Is the "Trinity" Biblical?

Dear Ari Levitt,

I have been a "church of England," Methodist, and Pentecostal member in the past. However, I am now suspicious of certain areas of their doctrine. Homosexuality is quite common in these churches.

No doubt you are aware the denominational churches insist on belief of the Trinity.

I read in the Lion Encyclopaedia of the Bible that the early Messanianics never believed in the Trinity.

The book "The Two Babylons" regards the concept of the Trinity as heretic largely because of it pagan connections.

Therefore I will be grateful if you would comment on this concept.

Regards
J.G.

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Dear J.G.,

Thank you so very much for that intriguing question.

Before we go any farther, let me simply state an observation on the complexity of the subject. When I was teaching Systematic Theology in seminary, the subject of Theology Proper, or the Doctrine of G-d, was a three-unit course. That means that it was given three hours of classroom time each week for thirteen weeks, for a total of 39 hours of instruction. Students were expected to spend a minimum of two additional hours of outside study for each hour of classroom time, bringing the minimum total time dedicated to the subject to 117 hours for the academic quarter.

And that was just the class just to study the basic nature of G-d. The class in Christology (the Doctrine of Christ, in which the deity of Yeshua is studied) and the class in Pneumatology (the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, in which the deity of the Holy Spirit is studied) were each an additional 117 hours, as was a separate class on the study of the Trinity, for a total of 468 hours of basic study on the subject of the triune nature of G-d.

Obviously we are not going to even scratch the surface in this brief discussion, but I hope that it will help get you pointed in the right direction for further personal research.

Most Messianic Believers that I personally know avoid the use of the term "Trinity" for three primary reasons (though I am sure there are many other reasons, including that of non-belief in the tri-unity of G-d).

First, there are many Jewish people to whom the use of the word "Trinity" is an obstacle to effective witness to them because it is a decidedly "Christian" term and would imply (to them) that the Messianic witness is attempting to convert the Jewish person to the "Christian religion" instead of simply teaching them about Israel's King Messiah.

Second, many object to the use of the term "Trinity" simply because it is not explicitly used in the Scriptures.

Third, use of the term "Trinity" requires the witness to then provide a working definition of the term, and very few Believers that I have ever met have been able to provide an adequate and accurate Biblical definition. In fact, most of the Christians that I have ever met do not rightly understand the nature of the triune G-dhead and actually hold a tri-theistic concept of Deity as opposed to the correct Biblical view.

If one delves deeply into the understanding of the nature of G-d as held by most Gentile Christians, what one discovers is indeed an erroneous tri-theistic rather than a triune concept of G-d. Many (or perhaps even most) of these individuals think of "God the Father" as the fierce desert G-d of the so-called "Old Testament" Who gave Moses a set of laws so complex and unreasonable that nobody could ever obey them, Who provided the death penalty for something so trivial as sassing one's parents, and Who was anxiously awaiting the opportunity to slay the transgressors. They conceive of "God the Son" as the baby who began His existence in a manger in Bethlehem, surrounded by sheep, cattle, shepherds, and wise men, and maybe even an angel or two; Who is somehow both G-d and man (though they are not sure when or how He became G-d); Who created a new religion to replace the error of Judaism; and Who taught that the Torah was abolished in favor of a new set of laws that were "written on the heart" and which pretty much allow one to do whatever one wants as long as one believes that He died for their sins and was resurrected and will some day return to earth to reign as King for a thousand years and then take them all to heaven for eternity. And when it comes to "The Holy Spirit" there are so many different concepts that there is no clear consensus of opinion within "Christianity." For some, the Spirit is a force or power of G-d that somehow "inhabits" or "possesses" Christians and gives them special powers or gifts; many believe that this particular function of the Spirit was only for the spread of the Gospel until the so-called "New Testament" was completed and then that function ceased. When I was a young child I once had a pastor who had a Doctor of Divinity degree and who, when questioned about the Holy Spirit, generally replied with something akin to, "Well, we really don't know much about it so we just avoid the subject."

All of the above concepts are clearly not what the Scriptures actually teach about the nature of G-d. What the Scriptures do teach about the nature of G-d is not nearly as easy to clearly define.

Do the Scriptures teach the absolute unity of G-d, or do they teach something else?

I believe that the Scriptures teach that there is only one living and true G-d, an infinite and intelligent Spirit Who is the source of all being and meaning; a compound unity Who eternally exists in three Divine Persons: HaAbba (God the Father), HaBen (or G-d the Son), and Ruach HaKodesh (God the Holy Spirit), one in essence and attributes, yet three in distinct Person, work, and purpose; each of Whom possess all the attributes of absolute Deity and is infinite, eternal, unchangeable, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, personal, and perfect in wisdom, power, holiness, righteousness, justice, goodness, truth, mercy, and love. I believe that “the Father is all the fullness of the G-dhead invisible (John 1:18); the Son is all the fullness of [the] G-dhead manifested (John 1:14-18); the Spirit is all the fullness of the G-dhead acting immediately upon the creature (1Cor. 2:9-10).” [Boardman, cited in Great Doctrines of the Bible, by William Evans. Chicago: Moody Press, 1912, 1949, p. 28.]

