Is it true that Apostolics do not believe in the trinity?

Question

Is it true that Apostolics do not believe in the trinity.
Then who do they believe God is?
I am not here to argue just to learn
Thanks

Answer 1

THE TRUTH ABOUT

ONE GOD

(Biblical and Historical Proof)

From the "dark ages" of Christendom, brought about by the theories and ideas of men, utter confusion has been left in the minds of people concerning the truth about one God. Without the knowledge of the truth, which only comes to an honest heart by divine revelation, many have misunderstand the manifestations of God, and have tried to form three Persons or Deities. Therefore, many are confused by a false, powerless, man-made doctrine called the "Trinity". Do not take mere theories and ideas of men; learn the truth about this important subject.

"Hear, 0 Israel: the Lord our God is ONE LORD." Deut. 6:4. This commandment given to Israel is confirmed in the New Testament (Mark 12:29) and must be obeyed by all Christians today. "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." James 2:19.

"God is a Spirit..." John 4:24. "No man hath seen God at anytime..." John 1:18. God, the invisible Spirit, has only revealed Himself to man by manifestations. Although there are many manifestations of God, the Scriptures teach that there are basically three offices or positions in which God has manifested Himself. God was manifested as the Father in creation, the Son in redemption, and the Holy Ghost in emanation.


GOD MANIFESTED AS THE FATHER IN CREATION


"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Gen. 1:1. No one else but God performed the miracle of creation. And God said, "Let us make man in our image..." Gen. 1:26. To use the word "us" and try to form other Gods in the creation, clashes not only with the Scriptures, but with common sense. The word God means Supreme Being, the eternal and infinite Spirit, Creator and Sovereign of the universe. There cannot be more than one Supreme Being. By no means was God talking or counseling with other Gods. He was counseling with His own will. Eph. 1:11. In the creation of man, God, the eternal Spirit, foresaw the image or the Son in which He would some day reveal Himself to man. The Son did not exist at the creation. "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law." Gal. 4:4. The San, who is the image of God, was made thousands of years after the creation. Also God spoke of things which be not as though they were. Ram. 4:17. "So Gad created man in HIS OWN IMAGE," Gen. 1:27. "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that hod not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come. Ram 5:14. God, referring to the Sonship, made Adam in the figure of Him that was to come.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1. The Word cannot be separated from Gad. The term "Word" is derived from the Greek term "logis" which means "thought or plan". God’s thoughts are with Him, but they cannot be separated from Him. "The Word was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD." "All things were made by Him (Word); and without Him (Word) was not anything made that was made." John 1:3. "...The worlds were framed by the Word of God..." Heb. 11:3. So by His Word God created all things.

"Thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it...I am the LORD; and there is NONE ELSE." Is. 45:18. "...I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens ALONE; that spreadeth abroad the earth BY MYSELF." Is. 44:24. ".. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any." Is. 44:8. "See now that I, even I, am He, and there is NO GOD WITH ME..." Deut. 32:39. "Have we not all ONE Father? Hath not ONE God created us" Mal. 2:10.

GOD MANIFESTED AS THE SON IN REDEMPTION


A blood sacrifice without sin must be made for the redemption of man. Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Heb. 9:22. So by His plan (Word), God, the invisible Spirit, made Himself a body born of the virgin Mary, and dwelt among us. "And the Word (which was God) was made flesh, and dwelt among us..." John 1,14. This body was the only begotten Son or image of God. Paul said that the Son is the image (body) of the invisible God. Cal.

1 :13-15.

The Sonship was planned from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8) and prophesied as early as Gen. 3:15. Hundreds of years later Isaiah prophesied," ...Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel...which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US." Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:23. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty GOD, The everlasting FATHER, The Prince of Peace." Is. 9:6. To Joseph the angel said, "...thou shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sin.. and he called His name JESUS." Matt. 1:21-25. Fosset’s Bible Encyclopedia declares that Jesus means Jehovah-Salvation, or Jehovah is become Saviour.

The name Jesus was not revealed until God made Himself a body. Until then He was called Jehovah. For example:

Jehovah-Jireh - The Lord provides. Gen. 22:14.

Jehovah-Rapha - The Lord that healeth. Exod. 15:26.

Jehovah-Nissi - The Lord is our banner. Exod. 17:15.

Jehavah-Sholom - The Lord our peace. Judges 6:24.

Jehovah-Ra-ah - The Lord is my shepherd. Ps. 23.

Jehovah-Tsidkenu - The Lord our righteousness. Jer. 23:6.

