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  • Ray K on John 1 - 13 years ago
    Trinity

    Definition: The central doctrine of religions of Christendom. According to the Athanasian Creed, there are three divine Persons (the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost), each said to be eternal, each said to be almighty, none greater or less than another, each said to be God, and yet together being but one God. Other statements of the dogma emphasize that these three “Persons” are not separate and distinct individuals but are three modes in which the divine essence exists. Thus some Trinitarians emphasize their belief that Jesus Christ is God, or that Jesus and the Holy Ghost are Jehovah. Not a Bible teaching.
    What is the origin of the Trinity doctrine?
    The New Encyclopædia Britannica says: “Neither the word Trinity, nor the explicit doctrine as such, 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’ ( Deut. 6:4). . . . The doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies. . . . By the end of the 4th century . . . the doctrine of the Trinity took substantially the form it has maintained ever since.”—(1976), Micropædia, Vol. X, p. 126.
    The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: “The formulation ‘one God in three Persons’ was not solidly 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. Among the Apostolic Fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a mentality or perspective.”—(1967), Vol. XIV, p. 299.
    In The Encyclopedia Americana we read: “Christianity derived from Judaism and Judaism was strictly Unitarian [believing that God is one person]. The road which led from Jerusalem to Nicea was scarcely a straight one. Fourth century Trinitarianism did not reflect accurately early Christian teaching regarding the nature of God; it was, on the contrary, a deviation from this teaching.”—(1956), Vol. XXVII, p. 294L.
    According to the Nouveau Dictionnaire Universel, “The Platonic trinity, itself merely a rearrangement of older trinities dating back to earlier peoples, appears to be the rational philosophic trinity of attributes that gave birth to the three hypostases or divine persons taught by the Christian churches. . . . This Greek philosopher’s [Plato, fourth century B.C.E.] conception of the divine trinity . . . can be found in all the ancient [pagan] religions.”—(Paris, 1865-1870), edited by M. Lachâtre, Vol. 2, p. 1467.
    John L. McKenzie, S.J., in his Dictionary of the Bible, says: “The trinity of persons within the unity of nature is defined in terms of ‘person’ and ‘nature’ which are G[ree]k 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 others such as ‘essence’ and ‘substance’ were erroneously applied to God by some theologians.”—(New York, 1965), p. 899.

