The Trinity and Oneness Compared

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The Trinity and Oneness Compared

Posted On : Oct-10-2011 | seen (633) times | Article Word Count : 3361 |

In order to understand clearly how trinitarianism differs from the Bible's teaching on the Godhead, I have prepared a contrasting table. There are three persons in one God. That is, there are three essential distinctions in God's nature. God is the Holy Trinity. (Trinitarianism) There is one God with no essential divisions in His nature. He is not a plurality of persons, but He does have a plurality of manifestations, roles, titles, attributes, or relationships to man. (Oneness)

Nonbiblical Terminology

The terminology of trinitarianism is not biblical. The Bible does not mention the word trinity nor does it mention the word persons in reference to God. The Bible does not even relate the words person and three to God in any significant way.

Nonbiblical terminology in and of itself does not mean that a doctrine described by it is necessarily false, but it does cast considerable doubt on the matter. This is especially true when the nonbiblical terminology is not merely a replacement for biblical terminology, but instead it teaches new concepts. In short, nonbiblical terminology is dangerous if it leads to nonbiblical ways of thinking and eventually to nonbiblical doctrines. Trinitarianism certainly has this problem.

Person and Persons

Speaking of God as a person does not do justice to Him. The word person connotes a human being with a human personality - an individual with body, soul, and spirit. Thus, we limit our conception of God if we describe Him as a person. For this reason, this book has never said there is one person in the Godhead or God is one person. The most we have said is that Jesus Christ is one person, because Jesus was God manifested in flesh as a human person.

Speaking of God as a plurality of persons further violates the biblical concept of God. Regardless of what persons meant in ancient church history, today the word definitely connotes a plurality of individuals, personalities, minds, wills and bodies. Even in ancient church history, we have shown that the vast majority of believers saw it as a departure from biblical monotheism.

Three

The use of the number three in relation to God is also dangerous. If used to designate eternal distinctions in God, it leads to tritheism, which is a form of polytheism. If used to designate the only manifestations or roles God has, it limits God's activity in a way not done in Scripture. God has manifested Himself in numerous ways, and we cannot even limit them to three. The use of three goes against the clear emphasis both testaments place on associating the number one with God.

Tritheism

Despite the protests of trinitarians, their doctrine inevitably leads to a practical form of tritheism. The Jews and Muslims realize this, for this is one reason they have rejected traditional Christendom so vigorously. Throughout history, many Christians have also recognized this problem. As a result, some have rejected trinitarianism in favor of Oneness belief. Others have seen the errors of trinitarianism, but, in an attempt to preserve the unity of God, have fallen into the greater error of denying the deity of Jesus Christ (for example, the Unitarians and the Jehovah's Witnesses). In short, trinitarianism emphasizes threeness in God while the Bible emphasizes the oneness of God.

Mystery

Trinitarians universally describe their doctrine as a mystery. (Oneness adherents believe that Jesus was God manifested in the flesh, and now resides in the heavens until the day of His return.) However, the only mystery relative to the Godhead is the manifestation of God in flesh, and even that has been revealed to those who believe. A mystery in Scripture is a divine truth previously unknown but now revealed to man.

Certainly our finite minds cannot understand all there is to know about God but we can understand the simple truth that there is one God. God may transcend human logic, but He never contradicts true logic, nor is He illogical. He emphasizes His oneness so strongly in the Bible that He has dispelled any possible confusion or mystery on this issue.

The Bible never says that the Godhead is an unrevealed mystery or that the question of plurality in the Godhead is a mystery. Instead, it affirms in the strongest terms that God is one. Why resort to an explanation that the Godhead is an incomprehensible mystery in order to protect a man-made doctrine with nonbiblical terminology when the Scriptures plainly give us a simple, unambiguous message that God is absolutely one? It is wrong to state that the Godhead is a mystery when the Bible clearly states that God has revealed the mystery to us.

The Deity of Jesus Christ

Trinitarianism affirms the deity of Christ. However, it detracts from the fullness of Christ's deity as described in the Bible. As a practical matter, trinitarianism denies that the fullness of the Godhead is in Jesus because it denies that Jesus is the Father and the Holy Spirit. It does not exalt the name and the person of Jesus sufficiently or give Him the full recognition that the Bible gives Him.

