Is the Trinity Biblical?


[PDF]Is the Trinity Biblical? - Rackcdn.comhttps://c950485.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/WLC%20-%20Is%20the%20Trinity%20Biblical...

45 downloads 248 Views 691KB Size

Is the Trinity Biblical? Triune Godhead Vs. One Eloah News flash!!

Among the various theologies spread across the spectrum of Christianity, belief in a triune godhead is one of the most widely held doctrines. Diligent study of the Bible and documented history reveals this doctrine to be pagan in origin – and one that Yahuwah expressly warns against in Scripture!

Belief in a trinity is so widespread within Christianity, that most Christians accept this doctrine without question. They accept it as a Biblical belief, founded upon Scripture. The small handful of denominations that deny the existence of a triune godhead are viewed as weird at best (e.g., Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses) or, at worst, cults (Christian Scientists, Scientology). The fact that Scripture does indeed refer to a “Holy Spirit” is accepted as sufficient proof for this doctrine. The shocking truth is that the doctrine of a trinity cannot be found in Scripture. In fact, the Bible quotes Yahuwah as issuing a warning against this deeply engrained belief! Careful research reveals that a triune godhead originated in paganism.

Scripture reveals that Lucifer in Heaven was jealous of the close relationship Yahushua had with His Father. Isaiah records his boastful proclamations: How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of El: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. (Isaiah 14:12-14)

In order to steal the worship that rightfully belongs to the Most High, Satan redirected it onto himself. He did this by creating a trinity. This diverted worship away from Yahuwah. Since any worship that is not given to the Creator is sin, Satan was the true recipient of this deflected worship.

The Trinity in Paganism Various trinities are found throughout all of ancient paganism. Some religions had more than one trinity, but each was considered to be “three-in-one.” The earliest record of belief in a trinity is found in Sumeria, right after the flood. This ancient triune godhead consisted of Anu, the “Father” and “King of the Gods;” Enlil, the creator god; and Enki, the “lord of wisdom.” Babylon based its trinity on its founder, Nimrod, that early rebel against the divine government. For the first time, a mother figure was part of the “holy” trinity of Nimrod, Semiramis, and Tammuz. Semiramis, as the wife of Nimrod and mother of Tammuz, the “Saviour,” was styled as the “Mother of God” and “Queen of Heaven.”

Egypt’s counterpart to this blasphemous trinity was Osiris, the Father; Isis, the Mother; and Horus, the Son. The history of Osiris strongly suggests that Osiris and Nimrod were one and the same. The Hindus, likewise, have a Father/Mother/Son trinity consisting of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The Greeks worshipped Zeus, Athena, and Apollo, claiming that the three “agreed in one.” In his book, Written in Stone, author Richard Cassaro unveils evidence of an extremely old, enormously powerful three-in-one religion that was widespread across Europe centuries before Christ. This belief was so ingrained that it initially prevented the spread of Christianity in Europe! This ancient Three-In-One religion was a self-empowering body of wisdom that endowed Europe's masses with legendary sixth-sense faculties . . . It also endowed them with the fabled ability of mind over matter. A people thus enabled are naturally difficult to influence and nearly impossible to control. Hence the desire of the Church founders—whose goal has always been to gain hegemony over the masses—to eliminate this ancient magical wisdom from the continent, giving them a firmer base to establish their new Christian religion and uproot the existing belief systems.1

Image: Richard Cassaro, http://www.deepertruth.com/trinity.

Clearly, something had to be done if Christianity was going to convert these pagans. The solution: create a Christian trinity.

Trinitarianism Enters Christianity The ambition of the Bishop of Rome to extend his power and influence by converting the pagans coincided with the Emperor Constantine’s desire to consolidate his political power throughout his vast realm. The Emperor convened the Council of Nicaea in AD 322 for the express purpose of uniting Christendom. The main point under discussion was the nature of Yahuwah. Constantine was clear that all the bishops would remain at the Council until they were united. And they did – for three years. Some evidence suggests that bishops who refused to bend in their beliefs were assassinated while others were exiled. In the end, the bishops compromised . . . and ecumenism was born. Doctrines and Scriptural interpretations promoting the individuality of Yahuwah were set aside in favor of a pagan Trinitarian theology. Ecumenism: a movement promoting unity among Christian the principle aim of ultimately uniting all again with the Roman Catholic Church.

denominations

with

Eusebius of Nicomedia, the primary proponent of YAH as a single entity with a begotten Son, set a precedent for compromise which pastors and churches have been doing ever since: twisting statements to apply in more than one way in order to achieve a surface “unity in diversity.” Compromise for the sake of unity is an identifying characteristic of error. It is directly opposed to Yahushua’s statement reflecting on the world’s reaction to the truths He brought: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34, NKJV)

Eusebius of Nicomedia submitted the Arian [nontrinitarian] creed first and it was rejected . . . Instead of submitting a creed of their own, the anti-Arians modified Eusebius’, thereby compelling him to sign it and completely shutting the Arians out. Those Arians who did not sign were deposed and exiled . . . Thus Constantine had his unified Church which was not very unified . . . Eusebius was uncomfortable enough with the Nicene creed that he felt it expedient to justify himself to his own people in a long letter in which he states that he ‘resisted even to the last The Council of Nicaea, with Arius depicted beneath the feet of the Emperor Constantine and the bishops. 13 minute’ until the words were examined and it was explained that the words ‘did not mean all they seemed to mean but were intended simply to assert the real deity of the Son...’ 2 The leaders at Nicea actually “authorized a double interpretation in order to win Eusebius and his followers.”3 Thus, Biblical truth was supplanted by pagan error for the sake of superficial “unity.”

