The Christian Doctrine of the Trinity and its Opponents

The Christian concept of the Trinity is an essential defining element of orthodox Christianity. All three of the major branches of historical Christianity, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant, agree about the definition of the Council of Chalcedon regarding the Trinity. In the words of the council: "Therefore, following the holy Fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the Fathers has handed down to us."

Despite the acceptance of this doctrine by the three historic branches of the Christian faith, the concept of the Trinity has been an obstacle since the beginning of the church. There have been numerous opposing viewpoints from the early days of Christianity. Among these opposing interpretations were Ebionism (Christ was only a great prophet); Docetism (Christ only seemed to be human), Arianism (Christ was the first created being and was of similar substance (homoiousia) with the Father), and Sabellianism or Modalism (there is one God who displays himself in three different ways or modes. Other variants to the orthodox view included Adoptionalism, or Dynamic Monarchialism, which states that although Christ was born a human being, he was adopted by God when the Logos of God entered him upon his baptism.

Some of these heterodox positions survive in religions beyond the pale of orthodox Christianity. The position of Ebionism resembles the attitude towards Jesus held by the Muslims, as well as liberal churchmen like Bishop Shelby Spong. Oneness Pentecostals hold to a position of Modalism. Arianism survives in the theology of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is an exalted man, the literal son of Jehovah and Mary conceived through normal intercourse. It resembles Adoptionalism insofar as Jesus was raised to the status of a deity. Of course, Unitarians entirely reject the Trinity, as their name evidences.

Yet, with the exception of the Muslims, all of these churches regard themselves as Christian. How can they make this claim when they deny a teaching held by the historic Christian faith, not disputed by either the Eastern or Western churches when they split in the 11th Century or by either Catholics or Protestants at the time of the Reformation?

The examples set forth in your argument probably lean more towards discussing the nature of humanity and divinity in the one person of the Lord Savior Christ Jesus.

The Trinity is a doctrine which studies how and in what persons God is made known to man. We understand God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit throughout Scripture.

The Trinity essentially is a doctrine which evolves by any sincere man attempting to understand who God really is by studying the lingustics of Scripture. Essentially, He is made known to us in Scripture in different times and occasions from the relationship of three different persons and yet these persons are consistent throughout Scripture and their separate usage.

Central themes or issues in Scripture include the anthropology of man, the conflict between good and evil, the fallen state of sinners, and the salvation provided by God to save a condemned human race and a return to a relationship with God by being reborn in the spirit as well as a resurrected body.

Central to the study of doctrines of salvation is the understanding of the persons within the Trinity.

Generally speaking, the plan was designed in eternity past by God (the Father), implemented and fulfilled by God incarnate (the Son), and salvation performed (made efficacious) by God (the Holy Spirit).

In studying Scripture, though, if one perverts or allows some erroneous doctrine into this truth, then the object of worship might not be the true God of Scripture.

I suspect that for most Christians, they enter into a relationship with God through faith in Him and He then steers each of us by our path through Him towards a maturing relationship with Him. Each one of us may and probably has some misconceptions or lack of understanding of many facets of pertinent doctrine, which in and of themselves might give sound cause for argument. But nonetheless, as we remain faithful in Him, are sure to confess our sins and return to Him even if we sin in ignorance, He is sure and just to forgive us those sins and lead us on the proper path to Him.

As for some cults or sects which deny some basis tenants of the Christian faith, it is quite difficult to honor their church bodies as indeed Christian. For example, if one denies Jesus Christ as being one with God and refusing to acknowledge Him as the both the son of man and the son of God, then two consequents are obvious. First, for Prophecy to be fulfilled, the AntiChrist may easily be promoted in the errant mind as the Messiah. Secondly, it opens the realm of a couterfeit cosmic system from Satan to be slipped in to deceive good intentioned people and for them to worship Satan rather than Christ.

For these reasons, many 'denominations, sects or cults' which deny these fundamental tennets of the historic Christian faith, expose themselves to false teaching and counterfeit religious systems.

With, of course, the exception of Muslims, all of these groups regard themselves as followers of Christ. Whether they rely on additional books they regard as revelation, such as the LDS, or use a peculiar translation of the Bible, as do the Jehovah's Witnesses, or deny the absolute authority of Scripture in matters of faith, as do the Unitarians, the net result is that they cannot support that one God exists in three persons, that Jesus Christ is of one substance with the Father, and that Jesus is wholly God and wholly man. They would argue that the doctrines of the Trinity and the nature of Christ preached in orthodox churches derives from classical Greek philosophy.

While these doctrines are not as clear as the "thou shalt nots" of the Ten Commandments, however, they are derived from the Bible.

Non-trinity believers often point to Matthew's account of Christ's baptism. How does a believer in the Trinity reconcile the multiple beings in this passage. Does God talk to himself or in the Trinity does God manifest himslef in all three forms at the same time?

KJV Matthew

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

NIV Matthew

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. ¹⁷And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

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