Jehovah-Shammah - The Lord is present. Ezek. 48:35.

When God made Himself a body to redeem man from sin, He then was called JESUS - Jehovah-Salvation.

The angel announced, "For unto you is born this day.. .0 Saviour, which is CHRIST THE LORD." Luke 2:11. Throughout the Old Testament God is also called the Lord. Compare the following:

The Lord God is the Creator. Is. 42:5.

The Lord Jesus is the Creator. John 1:3, 10.

The Lord God said, "I am He." Is. 43:10.

The Lord Jesus said, "I am He." John 8:24.

The Lord God is the only Saviour. Is. 43:10, 11.

The Lord Jesus is the Saviour. Titus 1:4.

The Lord God shall reign forever. P5. 146:10.

The Lord Jesus reign forever. Luke 1 :33.

The Lord God is the King of Israel. Is. 43:15.

The Lord Jesus is the King of Israel. Matt. 27:37.

The Lord God is the First and the Lost. Is. 44:6.

The Lord Jesus is the First and the Last. Rev. 1:8.

The Lord God is Almighty. Gen. 17:1.

The Lord Jesus is Almighty. Rev. 1:8.

There is only one Lord. Eph. 4:5. When Paul was struck down on the road to Damascus, he cried, "Who art thou, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I AM JESUS." Acts 9:5. Beyond a shadow of a doubt the Lord God Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Lord Jesus Christ of the New Testament!


Jesus confirmed that He was not a separate Person, but God manifested in the flesh. Jesus said unto Philip, ".. .He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.. .The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself; but the father that DWELLETH IN ME, He doeth the works...Believe me that I am in the Father, and the FATHER IN ME..." John 14:9-11. Jesus simply stated, "I and My Father are ONE (not two)." John 10:30.

Jesus emphasized the importance of His identity as He taught the people in the temple. He said, "...For if ye believe not that I AM HE, ye shall die in your sins.. .They understood not that He spake to them of the FATHER." John 8:24-27.

When Jesus was baptized by John in Jordan River, the voice of God spoke, "This is my beloved Son, IN WHOM I am well pleased."

Matt. 3:17. Notice, God said, "IN WHOM" - not with whom! "To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST, reconciling the world unto

Himself..." II Cor. 5:19.

As Stephen was facing death, he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Acts 7:55. The term "right hand" does not form a part of another Person or Deity. It is symbolic of the power and authority of God. Jesus said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Matt. 28:18. Paul said that Christ is the power and the wisdom of God. I Cor. 1:24. Note the following symbolical uses of the term "right hand" as correlated to power and authority:

My right hand hath spanned the heavens. Is. 48:13.

The Lord is at the right hand of the poor. Ps. 109:31.

God led Israel by the right hand of Moses. Is. 63:12.

The Lord was at David’s right hand. PS. 16:8.

The question may be asked, "Is Jesus in the Godhead, or is the Godhead in Jesus?" If the Godhead is in Jesus, there can only be one Person. The Bible clearly states, "For IN HIM (Christ) DWELLETH all the FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY. And ye are COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the HEAD OF ALL PRINCIPALITY AND POWER." Col. 2:9, 10. So there is only ONE PERSON in which the Godhead is manifested, because the GODHEAD IS IN JESUS!

In Jesus Christ, two wills or natures are portrayed: a human will and a Divine will. He was man (flesh) and He was God (Spirit). As man He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, "O my Father.. not as I WILL, but as THOU WILT." Matt. 26:39. Also He cried out on the cross, "My God, my God. Why host thou forsaken me?" Matt. 27:46. Certainly these Scriptures do not imply that Jesus Christ is a separate Person or Deity with the Father. Far Deity does not pray to Deity! Futhermore, Deity cannot die! So as man, Jesus Christ prayed in His human nature to His Divine nature. Because, in His human nature, the flesh did not want to die, but He knew the will of the Spirit must be done. Also at Calvary He cried out in His human nature to His Divine nature; and when the Spirit left the body, He fulfilled His human role of death. As man, He was hungry, He slept, He became weary, He wept, He increased in wisdom and stature, He prayed, and He died. (See Matt. 4:2, Matt. 8:24, John 4:6, John 11,35, Luke 2:52, Matt. 26:39, Matt. 27:50.) As God, He healed the sick, He cast out devils, He raised the dead, He calmed the sea. He forgave sins, He answered prayer, and He arose from the grave. (See Matt. 4,23, Luke 8:35, John 11:43,44, Mark 4:39, Mark 2:5, John 14:14, John 2:19-21.) Jesus Christ said, "I can of mine own self (human nature) do nothing.. (John 5:30). ..but the FATHER that DWELLETH IN ME (Divine nature), HE doeth the works (John 14:10)." As man, He even expressed His limited knowledge (Mark