Early Christians non-Trinitarian The early Christians were not Trinitarian. Although other religions for thousands of years before Christ was born worshipped a triune god, the trinity was not a part of Christian dogma and formal documents of the first three centuries after Christ. That there was no formal, established doctrine of the trinity until the fourth century is a fully documented historical fact. Clearly, historians of church dogma and systematic theologians agree that the idea of a Christian trinity was not a part of the first century church. The twelve apostles never subscribed to it or received revelation about it. So how then did a trinitarian doctrine come about? It gradually evolved and gained momentum in late first, second and third centuries as pagans, who had converted to Christianity, brought to Christianity some of their pagan beliefs and practices.4 Indeed, even Trinitarians acknowledge that this unbiblical doctrine did not appear until the fourth century after Yahushua. Roman Catholics admit: Once the Orthodox Trinitarians succeeded in defeating Arianism, they censored any signs that the perceived heresy left behind. This mosaic in Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna has had images of the Arian king, Theoderic, and his court removed. However, on some columns their hands remain.14

. . . one should not speak of Trinitarianism in the New Testament without serious qualification . . . when one does speak of an unqualified Trinitarianism, one has moved from the period of Christian origins to, say, the last quadrant of the 4th century. It was only then that what might be called the definitive Trinitarian dogma “one God in three Persons” became thoroughly assimilated into Christian life and thought.5

The modern version of the trinity, as it is understood today, is drawn almost in its entirety from the pagan Greek philosopher, Plato. The Platonists believed in an Unknown Father, a Word (Logos) and a world soul. "The theologians Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and St. Augustine were early Christian exponents of a Platonic perspective. Platonic ideas have had a crucial role in the development of Christian theology . . . ."6 This pagan influence on the development of Christian doctrine was so widespread that "we find Christianity tending to absorb Greek philosophical values, until by the end of the third century the line between the beliefs of educated Christian and educated pagan in the east would often be hard to draw."7

Trinity Not in Scripture A careful study of Scripture reveals that not only is the word “trinity” not found in Scripture, but the very concept of a triune godhead is missing from the entire Bible! Jesuit scholar Edmund Fortman states: The Old Testament . . . tells us nothing explicitly or by necessary implication of a Triune God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. . . . There is no evidence that any sacred writer even suspected the existence of a [Trinity] within the Godhead. . . . Even to see in [the Old Testament] suggestions or foreshadowing’s or ‘veiled signs’ of the trinity of persons, is to go beyond the words and intent of the sacred writers. . . . The New Testament writers . . . give us no formal or formulated doctrine of the Trinity . . . Nowhere do we find any Trinitarian doctrine of the three distinct subjects of divine life and activity in the same Godhead.8

The Trinity: A New Christianity By acknowledging Yahushua as the Messiah, Christianity departed from traditional Judaism. However, the early Christians were still very similar to the Jews in their beliefs. They still worshipped on the seventh-day Sabbath, ate no unclean meats, observed the annual festivals – their pure religion was a close reflection of the divine roots from which it had sprung. With the acceptance of the trinity into Christian theology, however, Christianity underwent a fundamental change that far removed it from its pure, heaven-ordained origins. The New Encyclopedia Britannica pinpoints the reason for this change with unerring accuracy: “The Trinitarian creed of Christianity . . . sets it apart from the two other classical monotheistic religions [Judaism and Islam].”9 With a trinity, focus was placed upon “God the Son” as Saviour and God the Holy Spirit as Mediator working together in our stead. The danger of this subtle shift in emphasis is that it removes from the believer the need to do anything . . . other than simply “accept Jesus.”

Scripture teaches that Yahuwah is to work IN us. “For it is YAH who works IN you both to WILL and to DO for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) This is Yahuwah’s plan to restore in the redeemed the His own image. By having two members of the Godhead work in our stead, there is no need for repentance or holy living. All one has to do is “just accept.” This is foundational to cheap grace, where the believer has only to claim “belief” and nothing more, not even obedience, is required. It is a close cousin to the heresy of “once saved, always saved.” Thus, by bringing the trinity into Christianity, Satan sought to destroy it, fundamentally, from within.

