Doctrines of the Christian Faith
What is a doctrine?
By definition, a doctrine is said to be a set of beliefs, a principle or creed of principles, or a system of beliefs held and taught by a Church, political party, or another group. Like every major world religion, Christianity has its own doctrines which can be classified as major or fundamental and minor doctrines.
The Importance of Doctrines
Why are doctrines important? And why should Christians know the doctrines of the Bible?
1) The first and foremost reason for studying doctrines is because we love God. If we love God, we’ll want to know all about Him – His nature, His character, His purposes, His commandments; about the work, He’s doing in the world, His work in saving people, and His plans for the future. In other words, we’ll want to study ‘doctrine’. All our doctrines are about God.
2) We also need to study doctrines because what you believe will shape your spiritual life. The way you think about God will affect the way you relate to God. If you don’t believe in the deity of Jesus Christ then it follows that you don’t believe that He is the only way to the Father.
The same is true with the doctrine of the Trinity. If you don’t believe in the Trinity, you can’t believe that God is eternally loving. It’s the doctrine of the Trinity that gives us the confidence to believe that love is in the very nature of God. Studying doctrine is about finding out the truth about God so we can relate to Him in a more personal way.
3) Thorough knowledge of Bible doctrines will give you the tools to sort out all the practical problems of living in this complex fallen world – even in matters where the Bible doesn’t speak directly. In other words, we won’t know how to live in this world without knowing doctrines because without them we won’t understand the world we live in.
4) We need to study Bible doctrine so that we will be equipped to share the good news of salvation to the lost world. We have to be competent to answer questions. What are you going to say to someone who asks how God can allow a tsunami to sweep away the scores of thousands of people?
Answering Important Questions
How can you answer that question if you’ve never grappled with the doctrine of God’s sovereignty?
How do you answer when your child says to you ‘I’ve tried to become a Christian but it didn’t work?’ You’ll need a very clear grasp then of just what saving faith is, how it relates to the human will, and where assurance fits in.
Dorothy Sayers in her essay “Creed or Chaos” had the following to say on the fundamental problem of trying to practice the Christian faith without knowing what it actually is all about:
“It is worse than useless for Christians to talk about the importance of Christian morality unless they are prepared to take their stand upon the fundamentals of Christian theology. It is a lie to say that dogma does not matter; it matters enormously.
It is fatal to let people suppose that Christianity is only a mode of feeling; it is vitally necessary to insist that it is first and foremost a rational explanation of the universe.
It is hopeless to offer Christianity as a vaguely idealistic aspiration of a simple and consoling kind; it is, on the contrary, a hard, tough, exacting, and complex doctrine, steeped in a drastic and uncompromising realism. And it is fatal to imagine that everybody knows quite well what Christianity is and needs only a little encouragement to practice it.
The brutal fact is that in this nation not one person in a hundred has the faintest notion what the Church teaches about God or man or society or the person of Jesus Christ.”
Sound Doctrine
Doctrine must be “true” and “sound.” It must come from God, not from mere men (John 7:16). In several of his letters, it’s evident how the apostle Paul placed a very high value on a doctrine that is true and must be sound (1 Timothy 1:3, 10; Titus 1:9). John urges us also to ignore and reject anyone who does not abide by the doctrines of Christ in 2 John 9-10.
Fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Faith
Christian doctrines can be classified into major and minor. Major doctrines are those that have a great effect or impact on one’s salvation. Minor doctrines, on the other hand, are those that are considered secondary. Secondary doctrines are those that Christians often debate or disagree about but have little or no impact on salvation.
There are five fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith which constitute the basic theology of our faith. Without these five doctrines, we cannot be considered Bible-believing, Christ-centered, and Spirit-baptized Christian. We understand that many Christians today come from varied backgrounds and denominations and they faithfully believe and teach the five core doctrines of the faith.
However, there are also many false teachers today who call themselves “Christians” but deliberately deny one or more of these core doctrines by teaching explicitly or implicitly against them.
These five doctrines are essential and anyone who does not hold to these doctrines cannot be considered “Christian” at all because he does not understand and has not believed in the full Gospel message. Any person or movement who teaches anything contrary to or undermines these five doctrines must be rebuked (if they claim to be Christians) and, if they do not repent must be rejected according to the Word of the Lord.
The Five Fundamental Doctrines of Christianity
1) The Trinity – There is one God in three persons.
2) The Person of Jesus Christ – Jesus is fully man and fully God for all eternity.
3) Salvation – It is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
4) The Scripture – It is entirely inerrant and sufficient for all Christian life.
5) The Second Coming of Christ – Jesus Christ is coming back to earth to rule and judge.
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Recommended Resource:
For a more in-depth study of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith, get the book “Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith” by Wayne Grudem and Jeff Purswell.
How do we know the Bible is God’s Word? What is sin and where did it come from? How is Jesus fully God and fully man? What are spiritual gifts? When and how will Christ return? If you’ve asked questions like these, then “systematic theology” is no abstract term. It’s an approach to finding answers every Christian needs to know.
Bible Doctrine takes a highly commended upper-level textbook on systematic theology and makes it accessible to the average reader. Abridged from Wayne Grudem’s award-winning Systematic Theology, Bible Doctrine covers the same essentials of the faith, giving you a firm grasp on seven key topics:
- The Doctrine of the Word of God
- The Doctrine of God
- The Doctrine of Man
- The Doctrine of Christ
- The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption
- The Doctrine of the Church
- The Doctrine of the Future
Like Systematic Theology, this book is marked by its clarity, its strong scriptural emphasis, its thoroughness in scope and detail, and its treatment of such timely topics as spiritual warfare and the gifts of the Spirit.
But you don’t need to have had several years of Bible school to reap the full benefits of Bible Doctrine. It’s easy to understand–and it’s packed with solid, biblical answers to your most important questions.
To say that the printed bible is all that is needed to know the will of God and then promote extra-biblical works is self-opposing.
Then there is the point of the importance of revelation.
No need to quote a bunch of scriptures that are obviously being ignored. Look up revelation in your exhaustive concordance (and if you truly seek the wisdom that comes from above only you will use the KJV)and you will see the err of the doctrine of sola scriptura.
You need the guidance of the Holy Spirit in order to grow up into Christ.
You obviously didn’t find what you were needing in the RCC, why cling to their dogma’s which are not doctrine in truth?
Hello DCW, or should I say, Doug.
I stand by what I said about Sola Scriptura — the Bible is sufficient for man to know God.
But what about other books? They’re just references to help us understand the Bible a lot better. They can never replace the Bible if that’s your concern.
