The Constant Church of God presents clear answers to your questions, directly from the Bible!

The trinity is a foundational doctrine of mainstream Christianity. One would think that the Bible would be filled with information about such an important subject.

However, the word trinity is NOT in the Bible.

Where did the doctrine of the trinity come from?

Towards the end of the 1st century, and during the 2nd, many learned men came over both from Judaism and paganism to Christianity . . .[and] brought with them their Platonic ideas . . .

About 300 AD, trouble erupted between Arius, a priest in the congregation of Alexandria, and Athanasius, a deacon in the same congregation.

Arius taught that Christ was merely a created being and not God.

Athanasius responded that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are the same being living in a threefold form.

To resolve the dispute, Emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nicea in 325 AD.

The position of Athanasius prevailed; the Council adopted the doctrine of the trinity; and it became the central doctrine of traditional, mainstream Christianity.

But, what does the Bible say?

You can search the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find the word “trinity” mentioned.

However, scholars maintain that 1st John chapter 5 verses 7 and 8 prove that God is a trinity!

Verse 7.

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one.

Verse 8.

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

Theologians recognize that the words "…in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth….." were added to the New Testament manuscript about 300 years after Christ’s death.

Even Adam Clarke, the Bible commentator and devoted Trinitarian supporter, believes this verse is not genuine.

In old Greek manuscripts and in certain Bible versions — the Revised Standard; the New International; American Standard; the Moffatt — 1st John chapter 5 and verses 7 and 8 correctly state:

“For there are three that bear record, the Spirit, and the water and the blood: and these three agree in one.”
Clearly there is no reference here to God being three Spirit Beings in one.

Another grossly misunderstood reference is Matthew chapter 28 and verse 19.

19 Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:

To conclude that the Holy Spirit is a person is not being honest with the scriptures.

There is an abundance of scriptural proof that the Father and the Son are two distinct and individual personalities.

That Biblical fact does not automatically mean, however, that the Spirit is a third Personality in a Trinitarian Godhead.

Please turn to the gospel of John chapter 17 and verse 5.

Here the Apostle John records Christ’s prayer:

“And now, O Father, glorify You Me with Your own self with the glory — which I had with You before the world was.”

Jesus Christ in this prayer shows clearly that His Father was the God Being Who was in heaven, while He, Christ, was here on the earth.

He also states in this verse “the glory I had with You before the world was.”

Here the Bible, the inspired Word of God, shows that there were and are now only two God Beings.

The Bible definitely reveals there is no biblical proof that the Holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead.

What then is the Holy Spirit?

In both the Old and New Testaments, God’s Spirit is pictured as His power.

Notice Micah 3 and verse 8.

8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

A New Testament example is Acts chapter 6 and verse 8:

8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Matthew chapter 1 and verse 20 is another example.

20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

This verse tells us that what was conceived in Mary is of the Holy Spirit.

Yet Christ always referred to God as His Father!

If the Holy Spirit were a person, then it would be Christ's Father!

In the introduction of all of his letters the Apostle Paul writes, “An apostle of God the Father and Jesus Christ.”

But nothing is said about any third person.

Let’s read one example in:

1st Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 3 —

“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The verse does not mention anything at all about the Holy Spirit.

Conclusive, indisputable evidence in the Bible proves that God is NOT a trinity!

This is Garry Schaeffer with the Constant Church of God.

Join us again next time to hear more about what the Bible actually says!