Contradictions

The basic problem is that trinitarianism is a nonbiblical doctrine that contradicts a number of biblical teachings and many specific verses of Scripture. Moreover, the doctrine contains a number of internal contradictions. Of course, the most obvious internal contradiction is how there can be three persons of God in any meaningful sense and yet there be only one God.

Below I have compiled a number of other contradictions and problems associated with trinitarianism. This list is not exhaustive but it does give an idea of how much the doctrine deviates from the Bible.

1. Did Jesus Christ have two fathers? The Father is the Father of the Son (I John 1:3), yet the child born of Mary was conceived by the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:18, 20; Luke 1:35). Which one is the true father? Some trinitarians say that the Holy Ghost was merely the Father's agent in conception - a process they compare to artificial insemination!

2. How many Spirits are there? God the Father is a Spirit (John 4:24), the Lord Jesus is a Spirit (II Corinthians 3:17), and the Holy Spirit is a Spirit by definition. Yet there is one Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:4).

3. If Father and Son are co-equal persons, why did Jesus pray to the Father? (Matthew 11:25). Can God pray to God?

4. Similarly, how can the Son not know as much as the Father? (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32).

5. Similarly, how can the Son not have any power except what the Father gives Him? (John 5:19, 30; 6:38).

6. Similarly, what about other verses of Scripture indicating the inequality of the Son and the Father? (John 8:42; 14:28; I Corinthians 11:3).

7. Did "God the Son" die? The Bible says the Son died (Romans 5:10). If so, can God die? Can part of God die?

8. How can there be an eternal Son when the Bible speaks of the begotten Son, clearly indicating that the Son had a beginning? (John 3:16; Hebrews 1:5-6).

9. If the Son is eternal and existed at creation, who was His mother at that time? We know the Son was made of a woman (Galatians 4:4).

10. Did "God the Son" surrender His omnipresence while on earth? If so, how could he still be God?

11. If the Son is eternal and immutable (unchangeable), how can the reign of the Son have an ending? (I Corinthians 15:24-28).

12. If in answer to questions 3 through 11 we say only the human Son of God was limited in knowledge, was limited in power, and died, then how can we speak of "God the Son"? Are there two Sons?

13. Whom do we worship and to whom do we pray? Jesus said to worship the Father (John 4:21-24), yet Stephen prayed to Jesus (Acts 7:59-60).

14. Can there be more than three persons in the Godhead? Certainly the Old Testament does not teach three but emphasizes oneness. If the New Testament adds to the Old Testament message and teaches three persons, then what is to prevent subsequent revelations of additional persons? If we apply trinitarian logic to interpret some verses of Scripture, we could teach a fourth person (Isaiah 48:16; Colossians 1:3; 2:2; I Thessalonians 3:11; James 1:27). Likewise, we could interpret some verses of Scripture to mean six more persons (Revelation 3:1; 5:6).

15. Are there three Spirits in a Christian's heart? Father, Jesus, and the Spirit all dwell within a Christian (John 14:17, 23; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 3:14-17). Yet there is one Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:4).

16. There is only one throne in heaven (Revelation 4:2). Who sits upon it? We know Jesus does (Revelation 1:8,18, 4:8). Where do the Father and the Holy Spirit sit?

17. If Jesus is on the throne, how can He sit on the right hand of God? (Mark 16:19). Does He sit or stand on the right hand of God? (Acts 7:55). Or is He in the Father's bosom? (John 1:18).

18. Is Jesus in the Godhead or is the Godhead in Jesus? Colossians 2:9 says the latter.

19. Given Matthew 28:19, why did the apostles consistently baptize both Jews and Gentiles using the name of Jesus, even to the extent of rebaptism? (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5; 22:16; I Corinthians 1:13).

20. Who raised Jesus from the dead? Did the Father (Ephesians 1:20), or Jesus (John 2:19-21), or the Spirit? (Romans 8:11).

21. If Son and Holy Ghost are co-equal persons in the Godhead, why is blasphemy of the Holy Ghost unforgivable but blasphemy of the Son is not? (Luke 12:10).

