THE TRINITY: FACT OR FICTION?
Although the concept of the Father and the Son may seem like an incredibly simple one to understand, numerous religions teach the doctrine of the Trinity–or a three-in-one Godhead. Because of that commonly held belief, many people do not truly recognize who Almighty God and Jesus Christ are, or know about the unique relationship they share together. To much of the world, the mystery of the Father and the Son is a LITTLE KNOWN FACT OF THE BIBLE.
Is the Trinity fact or fiction? If you refer to the dictionary’s definition for the word “trinity”, you will see it defined as “a set of three; the union of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost in one Godhead”. However, if you look for the word Trinity in the Holy Bible, you will not find it listed anywhere. Why is that?
Various religions of ancient times had their own particular versions of a triune godhead, so it was not unlikely that Christendom religions would also adopt this same idea into their teachings at some point in time. The Babylonians had a trio consisting of Ea, the most wise and powerful; god of the deep, Damkina, his eternal spouse, known as the lady of earth, and their son Bel, who they say created mankind. The Capitoline Triad was a group of three supreme deities in Roman history, originating in ancient traditions predating the Roman Republic, who were worshipped in an elaborate temple. One triad in particular consisted of the mythological gods Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, and is the one most commonly referred to as the “Capitoline Triad”.
It is interesting to note that it was not until the 4th century that so-called Christian religions proclaimed the doctrine of the Trinity as being “three persons in one God”. This occurred long after Jesus Christ came preaching the truth about God the Father. The Greek philosopher Athanasius’ views on the Trinity were adopted at that time, from which came the Athanasius creed (www.ccel.org/creeds/athanasian.creed.html), which many Christendom churches still hold today. Even now, some religions recite the words, “God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit” as a part of their worship services.
Here are some questions to consider in determining for yourself whether the doctrine of the Trinity is true or false: How could God create Himself? If Jesus was placed in the womb of a virgin to be born into a fleshly form, who placed him there if Jesus is God? Did Almighty God abandon His heavenly dwelling to become an embryo, a helpless baby, a little boy? When Jesus was crucified, did that mean that God was dead for 3 days and 3 nights? The answers to these questions are easily answered by reading and studying the Bible.
Psalm 90:2 says, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God”, showing that Almighty God had no beginning. John 1:18 says that, “No man hath seen God at any time…” Because Jesus was seen by thousands in a fleshly form, this is one of many proofs that he and his Father are not the same beings. God raised His Son–not Himself–from the dead, as evidenced in Acts 2:32, which reads, “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses”. The apostle Paul also attests to that in Acts 13:29-30: “And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead:”
There are many scriptural references to the very special and unique relationship that exists between the Father and the Son. Just as a fleshly father may have a deep and extraordinary love and bond with his son, Almighty God and His only begotten Son have that same intense bond, yet on a far grander scale. (Read Proverbs 8:23-30 for more about this very special relationship.) The Son was the very first creation of His Father (see Colossians 1:13-15), even before the world was created. In John 17:24 Jesus says, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” If you read the entire chapter of John 17, you will learn that it is a prayer that Jesus made to his heavenly Father before his crucifixtion. John 14:16 and Matthew 26:36-39 are two additional references about Jesus praying to his Father. If Jesus and God were the same being, how and why would Jesus pray to himself? He also tells us how he was sent by his Father to do the job his Father needed him to do while here on earth. (See Luke 4:43 and John 6:38.)
Jesus also said, “…My Father is greater than I” (John 14:28). Jesus never professed himself to be equal to his Father. Some religions use the verse, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30) to support the idea of the Trinity, but Jesus said his followers also were one with him and his Father. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:” (John 17:20-22). Jesus and his Father were united in the same purpose and goals, as their followers should be.
Many other scriptures also prove the distinction between the Father and the Son. One very important point is the fact that they both have a name. Almighty God’s name is Jehovah in english or YHWH. Psalm 83:18 says, “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.” Jesus, the name of the Son means, “Jehovah is salvation” and Christ means “the anointed”. Proverbs 30:4 asks questions that we need to be able to answer: “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?” These are obviously two individuals who are very important to know.
What about the Holy Spirit? In John 14:16-17, Jesus prayed to his Father for the help of the Holy Spirit to be given to his followers after he returned back to heaven: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” The Holy Spirit is not another individual, but is the power that Jehovah God uses to help mankind.
Other Bible studies on this website that are helpful in proving these points are The Father and Son , Christ With God Before the World Began and As One With Christ and His Father . It is a good idea to take the time to learn who Jehovah and Jesus Christ really are, and how they are separate, yet perfectly united in their purpose for mankind. By learning their truth, we are able to disprove many of the myths generated by the doctrines of man, and have the opportunity to be in union with Almighty God and his beloved Son.