Now that you mentioned “KJV” only, makes me think there’s more to your comment than what you said. 😊
But that’s gonna be a different discussion.
You are right! We need the Holy Spirit to understand God’s Word and to grow as Christians.
God bless you!
Thank you, God bless you more. 😇
Are you aware of this Scripture:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Ephesians 4:14 (KJV)
Please step back and analyze what you have allowed on this website by providing a platform for expression from people holding every wind of doctrine: Muslims, Jews, Seventh Day Adventists, babes in Christ, mere inquirers, etc.
Systematic error from some Commenters can sound so much like the truth that mature Christians are needed to discern it enough to be able to explain to babes and inquirers.
While you seem like a nice person who responds to commenters in love, you also project a naïve, super-tolerant tendency to provide a free-for-all chaotic website mess.
Are you aware of this Scripture:
1 Timothy 4:1 (KJV)
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
While you seem to enjoy studying the Word, you do not seem to have developed discernment enough to correct considerable errors from vanity-of-mind Commenters on this website.
Let not a believer be a “patsy” for random people and let not a believer add to the confusion of babes in Christ and inquirers on a website identified as Christian.
Again, please step back and analyze what you are doing.
Hi Betty,
I appreciate your concern and I understand why you feel that way and said those things.
Why do I allow people with different beliefs to express their thoughts here? Its because of 1 Peter 3:15.
We are to give a reason for the hope that we have. How can we convince other people of the truth if we can’t even defend it?
In regards to the confusion it might bring to new believers, admins and authors of this site always make sure to set the record straight by refuting false doctrines.
I hope you understand. ☺️
How can God have a God?
Jesus and the Apostles say that Jesus had a God both on earth and in heaven. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus: to my God and your God.
In Revelation, the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God. Man is the head of woman, Jesus the head of man and God the head of Jesus. I will write on him the name of my God. Jesus: my Father is greater than I. Jesus: that they may know you the only true God.
No one but the Father knows the day and hour of the second advent, not even the son. The Father alone controls the times and seasons. Jesus: what you ask is not mine to give but my Father only….
What happened to distinct but not separate and equal in all ways? God never changes yet you say one of the three became a human, this is a tremendous change.
Jesus turns the kingdom over to the Father so that GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL. The throne of God and the throne of the lamb, where is the holy spirit’s throne, why two thrones if the three are one, why not just one throne?
The church is to be made or transformed into the same image as Jesus, Jesus is God, therefore we will be God too? Humans are composed of two things, dust and breath, these two are a soul. We are mortals with a hope of immortality. We are souls, a living breathing creature.
God is spirit, Jesus told his disciples he was not a spirit. Today Jesus sits at the right hand of God, God sits at the right hand of himself. That we may be one with God as Jesus was one with God, I in them and you in me.
Jesus is the mediator between God and men, God is the mediator between God and men.
Hi Lee,
Thank you for your insight, it’s much appreciated.
And yes, Jesus is God but He’s not the Father.
God bless you more!
This was the question put before me, how can God exist in three persons and yet be one? I ask How do you explain man, created in His likeness, created in his image? Made up of body, soul, and spirit? That’s right, man created in their image, their likeness, was created in a trinity.
I will answer it with a question, then go deeper into the word, His faith/our faith. How can man consist of a trinity, yet God can’t?
1Th 5:23 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Body, soul, and spirit, you remove one of them, man does not exist. God exists in a trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Remove one of them and you don’t have God. How can all three exist as One? How do you exist as one?
John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
How else can God Dwell in all of us who are born again if he is not Spirit? Rom 8:9 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
I know that is hard for some to swallow, if they can’t handle God being a trinity, how do they handle this word of faith? John 14:10 “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”
John 14:11 “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.”
The word dwelleth means: abode, a house where somebody lives. Know ye not we are the temple of God? 1 Cor. 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
If you can’t believe in the trinity of God, how do you cope with this word of faith? God and His Spirit live in us. No, we have more than a trinity do we not?
His faith/Our faith continues John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.”
John 14:17 “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
John 14:18 “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
Jesus was about to die for the sins of mankind, yet giving us comfort that when He leaves, He will come, now get this, and dwell “live” in us. How? By sending the Comforter “Holy Spirit”
Another example of the trinity, He is sending the Holy Spirit/Ghost, yet He says “it is He that will come to us.” Now if you can’t accept this word of God, you don’t have His faith, you have your faith or some denominational faith or another religion, and your sure not a child of His.
True Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, only those who accept and do what His faith tells them will receive salvation and the blessing of God.
Let us continue: John 14:19 “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.”
John 14:20 “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”
Here we go with trinity again, how is this possible? He is God. In this verse, Jesus declares he will manifest himself to us, what is manifest? “To make something evident by showing or demonstrating it very clearly.”
John 14:21 “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him.”
Jesus will make it very clear to us that He is within us and with us. How?
Good question. Judas asked the same thing in John 14:22 “Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?”
Jesus answers in John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
God the Father and God the Son will come to us and do what? Make their abode, what is an abode? (House, temple, dwelling.) If there is no trinity in our God, why bother to write such things? If Jesus was alone on earth as one God, no trinity, why did he keep praying to His father?
If Jesus was alone on earth as one God, why was he baptized with the Holy Spirit before He started his ministry?
Who is this Comforter that God will send in the name of His Son to all who are saved, that represents, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit?
John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
In Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.”
Made up of God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. All three make up one person, one God, making
them all equal, so no God does not share his glory with any other god, that includes Allah. If the Koran and the Bible are so similar as you are being told, what’s the need for the Koran?
Just use God’s true word of faith, called the Holy Word Of God. It’s because, they know the truth, the Koran preaches and teaches another god.
There is no other name under heaven whereby one must be saved. God has ordained that only through Jesus can one find salvation (Acts 4:12).
If any church, denomination, religion, pastor preacher teacher tells you otherwise, this is what God’s faith/Our faith tells us to do (Gal 1:1-10).
Now let’s look at the trinity from the beginning.
In Gen 1:1-2 we have a wonderful allegory of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Do you know the definition of “our?” “Our” indicates that something belongs to or is associated with the speaker or writer
and at least one other person.
We first read of God being alone in the beginning, or was He? First of all, we have God the Father creating the heavens and the earth, Second we see His Spirit being sent to create as well (Genesis 1:2).
Some would argue it was God in Spirit because God is Spirit according to His word (John 4:24). In essence, they are true, in reality, according to His faith, this was how it was done (Psalm 104:30).
Here is another one of those words, He sendest: to cause somebody or something to go. “God sent his Spirit” to go create this world.
In Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Let us: “US”: a pronoun used to refer to both yourself and another person or other people. Who was God speaking to? Was he not alone in the creation of this world and all the things therein? Let’s read it again to be sure.
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
The only other thing I read being in the beginning was His Spirit in verse two. Genesis 1:2 “And the earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
Did God create man after the image and likeness of Himself and the Holy Spirit? Would not man be created only as a spirit then? Where did the flesh and blood come from? We were created in his likeness and His image.
Likeness: “a representation of somebody or something” and in His image: “the likeness of somebody or
something that appears in a mirror.”
Yet He states let us create man in our likeness, in our image. If there is no trinity of the God Head, these scriptures make no sense.
That question takes us to John 1:1-3
“This Word was with God, The Word Was God.” Pay close attention to the wording, first statement, the Word was with God: “used to indicate that somebody is accompanying or is in the company of another person or people, or that something is accompanying something else.”
Then John turns right around and slams us with this, the Word was God: “past tense, it was God.” How can the word be with God and was God?
Now it gets even deeper in John 1:2 “The same was in the beginning with God.” John 1:3 “All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.”
Whoever it was with God in the beginning, all things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. This Word, we know for fact, according to God’s faith/Our faith is a man, I know in the day and age in which we live it might not be the case.
But in His faith/Our faith it is, “a him was a man.” So, this man was with God and was God, yet it was the Spirit of God flying across the creation, Where was this man?
God said: “Let us make man in our image after our likeness.” Are you still with me? Who is this man and how did we miss him in Genesis chapter one? Or was he deliberately left out?
No, He was there as sure as God’s Spirit was there. How did God create? “And God said, and God said, and God said.”
It was by his Word, who is His Word –Jesus.
Let us see. Here we have John the Baptist the apostle John is referring to. John 1:6 “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.”
John the Baptist came to bear witness of the Light (John 1:7) The Light is God, for what we know as of now
(1 John 1:5). John 1:8 “He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.”
“He was sent by God to bear witness.” This means “to hold something in mind and communicate it to others.” Sent to proclaim and testify who the Light is. This light was here from the beginning (John 1:9).
“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). Man was created in this perfect light that separated Good from evil until the fall. This Light, this Man came into this world He had made, and no one knew him (John 1:10).
Note: He made this world. Who made this world? God. God’s faith/Our faith is telling us, God, the creator of all came into this world and no one knew He was God. He even came to His own people, “Jews,” and they did not even know him or receive Him (John 1:11).
“But for that have and will receive Him, they will be given the power to become children of God” (John 1:12).
What glory and honor have been bestowed upon this man, who is He to have such power, to be equal with God? God does not force anyone to be born again and to serve Him, Allah does. See John 1:13. To be born again can only come from God, you are not born into it, and you can’t be forced into it.
May I remind you of John 1:1 about the Word that was with God and was God? God was made flesh (John 1:14). Who was made flesh? Let’s read what Luke wrote:
Luke 1:26-35 “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”
“And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.” Luke 1:31 “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.”
He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom, there shall be no end.
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
God in the flesh is “Jesus.” Who is the word that was with God and was God?
John the Baptist bears witness in a way that proves, even more, Jesus was here long before John was ever born, yet John was born before Jesus came into the world as a baby. See John 1:15; Luke 1:24-27.
I know it is Long, but souls are at stake, not just yours, Jacob. The book of Revelation tells us of a Whore riding on the back of the kingdoms of the Antichrist (Revelation 17:1, 15).
What is she being judged for? Read Revelation 19:2.
Spiritual fornication, leading people away from God, by many religions, Jacob you are in the midst of her fornication, The one world order and the one world church of many faiths, not faith will be the destruction
of many of God’s children, come out of it, and stop what you are doing.
The Muslim faith and the Christian faith are like salt and pepper, night and day and you are being misled.
I will end with these scriptures, I pray God opens your eyes to see and give you ears to hear. Don’t answer me on this, study it, take your time, and pray for truth.
You either believe the word of God from the Bible or you don’t, it is your choice.
1 John 5:7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (The Word is Jesus.)
1 John 5:8 “And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one” (A trinity).
1 John 5:9 “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.”
1 John 5:10 “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”
1 John 5:11 “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
1 John 5:12 “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
1 John 5:13 “These things have I written unto you that believe in the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe in the name of the Son of God.”
May God grant you eyes to see, ears to hear, and give you the heart to understand. The Bible teaches the trinity even though you won’t find the word in the Bible. Just like you won’t find rapture but it will happen as well.
God bless and keep your faith, which is the word of God.
Hi Gary,
Thanks for the detailed explanation and defense of the biblical doctrine of the Trinity.
This doctrine can be hard to fathom for most people but in time, they will, if they are sincerely in search of the truth.
God bless!
Jesus is god, little g because God made all men gods, Ps. 82.
That is, they are given freedom to choose; each man is the god of his own choices.
Jesus was the first to be taught of God how to make right choices according to the will of God and not by his own will. Jesus was made master by God. That is the master pattern to follow for which cause Jesus said follow me. He was made the original example that all others are to be fashioned after.
So, someone said Jesus is God but not the father. That is an oxy-moron. If Jesus is God then why did Moses call him a prophet. And two of his disciples, on the road to Emmeus called him a prophet, while speaking to him but didn’t know that it was him to whom they were even speaking until their eyes were opened, and Jesus did not rebuke them because he knew that he was indeed that prophet of whom Moses spake.
Now, Jesus is the head of the church, the Body of Christ and every member are bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh of the same body.
Let’s put this in simplified terms. Somewhere in my truck is a gear. The gear is not the truck but the truck is not complete without the gear. All of the different components (members) of the truck make the truck whole, or in other words it is one. But it still had a maker. The truck didn’t make itself.
Now, God made a driver to sit in the truck. That driver is Jesus. The driver didn’t make itself either but the driver has a maker also. Without the driver and every member of the truck working together the truck goes nowhere.
The master of the assembly of the truck that is designed for the driver to drive and the whole product working together is of God.
So, the body being one is that the truck goes nowhere without the driver and the driver goes nowhere without the truck and every member of the truck together. So it is with an army, of which Christ may be called the captain. Made the captain by God.
Elsewise when the war is over how is it that the captain will deliver up the kingdom (the spoils) unto the one who appointed the captain? 1 Corinthians 15. The wise master builder gave the vehicle and it’s entire body of which Jesus is a member the integrity to endure unto the end.
How can Jesus do any thing but God’s will seeing that it is written; cease from your own ways, from your own speech, and from your own thoughts? Jesus knows God’s word. doesn’t he keep it also?
