The Trinity: The Oneness and Plurality of God
Introduction
The word "Trinity" does not appear anywhere in the Bible. For this reason, many people think that it is a false doctrine, created by the early church leaders. However, the word "gravity" is also not used anywhere in the Bible, although the concept is illustrated throughout. Despite all the protests, the doctrine of the Trinity is the overarching theme throughout the entire Bible. So, although God consists of three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, often referred to as the "Godhead"), God is One. If God were merely a construct of this universe, such an idea would be a contradiction. However, God's transcendence explains the paradox. People who fail to comprehend the true nature of God either- Degrade or deny two members of the Godhead
- Deny the Oneness of God (i.e., become polytheists)
God is Three
The plurality of God is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. This plurality is not an open-ended proposition. The Godhead consists of exactly three persons—God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit. The Bible vigorously refutes the Mormon assertion that human beings can become gods (category 2 error, above).God the Father
Although many people tend to think that the concept that God is our Father is only a New Testament idea, the Old Testament actually makes this claim throughout (Deuteronomy 32:6, Psalms 2:7, 89:26, Isaiah 9:6, 63:16, Jeremiah 3:4, 19, Amos 2:7, and Malachi 2:10)1 The New Testament makes it clear that God the Father exhibits attributes that are identical to those of God delineated in the Old Testament:| Attribute | God | The Father |
|---|---|---|
| Omnipotent (all powerful) | Genesis 17:11, Chronicles 29:11 | Matthew 18:19, John 10:29, Ephesians 4:6 |
| Omniscient (all knowing) | 1 John 3:20 | 1 Peter 1:2 |
| Creator | Isaiah 44:24 | Malachi 2:10 |
| Savior | Isaiah 43:11, 45:21 | Isaiah 63:16 |
| Judge of mankind | Isaiah 3:13, 14 | 1 Peter 1:17 |
| Eternal | Genesis 21:33 | Isaiah 63:16 |
| Holy | 1 Samuel 2:2 | Matthew 6:9, Luke 11:2, John 17:11 |
| Perfect | Deuteronomy 32:4 | Matthew 5:48 |
| Forgives sin | 2 Chronicles 7:14 | Matthew 6:14, 15, Luke 23:34 |
| Gives eternal life | Proverbs 19:23 | John 12:50 |
| Rewards humans | Isaiah 40:10 | Matthew 6:1, 4, 6, John 12:26 |
| Greatest name | Nehemiah 9:5 | John 12:28 |
| Has charge of the angels | Psalms 103:20 | Matthew 26:53 |
| Home is Heaven | Deuteronomy 4:39, 10:14 | Matthew 5:16, 45, 48, 6:9, 14, 7:21 |
| Resurrects the dead | Acts 26:8 | John 5:21 |
| Sanctifies people | Exodus 31:13, Leviticus 20:8 | Hebrews 2:11 |
| To be worshiped | Exodus 34:14 | John 4:21, Ephesians 3:14 |
God the Son
The deity of Jesus Christ is often a contentious issue, although the scriptural evidence for its veracity is actually overwhelming. For example, the New Testament makes it clear that Jesus has identical attributes of God and the Father, which we saw above:| Attribute | God | Jesus Christ |
|---|---|---|
| Omnipotent (all powerful) | 1 Chronicles 29:11 | Philippians 3:20-21 |
| Omniscient (all knowing) | 1 John 3:20 | Colossians 2:2-3 |
| Creator | Proverbs 15:3 | 2 Corinthians 2:14 |
| Savior | Isaiah 44:24 | John 1:3 |
| Judge of mankind | Isaiah 43:11, 45:21 | Acts 4:12 |
| Eternal | Isaiah 3:13, 14 | 2 Corinthians 5:10 |
| Holy | Genesis 21:33 | Micah 5:2 |
| Perfect | 1 Samuel 2:2 | Acts 3:14 |
| Forgives sin | Deuteronomy 32:4 | Hebrews 7:28 |
| Gives eternal life | 2 Chronicles 7:14 | Matthew 9:6 |
| Rewards humans | Isaiah 40:10 | Matthew 16:27 |
| Greatest name | Nehemiah 9:5 | Philippians 2:9 |
| Has charge of the angels | Psalms 103:20 | 2 Thessalonians 1:7 |
| Home is Heaven | Deuteronomy 4:39, 10:14 | John 3:13, Philippians 3:20 |
| Resurrects the dead | Acts 26:8 | John 6:40 |
| Sanctifies people | Exodus 31:13, Leviticus 20:8 | John 17:19 |
| To be worshiped | Exodus 34:14 | Revelation 5:12-13 |
God the Holy Spirit
As is true of God the Father and God the Son, God the Holy Spirit shares the same attributes:| Attribute | God | Holy Spirit |
|---|---|---|
| Omnipotent (all powerful) | 1 Chronicles 29:11 | Luke 1:35, 4:14, Romans 15:13, 19, Ephesians 3:16 |
| Omniscient (all knowing) | 1 John 3:20 | 1 Corinthians 2:10, 11 |
| Creator | Proverbs 15:3 | Genesis 1:2, Job 33:4, Psalms 104:30 |
| Savior | Isaiah 44:24 | Romans 8:11-15, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:30 |
| Eternal | Isaiah 3:13, 14 | John 14:16, Hebrews 9:14 |
| Holy | Genesis 21:33 | Romans 1:4 |
| Gives eternal life | 2 Chronicles 7:14 | John 6:63, Galatians 6:8 |
| Rewards humans | Isaiah 40:10 | Revelation 22:17 |
| Greatest name | Nehemiah 9:5 | Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 6:11 |
| Home is Heaven | Deuteronomy 4:39, 10:14 | 1 Peter 1:12 |
| Resurrects the dead | Acts 26:8 | Romans 8:11 |
| Sanctifies people | Exodus 31:13, Leviticus 20:8 | Romans 15:16, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:2 |
God is One
So, we have seen that the Bible makes it clear that the Godhead consists of three persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. However, throughout both the Old3 and New Testaments,4 the Bible makes it clear that God is One. So, God, in His essence, is One God.
