediator between God and men, THE MAN Christ Jesus;
This is the only way that we can get to The Father... through Jesus!
Joh 14:28 ... I [Jesus] go unto The Father: for My Father IS GREATER than I.
1 Cor 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and The Head of Christ IS GOD [The Father].
Jesus also has a God:
Eph 1:17 That THE GOD OF our LORD Jesus Christ, The Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:
Jesus is subject to God:
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father OF our Lord Jesus Christ...
Col 1:3 We are thanking the God and Father OF our Lord Jesus Christ...
1 Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father OF our Lord Jesus Christ...
This should go without saying, but The Father DOES NOT have a god.
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In Part 2 we'll get to the "Holy Ghost [Spirit]"...
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
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