And God keeps his word. And every believer in Christ. Well then, it is written; a body thou hast prepared me. What is the body of Christ? Jesus and every member together are that body. All having one maker.
The first vehicle, the first Adam crashed by an unskilled driver. The last vehicle, the last Adam endures forever because God is with it, not in flesh but in Spirit. And so the body of Christ of which Jesus is the head does nothing without the mind of God. There is the unity that God provided.
There is the doctrine of one. One mind, one accord, in the unity of the same purpose, the same Spirit, all with the same goal, the bringing of many sons unto glory, Jesus first, then every member who follows by the same Spirit.
They can’t say Jesus is God without denying that Christ is come in the flesh. So they say he is God and man. When God only made all men to be gods little g, not every man, or any man, to be God.
It is written; he that heareth you heareth God. God gave them the authority, as he did his Christ, Jesus, to speak the word of God, and to minister the gospel of truth, not to be God.
So, Because of the weakness of the flesh God sent a flesh example of how to get out of this world with your soul intact. That man, a prophet whom God made to be His Christ (example) is the way the truth and the life model that every believer conforms to. Without the head of the body there is no body, and without the body what would be the point of having a head.
So, you see, there is nothing that is made but by God speaking His word. God spoke it. Just as the truck didn’t make itself, and the driver didn’t make itself, the Word didn’t speak itself.
Hi Doug,
I will throw your words back at you, you really need the Holy Spirit to understand the Word of God.
Jesus is God, not god!
I pray that in time, you’ll figure that out.
Shalom.
@Gary Smith
Amen and Amen brother!
All praises and glory to God Jesus Christ the Savior of all mankind.
Matt 13:13 “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”
To see and hear what is hidden from people’s hearts, they should pray with an open heart in humbleness and ask for The Holy Spirit who will draw them towards God.
Human’s pride is the beginning of their destruction.
Love You Jesus, my Lord and my God ✝️✝️✝️🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️
I agree that the Trinity is not explicitly stated in Scripture.
However, I do not feel this necessarily means it is a false doctrine. Rather, it is an accurate portrayal of the divinity of God: As Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The reason why most Bible scholars and theologians came up with the idea of the Trinity is to attempt to illustrate the divinity of God, which sent His divine son to die for our sins and give us the Holy Spirit (coequal with God and Christ as divine beings.)
The Doctrine of the Trinity is a spiritual concept that the human mind cannot fully grasp alone. It is a very complicated thing to digest intellectually. I wholeheartedly understand the confusion there may be in terms of this specific tenet of the Christian doctrine.
While I am no high expert in theological matters, my intention is to dive deep into Scripture and gain spiritual insight from them. I gain theological and spiritual knowledge through the Holy Bible, trusted Bible study websites, and the help of the Holy Spirit and other trusted pastors.
Basically, the Trinity states that there is one God, yet three entities in one: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. In my Christian club at school, I gave a series of presentations centering around the Trinity, and we did an activity where members got to choose a verse they are personally connected to, and draw conclusions about the traits of the Holy Spirit.
While these entities do have similar characteristics, there are three in one. They are all divine beings. Although Jesus was God in the flesh, he was still God, and he also has a divine nature, like the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Also, here is the activity we did. This should give you an illustration of the personality of the Holy Spirit. Notice that some of the traits are closely aligned with that of Jesus Christ and God the Father. You can do this activity during your Bible meditation time.
For this activity, you can choose any Bible verse that you personally feel connected to, or has been helpful in your walk with God. Feel free to reflect on how the Holy Spirit is leading you to meditate on this verse and draw closer to who he is. The verse I used for this activity was 1 Peter 5:8.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pSBfoZ3TV-FPw7KidkfaT19MjMbhSqqGX0PdFDgdRp4/edit?usp=drivesdk
Reasons for rejecting the Trinity:
1. You go about to kill me a man who has told you the truth.
2. Jesus a man approved of God
3. It is not me but my Father does the works and the words aren’t mine but my Fathers.’
4. God was in the Anointed reconciling the world to himself
5. Your chosen disciples shall do greater works than me (Jesus) but don’t go grasping at any equality with God because as Jesus insists ‘my Father is greater than I’ and all.
6. Jesus said the first commandment is “The Lord OUR God is one” and warned by his reference to the brazen serpent that to worship past its prescribed function becomes sin for God’s people.
7. Biblical-Christianity? You haven’t escaped the blind alleys of Orthodoxy which is nothing but the seizure of biblical truth by that spirit which infested Diogenes.
Biblical truth is ‘when they perceived that they were ignorant and unlearned men they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus’ praise the ever-living Father of our Lord Jesus.
Jeff Benner insists that John 1 is best understood as saying, in the beginning, was the teaching & co. Wakefield’s 19th Century version has Wisdom for Logos but the idea remains that that wisdom which produced the material creation and teaching that was given to Israel that they might live by them was now embodied in Jesus, Israel’s God’s final prophet to them and the true heir of the promises made to them thus his prophetic son ‘today you have become my son’ ‘declared the son of God with power through or by his resurrection from the dead.’
As Jesus insists his death was his true baptism of faith which faith was that God would not leave his righteous soul in Hades and Hebrews declares that the God of peace brought again our Great shepherd from the dead because IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE that death could hold him thus biblical faith understands that Jesus has broken the power of death for the righteous.
Peace.
Hey Phillip,
Thank you for taking the time to read this post.
You gave 7 reasons to reject the Trinity but I don’t think you made a good argument here.
We may not read the word Trinity in the Bible but if we take what the apostles and disciples of Jesus wrote and believed at face value, we will see that they clearly believed Jesus is God.
If you really want to prove from the Scriptures that there is no such thing as a Trinity, you’re gonna have to disprove Jesus’ divine nature. And I’d say it’s pretty hard to do that because the Old Testament testifies that Jesus has always existed. After all, He is the eternal Son of God.
I can give you all the arguments to prove that Jesus wasn’t just a human being but also divine in nature right here but to save me some time, I would like to direct you to a post that deals with the arguments against the deity of Christ.
Here’s the link:
https://biblical-christianity.com/arguments-against-the-deity-of-christ
Shalom!
Deut. 6:4 Hear O Israel, the Lord (Jehovah), our God (Jehovah), the Lord (Jehovah) is One.
One in Hebrew is Echad, a compound Unity. Adam knew his wife and they became one flesh …. basar echad.
