Big Footprint
http://maps.google.com/maps?rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7SKPB&q=1450+W+7th+St,+San+Pedro,+CA+90732,+USA&um=1&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title
Have you seen 1450 W 7th Street on a website like Google maps? The sanctuary, MPR, back parking lot, Broadway parking lot, Alpha house, pool, yard, 602 S Weymouth, and Trinity East on Broadway is a big footprint for an urban church.
Even though Google looks down from the heavens and sees our footprint bordered by 6th and 7th Street, Broadway, the alley, and Weymouth, God sees our footprint in a very different way.
Even though Google looks down from the heavens and sees our footprint bordered by 6th and 7th Street, Broadway, the alley, and Weymouth, God sees our footprint in a very different way.
God zooms in! God calls and gathers those who show up to connect with him. He zooms in to the prayer chapel on Wednesday to touch us and to give us himself to taste. His authority undergirds and energizes our leadership to make wise decisions about our life together. His healing power is evident as we pray and proclaim in Jesus’ name.
God zooms out! God zooms out and sees members and friends of Trinity serving food in Jesus’ name, building families on the Word of God, making a difference in people’s lives in the workplace, and bearing witness to our hope at nearly every school in our area.
God zooms way out! God zooms out and sees a church in central Mexico that rely’s on the generosity of Trinity people, a young Asian sailor that knows Jesus because Pastor Jack introduced him to the Savior in our Port, over one hundred children that are cared for through Handclasp in Thailand, a desperate church in Zimbabwe that is strengthened through the input of the Gerharts.
Our footprint is only made possible because of the Footprints that walk next to our own. They are the Lord’s! We have spent some time on our geographic foot print over the last 2 years. We will still need to maintain, and steward this great property and buildings we have been entrusted with. But, I believe the next great focus will be not on property, but on people, not on buildings but on building people. Evangelism, equipping the saints, and being sent people is our call at this time. I can’t wait!
In Jesus, Nathan
Our footprint is only made possible because of the Footprints that walk next to our own. They are the Lord’s! We have spent some time on our geographic foot print over the last 2 years. We will still need to maintain, and steward this great property and buildings we have been entrusted with. But, I believe the next great focus will be not on property, but on people, not on buildings but on building people. Evangelism, equipping the saints, and being sent people is our call at this time. I can’t wait!
In Jesus, Nathan
Comments
SHOCKS SURVEY OF ANGLICAN BISHOPS
Shock Waves rolled all over England and the Christian World when a report in the DAILY NEWS of the U.K. under the caption: "Shock Survey of Anglican Bishops," reported that more than half of England's Anglican Bishops agrees that: "Christians are not Obliged to Believe that Jesus Christ was God". The poll conducted of 31 of England's 39 Bishops, deny Jesus' DIVINITY and RESURRECTION thus rending two of the most fundamental Christian doctrines completely void.
They attribute these age-old concepts to inaccuracies in the Bible. (2)
NOT GOD – BUT "GOD'S SUPREME AGENT"
The report further states that 19 of the 31 Bishops agree that: "It was Sufficient to Regard Jesus as 'God's Supreme Agent". (3)
THUS, MORE THAN HALF OF ENGLAND'S ANGLICAN BISHOPS ABSOLVED THEMSELVES FROM BLASHMEY AND REGARDED… JESUS
- AS ONLY A MESSENGER.
BISHOPS JENKINS SLAMS CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES
In an interview to London's Weekend Television religious programme "CREDO",- the newly appointed Bishop of Durban – the Rev. Professor David Jenkins, who is the fourth high – ranking Bishop in the Church of England – directed his attack at the shaky base on whish the entire structure of Christianity stands. The most fundamental Christian doctrines of Jesus' DIVINITY and RESURRECTION were slammed by the Bishop, expressing that the events in Jesus's early mission: "Were not Strictly True but were Added to the Story of Jesus by the Early Christians to Express their Faith in Him as a Messiah". (4)
This concept about God and Jesus (Pbuh) is shared by all the apostles, early Christians, ancient and modern day Christian scholar, thinkers, writers and even the ordinary Christian. Jesus (Pbuh) says in (Matthew 4:10, The Bible):
". . . for it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve."
