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Is the Trinity Biblical?

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First, let's understand that the Bible does NOT explicitly teach the trinity doctrine. see wikipedia

The only verse that seems to teach it (1 John 5:7-8) is fake (not Biblical at all). see wikipedia

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 1 John 5:7-8

"there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And" was added years later and is considered by most authorities to not be Biblical. Most translations do not include it. Try changing some of the different translations on this webpage to see the difference.

Instead, the doctrine is dependent on so-called "trinitarian formulas" see wikipedia that ASSUME or IMPLY (without proof) that the "Holy Spirit" is a separate God person, co-equal with God the Father and with "God the Son".

We can quickly dispatch the false theory of the Trinity by showing that the Father and the Son are NOT co-equal. The Son is subservient to the Father (not equal) therefore the doctrine is false (it claims all three are co-equal Gods). It fails on this single leg, so is entirely false. But we will discover other failures as well.

We will study the "trinitarian formulas" (below) and show how they are based on incorrect assumptions and we will discover the correct interpretation.

More importantly, but taking a little more effort, we will show that it is a God Family, not three separate Gods in one and that there are TWO in this God Family (the Father and the Son) not THREE, and that The Father is the ONE and ONLY Most High God. All Spirits (including the "Holy Spirit") are owned by someone, either human or divine, and don't exist on their own. see Who or What Is the Spirit? This is another failure, but needs further clarification.

In English, the article "the" is used to denote a unique noun or title. If there are three fathers, you would not say "the father". You might say "one of the fathers" or "a father". In our Bible study we will find "the Father" and "the Son" but we will find many Spirits, some divine (Holy) and some not, even though "the" is frequently found with Spirit (the Spirit), it is almost ALWAYS in the possessive (the spirit of XXXX) or XXXX's Spirit. Examples include the spirit of the Lord, the spirit of God, God's spirit, and Elijah's spirit.

The article "the" is generally not used before names (see Importance of a Name). "the" is used before titles (NOT names). This tells us that "the Holy Ghost" or "the Holy Spirit" is NOT a name, but is a title. We must differentiate between titles and names. Names may or may not be unique. There are many people with the name "Joe". There are many people with the name "Jesus" (somebody once quipped that "Jesus" is a Puerto Rican name). There is only one Jesus, the Messiah (the Christ). So, we would properly say "the Messiah" or it's equivalent, "the Christ". We wouldn't say "the Jesus" or its equivalent "the Yahushua".

Much of the confusion comes from sloppy speech and imperfect Bible translations. We must learn to speak and understand precisely (see Sloppy Speech).

What do you think? In the following verse, is Abraham speaking about one Person? two? or three?

And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: Genesis 24:3 (KJV)

The Restored Name version makes it more clear:

And I will make thee swear by יהוה [Yahweh], the Elohim [god] of heaven, and the Elohim of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: Genesis 24:3 (RNKJV)

Notice the name יהוה (Yahweh) without the article "the". Notice the title "the Elohim" ("THE" ONE unique God) of BOTH heaven and earth.

Similarly:

And יהוה [Yahweh, a proper name without "the"] appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the ["the" to denote a title] Elohim of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. Genesis 26:24

We will discuss elsewhere whether this is referring to יהוה the Father or יהוה the Son.


Trinitarian Formulas

Are the following verses referring to one Person? two? or three?

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:19 (for a deeper study of this verse, see here)

The favour of the Master Yahushua the Messiah, and the love of יהוה, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14

Elect according to the foreknowledge of יהוה the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Yahushua the Messiah: Favour unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 1 Peter 1:2

These are the classic "trinitarian formulas". All speak of the Father, the Son and the [Holy] Spirit or Ghost. The Father and Son both have names and those names are frequently (but not always) mentioned. A name is never mentioned for the "Holy Spirit" nor does it have a name. (this is a clue). ALL of Yahweh's creatures have been given names, even the angels. The Creator named Adam and Eve and had Adam name all the earthly creatures (Genesis 2:19). If the Spirit lacks a name, maybe he/it is not a separate creature? If so, he/it might not be a creature (person) of a trinitarian "Three Gods in One". We will see.

Assuming the possibility that Matthew 28:19 were true:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:19

How can we obey this command if we don't know the name of the Holy Ghost? We must know the name of the Holy Ghost to be able to baptize in the Spirit's name. And if it is meaning multiple beings (names), why is it "name" (singular) not "names" (plural).

Do any of these texts PROVE a third person co-equal with the Father? At best, only by assumption or implication. But is it true? We must study about the "Spirit" to find out Who or What Is the Spirit?.


What The Bible Teaches

From the beginning of the Biblical story, the God has always taught monotheism (one God) and fought polytheism (multiple gods). The Hebrews (Israelites) then and Jews to this day strenuously defend the concept of ONE GOD (monotheism) as do their cousins, the followers of Mohamed.

The neighboring idolaters with their many gods were the greatest threat to Israel. Frequently the Israelites fell into apostasy and worshiped the multiple neighboring idols.

"According to Jewish, Christian and Islamic tradition, monotheism was the original religion of humanity; this original religion is sometimes referred to as "the Adamic religion"... While all adherents of the Abrahamic religions consider themselves to be monotheists, some in Judaism do not consider Christianity to be a pure form of monotheism (due to the Christian doctrine of the Trinity), classifying it as Shituf. Islam likewise does not recognize modern-day Christianity as monotheistic, primarily due to the Christian doctrine of Trinity, which Islam argues was not a part of the original monotheistic Christianity as preached by Jesus." (wikipedia).

We have studied what the Bible doesn't teach. Now let's see what it does teach?

Hear, O Israel: יהוה [Yahweh] is our Elohim, יהוה is one: And thou shalt love יהוה thy Elohim with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deuteronomy 6:4-5

One Elohim and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:6

For there is one Elohim [God], and one mediator between Elohim and men, the man Yahushua the Messiah; 1 Timothy 2:5

Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that יהוה [Yahweh] he is Elohim [God]; there is none else beside him. Deuteronomy 4:35

Thou, even thou, art יהוה [Yahweh] alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. Nehemiah 9:6

For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art Elohim [God] alone. Psalms 86:10

Thus saith יהוה [Yahweh] the King of Israel, and his redeemer יהוה of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no Elohim [God]. Isaiah 44:6

And Yahushua answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; יהוה [Yahweh] is our Elohim [God], יהוה is one: Mark 12:29

But to us there is but one Elohim [God], the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Master Yahushua the Messiah, by whom are all things, and we by him. 1 Corinthians 8:6

Thou believest that there is one Elohim [God]; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James 2:19

Wherefore thou art great, O יהוה [Yahweh] Elohim [God]: for there is none like thee, neither is there any Elohim beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 2 Samuel 7:22

O יהוה [Yahweh], there is none like thee, neither is there any Elohim [God] beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 1 Chronicles 17:20

Thou shalt have no other elohim [god] before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I יהוה [Yahweh] thy Elohim [God] am a jealous Elohim... Exodus 20:3-5

Then saith Yahushua unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship יהוה [Yahweh] thy Elohim [God], and him only shalt thou serve. Matthew 4:10

ALL these verses are completely opposite any "Three Divine persons", "in one" or not. If it isn't Biblical, how did the idea get started?


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