Why do some still believe in the trinity? Jesus never taught it?

Question

``None of those who call me `Lord' will enter the kingdom of God, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven."
[ Matthew 7:21 ]
``...Go to my brothers and tell them, `I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' '' [ John 20:17 ]

Why don't trinitarians see this verses as proof that Jesus is not God?

Answer 1

Early Christians did not believe in a trinity. The belief in the trinity started with the Catholic church and evolved over the years. But there IS NO biblical basis for it.

The word Trinity is not found in the Bible. It did not find a place formally in the theology of the church till the 4th century.
In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word most frequently used for "spirit" is ru'ach, meaning "breath; wind; spirit." In the Greek Scriptures, the word is pneu'ma, having a similar meaning. At Genesis 1:2 the Bible states that "God's active force ["spirit" (Hebrew, ru'ach)] was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters." Here, God's spirit was his active force working to shape the earth. It is NOT a person!

Time and again, Jesus showed that he was a creature separate from God and that he, Jesus, had a God above him, a God whom he worshiped, a God whom he called "Father." In prayer to God, that is, the Father, Jesus said, "You, the only true God." (John 17:3) At John 20:17 he said to Mary Magdalene: "I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." (RS, Catholic edition) At 2 Corinthians 1:3 the apostle Paul confirms this relationship: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Since Jesus had a God, his Father, he could not at the same time be that God.
Jesus made his Father's superiority clear when the mother of two disciples asked that her sons sit one at the right and one at the left of Jesus when he came into his Kingdom. Jesus answered: "As for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father," that is, God. (Matthew 20:23, JB) Had Jesus been Almighty God, those positions would have been his to give. But Jesus could not give them, for they were God's to give, and Jesus was not God.
Jesus' own prayers are a powerful example of his inferior position. When Jesus was about to die, he showed who his superior was by praying: "Father, if you wish, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, let, not my will, but yours take place." (Luke 22:42) To whom was he praying? To a part of himself? No, he was praying to someone entirely separate, his Father, God, whose will was superior and could be different from his own, the only One able to "remove this cup."
WHEN Jesus gave his prophecy about the end of this system of things, he stated: "But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Mark 13:32, RS, Catholic edition) Had Jesus been the equal Son part of a Godhead, he would have known what the Father knows. But Jesus did not know, for he was not equal to God.
The difference between what God knows and what Christ knows also existed when Jesus was resurrected to heaven to be with God. Note the first words of the last book of the Bible: "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him." (Revelation 1:1, RS, Catholic edition) If Jesus himself were part of a Godhead, would he have to be given a revelation by another part of the Godhead—God? Surely he would have known all about it, for God knew. But Jesus did not know, for he was not God.

I think that there are also passages that refer to them being ONE but in the original manuscripts, it does not say one but that they are in AGREEMENT.

Answer 2

I have to be brief. It is a long and involved question and I am going to give it to you without quoting a lot of Bible verses.
No He did not actually say the word 'Trinity" nor did he ever say " I am God." but he gave us a lot to add to the other pointers in the Bible about the Trinity and himself.
It is a mystery, which is beyond human explanation, ie how God can be made up of three seperate identities. There are many things in religions, even yours, which are beyond human comprehension. Which is why God gave us the gift of faith.
In the first Chapter of the Bible it says, "...and the spirit of God was moving across the waters...." So we know that the spirit of God existed at the beginning.
There can be know doubt about The Father in heaven who is evident throughout the Bible.
Jesus said, of himself "....I came down from heaven...." So we know that he was there from the beginning too, especially as St Paul says, "...through Him (Jesus) all things were made..." and "....... He ( again Jesus) did not cling to His equality with God...." Jesus also said "....The Father and I are one...." Then on the occasion when he met his disciples before he ascended to heaven He had the power to breath the Holy Sprit into them.
In the new Testament letters, The Holy Spirit is referred to in the NT (twice I think) as the Spirit of Jesus. Which is why we can be sure that "the helper, advocate" that he had the authority to say that he would send was the Holy Spirit.
The fact that he said that his apostles/disciples should go and baptise "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ", is just one verse to add to the many others which are the basis of our belief in the Trinity.
I think the verses I have mentioned also show (with others that I can give you if you like) The Divinity of Jesus the rest, as I have said is Faith.) I don't know what sort of proof you are talking about, religion is not science!

Answer 3

Although you are entitled to believe what you want.. the reason why many people believe in the trinity is because, the concept of the Son of God. Some people think that Jesus is a son of God that God fathered, but the trinity is offered as an explanation... Father (God that we pray to), Son (God in the form of a man Jesus) and Holy Spirit (the God that is left on earth...i.e. our consciousness, after the death of the son). The Trinity is a the complicated form of saying that God is in us, with us and watching over us... not everything must be taken little when concerning religious theories....
Hope that helped! Best Wishes...

Answer 4

Well, once upon a time, Catholics too (pre-Nicean creed time) had conflicts amongst themselves on this issue. Some believed that God was not simultaneously three in one. However, after the meeting in Nicea, the official nature of God was proclaimed (and try to read it and make some sense of it- it is the most convoluted piece of illogic known to man) and hence the most prolific sense of understanding God in the trinitarian sense was born.

Answer 5

I think your question is why do people dispute what is clearly taught in the bible? It is why do they still believe the world is flat? Of course, you do not mean people can believe what they want to believe. I am sure that is not what you meant, although people are writing that. No one, including you or me should be sensitive to what we believe. If it is true we should hold onto it and if it is false we should let go of it. We seem only desirous to hold onto religious beliefs that have no foundation or support in the reference manual for man (the bible). If we have something else in our life that we knew wasn't true, we would change our minds quickly. We read the news sources on the Internet, read magazines, do research in a myriad of subjects to search for the answers (right ones of course), but when it comes to religion, we hang onto what our parents taught us who got it from their parents (the world is flat) and we let some person who gets paid to tickle your ear teach us. Someone once said, "Only if you are unafraid of the truth, will you find it." How true it is. I hope none of us ever becomes afraid to know that what we believe may not be true. We should search, listen, read and discover so that we can truly know. The scriptures say, You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. Free from what???? Free from ignorance!

Answer 6

A trinity is made up of three things. In this instance, Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit. What is there not to believe in?

Answer 7

I'm sorry i'm not a good Christian but i believe that to understand the trinity is not by our logic but should by our heart.
I believe that if we still look for the truth inside the truth, we only get the wrong answer. I believe in God, I believe in El-massih, I believe in Holy Spirit. I believe The Holy Bible is the truth 100%. this made me Christian. God Bless Us :)

Answer 8

Matthew 28;19, Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost.
I Corinthians 13;8a, Love never fails!!!

Answer 9

Trinity and Jesus' icons are hollow things taking their roots from paganism of Roman Empire. There is only one God and Jesus is His messenger.

Answer 10

I'm curious, what happens if we let people believe whatever they want to believe even if the truth is in front of their eyes? To each their own consequence.

I'm thinking people just don't want to change, and that they believe in what they believe for convenience, since their friends and family all believe the same. Sad but true.

Answer 11

We should try to understand the message and not to hang on each single word that at the end come to be miss translation or misunderstanding. Bible was not written by Jesus!!!