Is this a denial of the trinity? I would say when the OT speaks of God it is usually the triune God. But there are times that the division of the trinity is displayed .No man had seen the Father, but men had seen Christ . The pillar of fire ( the Holy Spirit leading) .
Does the author deny the trinity?
Hi Terry,
I think scripture states that the pillar was Christ, preincarnate:
Co 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Now certainly it was the spirit of God, the spirit of Christ since he wasn't incarnate yet so in a sense it was the holy spirit of God. As for the trinity, I'm quite certain the author denies the traditional definition of the trinity...i.e. the notion that the the holy spirit is separate and distinct member of the Godhead apart from God the father and Christ the son. I think biblically the holy spirit emanates from God and/or Christ. It's their presence in our world.