13:32); but as God, He knew all things (John 21:17). Compare the following titles which also portray the dual nature of Jesus Christ:

DIVINE

Everlasting Father - Is. 9:6

Chief Shepherd - I Pet. 5:4

King of Kings - Rev. 17,14

Lord God - John 20:28

The Almighty - Rev. 1:8


HUMAN

Son of Man - Luke 9:22

Lamb - I Pet. 1:19

Servant - Phil. 2:7

High Priest - Heb. 2:17

Mediator - I Tim. 2:5


"Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." I Tim. 3:16. How clearly brought out is this glorious truth that Jesus Christ was God manifested in the flesh. He became Spirit in body to bring redemption to man.


GOD MANIFESTED AS THE HOLY GHOST IN EMANATION


God, the eternal Spirit, is "Omni-present" - everywhere at the same time; therefore, His Substance fills the universe. The only way God can manifest Himself in the hearts of people today is by the process of emanation. To emanate is to issue forth from a source. As the Holy Spirit, God is issuing forth from His Substance to fill the hearts of people today.

The Holy Spirit cannot be separated from the Father, for it is a part of His Substance. That which was conceived in the virgin Mary was of the Holy Ghost. Matt. 1:20. The truth becomes evident that the Holy Spirit is the Father of the Son. To try to separate the Father and the Holy Spirit and form two Persons, would give the Son two Fathers, which is impossible. Definitely the Father and the Holy Spirit would have to be the same Spirit.

There is only ONE SPIRIT. Eph. 4:4. "For by ONE SPIRIT are we all baptized into one body..." 1 Cor. 12:13. The Bible proves that the ONE Spirit is the Holy Ghost. "This spake He (Jesus) of the SPIRIT, which they that believe on Him should receive: far the HOLY GHOST was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." John 7:39.

The Bible proves that the ONE Spirit is the Father. "There is but ONE GOD, the FATHER..." I Cor. 8:6. "GOD (the Father) is a SPIRIT..." John 4:24.

The Bible proves that the ONE Spirit is Jesus. There is ONE LORD JESUS CHRIST. I Cor. 8:6. "Now the LORD (Jesus) is that SPIRIT..." II Cor. 3:17.

"There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are ONE." I John 5:7.

By no means did Jesus teach that the Holy Ghost was another Person. Jesus said, "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things..." John 14:26. Again Jesus said, "...if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. John 16:7. Also John said, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." John 14:18. Compare John 14:26 with John 16:7; Jesus spoke of the Father and Himself as ONE. Compare John 14:26 with John 14:18. Jesus spoke of the Holy Ghost and Himself as ONE. If the Father and Jesus are one, and Jesus and the Holy Ghost are one: then the Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit are ONE. (Also compare the following Scriptures which show that the Father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are ONE: Matt. 10:20, Mark 13:11, Luke 21:15.)

A Trinitarion concept contends that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one in holiness, love, glory, wisdom and eternal power; but, three in Person. No Scripture can be found to support such a concept. Note the following:

His holiness (not their holiness) - Ps. 47:8

His love (not their love) - Ram. 5:8

My glory (not our glory) - Is. 42:8

The only wise God (not the wise three) - I Tim. 1:17

His eternal power (not their eternal power) - Rom. 1:20

The term persons (plural) used in reference to God does violence to the oneness of God. "I am the Lord.. .and my glory will I not give to another." Is. 42:8. The Bible proves that God is ONE IN PERSON. John declared, "...I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was

set in heaven, and ONE sat on the throne." Rev. 4:2.

When the Holy Ghost came on the day of Pentecost, 120 disciples were filled and began to speak with tongues as the SPIRIT gave them utterance. Acts 2:4. Peter preached that the Holy Ghost was the Spirit of God. As he used the prophecy of Joel 2.28, he said, "It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH..." Acts 2:17.

Paul used the terms "Spirit of God" and "Spirit of Christ" as synonymous terms in reference to the Holy Spirit. He said, "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." Rom. 8:9. (Also see Col. 1 :27, Gal. 4:6.)

There is ONE GOD and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and IN YOU ALL. Eph. 4:6. There is only ONE GOD manifested in the flesh and received in the hearts of believers today.