In (John 17:3, Bible) he says: "And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christi whom thou hast sent."
Again he says in (John 20:17, The Bible): ". . . I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
Are these statements not clear? Wherefrom Jesus (Pbuh) came to be accepted as God?
Now here comes, the Billion Dollar Question: "Is The TRINITY DOCTRINE Divinely Inspired?"
THE CHRISTIANS
Close to a billion people around the world continue to believe and practice the doctrine of the Trinity while twofold of them, if not more, reject it outright on the ground that it is not biblical but also fallacious, baseless, senseless, repugnant and contrary to reason.
According to Bamber Gascoigne, in his book "The Christians": For the first fifty years of what we now call the Christian Era, not a word survives in any document about Christ or his followers. During the next fifty years, the Christians themselves wrote down most of the books that now make up the New Testament. But still not a word, with one small exception, from any outside writer. And then, in the second century, Roman authors began to comment: (5)
"There is a group, hated for their abominations, called Christians by the people. Christus, from whom the name comes, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our officials, Pontius Pilate." (Tacitus)
"The Christians are a class of men given to a new and wicked superstition." (Suetonius)
"The poor wretches have convinced themselves that they are going to be immortal and live for all time, by worshipping the crucified sophist and living under his laws. Therefore, they despise the things of this world, and consider them common property. They receive these doctrine by tradition, without any definite evidence. So if any charlatan or trickster comes among them, he quickly acquires wealth by imposing upon these simple folk." (Lucian)
Nevertheless, Christianity flourished and became one big religion, but the teachings of Modern Christianity as we know it today, is different from what was taught by Jesus (Pbuh) to his disciples. The different doctrines of Christianity like the Trinity was a later development. Its inception began during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great at (Nicaea) and later developed into a full blown dogma at the time of Emperor Theodosius in 381 C.E. What a strange! Since then, Christianity has multiplied into many different sects and it is difficult now to recognize the true Christian faith. But whatever it is, in the present context, none is close to the original teachings of the prophets. They based their teachings on the Bible which is subject to continues revision.
God alone knows when Christians will be able to produce the correct (authentic) copy of their Scripture (Bible).
One wonders, at the number of versions of the Bible in circulation today. Each one is different from the other, yet, each claims to be the original version. They have acquired a taste to declare to the world that theirs is divinely inspired. Their ready reference is in (II Timothy 3:1, The Bible), which says: "All scripture is inspired by God…" But what the Christians do not understand is that, "substantially, the contents of their Bibles are not Scriptures but only stories, accounts, events and traditions." The problem become more complex when we come to know that some versions of the Bible contain more books than the others. The Orthodox Version (OVC), contain 86 books; the Charismatic Version (CV), contain 76 books; the Roman Catholic Version (RCV), contain 73 books and all the Protestant versions, contain 66 books including the New World
Translation of the Holy Scripture [1984] (NW), used by the Jehovah's Witnesses and other versions like the King James [1611 – 1942] (KJ), American Standard [1901 – 1944] (AS), Revised Standard [1971] Second Edition (RS) Jerusalem Bible [1966] (JB), Good News Bible – Today's English Version [1976] (TEV), The Holy Bible (1954: as printed in 1956), Ronald A. Knox (Kx), New International Version (NIV), and countless other versions.
Moreover, how about the allegations of the distinguished Revisers of the Bible of the Revised Standard Version (RS), Revised Edition of 1952 and for the New Testament, Second Edition of 1971, by Wm. Collins Sons & Co. Ltd, published for Canadian Bible Society, which says in its Preface: (1) "Yet the King James Version have grave defects….. these defects are so many and so serious as to call for revision of the English translation." (2) "The king James Version of the New Testament was based upon a Greek text that was marred by mistakes" How about the charges of the Jehovah's Witnesses in their Awake publication of September 1951 which states: "The Bible has 50,000 error!"