How can that statement be proven from the Scriptures? There are four steps; four things must be demonstrated from the Scriptures to demonstrate the triune nature of G-d:

1. It must be shown from the Scriptures that there is one, and only one G-d—the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

2. It must be shown from the Scriptures that G-d refers to Himself as "Father." It must also be shows from the Scriptures that no man has ever seen Father G-d at any time.

3. It must be shown from the Scriptures that Father G-d has a Son, and that the Son is Himself Deity.

4. It must be shown from the Scriptures that Ruach HaKodesh (also referred to as the Spirit of G-d, the Spirit of Messiah, or the Holy Spirit) is not just a force or an influence, but that He is in fact a Person, having volition and sensibility.

If there is in fact only one G-d, and if the Father is G-d, and if the Son is also G-d, and if the Spirit is also G-d, and yet there is in fact only one G-d, then the unavoidable conclusion is that there is only one living and true G-d, an infinite and intelligent Spirit Who is the source of all being and meaning; a compound unity Who eternally exists in three Divine Persons: HaAbba (God the Father), HaBen (or G-d the Son), and Ruach HaKodesh (God the Holy Spirit), one in essence and attributes, yet three in distinct Person, work, and purpose; each of Whom possess all the attributes of absolute Deity.

1. Can it be shown from the Scriptures that there is one, and only one G-d—the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

To begin with, the nature of G-d as understood by Judaism since the days of Moshe is that over and above anything else that may be true about G-d, one thing is of paramount importance as stated in the Shema: "Sh'ma, Yisra'el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, Isra'el! ADONAI our G-d, ADONAI is one]!” (Deuteronomy 6:4, CJB*)

In Hebrew, the word "one" used in the Shema is echad, a term that is often (though not exclusively) used to represent a "compound unity of oneness." For example, echad is used to describe:

• man and woman becoming one [echad] flesh in marriage (Genesis 2:24)
• the whole earth being one [echad] people with the same [echad] language and the same [echad] words. (Genesis 11:1,6)
• all Israel responding to the giving of Torah with one [echad] voice (Exodus 24:3)
• the Hebrew spies returning to camp with a single [echad] cluster of grapes (Numbers 13:23)
• the whole [echad] assembly of Israel consisting of 42,360 individuals (Ezra 2:64)
• a singleness [echad] of heart and action (Jeremiah 32:38-39)

There is a completely different Hebrew word that is used to denote an absolute unity: yachid. This is the term used to denote loneliness (Psalms 25:16; 22:20; 68:6), the psalmist's "only" life (Psalm 35:17), and an "only" child (Genesis 22:2; 22:12; 22:16; Judges 11:34; Proverbs 4:3; Jeremiah 6:26; Amos 8:10; Zechariah 12:10).

The Jewish Rabbis will insist, and I agree, that to use the word echad to "prove" the doctrine of the Trinity simply won't fly! However, the Scripture's use of echad instead of yachid to describe G-d certainly allows for the concept of a compound unity for the nature of G-d. As Rich Deem so adequately puts it, "If the Shema had intended to express absolute oneness, it would have used the Hebrew word yachid instead of echad. However, the word yachid is never used in reference to G-d (Elohim)!" [internet article "The Triunity (Trinity) of G-d in The Old Testament" www.godandscience.org/apologetics/triunity.html, his emphasis].

For extensive information and discussion on the use of the Hebrew word echad, try a Google search of the keywords "Hebrew echad" [www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=hebrew+echad&btnG=Google+Search]

Another linguistic evidence for the "plural" nature of G-d is that the Hebrew word which is translated as "God" is the word El or Elohim. Elohim is the plural form of El. The plural form is used 2607 of the 2845 times the word "God" is used in the Tanakh. The word Elohim is also used in the plural form and translated "gods" 235 times when referring to idols. It is exactly the same word that is translated "God," referring to Adonai. Not only is the word for G-d usually used in the plural form, frequently G-d refers to Himself as "Us."

But is there, in fact, only one G-d? What do the Scriptures say?

"Sh'ma, Yisra'el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, Isra'el! ADONAI our G-d, ADONAI is one]; and you are to love ADONAI your G-d with all your heart, all your being and all your resources." — Deuteronomy (D'varim) 6:4, 5

"Adonai ELOHIM, you have begun to reveal your greatness to your servant, and your strong hand — for what other G-d is there in heaven or on earth that can do the works and mighty deeds that you do?" — Deuteronomy (D'varim) 3:24

"This was shown to you, so that you would know that ADONAI is G-d, and there is no other beside him." — Deuteronomy (D'varim) 4:35

"know today, and establish it in your heart, that ADONAI is G-d in heaven above and on earth below - there is no other." — Deuteronomy (D'varim) 4:39