The Trinity
The construction of the Trinity is, therefore, quite simple. God is three persons, but one essence, which follows from the four parameters listed above. Intellectually, we are unsatisfied, since it is quite impossible that 3 = 1. The paradox is solved in two ways.Compound unity of oneness
Although the Old Testament says God is one, this oneness does not imply absolute singularity. The Hebrew word used to describe God's oneness is echad, which demonstrates compound unity of oneness.5 If the Hebrew text had intended to use absolute oneness, the word, yachid, would have been used.6 In all instances where oneness is used referring to God, the word echad is used. The Hebrew word translated "God" is the word El or Elohim.Elohim is actually the plural form of El. The plural form is used 2607 of the 2845 times the word "God" is used in the Old Testament. Not only is the word for God usually used in the plural form, but several verses refer to God as "Us."7 An example of how the Hebrew word Elohim is used in the plural is that it is translated "gods" (referring to idols) 235 times in the Old Testament. It is exactly the same word that is translated "God," referring to the Almighty:
"I am the LORD your God [Elohim], who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. "You shall have no other gods [Elohim] before Me. (Exodus 20:2-3)
For more information on the compound unity of God's oneness see The Triunity of God in The Old Testament.Extra dimensions
In this universe, it is not possible for an entity to be one and three at the same time. However, what most people fail to realize is that God is not restricted to this universe. This concept is found in the biblical claim that God created the entire universe, including its dimension of time. In order to be true, God must exist and be able to operate in dimensions of space and time other than those to which we are confined. God could not have created the universe if He were only a part of it. The Bible says the universe cannot contain Him.8 According to string theory (originating from particle physics), at least ten dimensions of space existed at the creation of the universe.9 Three of these dimensions (plus time) formed the space-time manifold that we can directly observe and inhabit. The other six of these dimensions exist within the universe as incredibly compact dimensions of space. God must be able to operate in all of those ten dimensions plus more in order to have created the universe. The Bible suggests God created the universe out of some of the dimensions of space and time which are not visible to us (Hebrews 11:3). As an extradimensional being, God could appear to us as three persons, while being one essence in His full glory. To understand how this is possible, see The Extra-dimensional Nature of God.Anti-Trinitarian heresies
Those who deny the reality of the Trinity do so primarily because they tend to diminish the true nature of God. In Arianism, Jesus is diminished from being God to being merely a created being acting as God's messenger. The Holy Spirit's deity is stripped away by claiming He is just representative of God's spirit in the world (even though God Himself already is Spirit, John 4:24). A modern example of Arianism are the Jehovah's Witnesses. In modalism, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are merely different "faces" or "modes" of God and not separate persons. So, God can manifest Himself as Jesus or the Holy Spirit, but they are just different versions of God. A modern example of modalism is Oneness Pentecostalism. In the theology of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate gods among a "council of gods." Obedient human beings can join them as gods themselves after death. Therefore, God is brought down to the level of created human beings.
Conclusion 
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God exists as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. However, these three persons are not three separate gods, but One God. This Trinitarian concept of God might seem to be contradictory from a human standpoint, but is perfectly logical from God's extradimensional existence. Anti-Trinitarian heresies either elevate humans to the level of God or demote one or more persons of the Godhead to non-God status. Don't fall into one of those traps!
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19)
To know more CLICK HERE
No comments:
Post a Comment