And, how about if I say that contrary to our beliefs "none of the four Gospel writers were original disciples of Jesus (Pbuh)." In (Luke 6:14-16 and Mark 3:17, The Bible), we find the names of the twelve disciples appointed by Jesus (Pbuh). While the names of Matthew and John are included, the names of Mark, Luke and Paul are not mentioned.
However, from the following quotations, you will discover that the two Gospels attributed to Matthew and John respectively, were written by third persons. Read the reproductions of the verse in (Matt. 9:9, The Bible):
"As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he rose and followed him."
And in (John 21:23, The Bible):
"This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true."
In the first instance, the writer merely narrated what had transpired between Jesus (Pbuh) and the man Matthew, while in the second instance, it is obvious that the pronoun "We" stands as the writer.
Let us now reflect on what the two Christian Scholars say about the making of the Bible:
"A copyist would sometimes put in not what was in the text, but what he taught out to be in it. He would trust a fickle memory, or he would make the text accord with the views of the School to which he belonged. In addition to the versions and quotations from the Christian Fathers, nearly four thousand Greek MSS (Manuscript) of the Testament, were known to exist. As a result the variety of reading is considerable."(6)
"Thus Gospels were produced which clearly reflected the conception of the practical needs of the community for which they were written. In them the traditional material was used, but there was no hesitation in altering it or making additions to it, or in leaving out what did not suit the writer's purpose." (7)
THE TRINITY DOCTRINE
The Trinity doctrine is considered to be one God in three Persons. Each of them is said to be without beginning having existed for eternity. Each is aid to be Almighty, neither greater nor lesser than the others; each is said to e a complete God in every sense of the word which includes God's attributes and all are equal in time, position, power and knowledge. This doctrine forms the core and pillar of the Christian faith advocated by almost all the Christian denominations. However, the Trinity doctrine is not divinely inspired, but a man-made dogma coined by the Christians during the last quarter of the 4th century. In fact, it was the outcome of the Council of Constantinople in 381 C.E. which agreed to place the Holy Spirit in the same stature as God and Jesus Christ.
The Encyclopedia Britannic states that: The concept of the unity of essence (homoousia) of the divine Logos with God the Father ensured the complete divinity of Jesus Christ. The mystery of the person of Jesus Christ could be grasped in the formula: two natures in one person…..Not being derived primarily from abstract teaching, it rather changes within the liturgy in ever new forms and in countless hymns of worship – as in the words of the Easter liturgy:
"The king of the heavens appeared on earth out of kindness to man and it was with men that he associated. For he took his flesh from a pure virgin and he came forth from her, in that he accepted it. One is the Son, two-fold in essence, but not in person. Therefore in announcing him as in truth perfect God and perfect man, we confess Christ our God." (8)
The Athanasian Creed states:
"There is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal…The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet there are not three Gods but one God…For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every person by himself to be God and Lord, so are we forbidden by the Catholic religion to say there be three Gods, or three Lords." (9)
The Orthodox definition of the Christian Trinity and Athanasian Creed: "The doctrine of the Trinity states that the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God and together, not exclusively, they from one God. The Trinity is co-eternal, without beginning or end, and co-equal." (10)
The Roman Catholic Church states: The Trinity is the term employed to signify the central doctrine of the Christian religion …. While the Greek Orthodox Church, calls the Trinity, "the fundamental doctrine of Christianity even saying: Christians are those who accept Christ as God." In the book "Our Orthodox Christian Faith", the same church declares: "God is triune. . . The Father is totally God. The Son is totally God. The Holy Spirit is totally God." (11)
HOW THE TRINITY DEVELOPED INTO
A CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE
Persecution of the Christians and the suppression of the early Church under the Roman emperors which began in the first century, ended with the coming into power of Constantine the Great at the Milvian Bridge in 312 C.E. Consequently, through conversion to Christianity special favors were offered to the people in the form of political, military and social gains. As a result, thousands of non-Christians joined the Church and enabled Constantine to wield great power over the Church affairs.