22. If the Holy Ghost is a co-equal member of the trinity, why does the Bible always speak of Him being sent from the Father or from Jesus? (John 14:26; 15:26).

23. Does the Father know something that the Holy Spirit does not know? If so, how can they be co-equal? Only the Father knows the day and hour of the Second Coming of Christ (Mark 13:32).

24. Did the trinity make the Old and New covenants? We know the LORD (Jehovah) did (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:7-13). If Jehovah is a trinity then Father, Son, and Spirit all had to die to make the new covenant effective (Hebrews 9:16-17).

25. If the Spirit proceeds from the Father, is the Spirit also a son of the Father? If not, why not?

26. If the Spirit proceeds from the Son, is the Spirit the grandson of the Father? If not, why not?

Evaluation of Trinitarianism

We believe that trinitarianism is not a biblical doctrine and that it contradicts the Bible in many ways. The Scriptures do not teach a trinity of persons. The doctrine of the trinity uses terminology not used in Scripture. It teaches and emphasizes plurality in the Godhead while the Bible emphasizes the oneness of God. It detracts from the fullness of Jesus Christ's deity. It contradicts many specific verses of Scripture. It is not logical. No one can understand or explain it rationally, not even those who advocate it. In short, trinitarianism is a doctrine that does not belong to Christianity.

The Doctrine of the Trinity Contrasted with Oneness

In order to understand clearly how trinitarianism differs from the Bible's teaching on the Godhead, I have prepared a contrasting table. The left side lists the essential teachings of trinitarianism. The right side lists the teachings of Oneness or Christian monotheism. We believe that the right side reflects the Bible's teachings.

Trinitarianism Compared To Oneness
1. There are three persons in one God. That is, there are three essential distinctions in God's nature. God is the Holy Trinity. (Trinitarianism) There is one God with no essential divisions in His nature. He is not a plurality of persons, but He does have a plurality of manifestations, roles, titles, attributes, or relationships to man. Furthermore, these are not limited to three. (Oneness)
2. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost) are the three persons in the Godhead. They are distinct persons, and they are co-equal, co-eternal and of co-essence. However, God the Father is the head of the Trinity in some sense, and the Son and Spirit proceed from Him in some sense. (Trinitarianism) Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost) are different designations for the one God. God is the Father. God is the Holy Spirit. The Son is God manifest in flesh. The term Son always refers to the Incarnation, and never to deity apart from humanity. (Oneness)
3. Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God the Son. Jesus is not the Father or the Holy Spirit. (Trinitarianism) Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is the incarnation of the fullness of God. In His deity, Jesus is the Father and the Holy Spirit. (Oneness)
4. The Son is eternal. God the Son has existed from all eternity. The Son is eternally begotten by the Father. (Trinitarianism) The Son is begotten, not eternal. The Son of God existed from all eternity only as a plan in the mind of God. The Son of God came into actual (substantial) existence at the Incarnation, at which time the Son was conceived (begotten) by the Spirit of God. (Oneness)
5. The Word of John 1 (the Logos) is the second person in the Godhead, namely God the Son. (Trinitarianism) The Word of John 1 (the Logos) is not a separate person, but is the thought, plan, activity, or expression of God. The Word was expressed in flesh as the Son of God. (Oneness)
6. Jesus is the human name given to God the Son as manifested in flesh. (Trinitarianism) Jesus (meaning Jehovah-Savior) is the revealed name of God in the New Testament. Jesus is the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. (Oneness)
7. Water baptism is correctly administered by saying "in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Trinitarianism) Water baptism is correctly administered by saying "in the name of Jesus." The name of Jesus is usually accompanied with the titles of Lord, Christ, or both. (Oneness)
8. We will see the Trinity or the Triune God in heaven. (Many trinitarians say we will see three bodies, which is outright tritheism.) Others leave open the possibility that we will see only one Spirit being with one body. Most trinitarians do not know what they believe about this, and some frankly admit they do not know. (Trinitarianism) We will see Jesus Christ in heaven. He is the One on the throne and the only God we will ever see. (Oneness)
9. The Godhead is a mystery. We must accept by faith the mystery of the Trinity despite its apparent contradictions. (Trinitarianism) The Godhead is no mystery, especially to the church. We cannot understand everything there is to know about God, but the Bible clearly teaches that God is one in number and that Jesus Christ is the one God manifest in flesh. (Oneness)

What Does the Average Church Member Believe?

