Explanation of the Trinity

[Guest Bunky]

They are not mere offices or modes like Sabellianism or "Jesus Only" or "Oneness" groups teach.

What is "Jesus Only" or "Sabellianism?"

Bunky

--Still waiting for an answer!

Bunky

[Guest charlie]

Bunky, here's what the enclyopedia says about the doctrine of the trinity.

-enclyopedia Briticannica online 2003-

Neither the word Trinity nor the explicit doctrine appears in the New Testament, nor did Jesus and his followers intend to contradict the Shema in the Old Testament:

[Jedi4Yahweh]

Hi,

The best way I can explain the "trinity" is like what LadyC explained.

We are created in the image and likeness of God.

1)Spirit

2)Soul

3)Body

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(1Th 5:23)

We are trinity within our own self because we are created like God. I am made up of three distinct parts but yet there is only one me. Its the same with God. God is made up of three distinct parts but yet is one God.

The bible says that God has a Spirit, Soul and Body.

Mat 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

1) Spirit (Holy Spirit)

2) Soul (Father)

3) Body (Jesus)

There are three important elements of God but yet those three make up only one God. Just as our spirit, soul and body make us one whole human.

I dont believe God is three persons in one body. Just as I dont believe there are three persons living in my body but one.

What do you call a person with multi-personalities: Crazy right! God is one person just as we are one person in one body.

God has one Spirit, one Soul, and one body.

[Guest Bunky]

Bunky,  here's what the enclyopedia says about the doctrine of the trinity.

Bunky, when you asked this question in the other section I told you some of my thoughts on the trinity.  Did you see that?  If so what did you think?

**Sorry Charlie, but I don't remember you telling me anything about the Trinity.

So, in essece, you are saying that the Council of Nicaea (RCC) are the ones that started the doctrine of the Trinity, according to the encyclopedia?

In other words, the Jews never believed in a Trinity, and the RCC had to bring something together for the Jews to still believe in one God. So, they called all three persons/beings one God. Right?

Kind of like...pulled a trick on them?

Bunky

[godrulz]

They are not mere offices or modes like Sabellianism or "Jesus Only" or "Oneness" groups teach.

What is "Jesus Only" or "Sabellianism?"

Bunky

--Still waiting for an answer!

Bunky

God is a compound unity (cf. one army, many soldiers; one cluster of grapes, many grapes; one family, many members; husband and wife become one). He is not a solitary one (Islam; JW).

Imperfect analogies:

time= past, present, future (all are time, but there are distinctions).

water= solid, liquid, gas (all are of the essence of water, yet 3 distinctions).

"Jesus Only" groups include United Pentecostal Church, some Apostolic churches, some Church of God.

Sabellius was a heretic from church history that taught that Jesus alone is God, but he steps into the 'office' or 'mode' (hence another name MODALISM) of the Father in the O.T., Son on earth, and Spirit in the church age.

This heresy is revived in the "Jesus Only" (nickname) groups above (and others).

[Tyler]

John1:1-2

In the beginning was the WORD(Christ), and the WORD(Christ) was with God, and the WORD(Christ) WAS GOD. He was in the beginning WITH GOD.

John1:14

And the WORD(Christ) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

1John5:7

For there are three that bear witness in heaven: The Father, The WORD(Christ), and the Holy Spirit; AND THESE THREE ARE ONE.

John10:30

I(Christ) and my Father are one.

John20:28

And Thomas answered and said unto Him, "My Lord and my God."

Only Christ(Word) Saves

[Tyler]

Exodus3:14

God replied, "I am who am." Then He added, "This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.

John8:58

JESUS answered them:

"I SOLEMNLY DECLARE IT:

BEFORE ABRAHAM came to be, I AM."

Only Christ Saves

[Guest charlie]

Here's the comments that I made on this subject on Dec. 7th Bunky. It was a poster called coolwaters that had started a thread similar to this one. Anyway, I too have wondered about the trinity and had a hard time thinking of three in one.

Maybe they're a god family. Father, Son, and Holy Sprit. Is it possible that the Holy Spirit is feminine? Anyway, you can tell from Genesis it's like they're talking among themselves. God seems to be into patterns with man. He created man in His own image so could it be that the earthly family unit was created in Their image with the Father being at the head of the family but with the other members playing an important role? I've always had a hard time understanding the concept of one God but trying to think of the One God as three persons. In all honesty I've always thought of them as three separate individuals who are all divine. Yeah, I know I can go to hell for that but God is omnipresent so He knows what I'm thinking so I might as well say it. Anyway, when I read the words of Jesus he's always deferring to the Father and tells us to do the same. These are just those "thoughts" that run thru my head when I'm laying there trying to go to sleep at night. Flame away!

[Guest Shaman]

In the very beginning, that is before the beginning was begun, there was God. God didn't became Father until he had an offspring or Son. That Son, the only begotten of the Father was the Word. John tells us: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The first thing that came from God was his Word. Let there be! The Word was with God and is the very expressed thought of God. The mind of God is none different from God. Neither is there any difference between the expressed mind of God and his Word. I and my Father are one. But, in order for the expressed thoughts of God, Word, to manifest in Creation or in the earth, his power is necessary. That energy or power is the Holy Spirit. It is God's (Father's) energy or power (Spirit) that causes the Word (Son) to manifest in the earth.

The quality of the Godhead is liken to a pizza. If you cut the pizza into three equal slices and remove one slice, you are not left with 2/3 of a pie. You still have a whole pizza. It doesn't matter that you take two slices or three, you still have a whole pie. One slice is equal in quality to the other slices, all the slices are pizza. But, no matter how much you take away from the pie there will always be a whole pie.

I got to go get something to eat, I'm hungry now .

Shaman

[Guest Bunky]

In the very beginning, that is before the beginning was begun, there was God.  God didn't became Father until he had an offspring or Son.  That Son, the only begotten of the Father was the Word. 

Hmmm......God and Father? I never thought about God being called Father because of Mary being pregnant.

I always thought that the Holy Ghost "overshadowed" Mary. Now wouldn't that make the Holy Ghost the one that should be called 'Father?' This is confusing! :!!!:

Now, if there are "three persons" in the Godhead, why did Jesus have to go and die and not one of the other two? Although most people that believe in the Trinity say that Jesus and God talked to each other in Gen. 1:26. I've read that and I can't see that it says who God was talking to.

I don't think when it says that "God sent His only Son" that it means that Jesus, as the man/flesh, existed before He was born in Bethlehem. It couldn't, because that would make Jesus the lesser of the three. Does that make any sense to you all?

Be patient!...I will figure this thing out.

Bunky