It was during the reign of Constantine that the idea of Jesus Christ as co-equal to God, the Father began to gain momentum. Yet, Trinity was not an established doctrine at that time. The idea of a triune god stirred great controversy within the Church as still many clergy and laymen did not accept the position of Christ as God. (12)
This disagreement reached the level of confrontation between Bishop Alexander of Alexandria, Egypt and his presbyter Arius. Bishop Alexander taught that Jesus was equal to God but not Arius. So at a synod held at Alexandria in 321 C.E., Arius was deposed and excommunicated. (13)
Arius, tought in institutional disfavor, still had much support outside Egypt. Many of the important bishops, such as the learned historian Eusebius of Palestinian Caesarea and his powerful namesake, Eusebius, Bishop of Nicomedia, theologically agree with Arius: Jesus Christ is not God. (14)
The sustained controversy disturbed Constantine and in order to legitimatize his position, he invited all bishops of the Christian Church to Nicaea (which is now in Asia Minor) in May 325 C.E. Thus, the Council of Nicaea began to settle the dispute concerning the relationship between God and His son. Constantine, who was in charge of the proceedings, exercised his political power to bring to bear the bishops to accept his theological position. The creed signed by 218 bishops was clearly anti-Arian. In other words, the Creed of Nicaea endorsed the Son as co-equal to God. Two hundred eighteen of the bishops signed this creed, although it was actually the work of a minority. (15)
The Encyclopedia Britannica summarizes the proceedings of the Council of Niacea as follows:
The Council of Niacea met on May 20, 325. Constantine himself presiding, actively guiding the discussion, and personally proposed (no doubt on Ossius' prompting) the crucial formula expressing the relation of Christ to God in the creed issued by the council, "of one substance with the Father." Over-awed by the emperor, the bishops, with two exceptions only, signed the creed, many of them against their inclination.
Constantine regarded the decision of Nicaea as divinely inspired. As long as he lived no one dared openly to challenge the Creed of Nicaea; but the expected concord did not follow. (16)
We believe in one God the Father All-sovereign, maker to all things visible and invisible; And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father, only-begotten, that
is, of the substance of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father, through whom all things were made, things in heaven and things on the earth; who for us men and for our salvation came down and was made flesh, and became man, suffered, and rose on the third day, ascended into the heavens, is coming to judge living and dead.
And in the Holy Spirit,
And those that say 'There was when he was not,' and, 'Before he was begotten he was not,' and that, 'He came into being from what-is-not; or those that allege, that the son of God is 'Of another substance or essence'
Or 'created,'
Or, 'changeable'
Or 'alterable,'
These the Catholic and Apostolic Church anathematizes.
"The 'Nicaea' Creed
Bettenson explains the Nicene Creed as follows:
[It was] found in Epiphanius, Ancoratus, 118, C.A.D. 374, and extracted by scholars, almost word for word, from the Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril of Jerusalem; read and approved at Chalcedon, 451, as the creed of '(the 318 fathers who met at Nicaea and that of) the 150 who met at a later time' (i.e., at Constantinopolitan, 381). Hence often called the Constantinopolitan or Nicaeno-Constantinopolitan Creed, and thought by many to be a revision of the creed of Jerusalem held by Cyril.