Echad does mean ‘one’, an utterly unique oneness. Even Rabbi Maimonides said that in Deut. 6:4, God’s ‘oneness’ is incomparable and unique. Saying that ‘echad’ is the number ‘one’ then would be idolatry since Maimonides said that God’s ‘oneness’ could not be compared to anything, even the number one.
In Genesis 1:1,2: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…. the word for God is ‘Elohim’ which can mean judges, gods, people …. from the context in Genesis 1:1, it is not speaking of judges, gods (idols), or people but about plurality in Jehovah … a plurality of Persons.
Also note in other places in Genesis: Let US create God in our image (note, not images but image … Let US in Gen 11:7 Come, let US go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech … God never consorted with angels for counsel. “US” refers to Elohim, the TriUne Personage of Jehovah.
Jesus Christ (Yeshua HaMaschiach) is the 2nd Person of that TriUnity/Trinity, Co-equal with Jehovah the Father and Jehovah the Holy Spirit.
Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw near, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them; Ecclesiastes 12:1
Actually, the word Creator is in the plural in the Hebrew and should be translated thus: Remember now your Creators in the days of your youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw near, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them;
Creator.—This occurs as a Divine name in Isaiah 40:23; Isaiah 44:15, and elsewhere. Here it is in the plural, like the Divine name Elohim. (See also Note on Ecclesiastes 12:8.) We have “thy Maker” in the plural in Job 35:10; Psalm 149:2; Isaiah 54:5; and “Holy One” in Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 30:3; Hosea 11:12
Denial of the Trinity will undoubtedly lead one to the Lake of Fire after the Great White Throne Judgement. Remember the Words of John 1:1-4 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Hello Anon,
Thank you so much for your insightful comment.
You have truly made a very compelling argument for the Trinity Doctrine, which apparently is getting continuously attacked not only by non-Christians (Muslims and devout Jews) but even by those who claim to be Christians. I am amazed how one could claim to be a follower of Christ and yet does not believe Jesus’ own claim for Himself.
Jesus did claim to be God; Scriptures are clear that the Holy Spirit is God. And yet there is only one God. So, how do we make sense of this? The Doctrine of the Trinity settles it. God is one in being and three in person. There is no contradiction!
These information you have shared with me and the readers/visitors of this site are very helpful.
I certainly agree; denial of the Trinity will lead one to eternal damnation. As one famous quote says, “When you try to understand the Trinity, you could lose your mind. But when you deny the Trinity, you will lose your soul.”
Shalom, Anon. May the good Lord continually bless you and your ministry.
The word clearly states that God is a Spirit, therefore it is not possible for God to be a person! The ONLY person is Jesus Christ, in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God. With John 1:14 and the word was made flesh and dwelt among them and they knew him not…….also the trinity says there are 3-persons???
Which scripture says there is only ONE BODY (person) and that is Jesus Christ, the Father and the Holy Ghost are each Spirits.
Also the trinity teaches that God “the Father” is the Father of Jesus Christ, yet scripture clearly says. Now the birth of Jesus was in no wise like this, when his mother Mary who was espoused to Joseph and before they came together was found with child of the Holy Ghost???
So you tell me??? IF THE FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY GHOST EACH ARE A PERSON, according to scripture wore that not make the person of the HOLY GHOST Jesus’ Father?? OR was The Father there as well?? OR IS IT AS SCRIPTURE SAYS, God the Father and The Holy Spirit are ONE.
In which case the HOLY GHOST (who is the Father) IS the FATHER of Jesus who was the flesh of the ONE TRUE GOD???
Hello Biddie,
Thank you for chiming in.
You are absolutely correct, God is a Spirit but that does not mean He can’t exist in three distinct persons. There is only one God, Deuteronomy 6:4 is very clear on that. But nowhere in Scripture does it say that God is only one person.
By the way, when Trinitarians (like me) say that God is a person, we are not actually saying that God is a human being. Person in a theological sense does not mean “human.” Rather, it means God possesses “personality” and that He is a rational Being with self-awareness.
Theologians often define a person as “an individual being with a mind, emotions, and a will.” God definitely has intellect (Psalm 139:17), emotions (Psalm 78:41), and volition (1 Corinthians 1:1). So, yes, God is a person. And there are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps your follow-up question would be, “How can God be one and three?” Isn’t that a contradiction? Let me refer you to a short video of a former Muslim, turned Christian apologist (defender of the Christian faith) where he explains the Trinity in a way that is easy to understand even by non-Bible scholars.
Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/8Ib2ffq3-NA
Shalom, God bless!
Hi Alice,
Quite simply, the Bible never says what is in items 1, 3, and 4 of the “five fundamental doctrines of Christianity” listed in this article. And if the Bible doesn’t say it, it is at best a secondary doctrine of Christianity, not a fundamental doctrine of Christianity.
#1 was formulated by human beings several centuries after the last books of the Bible were written, starting with Tertullian in the third century, and becoming official doctrine in the Nicene and Athanasian creeds in the fourth and fifth centuries.
#3 was formulated by Martin Luther and the other Protestant Reformers 1,500 years after the last books of the Bible were written.
#4 was formulated by a particular group of fundamentalist Christians only a couple centuries ago.
None of these are biblical, let alone fundamental Christian doctrines.
I urge you to read the Bible for yourself, without the encrustation of human dogma that has invaded and conquered the “Christian” world, and learn from what the Bible itself says. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.
Hello Lee,
Thanks for your comment. Why don’t we just agree to disagree? ☺
God bless you.
This is Lee. She is a writer of another Christian blog I follow on a regular basis.
Do you agree with her? Lee said that the Trinity, salvation by grace through faith alone, and belief in Sola Scriptura have no biblical basis.
Do you have the same views, Maia?
No agreement to falsehood on any level or for any reason is acceptable in the sight of God or any of His true disciples.
A man either sees His truth or he doesn’t. That is why there are vessels created unto honor and vessels created unto destruction.
Right there is where the hypocrites were offended and slew the Lord Jesus Christ on a tree. Not as though God couldn’t have prevented it, but by their actions they sealed their fate.
Hi DCW,
You’re right!
The reason I said that is because I believe I have explained what I wanted to say in every possible way I could. Yet I still received opposing comments, which is expected, I guess 😊
God bless!
2 Timothy 2:15
Hi Jeanette,
Thanks for your comment. I just wished you did not just drop me a verse, but gave a bit of explanation why you quoted it.
Do you agree or disagree with the above-mentioned five fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith? I hope you will come back to clarify your stand.
God bless!
Replying to the last comment… apparently the commenter (Dan) doesn’t know 7th day Adventist.