"See now that I, yes, I, am he; and there is no G-d beside me. …" — Deuteronomy (D'varim) 32:39

"Then all the peoples of the earth will know that ADONAI is G-d; there is no other." — 1Kings 8:60

"Don't be frightened, don't be afraid. Didn't I tell you this long ago? I foretold it, and you are my witnesses. Is there any G-d besides me? There is no other Rock - I know of none." — Isaiah 44:8

"I am ADONAI; there is no other; besides me there is no G-d. …" — Isaiah 45:5

"… Surely G-d is with you; there is no other, other gods are nothing." — Isaiah 45:14

"For thus says ADONAI, who created the heavens, G-d, who shaped and made the earth, who established and created it not to be chaos, but formed it to be lived in: "I am ADONAI; there is no other." — Isaiah 45:18

"Let them stand and present their case! Indeed, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, announced it in times gone by? Wasn't it I, ADONAI? There is no other G-d besides me, a just G-d and a Savior; there is none besides me. Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am G-d; there is no other." — Isaiah 45:21, 22

"Remember things that happened at the beginning, long ago - that I am G-d, and there is no other; I am G-d, and there is none like me." — Isaiah 46:9

"Still, I am ADONAI your G-d, from the land of Egypt; and you don't know any G-d but me or, other than me, any Savior." — Hosea 13:4

"You will know that I am with Isra'el and that I am ADONAI your G-d, and that there is no other. …" — Joel 2:27

2. Can it be shown from the Scriptures that G-d is referred to as "Father," and that no man has ever seen Father G-d at any time?

"God in his holy dwelling, is a father to orphans and defender of widows." — Psalm 68:5

"He will call to me, 'You are my father, my G-d, the Rock of my salvation.'" — Psalm 89:26

"Don't we all have the same father? Didn't one G-d create us all? Then why do we break faith with each other, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?" Malachi 2:10

"No one has ever seen G-d; but the only and unique Son, who is identical with G-d and is at the Father's side — he has made him known." — John 1:18

"Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from G-d — he has seen the Father." — John 6:46

"For ever since the creation of the universe his invisible qualities — both his eternal power and his divine nature — have been clearly seen, because they can be understood from what he has made." Romans 1:20

"He is the visible image of the invisible G-d. He is supreme over all creation," — Colossians 1:15

"So to the King — eternal, imperishable and invisible, the only G-d there is — let there be honor and glory for ever and ever! Amen." — 1 Timothy 1:17

"No one has ever seen G-d; …" 1 John 4:12

3. Can it be shown from the Scriptures that Father G-d has a Son, and that the Son is Himself Deity?

"Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has cupped the wind in the palms of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!" — Proverbs 30:4

"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; dominion will rest on his shoulders, and he will be given the name Pele-Yo'etz El Gibbor Avi-'Ad Sar-Shalom [Wonder of a Counselor, Mighty G-d, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace]," — Isaiah 9:6

Is Yeshua the Messiah, and is Messiah deity?

Messiah is G-d: "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; dominion will rest on his shoulders, and he will be given the name Pele-Yo'etz El Gibbor Avi-'Ad Sar-Shalom [Wonder of a Counselor, Mighty G-d, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace]," — Isaiah 9:6

At the name of Adonai, every knee will bow: "… Who foretold this long ago, announced it in times gone by? Wasn't it I, ADONAI? There is no other G-d besides me, a just G-d and a Savior; there is none besides me. Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am G-d; there is no other. In the name of myself I have sworn, from my mouth has rightly gone out, a word that will not return - that to me every knee will bow and every tongue will swear about me that only in ADONAI are justice and strength. …" — Isaiah 45:21-24

At the name of Yeshua, every knee will bow: "Let your attitude toward one another be governed by your being in union with the Messiah Yeshua: Though he was in the form of G-d, he did not regard equality with G-d something to be possessed by force. On the contrary, he emptied himself, in that he took the form of a slave by becoming like human beings are. And when he appeared as a human being, he humbled himself still more by becoming obedient even to death — death on a stake as a criminal! Therefore G-d raised him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name; that in honor of the name given Yeshua, every knee will bow — in heaven, on earth and under the earth and every tongue will acknowledge that Yeshua the Messiah is ADONAI - to the glory of G-d the Father." — Philippians 2: 5-11

Who can miss it? Messiah Yeshua is Adonai!!!

As far as I am concerned, from a purely logical standpoint the argument for the deity of Yeshua is best summarized by C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity: "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg—or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of G-d, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and G-d. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us."

Yeshua is Adonai; yet Yeshua continually prayed to His Father, Adonai!! The only possible conclusion is that both Yeshua and His Father are Adonai, yet Adonai is One — echad!

4. Can it be shown from the Scriptures that Ruach HaKodesh is in fact a Person, having volition and sensibility?

Ruach HaKodesh is to be sent by the Father: "But the Counselor, the Ruach HaKodesh, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything; that is, he [not "it"] will remind you of everything I have said to you." — John 14:26