We believe in one God the Father All-sovereign, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the father, through whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from the heavens, and was made flesh of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man, and was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures, and ascended into the heavens, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father, and cometh again with glory to judge living and dead, of whose kingdom there shall be no end:
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and the Life-giver, that proceedeth from the Father, who with Father and Son is worshipped together and glorified together, who spake through the prophets:
In one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church:
We acknowledge one baptism unto remission of sins. We look for a resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. (17)
Though the Council of bishops accepted the Creed of Nicaea there was no mention of the Trinity.
The controversy over the nature of Jesus continued for several decades. In the year 381 C.E. a second ecumenical council met in Constantinople.(18) This council adopted the Nicene Creed stating that Jesus and God were co-equal, co-eternal and the deity of the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Trinity came to be formally established as the cornerstone of Christian faith for the next fifteen centuries.
Note: Like the "Lords Prayer" (Matt. 6:9-13, The Bilble), all Roman Catholics are required to memorize the "Nicene Creed" which they include in their prayers.
Emperor Theodosius made belief in Christianity a matter of imperial command:
"It is Our Will all the peoples We rule shall practise that religion which the divine Peter the Apostle transmitted to the Romans.
We shall believe in the single Deity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, under the concept of equal majesty and of the Holy Trinity.
We command that those persons who follow this rule shall embrace the name of Catholic Christians. The rest, however, whom We adjudge demented and insane, shall sustain the infamy of heretical dogmas, their meeting place shall not receive the name of churches and they shall be smitten first by divine vengeance and secondly by the retribution of Our own initiative. We shall assume in accordance with divine judgment."(19)
Subsequently, the doctrine of the veneration of Mary as the "mother of God" and "bearer of God" was also formulated at the Second Council of Constantinople (553 C.E.) and the title of "Eternal Virgin" was added. "In the prayers and hymns of the Orthodox Church the name of the mother of God is invoked as often as in the name of Christ and the Holy Trinity"…." In the Roman Catholic doctrine, Mary, the mother of God, was identified with the figure of the divine Wisdom. The process of deifying the mother of God went a step further here, in that Mary is treated like a divine hypostasis (substance). the figure of heavenly Wisdom."(20)
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCED
THE TRINITY DOCTRINE
The factors that influenced the formulation of the Trinity Doctrine was summarized by the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1989, in what may be regarded as precursor of the Trinity doctrine:
Throughout the ancient world, as far back as Babylonia, the worship of pagan gods grouped in triplets were common. This practice was also prevalent before, during and after Christ in Egypt, Greece and Rome. After the death of the apostles, such pagan beliefs began to invade Christianity.
Historian Will Durant observed: "Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it….From Egypt came the ideas of a divine trinity." And in the book of Egyptian Religion, Siegfried Morenz notes:
The Trinity was a major preoccupation of Egyptian theologians . . . Three gods are combined and treated as single being, addressed in the singular. In this way the spiritual force of Egyptian religion shows direct link with Christian theology."
Thus, in Alexandria, Egypt's churchmen of the late third and early fourth centuries, such as Athanasius, reflected this influence as they formulated ideas that led to Trinity. Their own influence spread, so much that Morenz considers "Alexandria theology as the intermediary between the Egyptian religious heritage and Christianity."
In the Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, James Hasting wrote: "In Indian religion, e.g., we meet the Trinitarian group of Braham, Siva, and Visnu; in Egyptian religion, the
Trinitarian group of Osiris, Isis, and Hourus . . . Nor is it only in historical religions that we find God viewed as a Trinity. One recalls in particular the new-Platonic view of the Supreme or Ultimate Reality." Which is "triadically represented."
The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge shows the influence of this Greek philosophy: "The doctrines of the Logos and the Trinity received their shape from Greek Fathers, who. . . were much influenced, directly or indirectly, by the Platonic philosophy. . . That errors and corruptions crept into the Church from this source cannot be denied."