Scripture and the True Nature of Yahuwah The Bible clearly presents Yahuwah as a single entity with a Son: “Hear, O Israel, Yahuwah our Elohim is one Yahuwah.” (Deuteronomy 6:4) The word Elohimis the plural form of El (meaning “God”), thus embracing the close relationship between Father and Son. However, this in no wise was intended to imply a triune godhead. The first commandment states unequivocally, “I am Yahuwah thy Elohim . . . Thou shalt have no other elohim before Me.” (Exodus 20:2 and 3.) The New Testament writers were united in their rejection of a trinity. Paul stated emphatically: There is none other Theos [Elohim/God] but one. For though there be that are called theos [gods], whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one Theos, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Master Yahushua the Annointed, by whom are all things, and we by Him. (See 1 Corinthians 8:4b-6.) Most Christians accept the doctrine of the trinity without question for no other reason than its antiquity, not realizing that there was a time when the subject was extremely controversial with people losing their lives for the sake of the truth. Most theologians know that the Trinity doctrine is not scriptural. Because the Trinity is such an important part of later Christian doctrine, it is striking that the term does not appear in the New Testament. Likewise, the developed concept of three coequal partners in the Godhead found in later creedal formulations cannot be clearly detected within the confines of the canon.10 "One of the great marvels of Christian history has been the ability of theologians to convince Christian people that three persons are really one God."11 First John 5:7 is frequently quoted as Biblical proof for the existence of a triune godhead: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” However, church historians and scholars generally now acknowledge that this verse was not in the original. Like other doctrines that became central to the faith, however, belief in the Trinity was a historical development, not a “given” from the early years of the faith.

A. The basic notion of the Trinity is that there are three persons in the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These are all equally God and of the same substance, but despite the fact there are three persons, together, they compromise only one God, indivisible in nature. B. This doctrine does not appear to be a doctrine pronounced by the historical Jesus, Paul, or any other Christian writer during the first hundred years or so of Christianity. C. It cannot be found explicitly stated in the earliest Christian writings. The only passage of the New Testament that declares the doctrine (1 John 5:7-8) was not originally part of the text but was added by doctrinally astute scribes at a later date (it is not found in any Greek manuscripts until the 11th century.)12 Acceptance of the doctrine of the trinity diverts attention from Yahuwah, the fount of all blessings. Countless children are taught to pray to “Dear Jesus” rather than to the Father. Some Christians pray to the Holy Spirit while Catholics pray to Mary restyled, as was Semiramis, as the “Queen of Heaven.” All the while, the One who loved sinners so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for their redemption, is viewed as a stern, unforgiving, impersonal God. Yahuwah declares: “There is no other Elohim besides Me, A just El and a Saviour; There is none besides Me. Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am El, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:21 and 22.)

Scripture’s clarion call is to “Come out of her, My people!” (Revelation 18:4) Yahuwah wants to save all from the dangers of this pagan doctrine that has come down from Babylon. He warns, “I will punish Bel in Babylon . . . yea, the wall of Baylon shall fall. My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of Yahuwah.” (Jeremiah 51:44 and 45)

This is an admonition to all to leave organized religion and embrace the pure truth, once delivered to the saints, uncorrupted by long centuries of error, tradition and paganism. Set aside beliefs and doctrines founded upon paganism. Return to the pure worship of the Creator who alone is worthy to receive worship: Holy, holy, holy, Sovereign Yahuwah Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Thou art worthy, O Yahuwah, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things. Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever. (Revelation 4:8, 11 and 5:13.)

Related Content:       

1

The Trinity: Q&A Yahuwah's Divinity: Bible Study The Trinity: Is Yahuwah Three-In-One? Not the Trinity, Nor 3 deities, but One Eloah The Trinity Doctrine Forgery- Matthew 28:19 (Video) How Many Deities Are In Heaven? A Biblical Look at the Trinity Why do you at World's Last Chance adamantly

reject

the

Trinity

doctrine?

Richard Cassaro, http://www.deepertruth.com/trinity.

2

C. L. Hagensick, “The Origin of the Trinity: From Paganism to http://www.heraldmag.org/olb/Contents/doctrine/The%20Origin%20of%20the%20Trinity.htm, supplied. 3

Arthur Cushman McGiffert, A History of Christian Thought, Vol. 1, p. 266.

4

Victor Paul Wierwille, “Jesus Christ is Not God.”

5

New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967 ed., Vol. XIV, p. 295, emphasis supplied.

6

Archana Srinivasan, Famous Greek Personalities, p. 30.

7

Constantine,” emphasis

William H. C. Frend, The Rise of Christianity, as quoted in “Historical Background of the Trinity,” http://www.christadelphia.org/trinityhistory.htm. 8

Edmund Fortman, The Triune God.

9

As quoted in Should Christianity Abandon the Doctrine of the Trinity, by Michael Barber, p. 28.

10

“The Lost Doctrines of Christianity: The Doctrine of the Trinity,” http://reluctant-messenger.com/LostDoctrines-Christianity009.htm. 11

Anthony F. Buzzard and Charles F. Hunting, The Doctrine of the Trinity, as quoted in http://www.christadelphia.org/trinityhistory.htm. 12

Bart D. Erhman, Lecture course: “From Jesus to Constantine: A History of Early Christianity,” emphasis supplied. 13

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nikea-arius.png

14

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianism