The Holy Spirit
At the very beginning of his gospel, Luke tells us that he made a very careful study of the things pertaining to Jesus Christ. It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account. Luke 1:3.
Now we look at some of the things he wrote about the Trinity. Of course, no Bible writers ever used the word Trinity because that very un-Jewish thought had never occurred to any Bible writer.
Now we look at some of the things he wrote about the Trinity. Of course, no Bible writers ever used the word Trinity because that very un-Jewish thought had never occurred to any Bible writer.
And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you." Luke 1:35. It is interesting that in the Greek text the word, The, is not used before Holy Spirit.
The modern (1611 AD and newer translations) are very Trinitarian. By inserting the word, The, they imply that The Holy Spirit is a person. By omitting the word, The, it is easy to see "holy spirit" as referring to the power, or "outflowing", of Jehovah.
The modern (1611 AD and newer translations) are very Trinitarian. By inserting the word, The, they imply that The Holy Spirit is a person. By omitting the word, The, it is easy to see "holy spirit" as referring to the power, or "outflowing", of Jehovah.
Jesus increased in wisdom (how could God increase in wisdom?), and stature, and in favour with God and men. Luke 2:52. How is it possible that a person, who is, and always has been equal with God, could increase in favour with God?
- Jesus being tempted for forty days by the devil. Luke 4:2.
- was in all points tempted as we are. Heb. 4:15.
- for God cannot be tempted. James 1:3.
I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent. Luke 4:43. If Christ is God it would have been logical for Him to say, I must preach my kingdom to the other cities also. He also would not have said I have been sent.
Jesus … was a man approved of God among you by powerful works by the miracles…that God worked through him. Acts 2:22.
In this verse, the first thing we notice is that Jesus was a man who was recommended by God. Here some would say, of course, He was a man and also God. The question then is, if Jesus is God, why did He not work his own miracles? The Bible tells us that God worked the miracles through Christ. Jesus did not work His own miracles because He was subservient to His Father!
In this verse, the first thing we notice is that Jesus was a man who was recommended by God. Here some would say, of course, He was a man and also God. The question then is, if Jesus is God, why did He not work his own miracles? The Bible tells us that God worked the miracles through Christ. Jesus did not work His own miracles because He was subservient to His Father!
This man, “you killed him but God raised Him. Acts 2:23. Christ needed God’s help to rise from the dead; that being true, we see that Christ is not the omnipotent Son that the church says He is; He needed God's help.
If we insist that Christ is co-equal with the Father we must also insist that He has all the attributes of his Father and vice versa. Also, we are forced to admit that Jehovah can die?
If we insist that Christ is co-equal with the Father we must also insist that He has all the attributes of his Father and vice versa. Also, we are forced to admit that Jehovah can die?
A Saviour who is God cannot die, and therefore did not die for our sins. The fact that Jesus died for our sins is proof in itself that he was not God. Those who argue that only the body of Jesus died still fall into the trap of saying that Jesus himself did not die. Anthony Buzzard in, The Doctrine of the Trinity.
While Peter was preaching about Jesus, the Messiah, he quoted these words by Moses, The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear. Deut. 18:15. The Jewish religion accepts that this Prophet will be the Messiah.
Notice, though, that Moses declared that the Prophet would be, like me, human, not divine. Moses also said that the prophet would be from among the Israelites, one of their brothers. This, again, fits Christ, the human, but it does not fit a member of a so-called Trinity.
Notice, though, that Moses declared that the Prophet would be, like me, human, not divine. Moses also said that the prophet would be from among the Israelites, one of their brothers. This, again, fits Christ, the human, but it does not fit a member of a so-called Trinity.
Dr Luke again quotes St. Peter, How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38. Since Jehovah anointed Jesus, Jesus cannot be in the position of being equal with Jehovah. That anointing happened immediately after Christ's baptism by John, his cousin. If Christ is equal to His Father, ("God of very God"), He would not have needed to be anointed by His Father!
A person can be by himself but he cannot be with himself, and yet these words tell us that God was with Christ, therefore Christ cannot be God.
Important Confusion
All these arguments against the doctrine of the Trinity are not trivial. We need to understand that the Greek theologians in the second and third centuries (CE) came from a background of polytheism and they saw the words of the Bible, written by Jews, through the Greek philosophical prism; a prism of many gods and demigods. To those who "screwed-up" the doctrines given by Christ and the apostles, it was just a small step to change Christ into a God.
Later, theologians realized that it is impossible to have "The God" and "a God" without having two Gods. So they manipulated words until Christ had become equal with the Father. What they came up with is a jumble of words which are totally meaningless. Wikipedia.
we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. ... So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord. ... The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. ...
Later, theologians realized that it is impossible to have "The God" and "a God" without having two Gods. So they manipulated words until Christ had become equal with the Father. What they came up with is a jumble of words which are totally meaningless. Wikipedia.
we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. ... So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord. ... The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. ...
Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation; ... that we believe and confess; that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Essence of the Father; begotten before the worlds; ... Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father as touching his Manhood. Who although he is God and Man; yet he is not two, but one Christ. Parts of the Athanasian Creed.
This maze of verbiage we are told to believe, for fear of condemnation by Jehovah. Ask any theologian to explain it to you and the stock answer is, "God is too great to explain".
This maze of verbiage we are told to believe, for fear of condemnation by Jehovah. Ask any theologian to explain it to you and the stock answer is, "God is too great to explain".
Even though this last statement is true, why throw this whole load of garbage at us?
The next post will continue with a closer look at the Athanasian Creed.
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