The Church of the First Three Centuries says:
"The doctrine of the Trinity was of gradual and comparatively late formation; … it had its origin in a source entirely foreign from that of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures;. . . it grew up, and was grafted in Christianity, through the hands of the Platonizing Fathers."(21)
Sculptures of gods with three faces were found in several parts of the world (e.g., Kampuchea, [Triune Buddhist godhead, c. 12th century C.E.]; Italy, [Trinity, c. 15th century C.E.];. Norway, [Trinity (Father, Son, Holy spirit), c.13th century C.E.]; France, [Trinity, c. 14th century C.E.]; Germany, [Trinity, c.19th century C.E.]; India, [Triune Hindu godhead, c. 7th century C.EI.]; S.Falmyra, (Triad of moon god, Lord of Heavens, sun god, c.1st century C.E.]; Babylon, [Triad of , Ishtar, Sin Shamash, 2nd millennium B.C.E.] and Egypt, [Triad of Horus, Osiris, Isis, 2nd millennium B.C.E.]).(22)
JUSTIFICATION OF THE TRINITY
BY THE TRINITARIANS
Giants of Christendom, in an attempt to rescue the Trinity, tried all available means to justify the doctrine. However, after exhausting all known logics and human reasons, failed miserably and declared it to be a "MYSTERY". The following are some of statements given by head of the Churches, eminent Christian Theologians and known writers who came boldly to defend it with temerity:
"The most Holy Trinity is a mystery in the strictest sense of the word. For reason alone cannot prove the existence of a Truine God, Revelation teaches it. And even after the existence of the mystery has been revealed to us, it remains impossible for the human intellect to grasp how the Three Persons have put one Divine Nature." (23)
Catholic scholars karl Rahner and Herbert Vorgimler stated in their Theological Dictionary: "The Trinity is a mystery . . . in the strict sense . . ., which could not be known without revelation, and even after revelation cannot become wholly intelligible."
"A dogma so mysterious presupposes a Divine revelation." (The Catholic Encyclopedia)
"God is one, and God is three. Since there is nothing like this in creation, we cannot understand it, but only accept it." (Monsignor Eugene Clark)
"We know that it is a very profound mystery, which we don't begin to understand." (Cardinal John O'Connor)
"The inscrutable mystery of God the Trinity." (Pope John Paul II) (24)
THE TRINITY DOCRINE WAS NOT
TAUGHT BY THE EARLY CHRISTIANS
The expression "God the Father", "God the Son" and "God the Holy Spirit" is not only synonymous to Christianity but the core of Christian belief.
However, this belief considered as the fountainhead of the Christian religion was not known or advocated by Jesus (Pbuh) or the early Christians. The Apostolic Fathers and those of the succeeding generations up to the last quarter of the 4th century C.E. never have thought of a triune God. They believed in One Omnificent, Omnipotent, Omniscient and Transcendent Creator Who alone is to be worshipped.
The following authentic reports taken from different Christian authorities speak for themselves:
"The formulation 'one God in three Persons' was not solidly established 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." (25)
The doctrine of the Trinity was coined by the Christians about three hundred years after Jesus. The four Canonical Gospels, written between 70 and 115 C.E., contain no reference to the Trinity. Even St. Paul, who imported many foreign ideas into Christianity, knew nothing of the Triune God. The New Catholic Encyclopaedia 4(bearing the Nhil Obstat and Imprimature, indicating official approval) admits that the doctrine of the Trinity was unknown to the early Christians and that it was formulated in the last quarter of the 4th century:
" If is difficult, in the second half of the 20th century to offer a clear, objective, and straightforward account of the revelation, doctrinal evaluation, and theological elaboration of the mystery of the Trinity. Trinitarian discussion, Roman Catholic as well as other, presents a somewhat unsteady silhouette.
