When did the doctrine of the "Trinity" start?

Question

Meaning the 3-in-1 theory.

From everything i read, it started at the council of Nicea with Constintine. and even Clemente of where ever believed they were 3 seperate beings.

So when and where exactly did it origionate? and Why?

Answer 1

According to Cumont, the “entire neo-platonic school is heavily indebted to the Chaldeans (Babylonians)”. It was the neo-platonic school of philosophy which influenced the Catholic fathers, Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen.

Plato, the famed Greek philosopher, greatly influenced the Catholic fathers. He was acquainted with Babylonian wisdom, and had traveled to Babylonia, Israel, and Egypt.

Plato advocated the idea of a secondary messenger god, representing the unknown primary god, who remained impassible (unable to suffer or to feel pain) and unknowable. This being was called the Logos (“the Word”).

This messenger god was known in Babylon and Egypt. The Egyptian god Thoth (Tammuz) was called the “Logos”:

The Catholic fathers obviously obtained this idea from the Greek philosophers, who in turn obtained it from Babylonian and oriental religions. It does not come from the Bible.

If trinitarianism does not come from the Bible, where did it originate? There is no question that Christian trinitarianism developed over several centuries of time after the New Testament was written. According to The New Catholic Encyclopedia, historians of dogma and systematic theologians recognize "that when one does speak of an unqualified Trinitarianism, one has moved from the period of Christian origins to, say, the last quadrant of the 4th century… From what has been seen thus far, the impression could arise that the Trinitarian dogma is in the last analysis a late 4th century invention. In a sense, this is true but it implies an extremely strict interpretation of the key words Trinitarian and dogma… The formulation 'one God in three Persons' was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the 4th century. But it is precisely this formulation that has first claim to the title the Trinitarian dogma." (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch11.htm)

Answer 2

I believe it was officially adopted at the Council of Nicea, but differing opinions about the nature of Christ, and the role of the Holy Spirit, etc. had been expressed by Christians for quite some time before that.

Although some people like to say that the Christians view of the trinity was influenced by other religions who worshiped trinities of gods, I don't know if that's true. It seems that it was Jesus' own statements such as "He who has seen me has seen the Father", "I and the Father are one", and his reference to "the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit" that influenced some of the early Christians that a trinity of some sort was indicated.

I personally do not believe the trinity doctrine. But, based on what I've read of the early Christian writings, I believe that it developed because of different interpretations of the Scriptures, and not because of pagan influences.

Christians believe in both God the Father (Yahweh or Jehovah), and Jesus Christ. That doesn't mean that they were influenced by Roman or Greek mythology who also had gods with sons that were also gods. Though the beliefs have similarities, they seem to have originated independently of each other.

Answer 3

You are right in you presumption, but its origin comes from Roman teaching. There in no where in any Bible that says there is a trinity, except where the scripture was added in the 15th century. Every Bible says that the Word (Christ) was a mighty god, but a mighty god is someone that is created and receives its power from an Almighty God. The Apostle John, in referring to the word as god, used the Greek spelling that translates as a god, not Almighty God. He used the same spelling in referencing that Satan was a god, and the even humans can consider themselves as a god. He never used the spelling in reference to Almighty God.

All you have to do is follow the Bible, which says he's the Son of God and that when you pray or worship, you do so to God the Father, the Almighty God, and not to the Son, a mighty god, but you do so through the Son and the Holy Spirit.

You will note that the churches that follow the Trinity don't get along well with each other, often split forming new religions, and have problems such as sexual abuse, more involvement in politics than the teachings of Christ, and the exchange of money in the church. The one who doesn't has not had a split in its 100+ years of existence, does not get involved in politics or retail business, and no matter where you go in the world, every congregation teaches the same things and treats you like family.

Answer 4

I've read the account of Jesus' baptism over and over again, and I have yet to read where God the Son and God the Holy Spirit did something.

I've read that Jehovah called out that Jesus is His Son, the beloved, the approved.

I've read that the holy spirit came down in the shape of a dove.

There are many reference works that show that the 1st century Christians did not believe in a trinity, and that it is contrary or opposed to the teachings of the bible.

The earliest mention of trinity comes from Babylon.

You can read where the apostles were arrested for teaching the resurrection of Jesus, but never being arrested for teaching Jesus is God.
(further proof that Jesus isn't God)

Jesus declared he was the Son of God at his trial, That he was the King of God's Kingdom, but never once did he agree to be being God.

On the occations where the Jews claimed he was saying he was God, Jesus denied it and showed he was God's Son.

rs p. 405 pars. 1-2 Trinity ***
The New Encyclopædia Britannica says: “Neither the word Trinity, nor the explicit doctrine as such, appears in the New Testament, nor did Jesus and his followers intend to contradict the Shema in the Old Testament: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord’ (Deut. 6:4). . . . The doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies. . . . By the end of the 4th century . . . the doctrine of the Trinity took substantially the form it has maintained ever since.”—(1976), Micropædia, Vol. X, p. 126.

The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: “The formulation ‘one God in three Persons’ was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the 4th century. But it is precisely this formulation that has first claim to the title the Trinitarian dogma. Among the Apostolic Fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a mentality or perspective.”—(1967), Vol. XIV, p. 299.

*** rs p. 406 par. 1 Trinity ***
In The Encyclopedia Americana we read: “Christianity derived from Judaism and Judaism was strictly Unitarian [believing that God is one person]. The road which led from Jerusalem to Nicea was scarcely a straight one. Fourth century Trinitarianism did not reflect accurately early Christian teaching regarding the nature of God; it was, on the contrary, a deviation from this teaching.”—(1956), Vol. XXVII, p. 294L.

(Romans 15:4-6) . . .” 4 For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the God who supplies endurance and comfort grant YOU to have among yourselves the same mental attitude that Christ Jesus had,

6 that with one accord YOU may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Answer 5

There are many references to the three divine Persons in the Bible. At the Baptism of Jesus, God the Son stood in the Water as God the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, as God the Father spoke audibly from heaven. Clearly Jesus taught the disciples about the Father and the Holy Spirit, and just as clearly He Himself claimed to be God. The doctrine was precisely defined at the Council of Nicea, but it had been prevalent in the Christian Church from the very beginning.

Answer 6

During the Middle Ages

Answer 7

It originated in the Bible. Starting in Genesis 1:26. It is clarified in the four Gospels. It is one of the most clearly seen truths in the Bible. How do I know? I read it.

Now the Bible is a instruction manual for a relationship with GOD. Picture if you will an instruction manual for anything that you do not posses. Now try to make sense of it. Try it all you want. What would your observations of it be? Why do all these other people seem to know what that stupid book means? Because they have the product that goes with the book.

IMHO
GOD bless ya.

Answer 8

Many references were made between 100 and 200 AD, the most famous by Theophilus where he uses the actual word "Trinity." Others just describe the doctrine.

Many, of course, would say that it is found in the New Testament.

Answer 9

Prior to the establishment of the Universal Religion (Catholics), there were different Christian sects running around claiming all kinds of things. It is not possible to identify when a specific myth originated, or who originated that myth.

What we do know as fact is that the Nicene Council adopted the Trinitarian myth as the foundation for Constantine's brand new Universal (Catholic) Religion in 325 CE. And it has been adopted by all major "Christian" cults since that time.

Answer 10

Council of Chalcedon 451AD ActV
It began as the prophets of the Old Testament and and our LORD Jesus Christ himself taught us.