Defense of the Christian Doctrine of the TRINITY
“One God in three Persons”
- This is one doctrine that is disagreed with by the Jehovah’s Witnesses... and yet
agreed with more than any other doctrine across all the religions of Christendom….
both Catholic and Evangelical. The Watchtower claims that the word “Trinity” is not
in the Bible and therefore not valid. Neither is the word Bible, neither Theocracy
(which they use a lot), nor gasoline, all which obviously exist. Yet it is a word that
pulls together a concept much like the word “water” does for two parts hydrogen
and one part oxygen. They also teach that the concept of the Trinity was made up
by the Emperor Constantine at the council of Nicea in 325 A.D. However, the
doctrinal parts of the Trinity was already shown throughout the Bible, and
mentioned by Theophilus of Antioch about 180 AD as “the Trinity of God”. Although
algebra is not taught in the third grade, all the basics are there. The Trinity concept
likewise came to be understood. The actual word trias is later translated trinitas in
latin by Tertullian prior to the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. Several of the Ante(before
Nicea) Nicene church fathers had already begun defining it:
- Justin Martyr(100-165AD) wrote “The Father of the Universe has a Son, who
also being the first begotten Word of God, is even God” - Iraeneus (130?-203?AD)wrote ”Christ Jesus, our Lord, and God, and Savior,
and King” - Clement of Alexandria(?-215AD) wrote (Christ is) “truly most manifest Diety”
- Hyppolytus wrote “But He (God) while existing alone, yet existed in plurality”
- Tertullian’s (160-240?AD)is the most noted of the era with “One substance in
three persons. God from God. Light from Light.”
Although other issues were dealt with, the very Council of Nicea at 325 A.D. was
called by the Emperor Constantine for the express purpose of dealing with the
heresy of Arius of Alexander who denied the eternal existence of Jesus by claiming
he was a created being. Exactly as the Watchtower claims. However, 316 of the 318
bishops present disagreed with and anathematized Arius and sent him packing for
his view…
…..which Arius later recanted. It was further comprehended and confirmed at the Council
of Athanasius in 381AD (homoousios-same substance). To be sure, to understand it fully is
impossible. To understand it partially, enough to accept, keep, and defend, is very
achievable. Nevertheless, to deny it is to deny the Biblical definition of our beloved Godhead
and possibly your salvation. I expect incomprehensible things from my God. If we could
comprehend God, we would be God. That the Bible would contain such concepts is further
proof for me that it wasn't written by man. Besides, when you read the verses below, you can
see that he is clearly explaining it to us….and I thank Him for that.
1.There is only one true God: Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29: John 17:3; 1 Cor.8:4-6
Amassed separately yet functioning in substance: Isaiah 48:16; at the Baptism Mat. 3:16-17,
at the Great Commission Mat.28:19 where the word “name” is singular and yet depicts the
plural “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost”. Sometimes shown amassed together in major miracles
such as the Creation of the world, Father and Holy Spirit at Gen.1:1-2 and the Son at Col.1:
16 …also in Christ’s resurrection: Son at Jn.10:17-18, Holy Spirit at Rom 8:11&1 Pet. 3:18,
Father at Rom.10:9 ….Inspiration of Scripture: the Father at 2 Tim. 3:16, the Holy Spirit at 2
Pet.1:21, and the Son at John 1:14
Obviously they function separately: MAT 3:16-17 et al throughout the Bible
Allowed for in the Old Testament: Probable Christophanies(appearances of Christ) Gen.18:9,
19:24, EX 3:2, 1 COR 10:4 compared with EX 17:6, JOSHUA 5:13-14, DAN 3:25. The
possible names for God in the Hebrew language are “EL” which is singular and allowing for
only one God, “ELOCHEIM” which is plural but limited to no more than two, and “ELOHIM”
which is plural 2 or more. This “ELOHIM” (Strong One)is the one used in the Bible .
2.That one true God is made known to us in three distinct persons:
Person A: Jesus is that God
1. Diety ascribed to Jesus at: MT 1:23, LK 7:16, JN 1:1, 8:24&58 (claiming to be the I AM
at EX 3:14 for which they became angry and eventually crucified him),10:33, 14:9, 17:11&22,
20:28 ACTS 20:28, PHIL 2:6, Image and fulness of God Col.1:15-19, COL 2:9, 1 TIM 1:16-
17, TIT 2:13, HEB 1:3&8 where God calls Jesus “God”, and many maybes like 2 PET.1:1,
Prayed to in Acts 7:59
2.Functions as that God: in the Creation, resurrection (see verses Above), sustenance of
all things COL 1:17, He is Omnipotent MT 28:18,
- at least 35 recorded miracles on His own.