Two things have happened. There is the recognition on the part exegetes and Biblical theologians, including a constantly growing number of Roman Catholics, that one should not speak of Trinitarianism in the New Testament without serious qualification. There is also the closely parallel recognition on the part of historians of dogma and systematic theologians that 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." (26)
"At first the Christian faith was not Trinitarian . . . It was not so in the apostolic and sub-apostolic ages, as reflected in the (New Testament) and other early Christian writings." (Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics)
"The early Christians, however, did not at first think of applying the (Trinity) idea to their own faith. They paid their devotions to God the Father and to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and they recognized the . . . Holy Spirit; but there was no thought of
these three being an actual Trinity, co-equal and united in One." (The Paganism in Our Christianity) (27)
DOES THE BIBLE TEACH
THE TRINITY DOCTRINE?
While the Bible is preached and believed as the Word of God, it does not contain the celebrated doctrine of the Trinity. If this Trinity doctrine were true, it should be clearly presented in the Bible because we need to know God and the way to worship Him.
Not anyone among the prophets of God from Adam down to Jesus (Pbut), had the concept of the Trinity or a Triune God. No one of the messengers of God spoke any veiled statement to that effect or is there any reference either in the Old or New Testaments of the Bible confirming of such doctrine. It is, therefore, strange that neither Jesus (Pbuh) nor his disciples speak about the Trinity in the Bible. On the contrary, Jesus (pbuh) says: "The Lord our God, the Lord is one. . . " (Mark 12:29, The Bible). And according to St. Paul: "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know." (Acts 2:22, The Bible)
The above verses speak for themselves. Why should one bother over a doctrine full of confusion when Christian scholars of the highest eminence are unable to interpret or explain it intelligibly?
Jesus (Pbuh) has rightfully prophesied this kind of problem in (Matthew 15:8-9, The Bible): "This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men."
In addition, it was followed by St. Paul in (2 Timothy 4:3-4, The Bible): "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths."
Further we also read in (Titus 2:26, The Bible): "They profess to know God, but they deny him by their deeds; they are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good deed."
In the midst of this dilemma, great minds among the Christians exhausted all known logic to lend credence to the doctrine of Trinity but failed miserably and subsequently declared it to be a mystery. However, the worship of Almighty God cannot be compromised. He wants man to worship Him alone according to His Divine Guidance. Being Himself Just, it follows that His justice demands that His Message must be clear and simple in form. Its teachings, as a whole, must be devoid of any flaw, superstition and confusion. It must be an absolute truth that can always withstand the challenge of any kind of knowledge including human discoveries in the field of science. Since the Trinity doctrine is a "mystery" by itself, as such, it cannot be regarded as divinely breathed. The Bible says: "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace." (1 Corinthians 14:33, The Bible)
About the Hebrew Scripture
The Encyclopedia of Religion admits:
"Theologians today are in agreement that the Hebrew Bible does not contain a doctrine of the Trinity". And the New Catholic Encyclopedia also says: "The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is not taught in the Old Testament."
Similarly, in his book The Triune God, Jesuit Edmund Fortman admits: "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 ever suspected the existence of a (Trinity) within the Godhead. . . Even to see in (the "Old Testament") suggestions or foreshadowings or 'veiled signs' of the trinity of persons, is to go beyond the words and intent of the sacred writers." (28)
About the Greek Scripture
The Encyclopedia of Religion says: "Theologians agree that the New Testament also does not contain" an explicit doctrine of the Trinity.
Jesuit Forman states: "The New Testament writers . . . give us no formal or formulated doctrine of the Trinity, no explicit teaching that in one God there are three co-equal divine persons . . . . Nowhere do we find any trinitarian doctrine of three distinct subjects of divine life and activity in the same Godhead."
The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology similarly states: "The (New Testament) does not contain the developed doctrine of the Trinity. 'The Bible lacks the expressed declaration that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are of equal essence.' [said Protestant theologian Karl Barth' "
"Historian Arthur Weigall Notes: "Jesus Christ never mentioned such a phenomenon, and nowhere in the New Testament does the word 'Trinity' appear. The idea was only adopted by the Church three hundred years after the death of our Lord." "Paganismin Our Christianity" (29)