Expert: Sal - 3/9/2010

Question
QUESTION: Dear Sal. Warmest greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ. On the question of God, there ara varied views today concerning Him, some say He is a trinity, while others affirm, of which group I am a part, that He is an undivisible one who became flesh for the purpose of redemption and who now abides in the heart of the believer as the HolySpirit. Based on historical writings, it appears that the doctrine of the trinity had its' origin some 300 years after the ascention of Christ based on the writings of the Nicean creed. Why then do you accept a teaching which did not have its origin on the birthday of the church? The Lord bless you richly. I await your reply.

ANSWER: Dear David:

I believe that the Bible does teach the Trinity. I believe that the Trinity is foreshadowed in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament. Passages such as Genesis 1:26 shows God speaking in the plural to some other being or beings that were equal to Himself “in our image”. In Genesis 11:7 again God speaks in the plural “Let us go down…” In Isaiah 6:8 we read, “Whom will I send? Who will go for us?” God is not here, or in the other examples, putting angels on His level as equals. God the Father is speaking to God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

In the New Testament the Trinity is revealed. Jesus is called “God” in John 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In v. 14 John tells us that this “Word” was Jesus. “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us…” The Holy Spirit is also called “God”. Peter tells Ananias that he lied to the Holy Spirit which Peter then calls “God”.

Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." (Acts 5:3-4).

So we see that all three beings are called “God” in the Bible; therefore, we either have polytheism or the Trinity. I believe that since all three are spoken of as being one we have the Trinity revealed. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Note “in the name of” not “names”. All three are one. In Jesus’ baptism we have the Trinity portrayed. “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17). The Spirit, the Father, and the Son. All three are one. In Jesus incarnation we have the Trinity portrayed. “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God’” (Luke 1:35). The Holy Spirit, the Most High, and the Son. All three are one.

Have a Blessed Day,
Sal




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you Sal for such an excellent response. I now address briefly the question of the US and the OUR in Genesis. Assuming on my part, that thses plural pronouns, refer to a trinity of persons, then how do you numerically define the HIS and the He in verse 27? In this verse God creates man in His own image. In the book of Isa chapter 6 we find the same use of the plural 'whom shall I send and who will go for us?'. An observation of these verses reveal that God was speaking to His angels. If you have any doubt, then please see where seraphims were around the throne when the Lord asked that question. Now, it is Isa who said, 'Here am I, send me.' If God took angels into His confidence in addressing them in this chapter then why is it different in the book of Genesis. Angels never helped in creation but were merely taken in the confidence of God. A teacher can say to her students, Let us draw a picture of a man, yet she is the only only holding the chalk in her hand and doing the actual drawing. It is the very same with creation where He takes angels into His confidence. Now with St. John 1:1 let me paraphrase this verse and please tell me what you think. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with the Father and the word was the Father. I am trying here, to establish something in our minds where the real truth of this verse lies. I will sa more on this and other verses in my next exposition for my job duty now calls. The Lord bless you richly and do have a great day in Him. Take good care.

Answer
Dear David:

I appreciate your response. God in Gen. 1:27 refers to the Trinity. The Trinity is referred to in Scripture in both the singular and the plural as in Gen. 1:26. The reason being because there are three persons in the one God. So Gen. 1:27 posses no problem for Catholics and other Trinitarians.

I believe that Is. 6:8 refers to the Trinity like in Gen. 1:26. I don’t believe that God was including angels in “Who will go for us?”

Why not just take John 1:1 as it is? Jesus’ divinity is firmly and clearly established there. The Word could not be the Father because the Word was with God (vv. 1 and 2). John would be writing nonsense if he meant that the Father was with the Father and in the Father’s presence. In v. 14 the Word became flesh which obviously refers to Jesus, God the Son. “The glory of an only Son coming from the Father…” Again John would be writing nonsense if he meant the Father became flesh and was His own Son!

Regards,
Sal