Is God a Trinity?

Many people believe that God is a trinity. But, such claims contradicts with the Bible's teaching about the true God. Neither Jesus nor his apostles nor any of the inspired writers of the Bible used the term "Trinity" or recorded any portions in the Bible which imparts the trinity doctrine.

Therefore, it is the responsibility of the readers to examine the truth about God from the Bible. What does the Bible teach about God?

Before, we discuss in detail let us consider what is the definition of the term "Trinity". According to the Athanasian Creed, there are three divine Persons (the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost), each said to be eternal, each said to be almighty, none greater or less than another, each said to be God, and yet together being but one God. In short Trinity refers to " Three in One God".

Can we find such a teaching in the holy Bible? Of course not! The Bible on the contrary talks about the Only true God, Jehovah. Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 4 says "Listen, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah."* Jesus Christ, while he was on earth quoted the mentioned scripture at Mark 12:29. He never criticised the scripture mentioned at the Old testament or corrected the fact about God, rather acknowledged that it is Jehovah who alone is the true God.

While praying to his heavenly father Jesus says at John 17:3 "This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of YOU, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ". Jesus here mentioned the difference between the Only true God and himself. He said that it is the Father (Jehovah) who is the Only true God and he (Jesus) was sent to earth by the true God. Jesus thus distinct himself from being the Only true God and never taught about the trinity doctrine.

What did the first century Christians teach about God? Lets consider what the Apostle Paul wrote about God. He says at 1 Corinthians 8:5 " For even though there are those who are called “gods,” whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many “gods” and many “lords,” there is actually to us one God the Father". So, its evident that the first century Christians viewed God as Only one who is the Father.

Even Satan knows that God is Only One. The book of James 2:19 states "You believe there is one God, do you? You are doing quite well. And yet the demons believe and shudder." So, the scriptures well explains the fact that God is Only one and is not a Trinity.

Who is the Father, Son and Holy spirit?

The Father is the Creator of all living and non living things. He is the Source of all life. He is the supreme in knowledge, experience, wisdom, power and authority. The Bible also reveals the personal name of the Almighty God. God himself revealed his name at Isaiah 42: 8, where he says "I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images." The name Jehovah (YHWH in Hebrew) appeared more than 7000 times when the Bible was written. No doubt, the Bible manifest Jehovah as the most high. The King James version at Psalms 83:17,18 says "That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth."

The Son is the first creation of God who had a beginning. Jesus Christ who was then known as "the Word" was created directly by God himself. Colossians 1:15 says "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation". The book of Revelation mentions Jesus as "the beginning of God's creation" where Jehovah never had a beginning ( Revelation 3:14, Psalms 90:2). Jesus is not equal to God in power, knowledge, wisdom, experience and authority ( John 14:28b, Mathew 24:36, 20:20-23). 1 Corinthians 11: 3 says " the head of Christ is God". Jesus will remain submissive to God's authority forever.( 1 Corinthians 15: 27,28)

Holy spirit is not identified as a person, rather it is said to be God's active force or power. The angel Gabriel while talking to Mary said "Holy spirit will come upon you, and power of the Most High will overshadow you"(Luke 1:35). Holy spirit is spoken of as ‘filling’ people; they can be ‘baptized’ with it; and they can be “anointed” with it ( Luke 1:41, Mathew 3:11, Acts 10:38). There is no reference in the Bible where it is said that the Holy spirit literally spoke to some one or any human offered prayer to it. It is used in the creation of the universe and to inspire Bible writers. Jehovah is the owner of the holy spirit and he uses it to accomplish his divine purposes.(Psalms 104:30, 2 peter 1:21, Acts 4:31)

In short

Father (Jehovah God) -  Almighty, Creator, who only deserves all worship
Son ( Jesus Christ )      -  Mighty, submissive to God, First born of all creation.
Holy spirit (No name)  -  Active force of God, not a person,

Revelation 1:1 says "A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place. And he sent forth his angel and presented [it] in signs through him to his slave John"

What can we learn from this scripture? It emphasises the divine hierarchy not trinity. The scriptures say that God gave the revelation to Jesus Christ and Jesus to Angel and Angel to Man. Again it is Jehovah God who is the supreme head and Jesus, Angels and Man are sub ordinates. This scripture totally disapprove the doctrine of Trinity as taught by todays so-called priests and churches.

It is true that some of the scriptures in the Bible put together Father, Son and Holy spirit in one verse. That doesn't mean that they are One. The Bible put together Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and same is also with Peter, James and John. Will you reach the conclusion that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are One?

Origin of Trinity

The doctrine of trinity was inculcated into Christianity at the Council of Nicea in 325 CE headed by Constantine, the Roman emperor. The below are some of quotes from some secular authorities.

The New Encyclopædia Britannica says: “Neither the word Trinity, nor the explicit doctrine as such, appears in the New Testament, nor did Jesus and his followers intend to contradict the Shema in the Old Testament: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord’ (Deu 6:4). . . The doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies. . . . By the end of the 4th century . . . the doctrine of the Trinity took substantially the form it has maintained ever since.”—(1976), Micropædia, Vol. X, p. 126.

 

The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: “The formulation ‘one God in three Persons’ was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the 4th century. But it is precisely this formulation that has first claim to the title the Trinitarian dogma. Among the Apostolic Fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a mentality or perspective.”—(1967), Vol. XIV, p. 299.

 

In The Encyclopedia Americana we read: “Christianity derived from Judaism and Judaism was strictly Unitarian [believing that God is one person]. The road which led from Jerusalem to Nicea was scarcely a straight one. Fourth century Trinitarianism did not reflect accurately early Christian teaching regarding the nature of God; it was, on the contrary, a deviation from this teaching.”—(1956), Vol. XXVII, p. 294L.

 

According to the Nouveau Dictionnaire Universel, “The Platonic trinity, itself merely a rearrangement of older trinities dating back to earlier peoples, appears to be the rational philosophic trinity of attributes that gave birth to the three hypostases or divine persons taught by the Christian churches. . . . This Greek philosopher’s [Plato, fourth century B.C.E.] conception of the divine trinity . . . can be found in all the ancient [pagan] religions.”—(Paris, 1865-1870), edited by M. Lachâtre, Vol. 2, p. 1467.

 

John L. McKenzie, S.J., in his Dictionary of the Bible, says: “The trinity of persons within the unity of nature is defined in terms of ‘person’ and ‘nature’ which are G[ree]k philosophical terms; actually the terms do not appear in the Bible. The trinitarian definitions arose as the result of long controversies in which these terms and others such as ‘essence’ and ‘substance’ were erroneously applied to God by some theologians.”—(New York, 1965), p. 899.

From these quotes, we can come to the conclusion that the doctrine of Trinity was not introduced to man by Almighty God, Jesus or any of the gospel writers. The doctrine was originated from man made philosophies and is against Bible truths. Moreover, the emperor Constantine was not inspired by God to write any part of the books in the Bible. If God wanted us to believe in a trinity he would have taught us through the pages of the Bible.

So, let us reject the pagan teaching of the Trinity. A careful examination of the holy scriptures would help us to agree with what Jesus Christ told about God at Mathew 4:10

"Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service."

* Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations in this article are from New world translation of the holy scriptures published by Jehovah's Witnesses.