3.Has Personality Obvious throughout NT and no argument here from cults
4.Incidentally, Jesus is Not Michael the Archangel as the Watchtower and The
Seventh Day Adventists claims! He was the creator of angels (JN 1:3, COL 1:16 et al), His
nature is explained as better than angels (HEB 1:4 ff). Philosophically, Jesus rebuked Satan
on earth (MT 4 ff) so why would he be afraid of Satan in the heavens such as in Jude 9 if he
was Michael? DAN 10:3 shows other chief priests like Michael yet Jesus is unique. The
Jehovah's Witnesses claim that having the voice of an Archangel as found in 1 THES 4:16
would therefore make Jesus an Archangel. They should read the rest of the verse and see
that likewise having the trump of God would also make him God? They don't want to agree
with that! They want literal to figurative in the same verse!
Person B: the Holy Spirit is that God
1.Diety is ascribed to: Same substance as Father; compare Acts 5:3 with 5:4 and compare
Acts 28:25 with ISAIAH 6:8. Same substance as Son (who is same substance as Father -see
above) 2 COR 3:17-18 and compare REV 2:8 with 2:11
2.Functions as that God: in the creation, resurrection, inspiration of scripture (see verses
above), and salvation. He is omnipresent PS 139:7, omniscient 1 COR 2:10-11, omnipotent
GEN 1:2.
3.Not just a force like electricity but has personality: Intelligent 1 COR 2:10-11, has feelings
(grieves)EPH 4:30, has a will 1 COR 12:11, teaches JOHN 14:26, intercedes ROM 8:26,
speaks in JOHN 15:26, can be lied to ACTS 5:3, can be outraged HEB 10:29….electricity can
do none of these things
Person C: The Father is that God
Anyone who doesn’t believe that God is God is either a lawyer or has bigger problems than I want
to address here. However one argument from the Watchtower that they present to continue their
word games is where Jesus is being called “mighty God” at ISAIAH 9:6 (note that it also calls him the
“everlasting Father”)and therefore is less than being called “Almighty God” as due the Father.
However Isaiah calls the Father “mighty” God at 10:21 and so does Jeremiah at 32:18! The Father
functions alone also IS 44:24 and yet knows of no other God at IS 44:6
- A couple of Philosophical analogies that of course break down when used to
describe God, yet are useful to expand our mind and help us to begin to fathom the Trinity:
1. Water at 230ml gas pressure at 0 degrees centigrade is at that point steam, water, and
ice. One substance in three forms
2. You can describe the single volume between the walls of a room by using the height,
width, and depth of that room. You can also move that same volume to another place and still
have it remain.
3. It is not 1+1+1=3 but 1*1*1=1
4. Sunshine heats, radiates, and illuminates. All in the same place but not necessarily.
5.In the June 2005 issue of Discover magazine scientists claim that the same electron can be
in two places simultaneously. So why can’t the God who made them duplicate that to three?
(Interestingly the same magazine earlier said that there is now more scientific belief of a
duplicate phantom universe. Yet if we were to call that heaven how many would shrink away
form that theory?)
6.Power from a car battery can emanate and make physical motion with windshield wipers
and motors; sounds with horns and radios; headlights and interior lights; and heat through
cigarette lighter. One substance made known through many manifestations.
arrive concerning the deity of Jesus. The deity of Jesus is so obviously stated in John 1:1 that the
JW’s had to do something with it. And do something with it they did! Six of the execs at the
Watchtower secluded themselves on Manhattan Island for a few weeks at a time and deceitfully
changed scores of passages away from the original Greek, and thus created their New World
Translation version of the Bible to reflect what they wanted taught. Freddie Franz, the President at
that time was the major deceiver and the only one who knew any Greek at all. It just so happens
that it was the wrong Greek (koine, not Biblical), and he only had a couple of years training in that.
But before we look at their version, let’s get an understanding of the correct translation:
- A sampling of the correctly translated John 1:1 verse is reflected in these versions:
(KJV)“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.
(Greek)“en arche en ho Logos, kai en ho Logos en pros ton theon, kai theos en ho Logos”
(NAS)“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.
(NIV)“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.
Later, at verse 14 it reads “and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us”…..so there is
no mistaking that John is talking about Jesus as the “Word”.
In fact, ALL translations done by honest men educated in the Biblical Greek language end
the verse with “….Word was God”
The Jehovah’s Witness’ New World Translation reads “…. word was a god”. Notice they have
added the “a” and changed the big “G” in God to a little “g”. This is a dishonest effort to have
you believe the false teachings about Jesus that they do. They would have you believe that
Jesus is not the big God but another little god. Most of them don’t realize that this makes
them polytheists. Many places in the Bible polytheism is condemned (Deut 6:4 for example).
Furthermore, since the Bible says there is only one true God in many places, this makes
Jesus out to be a false God! Ask the JW if he can live with that!