In viewing the contrasts between trinitarianism and Oneness, we may ask what does the average person who calls himself a Christian really believe? Of course, most Christian denominations officially accept trinitarianism. However, most trinitarian scholars carefully distance themselves from tritheism and many use terminology that sounds almost like Oneness.

Many church members do not really understand the doctrine of trinitarianism and, as a practical matter, are closer to Oneness belief. Some questions which if answered in the affirmative indicate a leaning towards Oneness or a functional acceptance of it are:

Do you usually pray directly to Jesus? When you pray to the Father, do you switch over into language indicating that actually you are thinking about Jesus (for example, using "Lord," "in your name," or "Jesus")?
Do you expect to see only one God in heaven, namely Jesus Christ?
Is it correct to say that you seldom or never pray directly to the Holy Spirit as a separate person?
Is the doctrine of the trinity confusing to you or a mystery to you?
Based on answers to these questions and others like them, we feel the majority of Bible believers instinctively think in Oneness terms and not in trinitarian terms. Moreover, it appears that when a person receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit he instinctively thinks in terms of Oneness belief.

Most Catholics and Protestants do not have a well developed concept of the trinity, do not know in detail what trinitarianism teaches, and cannot explain Bible passages in trinitarian terms. Today, we find a strong emphasis on trinitarianism and extremely tritheistic forms of trinitarianism primarily in some trinitarian Pentecostal groups. The apparent reason for this is that they have faced the Oneness issue, have consciously rejected Oneness, and so have gone into radical trinitarianism.

A simple question will help the trinitarian church member clarify his own beliefs. The question is: "When we see God in heaven, what will we see?" If he answers that we will see three persons with three bodies, then he is a strong, radical trinitarian. His answer indicates a pagan tritheism, not the strong monotheism of the Bible. If he answers that we will see one God with one body, then he is close to Oneness. Given this answer, it is easy to demonstrate from Revelation that the One we will see is actually Jesus Christ, for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

Conclusion

The Bible does not teach the doctrine of the trinity, and trinitarianism actually contradicts the Bible. It does not add any positive benefit to the Christian message. Without the man-made doctrine of the trinity we can still affirm the deity of Jesus, the humanity of Jesus, the virgin birth, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, the atonement, justification by faith, the sole authority of Scripture, and any other doctrine that is essential to true Christianity. In fact, we enhance these doctrines when we adhere strictly to the Bible message that Jesus is the one God manifested in flesh. Adherence to Oneness does not mean a denial that God came in flesh as the Son or a denial that God fulfills the roles of Father and Holy Spirit. On the other hand, the doctrine of the trinity does detract from the important biblical themes of the oneness of God and the absolute deity of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Christianity should stop using trinitarian terminology and should go back to emphasis of the basic Bible message. Most Bible believers do not think in strong trinitarian terms, so a transition away from it would not be very difficult, at least on an individual level.

On the other side, strict adherence to Oneness belief brings many blessings. It places emphasis where it should be - on the importance of biblical terminology, thought, and themes. It establishes Christianity as the true heir of Judaism and as a truly monotheistic belief. It reminds us that God our Father and Creator loved us so much He robed Himself in flesh to come as our Redeemer. It reminds us that we can receive this same Creator and Redeemer in our hearts through His Own Spirit.

Oneness magnifies Jesus Christ, exalts His name, recognizes who He really is, and acknowledges His full deity. Exalting Jesus and His name in preaching and in worship brings a mighty move of His power in blessings, deliverance, answered prayer, miracles, healing, and salvation. Wonderful things happen when someone preaches a message on the deity of Jesus, the name of Jesus, and the oneness of God, but rarely does one get inspired over a message on the trinity.

A strong belief in the oneness of God and the absolute deity of Jesus Christ is a crucial element in restoring the church to true biblical belief and apostolic power.

