Non-Catholics Section:

The Trinity

Sources: Various

Important Notice: Items herein may not apply to all persons. References and translations may vary. We make no guarantees regarding any item herein. Do not take items out of context. Do not inflict harm on yourself or others, break laws, take unsuitable/incautious or inappropriate/drastic actions, or take figurative items literally. Use of site is at your own risk and is subject to our terms of use. For more terms information, see below and click here

Do You Reject the Trinity?

Question

Comments

Do You Reject the Trinity?

Consider:

* For information on the divinity of Christ, click here

* It is clear that the Holy Spirit is also God, especially considering that Jesus - that is, God - was "conceived by the Holy Spirit" (as indicated in the Apostles' Creed and mentioned in Lk. 1:35) and that Jesus commands that Baptism be given in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. As the Catechism of the Council of Trent states: "Again, the Sacred Scriptures join the Person of the Holy Ghost to those of the Father and the Son, as, for example, when Baptism is commanded to be administered in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. There is thus no room left us of doubting the truth of this mystery. For if the Father is God, and the Son God, we must admit that the Holy Ghost, who is united with Them in the same degree of honor is also God. Besides, baptism administered in the name of any creature can be of no effect. Were you baptized in the name of Paul?, says the Apostle, to show that such baptism could have availed nothing to salvation. Since, therefore, we are baptized in the name of the Holy Ghost, we must acknowledge the Holy Ghost to be God."

* If you reject the Trinity, explain why Genesis speaks in the plural when speaking of God, when we know that God is one. For example, consider the following passages (emphasis added):

Gen. 1:26: Then God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground."

Gen. 3:22: Then the LORD God said: "See! The man has become like one of us, knowing what is good and what is bad! Therefore, he must not be allowed to put out his hand to take fruit from the tree of life also, and thus eat of it and live forever."

Gen. 11:6-17: Then the LORD said: "If now, while they are one people, all speaking the same language, they have started to do this, nothing will later stop them from doing whatever they presume to do. Let us then go down and there confuse their language, so that one will not understand what another says."

* If you reject the Trinity, how do you explain the manifestation of the Trinity which occurred at Jesus' baptism? For example, how do you explain the following passages...?

Mt. 3:16-17: After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened (for him), and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove (and) coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Mk. 1:9-11: It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

Lk. 3:21-22: After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

* If you reject the Trinity, how do you explain the fact that persons are called to be baptized in the name of the Trinity? "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mt. 28:19-20)

* If you reject the Trinity, how do you explain the various references to the Trinity which are found in Scripture? For example, consider the following passages:

Lk. 1:35: And the angel said to [the Blessed Virgin Mary] in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God."

Jn. 14:26: "The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name - he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you."

Jn. 15:26: "When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me."

Acts 1:6-8: When they had gathered together they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

Acts 2:32-33: "God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you (both) see and hear."

2 Cor. 13:13: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

1 Pt. 1:1-2: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen sojourners of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, in the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification by the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ: may grace and peace be yours in abundance.

* Why is it that all orthodox Christians accepted the doctrine of the Trinity (contrary to the erroneous claims of some), but you reject it?