History also proves that the truth about one God was universally preached by the New Testament Church for many years after Christ, until the development of the "Trinity" doctrine by the Roman Catholic Church.

Encyclopedia International, 1975 Edition, Vol.18, p.226 - The doctrine of the "Trinity" did not form part of the apostles’ preaching, as this is reported in the New Testament.

New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967 Edition, Vol.13, p.1021 - The first use of the Latin word "trinitas" (trinity) with reference to God, is found in Tertullian’s writings (about 213 A.D.) He was the first to use the term "persons" (plural) in a Trinitarian context.

Encyclopedia Americana, 1957 Edition, Vol.27, p.69 - The word "Trinity" is not in Scripture. The term "persons" (plural) is not applied in Scripture to the Trinity.

World Book Encyclopedia, 1975 Edition, Vol. T, p.363 - Belief in Father, Son and Holy Ghost was first defined by the earliest general council of churches. This was the First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.

New International Encyclopedia, Vol.22, p.476 - The Catholic faith is this: We worship one God in Trinity, but there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son and another of the Holy Ghost. The Glory equal - the Majesty co-eternal. The doctrine is not found in its fully developed form in the Scriptures. Modern theology does not seek to find it in the Old Testament. At the time of the Reformation the Protestant Church took aver the doctrine of the Trinity without serious examination.

Life Magazine, October 30, 1950, Vol.29, No.18, p.51 - The Catholics made this statement concerning their doctrine of the Trinity, to defend the dogma of the assumption of Mary, in an article written by Graham Greene: "Our opponents sometimes claim that no belief should be held dogmatically which is not explicitly stated in Scripture... But the PROTESTANT CHURCHES have themselves accepted such dogmas as THE TRINITY, for which there is NO SUCH PRECISE AUTHORITY in the Gospels"

No record will you find that the New Testament Church ever believed or taught the doctrine of the Trinity. For the Scriptures prove that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are only manifestations (not three Persons) of the ONE GOD; and God is ONE IN PERSON. In Creation God was manifested as the Father (Invisible Spirit - John 1:18, 4:24); in redemption God was manifested as the Son (Spirit in body - Col. 1: 13-15, 2:9); and in emanation God was and is being manifested as the Holy Ghost (Spirit in believers - Acts 2:4, 17, Rom. 8:9, Eph~ 4:6).

Honest hearts, receive the truth There is only ONE Supreme Being: the eternal and infinite Spirit, Creator and Sovereign of the universe, and Saviour of man. God said, "...Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Saviour." Is. 43:10-11, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God and there is NONE ELSE." Is. 45:22, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, THE ALMIGHTY." Rev. 1:8." In that day shall there be ONE LORD, and His NAME ONE." Zec. 14:9. And every tongue shall confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. Phil. 2:11.

Answer 2

The original 12 Apostles were blessed by the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

Anyone who is Apostolic and doesn't believe in the Trinity, ask them to quote the EXACT verse from the Bible. Sola Scriptura gets interesting results.

Answer 3

God
There is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4). He is the creator of heaven and earth, and of all living beings. He has revealed Himself to humanity as the Father (Creator), in the son (Savior), and as the Holy Ghost (indwelling Spirit).

Father

God is a Spirit (John 4:24). He is the Eternal One, the Creator of all things, and the Father of all humanity by creation.
He is the First and the Last, and beside Him there is no God (Isaiah 44:6).
There was no God formed before Him; neither shall be there any after Him (Isaiah 43:10).

Son

Jesus is the Son of God according to the flesh (Romans 1:3) and the very God Himself according to the Spirit (Matthew 1:23). Jesus is the Christ (Matthew 16:16); the creator of all things (Colossians 1:16-17); God with us (Matthew 1:23); God made flesh (John 1:1-14); God manifested in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16);He which was, which is, and which is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8);the mighty God, everlasting Father, and Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Jesus Himself testified of His identity as God when He said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:7-11) and "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30).

It took shedding of blood for the remission of the sins of the world (Hebrews 9:22), but God the Father was a Spirit and had no blood to shed. Thus He prepared a body of flesh and blood (Hebrews 10:5)and came to earth as a man in order to save us, for in Isaiah 43:11 He said, "Beside me there is no Saviour." When He came in flesh the angels sang, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11).

Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost is not a third person in the Godhead, but rather the Spirit of God (the Creator), the Spirit of the resurrected Christ. The Holy Ghost comes to dwell in the hearts and lives of everyone who believes and obeys the gospel, as the comforter, Sustainer, and keeper (John 14:16-26; Romans 8:9-11).