Expert: Messianic Rabbi Yochanan Levine - 9/26/2009

Question
I would like to begin by saying 'Shaloamuaikum' in Hebrew language that is, Peace be on you. And it is thesame greeting that Jesus(PBUH)used when he went to the upper room in the Gospel of Luke chp.24 v.36. I asked you a question in August 09 about the concept of God in the Bible which you gave the reply. But in the reply you wrote, you spoke about 'tRINITY' and also you wrote about 'Salvation' and 'Atonement of Sin', though you did not specify references which I would have prefered if you did because I read the scriptures.
 I couldn't find a single verse in the original Bible where Jesus(PBUH) himself says believe in trinity, but if you know of any please write it to me. But I read in the Quran in Sura Maida chp.5 v.73 that 'They blaspheme those who say trinity, for our Lord is one God.'
Similarly, when I read the Bible in the Gospel of Matthew chp.19 v.16-18 when a man asked Jesus(PBUH) that: 'O good master what shall I do to attain eternal life(salvation), he(Jesus[PBUH])replied: 'Why thou callest me good? because there is none good but one[that is] God: father in the heaven. And if you want to enter eternal life, you keep the commandements.' So when I checked up in the Gospel of Mark chp.12 v.29 when Jesus(PBUH)was asked which is the first of the commandements he(Jesus[PBUH])said:'The first of the commandements [is] Hear O Israel; The Lord our God is one God.' and this was similar to thesame message I read in the Quran.
Also regarding the Atonemnet of Sin, I read from the Bible in the old testament in Ezekiel chp.18 v.20-21 that: ' The soul that sinneth shall, the son shall not bear the iniqity of the father neither will be father bear the iniqity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked turns and keeps to my statues and does what is lawful and right, he shall not die.' which also I have read in the Quran that the brearer of burden cannot bear the burden of others and that every child is born sinless[pure] whether he is from a christain family, jewish family, hindu family or a muslim family he is born pure. This quotation from the Bible and Quran has shown that the whole of man cannot be born in sin if these quotations are true and correct.
Please I would like you to write to me a reply and also would like you to please give reasonable meaning to the following quotation from the Quran: Sura Al imran chp.3 v.64 which says:

'Say O' Jews and Christains, come to common terms as between us and you, [that is] we should worship none but Almighty God[Allah]and we should associate no partners to Him[in woship]...if they turn away, say that you bear witness that we are among those that submit their will to God Almighty[Allah].'  

Answer
Hi Isa,

I looked back to 5/04/09 and found no questions by anyone named Isa. You may have me confused with a different expert.

---- But in the reply you wrote, you spoke about 'tRINITY' and also you wrote about 'Salvation' and 'Atonement of Sin', though you did not specify references which I would have prefered if you did because I read the scriptures.

That does not sound like me.

I do not believe the Trinity is a biblical doctrine either. I believe Y'shua (Jesus) is what he said he was, an obedient Son of God. I can offer you many of the verses cited by those who believe in the Trinity if you wish, but in my opinion God is One and shares His glory with no one.

Isa 42:8 I am HaShem: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Also, I usually offer scriptural supports for my replies, this further suggests to me that you wrote someone else.

--- I couldn't find a single verse in the original Bible where Jesus(PBUH) himself says believe in trinity,

There is no such thing as "the original Bible" so you could not have checked it. We use copies and copies of diverse manuscripts.

Those who believe in the Trinity cite verses like:

John 1:30:30 I and my Father are one.

I John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

John 1:1: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

There are many such verses. In my opinion none of them teach the deity of Jesus nor the Trinity, but I understand how they are interpreted this way and those who do so are still accepted by the One God because they come to Him through Y'shua in sincere faith.

Y'shua was "one with HaShem" in that he was a fully subjected and obedient son who obeyed his Father in all things. On this point I agree with the deen of Islam however.

--- I read in the Quran in Sura Maida chp.5 v.73 that 'They blaspheme those who say trinity, for our Lord is one God.'

I do not accept al Qur'an as a holy book of God and so I do not accept it as an authority on any topic.

--- Please I would like you to write to me a reply and also would like you to please give reasonable meaning to the following quotation from the Quran: Sura Al imran chp.3 v.64 which says:

-- 'Say O' Jews and Christains, come to common terms as between us and you, [that is] we should worship none but Almighty God[Allah]and we should associate no partners to Him[in woship]...if they turn away, say that you bear witness that we are among those that submit their will to God Almighty[Allah].'

Al Qur'an is a deceiving, plagiarized work that is in direct opposition with the real Scriptures of God (the Bible). I have no interest in writing a commentary on it, and if I did you would not like what I would write.

The Torah is clear: Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: HaShem our God is one HaShem:

HaShem is the God of Israel: the One True God.

Allah is a false pagan god, one of 360 worshiped by Muhammad's family and redesigned through the edge of the sword to steal the blessings of Abraham, deceive the world and bring about spiritual chaos, darkness and slavery.

As God's Word says: Genesis 16:12 And he [Ishmael] will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

And it is still the case today.

John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.  

How most Christians came to accept the doctrine of the Trinity is something that takes a while to explain and I get the feeling you are only here as a missionary for your false religion. If you are sincerely wondering how this teaching was developed, I invite you to read my study "The Rise of the Universal Church" at http://allfaith.com/Religions/Noahide/way4.html

Shalom,
~ John of AllFaith