An Answer to a Nephew

Dear Ron & family:

Thank you for your interesting letter. I will answer your questions the best that I can. You write that “The Lord has given me what I need to handle each job — as you know this is contrary to my nature.” Well, Ron, human nature in the raw has to be suppressed and shaped in the right direction by the power of God’s word. Jeremiah has written that “The heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”

To some, spirituality seems to come more easily than to others. There are some people who by their very nature are not particularly attracted by the things and enticements of the world. Others must fight desperately to overcome temptations. We are all constructed differently. Each one of us is surrounded by different conditions and circumstances. To attain a measure of spirituality is a day-to-day fight, but always remember that God is on the side of the people who keep trying — and that prayer is of great help. We are told in the Bible to “pray without ceasing.”

Now, regarding the doctrine of the Trinity. What I had meant to explain, regarding your reference to the Trinity was that the creed giving full acceptance to the Trinity was not in existence until the fourth century A.D. This was called the Athanasian Creed. Three creeds were adopted, one after the other, gradually expanding the doctrine. Let me quote from the New Standard Encyclopedia:

“The creed administered to candidates for baptism in the second and third centuries corresponds with slight variation to the Apostles Creed.”

This is the Apostles Creed:

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary.”

The Nicene Creed which was adopted by the Roman church in the early part of the fourth century, refers to the Lord Jesus as follows:

” . . . and in One Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of Gods, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made, who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven.”

Finally the Athanasian Creed replaced the other two creeds by authority of the Roman Catholic church, bringing into bloom the full doctrine of the Trinity. At that time many of the church dignitaries opposed it violently, but its passage was carried by a small majority. The Athanasian Creed states in part, as follows:

” . . . but the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one: the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal . . . but the whole three persons are co-eternal together; and co-equal …”

Thus, we see a progression of ideas. First, the Apostles’ declaration that Jesus was the Son of God (not God, the Son). He was recognized by the New Testament writers to be descended from Adam, of the seed of Abraham and of David, not equal to the Eternal God. Jesus said, “my Father is greater than I.” In 1 Cor. 15:28 we are given to understand that at the end of the Millennium, when Jesus has completed his mission as King of Kings, that He himself will then become subject to the Eternal God. How could He possibly be considered a co-equal part of a Trinity?

Let us now examine some of the passages which are used to substantiate this doctrine. Gen. 1:2 ” . . . and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” . . . The Hebrew word for spirit here is “Ruach,” which is not a person but the almighty power of the Eternal. The word “Ruach” can be translated breath, wind or spirit. Gen. 3:20. “And the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become as one of us.” This is similar to Gen. 1:26 and “God said, let us make man in our image.” Who does the `us’ and ‘our’ refer to ? No doubt the Elohim —meaning gods or mighty ones who do His bidding. Who are God’s mighty ones who do His bidding? Are they not His angels? The term Elohim (plural for Eloah) has been used in reference both to angels and humans. “… worship Him, all ye gods.” (Elohim) Ps. 97.7. The writer to the Hebrews (1.6) quotes this verse and applies it to the angels. Look at Ps. 82.6, “I have said ye are gods, all of ye are the children of the Most High.”

It is a well established principle in Scripture that what the Eternal God does through His agents is considered as He having done it Himself. For instance, “The Lord appeared to Abraham as he sat in the door of the tent.” (Gen. 18:1) But whom did Abraham see? He saw three men — or Elohim . . . They were angels or messengers of God. (Read the entire chapter and to ye. 19 of chapter 19.) In Exodus 3:2 we have the account of God speaking to Moses from the burning bush. It says, “And an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush . . .” Yet the voice said (verse 6) ” . . I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, etc. . . .” Stephen speaks of this in his apology (Acts 7:30-34).

God’s Angels — the Elohim — mighty in strength and power to do His commandments, “. . hearkening unto the
voice of His words.” (Psa. 103:19-20).

In Smith’s Bible Dictionary which is used by many Protestant scholars, under the caption, “God” the following appears: “The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it referred to the trinity of persons in the Godhead hardly now finds a supporter among the scholars. It is either what the grammarians call ‘the plural of majesty,’ or it denotes the fullness of Divine strength, the sum of the powers displayed by God.”

Now the Christadelphian position, as found in 1 Tim. 2:5, is this: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” One thing—most important to remember is this—God made Himself known unto the nation of Israel, and not once did He give them the impression that there was a tribune God. God was revealed to them as One God. Read Deut. 4:35 and 6:4.

There are, however, certain passages in the New Testament which seem to give credence to a belief in the Trinity. For example, in the Gospel of John, the Holy Spirit is personified. This appears to be so because the translators themselves believed in the Trinity. The Greek word for Spirit in these passages in John is “pneuma” and is neuter in gender. As a matter of fact it is translated “it” instead of “he” in most of the new editions of the Bible. The reference to the ” three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” I John 5:7 is deleted in the American Revised Edition, and also in the New English Bible be­cause it is not found in the original text. It had been added to the King James version to support the trinitarian belief.

Now here is something to consider: If the doctrine is correct, then the second person of the trinity is the son of the third person of the trinity, because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Also, does it seem reasonable that an all-powerful, all-knowing member of the Godhead would be reduced to a seed in the uterus of Mary — to begin life with the mind of a baby? We read in Luke 2:52 — “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

Jesus was indeed “the word made flesh.” But the term “word” does not mean person—it means (Logos) purpose or idea. In 1 Peter 1:20 (Jesus Christ) “Who verily was ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

If there is anything I have overlooked, or anything that I may be able to help you with in the future, please don’t hesitate to drop me a line, and I will endeavor to go into the matter further. We all have to search the Bible and accept it in its entirely—both the Old and the New Testament.