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<h1>The Trinity and Oneness Compared</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Steve-0.aspx'>Steve-0</a> Nonbiblical Terminology

The terminology of trinitarianism is not biblical. The Bible does not mention the word trinity nor does it mention the word persons in reference to God. The Bible does not even relate the words person and three to God in any significant way.

Nonbiblical terminology in and of itself does not mean that a doctrine described by it is necessarily false, but it does cast considerable doubt on the matter. This is especially true when the nonbiblical terminology is not merely a replacement for biblical terminology, but instead it teaches new concepts. In short, nonbiblical terminology is dangerous if it leads to nonbiblical ways of thinking and eventually to nonbiblical doctrines. Trinitarianism certainly has this problem.

Person and Persons

Speaking of God as a person does not do justice to Him. The word person connotes a human being with a human personality - an individual with body, soul, and spirit. Thus, we limit our conception of God if we describe Him as a person. For this reason, this book has never said there is one person in the Godhead or God is one person. The most we have said is that Jesus Christ is one person, because Jesus was God manifested in flesh as a human person.

Speaking of God as a plurality of persons further violates the biblical concept of God. Regardless of what persons meant in ancient church history, today the word definitely connotes a plurality of individuals, personalities, minds, wills and bodies. Even in ancient church history, we have shown that the vast majority of believers saw it as a departure from biblical monotheism.

Three

The use of the number three in relation to God is also dangerous. If used to designate eternal distinctions in God, it leads to tritheism, which is a form of polytheism. If used to designate the only manifestations or roles God has, it limits God's activity in a way not done in Scripture. God has manifested Himself in numerous ways, and we cannot even limit them to three. The use of three goes against the clear emphasis both testaments place on associating the number one with God.

Tritheism

Despite the protests of trinitarians, their doctrine inevitably leads to a practical form of tritheism. The Jews and Muslims realize this, for this is one reason they have rejected traditional Christendom so vigorously. Throughout history, many Christians have also recognized this problem. As a result, some have rejected trinitarianism in favor of Oneness belief. Others have seen the errors of trinitarianism, but, in an attempt to preserve the unity of God, have fallen into the greater error of denying the deity of Jesus Christ (for example, the Unitarians and the Jehovah's Witnesses). In short, trinitarianism emphasizes threeness in God while the Bible emphasizes the oneness of God.

Mystery

Trinitarians universally describe their doctrine as a mystery. (Oneness adherents believe that Jesus was God manifested in the flesh, and now resides in the heavens until the day of His return.) However, the only mystery relative to the Godhead is the manifestation of God in flesh, and even that has been revealed to those who believe. A mystery in Scripture is a divine truth previously unknown but now revealed to man.

Certainly our finite minds cannot understand all there is to know about God but we can understand the simple truth that there is one God. God may transcend human logic, but He never contradicts true logic, nor is He illogical. He emphasizes His oneness so strongly in the Bible that He has dispelled any possible confusion or mystery on this issue.

The Bible never says that the Godhead is an unrevealed mystery or that the question of plurality in the Godhead is a mystery. Instead, it affirms in the strongest terms that God is one. Why resort to an explanation that the Godhead is an incomprehensible mystery in order to protect a man-made doctrine with nonbiblical terminology when the Scriptures plainly give us a simple, unambiguous message that God is absolutely one? It is wrong to state that the Godhead is a mystery when the Bible clearly states that God has revealed the mystery to us.

The Deity of Jesus Christ

Trinitarianism affirms the deity of Christ. However, it detracts from the fullness of Christ's deity as described in the Bible. As a practical matter, trinitarianism denies that the fullness of the Godhead is in Jesus because it denies that Jesus is the Father and the Holy Spirit. It does not exalt the name and the person of Jesus sufficiently or give Him the full recognition that the Bible gives Him.

Contradictions

The basic problem is that trinitarianism is a nonbiblical doctrine that contradicts a number of biblical teachings and many specific verses of Scripture. Moreover, the doctrine contains a number of internal contradictions. Of course, the most obvious internal contradiction is how there can be three persons of God in any meaningful sense and yet there be only one God.

Below I have compiled a number of other contradictions and problems associated with trinitarianism. This list is not exhaustive but it does give an idea of how much the doctrine deviates from the Bible.

1. Did Jesus Christ have two fathers? The Father is the Father of the Son (I John 1:3), yet the child born of Mary was conceived by the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:18, 20; Luke 1:35). Which one is the true father? Some trinitarians say that the Holy Ghost was merely the Father's agent in conception - a process they compare to artificial insemination!

2. How many Spirits are there? God the Father is a Spirit (John 4:24), the Lord Jesus is a Spirit (II Corinthians 3:17), and the Holy Spirit is a Spirit by definition. Yet there is one Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:4).

3. If Father and Son are co-equal persons, why did Jesus pray to the Father? (Matthew 11:25). Can God pray to God?

4. Similarly, how can the Son not know as much as the Father? (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32).

5. Similarly, how can the Son not have any power except what the Father gives Him? (John 5:19, 30; 6:38).

6. Similarly, what about other verses of Scripture indicating the inequality of the Son and the Father? (John 8:42; 14:28; I Corinthians 11:3).

7. Did "God the Son" die? The Bible says the Son died (Romans 5:10). If so, can God die? Can part of God die?

8. How can there be an eternal Son when the Bible speaks of the begotten Son, clearly indicating that the Son had a beginning? (John 3:16; Hebrews 1:5-6).

9. If the Son is eternal and existed at creation, who was His mother at that time? We know the Son was made of a woman (Galatians 4:4).

10. Did "God the Son" surrender His omnipresence while on earth? If so, how could he still be God?

11. If the Son is eternal and immutable (unchangeable), how can the reign of the Son have an ending? (I Corinthians 15:24-28).

12. If in answer to questions 3 through 11 we say only the human Son of God was limited in knowledge, was limited in power, and died, then how can we speak of "God the Son"? Are there two Sons?

13. Whom do we worship and to whom do we pray? Jesus said to worship the Father (John 4:21-24), yet Stephen prayed to Jesus (Acts 7:59-60).

14. Can there be more than three persons in the Godhead? Certainly the Old Testament does not teach three but emphasizes oneness. If the New Testament adds to the Old Testament message and teaches three persons, then what is to prevent subsequent revelations of additional persons? If we apply trinitarian logic to interpret some verses of Scripture, we could teach a fourth person (Isaiah 48:16; Colossians 1:3; 2:2; I Thessalonians 3:11; James 1:27). Likewise, we could interpret some verses of Scripture to mean six more persons (Revelation 3:1; 5:6).

15. Are there three Spirits in a Christian's heart? Father, Jesus, and the Spirit all dwell within a Christian (John 14:17, 23; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 3:14-17). Yet there is one Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:4).

16. There is only one throne in heaven (Revelation 4:2). Who sits upon it? We know Jesus does (Revelation 1:8,18, 4:8). Where do the Father and the Holy Spirit sit?

17. If Jesus is on the throne, how can He sit on the right hand of God? (Mark 16:19). Does He sit or stand on the right hand of God? (Acts 7:55). Or is He in the Father's bosom? (John 1:18).

18. Is Jesus in the Godhead or is the Godhead in Jesus? Colossians 2:9 says the latter.

19. Given Matthew 28:19, why did the apostles consistently baptize both Jews and Gentiles using the name of Jesus, even to the extent of rebaptism? (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5; 22:16; I Corinthians 1:13).

20. Who raised Jesus from the dead? Did the Father (Ephesians 1:20), or Jesus (John 2:19-21), or the Spirit? (Romans 8:11).

21. If Son and Holy Ghost are co-equal persons in the Godhead, why is blasphemy of the Holy Ghost unforgivable but blasphemy of the Son is not? (Luke 12:10).

22. If the Holy Ghost is a co-equal member of the trinity, why does the Bible always speak of Him being sent from the Father or from Jesus? (John 14:26; 15:26).

23. Does the Father know something that the Holy Spirit does not know? If so, how can they be co-equal? Only the Father knows the day and hour of the Second Coming of Christ (Mark 13:32).

24. Did the trinity make the Old and New covenants? We know the LORD (Jehovah) did (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:7-13). If Jehovah is a trinity then Father, Son, and Spirit all had to die to make the new covenant effective (Hebrews 9:16-17).

25. If the Spirit proceeds from the Father, is the Spirit also a son of the Father? If not, why not?

26. If the Spirit proceeds from the Son, is the Spirit the grandson of the Father? If not, why not?

Evaluation of Trinitarianism

We believe that trinitarianism is not a biblical doctrine and that it contradicts the Bible in many ways. The Scriptures do not teach a trinity of persons. The doctrine of the trinity uses terminology not used in Scripture. It teaches and emphasizes plurality in the Godhead while the Bible emphasizes the oneness of God. It detracts from the fullness of Jesus Christ's deity. It contradicts many specific verses of Scripture. It is not logical. No one can understand or explain it rationally, not even those who advocate it. In short, trinitarianism is a doctrine that does not belong to Christianity.

The Doctrine of the Trinity Contrasted with Oneness

In order to understand clearly how trinitarianism differs from the Bible's teaching on the Godhead, I have prepared a contrasting table. The left side lists the essential teachings of trinitarianism. The right side lists the teachings of Oneness or Christian monotheism. We believe that the right side reflects the Bible's teachings.

Trinitarianism Compared To Oneness 
1. There are three persons in one God. That is, there are three essential distinctions in God's nature. God is the Holy Trinity. (Trinitarianism) There is one God with no essential divisions in His nature. He is not a plurality of persons, but He does have a plurality of manifestations, roles, titles, attributes, or relationships to man. Furthermore, these are not limited to three. (Oneness)
2. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost) are the three persons in the Godhead. They are distinct persons, and they are co-equal, co-eternal and of co-essence. However, God the Father is the head of the Trinity in some sense, and the Son and Spirit proceed from Him in some sense. (Trinitarianism) Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost) are different designations for the one God. God is the Father. God is the Holy Spirit. The Son is God manifest in flesh. The term Son always refers to the Incarnation, and never to deity apart from humanity. (Oneness) 
3. Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God the Son. Jesus is not the Father or the Holy Spirit. (Trinitarianism) Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is the incarnation of the fullness of God. In His deity, Jesus is the Father and the Holy Spirit. (Oneness)
4. The Son is eternal. God the Son has existed from all eternity. The Son is eternally begotten by the Father. (Trinitarianism) The Son is begotten, not eternal. The Son of God existed from all eternity only as a plan in the mind of God. The Son of God came into actual (substantial) existence at the Incarnation, at which time the Son was conceived (begotten) by the Spirit of God. (Oneness)  
5. The Word of John 1 (the Logos) is the second person in the Godhead, namely God the Son. (Trinitarianism) The Word of John 1 (the Logos) is not a separate person, but is the thought, plan, activity, or expression of God. The Word was expressed in flesh as the Son of God. (Oneness)
6. Jesus is the human name given to God the Son as manifested in flesh. (Trinitarianism) Jesus (meaning Jehovah-Savior) is the revealed name of God in the New Testament. Jesus is the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. (Oneness)
7. Water baptism is correctly administered by saying "in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Trinitarianism) Water baptism is correctly administered by saying "in the name of Jesus." The name of Jesus is usually accompanied with the titles of Lord, Christ, or both. (Oneness) 
8. We will see the Trinity or the Triune God in heaven. (Many trinitarians say we will see three bodies, which is outright tritheism.) Others leave open the possibility that we will see only one Spirit being with one body. Most trinitarians do not know what they believe about this, and some frankly admit they do not know. (Trinitarianism) We will see Jesus Christ in heaven. He is the One on the throne and the only God we will ever see. (Oneness)
9. The Godhead is a mystery. We must accept by faith the mystery of the Trinity despite its apparent contradictions. (Trinitarianism) The Godhead is no mystery, especially to the church. We cannot understand everything there is to know about God, but the Bible clearly teaches that God is one in number and that Jesus Christ is the one God manifest in flesh. (Oneness)

What Does the Average Church Member Believe?

In viewing the contrasts between trinitarianism and Oneness, we may ask what does the average person who calls himself a Christian really believe? Of course, most Christian denominations officially accept trinitarianism. However, most trinitarian scholars carefully distance themselves from tritheism and many use terminology that sounds almost like Oneness.