I would not even remotely identify you as a 7th Day Adventist. Anyone who knows Adventist knows they would have listed in the majors the 7th day Sabbath. 7th day Adventists hold to the notion Sunday worship is the mark of the beast, so it is essential to worship on the 7th day Sabbath.
The essentials are God alone, Christ alone, Scripture alone, Grace alone, Faith alone, to the glory of God alone … What is essential? Here it is:
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9
Hi Jim,
Thanks for chiming in. Yeah, I was also surprised that a 7th Day Adventist would suspect I was one of them. So what I did was send him a link to an article on the difference between the Sabbath and the Lord’s Day.
He went on to read that article and gave a rather exhaustive commentary in response to each and every paragraph. Should you be interested to read it, you can follow this link:
https://biblical-christianity.com/what-is-the-difference-between-the-sabbath-and-the-lords-day
Then scroll all the way down.
By the way, thank you for pointing out what’s important and that is for a sinner to confess Jesus as Lord of his life and believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose again to conquer death and hell.
Blessings …
You’re rockin’ it Alice.
Love your answers. Totally Biblical. One of your commentors must be Jewish, that’s the only reason I can think that they would say “First four doctrines are totally anti-biblical.”
On the other side of that, even the Old Testament speaks (in not so many words) of the Son and the Spirit.
Hello Wayne,
Thank you so much for your encouragement, I really need it.
Yeah, Saqib Yeshu might be Jewish because Jews do not believe that God exists in 3 persons and that Jesus is the Messiah and is God .
When I put up this website I knew I would face a lot of opposition not only from other religious affiliations but even from fellow Christians who differ in some minor theology.
But that’s okay. Like I always say, people who teach the word (like myself) will give an account to God when they will stand before Him to be judged.
Thanks again, God bless!
I have to disagree with the first two doctrines.
Hi Martin, thank you for taking time to leave your thoughts. I just wished you have given me the reasons why you do not believe that God exists in Three Persons and why you reject the dual nature of Christ.
We may not find the word Trinity in the Bible and we also do not read Jesus directly claiming to be God but if you would just honestly seek the truth, read the Bible and interpret them in their proper context, I’m sure there will be no room left for disagreement in as far as the major doctrines of Christianity are concerned.
Of course, there are areas where Christians do not see eye to eye such as what kind of music we should sing at church, or which day should the church gather together, or if Christians are commanded to tithe.
These are considered minor doctrines and do not have any bearing on one’s salvation. But to not believe that Jesus is God? Jesus Himself said that unless we believe that He is who He claimed to be, we will die in our sins (John 8:24).
Jesus is basically saying that if we do not believe He is God, we cannot have eternal life.
In regards to the Trinity, the late Dr. Walter Martin when refuting a Jehovah Witness said that anyone who reads the New Testament and does not see that God exists in three persons is like looking at the clear blue sky and not believe it’s going to be a beautiful sunny day.
I hope you will come back Martin so we can have a healthy sharing and discussion. God bless.
Great Site… As soon I got available time… I will share Insights too… God bless and more power Alice…
Thanks Ramil. Looking forward to working with you in spreading the love of God through the internet using this platform that God has blessed me with. God bless you!
The Scripture – It is entirely inerrant and sufficient for all Christian life. My question is, as to what aspect this statement is correct? I want to hear you, Alice.
Hi Jimmy, great question.
Before I’ll answer your question, I believe it is important that we first properly define the terms.
The reason the inerrancy of Scriptures is often attacked and has become a hotly debated topic even among evangelicals is because the very people who use the terms do not see eye to eye on what it really means.
When we say that the Bible is inerrant, we’re saying that it is completely true and contains no errors in the original autographs; so it is trustworthy in all of its teachings.
Wayne Grudem (Systematic Theology) has a solid working definition of inerrancy: “The inerrancy of Scripture means that Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact.”
What is affirmed in this definition is that a perfect God moved human authors, by His Spirit, to perfectly transcribe what He wanted to communicate.
We may not have any of the original writings of Scriptures today, but we have many copies of each book. Yes, there maybe differences here and there but we are confident that no essential doctrine was altered or affected. The issue of inerrancy is not precision but truthfulness.
What about the sufficiency of Scriptures? The sufficiency of Scriptures means that the Bible alone (Sola Scriptura) is enough or sufficient for man to know everything about God and His plan for the human race.
In other words, God has given mankind all things that are necessary for the proper understanding of who God is, what God has done in the past and what He expects from us. It means that we don’t need anymore special revelation.
While the Bible does not tell us all the informations available from other books such as instructions on mental health and skills at living, the Bible is sufficient to equip believers for Christian life and service, it is sufficient to give the wisdom that leads to salvation and to enable the godly person to be “adequate and equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-17).
What about you Jimmy, what’s your take on this topic?
As a brief aside, knowledgeable Jewish persons actually do believe that there is a plurality in the ‘Godhead’. One only needs to study the Zohar, ancient Rabbinic commentaries on the Tanach (Torah, Neviim, Ketuvim), the Mishnaic writings and even portions of the Talmud to know that there are Jewish people who do believe in a/the Triune Nature of Jehovah. http://www.layevangelism.com/qreference/chapter10e.htm#Top of Page
1. The teaching of the Trinity is Found in Jewish Targums (O.T. in Armaic) and commentaries such as the Zohar. These Jewish sages taught that God appears in the form of three persons of the Godhead, three manifestations or three emanations.45/93-94
2. This fact indicates that the Jews rejection of Christianity up until the second century was not because of the teaching of the Trinity. They understood that the Messiah would be the Son of God. That is why so many Jews did accept him.
It was not until the rebellion against Rome in AD 135 that this changed. During the threeyears of battle for Jewish independence led by the general Simeon Bar Kochba, many of his followers (including the famous Rabbi Akiba)
declared that Bar Kochba was Israel’s true messiah.45/93-94
This forced Jewish Christians to withdraw from the Jewish forces fighting against Rome since they could only follow and give allegiance to the true Messiah: Jesus. Jewish Christians who took this stand were considered treasonous and therefore no longer welcome in the synagogues. This division between Jews and Christians has lasted for 2,000 years.
Why First Century Jews Accepted Jesus as God:
1. Jewish Targums, read in the synagogues, gave an understanding of the triune nature of God. God was taught as “Three in One” by Rabbis Simon ben Jochai and Eliezer.
2.The Zohar
The Zohar is a book that was written by Rabbi Simon ben Jochai and his son Rabbi Eliezer in the years following the Roman army’s destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A. D. 70.