    Jesus is the the fleshly representation of God's word. Hense he is known as the Word, and there are other descriptions we will confirm. The Greek vernacular of the scripture tranalated interlinearly says (John1:1,"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was toward the God, and god was the Word." the Greek spellings of God is capitalized in "toward the God" and not capitalized in," god was the Word." When translated from the Greek root meaning, it reads in english this way, " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God , and the Word was a god." Jesus is a god. Not God the Almighty.
    Jesus is also known in the scriptures as the Son of man. ( Acts 7:56) and he said: “Look! I behold the heavens opened up and the Son of man standing at God’s right hand.”Compare, Matthew 25:31) “When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne.
    If The Son of man (Jesus)is God Almighty would it be reasonable for him to approach one greater than himself? Consider if you will DAN 7:9,10.. 9)"I kept on beholding until there were thrones placed and the Ancient of Days sat down. His clothing was white just like snow, and the hair of his head was like clean wool. His throne was flames of fire; its wheels were a burning fire. 10) There was a stream of fire flowing and going out from before him. There were a thousand thousands that kept ministering to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand that kept standing right before him. The Court took its seat, and there were books that were opened...
    Continuing, DAN 7:13,14 “I kept on beholding in the visions of the night, and, see there! with the clouds of the heavens someone like a son of man happened to be coming; and to the Ancient of Days he gained access, and they brought him up close even before that One. 14) And to him there were given rulership and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples, national groups and languages should all serve even him. His rulership is an indefinitely lasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be brought to ruin.(The Ancient of Days clearly describes God)
    Compare; ( Hebrews 1:1-4,6) 1) God, who long ago spoke on many occasions and in many ways to our forefathers by means of the prophets, 2) has at the end of these days spoken to us by means of a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the systems of things. 3) He is the reflection of [his] glory and the exact representation of his very being, and he sustains all things by the word of his power; and after he had made a purification for our sins he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty in lofty places. 4) So he has become better than the angels, to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs........verse 6) But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all God’s angels do obeisance to him.” Compare also Matthew 25:31) “When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. ( Acts 7:56) and he said: “Look! I behold the heavens opened up and the Son of man standing at God’s right hand.” Clearly two distinct entities.
    Another scripture taken from the Greek Scriptures (New Testament) shows that Jesus is before all creation (God Almighty's only direct creation). In the Greek writings the wording would appear this way. John 17:5 ,"and now glorify me you, Father,beside to yourself to the glory which I was having before of the the world to be beside you. Translated in english to say,"So now you,Father,glorify me beside yourself with the glory that I had alongside you before the world was.
    Notice in Hebrews 1:6 it mentions Jesus as being Firstborn. Jesus was with God ions before the 6 days of creation. In fact all things were created by God through Jesus, Col 1:15-17 (again line for line the Greek would read) "who is image of the God the invisible, firstborn of all creation, because in him it was created the all (things)in the heavens and upon the earth, the (things) visible and the (things) invisible, whether thrones or lordships or governments or authorities;the all (things) through him and into him it has been created; and he is before all(things)and the all (things) in him it has stood together. Versed in englih it reads , "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all other (things) were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible,no matter whether they are thrones,or lordships, or governments or authorities. All other(things)have been created through him and for him. Also he is before all (other) things and by means of him all (other) things were made to exist." Before time as we know it, Jesus was the only direct creation by God (Jehovah). Then all things were created by God (Jehovah) through Jesus. Therefore we read as previously mentioned by Joe on 10/15/2011 @9:38 am,(God speaking to Jesus)," God said in Ge 1:26 "Let US make man in OUR own image."
    Jesus in the Greek is Iesous' and in Hebrew it is Yeshua and means (Jehovah Is Salvation)as mentioned by Ray R on 10/12/2011 @ 2:40 am. This should not be misconstrued to mean it is another name or descriptive identity of Jesus. Note other names and their meanings in the bible; Jeconiah (Jehovah Firmly Establishes), Jecoliah (Jehovah Has been Able), Jeberechiah (Jehovah Blesses), Jedidiah (Beloved of Jah) Jah being the short version of Jehovah , example Ha-le-lu-jah meaning praise be to Jehovah.
    Clearly these others are in no connection with Jesus nor are they considered to be God The Almighty. Their names describe who Jehovah is and what He is synonymus with. Jesus is our very salvation in that he was the sacrificial lamb provided by Jehovah for covering mans sins. Reasonably then, Jesus being the very sacrifice given for us would be the correct and rightful meaning of his name,"Jesus" meaning (Jehovah Is Salvation). Also mentioned was the Christ meaning: Annointed. Annointing is an act of one individual to another. Indicating two distinct individuals.
    On a final note Jesus in reply to his disciples questions at Matthew 24:3 explains the sign of his presence and the occurrence of things at the conclusion of this system. Better known as Armageddon. Jesus words at Matthew 24:36, " Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens, nor the Son,but only the Father." In a trinitarian godship all godheads are omnipotent. All have exact power. Equal if you will. Not one greater than the other. All knowing of everything together. Jesus clearly stated he did not know the day or hour. Only the Father knew that time frame. Jesus spoke of how some one could speak against him (The Son of man)and be forgiven, but speaking against the holy spirit would never be forgiven.( MT 12:32) Again this would not stand to reason in a trinitarian worship.
    Accurate knowledge is the means of salvation. Jesus said in John 17:3 "This means ever lasting life, their taking in knowledge of you the only true God and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ."



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