Many church members do not really understand the doctrine of trinitarianism and, as a practical matter, are closer to Oneness belief. Some questions which if answered in the affirmative indicate a leaning towards Oneness or a functional acceptance of it are:

Do you usually pray directly to Jesus? When you pray to the Father, do you switch over into language indicating that actually you are thinking about Jesus (for example, using "Lord," "in your name," or "Jesus")? 
Do you expect to see only one God in heaven, namely Jesus Christ? 
Is it correct to say that you seldom or never pray directly to the Holy Spirit as a separate person? 
Is the doctrine of the trinity confusing to you or a mystery to you? 
Based on answers to these questions and others like them, we feel the majority of Bible believers instinctively think in Oneness terms and not in trinitarian terms. Moreover, it appears that when a person receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit he instinctively thinks in terms of Oneness belief.

Most Catholics and Protestants do not have a well developed concept of the trinity, do not know in detail what trinitarianism teaches, and cannot explain Bible passages in trinitarian terms. Today, we find a strong emphasis on trinitarianism and extremely tritheistic forms of trinitarianism primarily in some trinitarian Pentecostal groups. The apparent reason for this is that they have faced the Oneness issue, have consciously rejected Oneness, and so have gone into radical trinitarianism.

A simple question will help the trinitarian church member clarify his own beliefs. The question is: "When we see God in heaven, what will we see?" If he answers that we will see three persons with three bodies, then he is a strong, radical trinitarian. His answer indicates a pagan tritheism, not the strong monotheism of the Bible. If he answers that we will see one God with one body, then he is close to Oneness. Given this answer, it is easy to demonstrate from Revelation that the One we will see is actually Jesus Christ, for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

Conclusion

The Bible does not teach the doctrine of the trinity, and trinitarianism actually contradicts the Bible. It does not add any positive benefit to the Christian message. Without the man-made doctrine of the trinity we can still affirm the deity of Jesus, the humanity of Jesus, the virgin birth, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, the atonement, justification by faith, the sole authority of Scripture, and any other doctrine that is essential to true Christianity. In fact, we enhance these doctrines when we adhere strictly to the Bible message that Jesus is the one God manifested in flesh. Adherence to Oneness does not mean a denial that God came in flesh as the Son or a denial that God fulfills the roles of Father and Holy Spirit. On the other hand, the doctrine of the trinity does detract from the important biblical themes of the oneness of God and the absolute deity of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Christianity should stop using trinitarian terminology and should go back to emphasis of the basic Bible message. Most Bible believers do not think in strong trinitarian terms, so a transition away from it would not be very difficult, at least on an individual level.

On the other side, strict adherence to Oneness belief brings many blessings. It places emphasis where it should be - on the importance of biblical terminology, thought, and themes. It establishes Christianity as the true heir of Judaism and as a truly monotheistic belief. It reminds us that God our Father and Creator loved us so much He robed Himself in flesh to come as our Redeemer. It reminds us that we can receive this same Creator and Redeemer in our hearts through His Own Spirit.

Oneness magnifies Jesus Christ, exalts His name, recognizes who He really is, and acknowledges His full deity. Exalting Jesus and His name in preaching and in worship brings a mighty move of His power in blessings, deliverance, answered prayer, miracles, healing, and salvation. Wonderful things happen when someone preaches a message on the deity of Jesus, the name of Jesus, and the oneness of God, but rarely does one get inspired over a message on the trinity.

A strong belief in the oneness of God and the absolute deity of Jesus Christ is a crucial element in restoring the church to true biblical belief and apostolic power. 
About the Author: Wikipedia, Apostolic Oneness, The King James Bible Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The-Trinity-and-Oneness-Compared_90351.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The Trinity and Oneness Compared_90351.aspx</a>

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The Trinity and Oneness Compared_90351.aspx

Author Resource :
Wikipedia, Apostolic Oneness, The King James Bible

Keywords : holy, trinity, God, son, father, Holy Spirit, oneness, deity, Godhead, mystery, doctrine, one, three, contradictions, woman, worship, pray, St,

Category : Society : Religion

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