In the Zohar the following statements about God are made: “How can they (the three) be One? Are they verily One, because we call them One?” “How Three can be One, can only be known through the revelation of the Holy Spirit.”46/43/verse 22 Rabbi Simeon ben Jochai instructed his son as follows: “Come and see the mystery of the word hw:hoyÒ, Yehovah: there are three steps, each existing by itself; nevertheless they are One, and so united that one cannot be separated from the other.”47/65
He later indicated in another passage that these three steps as revealed in Elohim !yhiloa> (God) are three substantivebeings or three divine persons united in one.
3. In another book written by Rabbi Simeon, known as The Propositions of the Zohar, records the mystery of the Shechinah glory of God in these words.
“… the exalted Shechinah comprehends the Three highest Sephiroth; of Him (God) it is said, (Ps. 62:11), “God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this.” Once and twice means the Three exalted Sephiroth, of whom it is said: Once, once, and once; that is, Three united in One. This is the mystery.”471/113
4. Another extraordinary reference to the Trinity is found in the Zohar:
“Here is the secret of two names combined which are completed by a third and become one again. ‘And God said Let us make Man.’ It is written, ‘The secret of the Lord is to them that fear him’ (Psalm 25:14). That most reverend Elder opened an exposition of this verse by saying ‘Simeon Simeon, who is it that said: “Let us make man?”
Who is this Elohim?’ With these words the most reverend Elder vanished before anyone saw him … Truly now is the time to expound this mystery, because certainly there is here a mystery which hitherto it was not permitted to divulge, but now we perceive that permission is given.’
He then proceeded: ‘We must picture a king who wanted severalbuildings to be erected, and who had an architect in his service who did nothing save with his consent. The king is the supernal wisdom above, the Central Column being the king below: Elohim is the architect above … and Elohim is also the architect below, being as such the Divine Presence (Shekinah) of the lower world.’”48/90-91
Other Rabbis:
Rabbi Eliezar Hakkalir, AD 70, taught the doctrine of three distinct beings revealed in the Godhead in his commentary on Genesis 1:1. He wrote:
“When God created the world, He created it through the Three Sephiroth, namely, through Sepher, Sapher and Vesaphur, by which the Three twywh (Beings) are meant . . . The Rabbi, my Lord Teacher of blessed memory, explained Sepher, Sapher, and Sippur, to be synonymous to Ya, Yehovah, and Elohim meaning to say, that the world was created by these three names.”49/28-29
Rabbi Bechai, in his commentary on Genesis 1:1 (p. 1, col. 2) explained that the word Elohim !yhiloa> is compounded of two words, !h and la, that is, “These are God.” The plural is expressed by the letter yod ( y ).
The Shema:
“Hear, O Israel! Yehovah our-Elohim, Yehovah is one!” Deuteronomy 6:4)
In this passage Moses first uses the singular name of God, hw:hoyÒ Yehovah, then the plural name, !yhiloa> God, and then again the singular name, hw:hoyÒ Yehovah, and concluded with Hebrew dja meaning: One. This biblical statement declares that there is only one God which both Jews and Christians agree on. The term included Elohim indicates the nature of God as three in one. Jewish books written during the captivity in Babylon in 536 B.C. to the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70 taught the mystery of the Trinity based on this very passage in Deuteronomy 6:4.
The Zohar teaches:
“We have said in many places, that this daily form of prayer is one of those passages concerning the Unity, which is taught in the Scriptures. In Deut. 6:4, we read first h/:hyÒ Yehovah, then, !yhiloa> our God, and again, h/:hyÒ Yehovah, which together make one Unity. But how can three Names [three beings] be one? Are they verily one,
because we call them one? How three can be one can only be known through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, and, in fact, with closed eyes.
This is also the mystery of the voice. The voice is heard only as one sound, yet it consists of three substances, fire, wind, and water, but all three are one, as indicated through the mystery of the voice. Thus are (Deut. 6:4) ‘Yehovah our-Elohim, Yehovah is one!,’ but One Unity, three Substantive Beings which are One; and this is
indicated by the voice which are One; and this is indicated by the voice which a person uses in reading the words, ‘Hear, O Israel,’ thereby comprehending with the understanding the most perfect Unity of Him who is infinite; because all three (Jehovah, Elohim, Jehovah) are read with one voice, which indicates a Trinity.”48/90-91
Another Rabbi Menachem of Recanati wrote in his Commentary on the Pentateuch about the mystery of the Trinity. He wrote: “These are secrets which are revealed only to those who are reaping upon the holy field, as it is written ‘The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him’” (Psalms 25:14).
On Deuteronomy 6:4 he wrote concerning the Trinity:
“‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.’ This verse is the root of our faith, therefore Moses records it after the ten commandments. The reason (that there is said hw:hoyÒ, Lord, !yhiloa>, our God, and hw:hoyÒ, Lord) is, because the word [mv does not here signify ‘Hear;’ but ‘to gather together, to unite,’ as in 1 Samuel
15:4, ‘Saul gathered together the people.’
The meaning implied is The Inherent-Ones are so united together, one in the other without end, they being the exalted God. He mentions the three names mystically to indicate the three exalted original Ones.”50/267
Let Us Make Man in Our Image
In Genesis 1:26 God said, “Let Us make man in Our image.” Then in Genesis 1:27 Moses records “And Elohim created man in His image, in the image of Elohim He created him; male and female He created them,” thus making it plain that the Us in verse 26 is clearly referring to God, not to angels as some people speculate. God makes plain in verse 26 that He is the Three in One.
Moses wrote in Genesis 11:5, “And Yehovah came down to see the city,” using the singular noun. Yet in verse 7 is used the plural noun which is Yehovah again indicating the plurality of His nature when He said, “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
Another passage in the Zohar indicates clearly that the Jewish sages understood the Trinity nature of God:
“The fourth precept is to acknowledge that the Lord is God, as we read: ‘Know this day, and lay it to thy heart that Yehovah [h/;hy]], he is Elohim’ [!yhiloa>] (Deuteronomy 4:39); namely, to combine the name Elohim “God” with the name Jehovah “Lord” in the consciousness that they form an indivisible unity.”48/51
“All those supernal lights exist in their image below some of them in their image below upon the earth; but in themselves they are all suspended in the ‘firmament of the heaven.’ Here is the secret of two names combined which are completed by a third and become one again. ‘And God said, Let us make Man ….’”48/90-91
Psalm 2:7:
“You are My Son, today I have begotten You”
Rabbi Simeon ben Jochai commenting on the Zohar:
“There is a perfect Man, who is an Angel. This Angel is Metatron, the Keeper of Israel; He is a man in the image of the Holy One, blessed be He, who is an Emanation from Him; yea, He is Jehovah; of Him cannot be said, He is created, formed or made; but He is the Emanation from God. This agrees exactly with what is written, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Of jmx dwd, David’s Branch, that though He shall be a perfect man, yet He is ‘The Lord our Righteousness.’”51
The ancient Jewish sages understood the divine nature of the Son of God without question.