Even all foreign translations essentially correctly translate the same. For example: the correct
and always used Spanish is “… era Dios” Yet the JW’s New Word Translation in Spanish
says “….era un dios”; French “….était Dieu”; NWT in French “… était un dieu”. Whether you
know these languages or not you can see how they have changed to “…was a god”. They
have changed it in many other places also (see the article on their Bible).
A page from the JW booklet above tries to ridicule the trinity by showing ancient
depictions. Although the drawings are a discourtesy, they serve to show how Christians
believed, and were only trying to understand the concept throughout history. In this book the
Watchtower misrepresents their sources almost once per page. For example: on page 4 they
write, “The Encyclopedia Americana notes that the doctrine of the Trinity is considered to be
'beyond the grasp of human reason.' ”. However, the actual article does not end there with a
period but a comma....and it goes on to say “...it is, like many of the formulations of physical
science, not contrary to human reason and may be apprehended... by the human mind”.
Wouldn't you agree that this is quite different then what the Watchtower wants you to believe?
Furthermore, the Jehovah's Witness on the street is trained to use the following texts in
order to confuse people who are not accustomed to their tactics:
John 14:28 “My Father is greater than I.”. The greek word for this does not imply “better”,
but “greater”. The President is temporarily in a greater position than you, but would probably
say if asked that he is personally equal to and not better than you. 9 is greater than 5 but not
better....I'd rather have 5 phone bills to pay than 9.
Colossians 1:15 where Jesus is called “the Firstborn (prototokos) of all creation.”....note that
this is not “First created” as the Watchtower teaches. If Paul wanted to teach “first created”
he would have used another word for that....”protoktiskos”. “Firstborn” is a term that means
first in importance, preeminent, top office holder. You can see this when you compare
Genesis 41:51,52 with Jeremiah 31:9 and find that Ephraim is the second birthed but called
the firstborn. Further at Deut.21:15-17, Ex.4:22, Job 18:13, 1 Chronicles 5:1-3. And in Col. 1:
18 Jesus is the first one to rise from the dead in a resurrected body....being birthed by Mary,
He could not have been the first birthed over those who died before His arrival.
Revelation 3:14 “the beginning of the creation of God”. “Beginning” is from the greek word
“arche” from where we get architect, archangel, arch rival, etc. As in John 1:1 it means
“origin”, “source”, “chief”, and “ruler”. Jesus is the origin of all creation.
And if this is not enough, look at all the names that Jesus and God are both called when you
cross reference the Old Testament with the New. They have to be the same!:
"Creator" Gen 1:1 & Jn 1:3, "Light" Micah 7:8 & Jn 8:12, "Judge" Gen 18:25 & 2 Tim 4:1,
"I AM" Ex 3:14 & Jn 8:58, "Rock" Ex 17:6 & 1 Cor 10:4, "Savior" Ps 106:21 7 Acts 4:12 .......
this is not an exhaustive list...get your concordance out and you can find many more!
Furthermore, some of these names use the definite article and are mutually exclusive
meaning there can be only one of them......"The First and the Last" Is 44:6 et al compare
with Rev 1:17 and 2:8, "The Lord of Lords and King of Kings" Ps 136:1-3 compare with
Rev 17:14 et al.
Are You getting the picture here? Jesus is Yahweh!
Still not convinvced? then take a look at Philippians 2:3-11. This passage is
called the "Kenosis", or the emptying. You can read it for yourself how Jesus,
being in the form of God, emptied himself and became in the Likeness of men.
A couple of comments for you as you read:
In verse 6 the word "form", when concerning God, is the Greek word "morphe" which
means throughout or through and through. Jesus was through and through God. Yet in
verse 8 where the word "form" is used, it is a different Greek word "schemati" which
is like a passing condition as in one might be as a teenager....Jesus was found in the
passing condition as a man.
Then in verse 9 we have Jesus given a name which is above every name yet when
you compare that with Psalm 148:13 you find that God is jealous about His name and
that only His name is above every name? What gives unless they are one and the
same?
In verse 10 you have every knee bowing to Him (which the Jehovah's Witnesses
refuse to do...ask them sometime to bow the knee to Jesus with you and see what
you get) but when you compare that with Isaiah 45:23, what do you have? Amazing!
Further, in verse 11 you have every tongue confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord.....
and if the Jehovah's Witnesses were honest in their mis Translation of the Bible, it
would read "Jesus Christ is Jehovah"! But they can't have that so they changed it.
Jesus is Yahweh to the Glory of God the Father!
| Here you have the front page of the Jehovah's Witnesses publication that they take door to door to try to fool people. There are at least 27 misquotes or distortions within this 32 pages! About as many as you can have in one little booklet! Beware of their unsigned publications where scholarship cannot be checked! They have knowingly misled people for decades with their half and misquotes! |