The Trinity Was Also Taught in the Ancient Jewish Targums
A targum is a translation of the Hebrew Bible into Aramaic. After being in captivity to Babylon for 70 years the Jews, with the exception of the priests, forgot the Hebrew language and were now fluent in Aramaic. As a result a paraphrase and commentary on the Torah was written in Aramaic so the people could be instructed. The
two major Targums were the Targum of Jonathan and the Targum of Onkelos both written by Jonathan ben Uziel.
Genesis 19:24 states, “Then Yehovah rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Yehovah out of heaven,” The Targum describes Yehovah (hw:hoyÒ) in this passage as “the Word of the Lord,” which we have already indicated is referring to the Son of God.
Exodus 3:14 states, “And Elohim said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM;’ and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, “Yehovah has sent me to you.”’” The Targum on Exodus 3:14 uses the same title: “the Word of the Lord” to describe God. The Jerusalem Targum on Exodus 3:14 reads as follows:
“And the Word of the Lord said unto Moses: I am He who said unto the world, Be! and it was: and who in the future shall say to it, Be! and it shall be. And He said Thus thou shalt say to the Children of Israel: ‘I Am hath sent me unto you.’”52
The Angel of Yehovah And the Angel of the Covenant
Genesis 22:11 “But the Angel-of-Yehovah.hw:hy] &a’l]m’] appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.
So Moses said, I must turn aside now, and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up. When Yehovah3068 saw that he turned aside to look, Elohim called to him from the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses! And he said, ‘Here I am.’”
Moses in this passage clearly indicates that the Angel of Yehovah is Yehovah. Rabbi Moses ben Nachman pointed out this fact:
“It is said: ‘An Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire,’ and (Elohim) !yhiloa>, ‘God called unto him.’ This is all one, namely, whether he saith The Angel, or (Elohim) !yhiloa>, ‘God spake to him out of the midst of the bush’. . . Therefore be not astonished that Moses hid his face before this Angel; because this Angel mentioned here is the Angel, the Redeemer, concerning whom it is written; ‘I am the God of Bethel;’ and here, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ It is the same of whom it is said, ‘My name is in Him.’53
References:
45. Jeffrey, Grant R. The Handwriting of God.
Toronto, Ontario Canada: Frontier Research
Publications, Inc., © 1997 by Grant R. Jeffrey.
46. Zohar. Vol. ii.
471. Rabbi Simeon ben Jochai. The Propositions
of the Zohar. cap. 38, Amsterdam edition.
47. Zohar. Vol iii. Amsterdam edition.
48. Zohar. Vol 1. Soncino Press edition.
49. Rabbi Eliezer Hakkalir. The Book of Creation.
50. Rabbi Menachem. Commentary on the
Pentateuch. Venice edition.
51. Rabbi Simeon ben Jochai. The Propositions
of the Zohar. cap. 38, Amsterdam edition.
52. Jonathon ben Uziel. Jerusalem Targum.
Before Christ BC.
53. Rabbi Moses ben Nachman
Hi Anon,
Thank you so much for sharing with me and the readers all these great information. I truly appreciate you taking the time to do this.
I will be looking at every single one of these more closely.
Shalom and may God bless you more.
Shalom, and thank you for all of this information.
They were quite enlightening. I know I didn’t understand them completely yet, but I’ll do some research with the help of the references.
The only thing that might make me hesitate to do so is that I am a bit wary of reading into Kabbalistic studies without cultural and ritual preparation.
It feels to me that reading into Kabbalistic works with my fallible reasoning and understanding could lead me to profane holy concepts even just by understanding them wrong.
At least, if anything, just these quotes reminded me of how little I know of the scriptures.
Hi Ruth,
I’m glad that you find Anon’s well-researched information helpful. I admire your interest in wanting to know more. I hope you will get the information you’re looking for.
You have all the right to be cautious though.
God bless!
Anon,
Kabbala, or witchcraft, goes back far beyond the birth of God’s Christ.
It wasn’t until they read the mail that principles of the New Testament were woven into their tales.
God’s principles are plagiarized in many ancient writings. But deceivers and unlearned say it is the other way around.
God will show right from wrong and who said it first.
First four doctrines are totally anti biblical
The first four are totally anti-biblical? Wow Saqib, I’m not sure we’re reading from the same Bible. Anyway, I know I did not cite the verses for each doctrine but if you would just take time to read the Bible and ask guidance and illumination from the Holy Spirit, I’m sure you’ll also come up with these 5 major doctrines of the Christian faith.
I will be writing about each of these doctrines in my succeeding articles. May the good Lord bless and keep you, shalom!
you sound like a seventh day adventist- am i correct?
Hi Dan,
Thanks for stopping by, but I am not a Seventh Day Adventist. As a matter of fact, I have a post about the difference between the Sabbath and the Lord’s Day wherein I refuted the claim of Sabbatarians that the Sabbath Day has been changed to Sunday.
Here it is: https://biblical-christianity.com/what-is-the-difference-between-the-sabbath-and-the-lords-day
I am a follower of Christ who has been saved by His amazing grace. My Church affiliation? I belong to a full gospel, Bible-believing and Spirit-filled Christian Church who hold to the Bible as the final authority.
By the way, what made you think that I am a Seventh Day Adventist? The Doctrines that I have enumerated are all based on the Bible.
Maia. Scripture clearly talks of the trinity.
New King James Version
“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”
Check also, Matthew 10:19-20; John 14:16,17,23; Colossians 1:19, and Hebrews 1:3, and there are countless.
Philippians 1:19
Hi Cory,
This is supposed to be a response to Maia’s comment, right?
Anyway, I will inform Maia to respond to you.
Thanks for joining the discussion, God bless you more.
To Whom This May Concern,
I want to provide you with some clarification on my previous comment.
First of all, thank you for the correction and your citations. First, I want to clarify that my intent is not to imply that such doctrines as the Trinity is untrue or not mentioned in Scripture.
My intent was to bring up the fact that the Trinity is a Biblical doctrine, although the word “Trinity” is not explicitly written. God is Three in One: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What I meant to get across is that the concept of the Trinity as we understand it today was initiated by theologians and scholars.
Again, thank you for the correction, and I will reexamine these verses and get back to you soon.
God bless!
Thank you for the clarification, Maia.
God bless you more!