Do you believe in the trinity?

Question

If you believe God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one, do you know where this concept came from? Do you really think that this concept is accurate when it was decided upon by a group of men in a board room like voting session in the early first century? Do you really think you have the truth? Or did popular vote land this doctrine in the bible and not words inspired by God?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_trinity#Historical_view_and_usage

You guys aren't answering my question. Do you understand that this idea was created by man and man alone? You just keep quoting scriptures that were created by man? What factual evidence do you actually have?

Answer 1

1+1+1=3 not 1

Answer 2

You evidently mean a board room like voting session in the early 4th century as mentioned in your link.

If only biblical writings are used, there is no clear mention of a trinity - though some things which can be construed as such. There are also some passages which preclude the existence of one such as "no one knows the time, not the Son, only the Father".

If you look at the writings of the early church fathers though, you'll see a gradual development of the trinity concept from the 2nd thru 4th centuries - such that by the time the voting sessions took place it was by far the most popular view.

So no - I don't believe in a trinity.

Addition after seeing asker's comments:

First you asked the question as if you believe the Bible is inspired by God, and you questioned if the trinity concept is accurate (i.e., okay - so there's a God and Jesus and a Holy Spirit, but is there a trinity?). Next you comment that you feel that God and a trinity are concepts developed by man which don't exist, and that the scriptures are simply written by man. *We can't read your mind*, and you do not even hint at such in your original question.

Regarding factual evidence, note the Shroud of Turin:

http://www.shroudstory.com

and that its existence is documented prior to the radiocarbon date range in the Pray Manuscript (also mentioned at that site). This is the best physical evidence I know of because it corresponds very well with the description of the crucifixion in the gospel accounts. Does that mean the rest of the gospel accounts are accurate - not necessarily - though it does strongly support the fact that "Jesus" was crucified - or else someone would've had to have suffered in the exact same manner.

Many people examined what evidence does exist in detail in order to disprove Christ, the crucifixion, and resurrection - and many doing so became thoroughly convinced this all did happen. If so, I would think his followers would try to give accurate accounts (but they may not be exact). I suggest you do the same if this matters so much to you.

Answer 3

The doctrine of the Trinity came from a variety of sources. From the earliest times, we have Church fathers that call Christ the "begotten God."They would refer to the Father as the "unbegotten God" or "only unbegotten God." Look, for example, at the Apostolic Constitutions. The Holy Spirit would also be reffered to as God. The early fathers needed to reconcile these beliefs with the belief that there was only one God.

If you ask me, anything decided upon in the first century, no matter the setting, has a pretty strong standing, because it would have had the approval of the Apostles. John the Apostle was still seen as the final authority after all the other Apostles were dead on all doctrines until his death in AD 90.

I think to say that the doctrine of the Trinity was decided upon in a board room gives way too much credit to the organization of the early Church. They tried to keep in touch with each other to make sure their doctrines didn't drift too far apart, but when there were disagreements in doctrine, it could be hard to get descentars back into the fold. That's where the Gnostics, the Nestorians, and a few of the other small groups came from. If there was really a huge debate over the issue among orthodox in the first few centuries, there would probably be a record of it some where. Other debates that they had with orthodox and heterodox groups are pretty clearly documented.

Answer 4

Do you believe in the trinity? Yes

If you believe God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one, do you know where this concept came from. Yes, Jesus.
Do you really think that this concept is accurate when it was decided upon by a group of men in a board room like voting session in the early first century? Pardon the expression, but man's opinion is what has 'messed up' Christianity in this country presently, so I do not abide by it.

Do you really think you have the truth? There are several deviation to God's way in this country presently. I am trying to clarify some now.
Or did popular vote land this doctrine in the bible and not words inspired by God? No.

Answer 5

People who believe in the trinity will grope for any Bible verse to prove their point. Barb K quotes Gen. 1:26 where it says, "Let us make man in our image." I would love to ask her this: Where in that verse does it say, or even imply that "us" is God made up of three co-eternal, co-equal persons? It doesn't. You are looking for something that is not there. As Boopie said, the trinity doctrine was hammered out by men at the Council of Constantinople in 381 CE. Since that is so, what was the Christian's concept of God BEFORE that. They believed exactly what the Bible said. At Ps. 83:18, it says that Jehovah is the Most High. When announcing Jesus birth, the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth, NOT to God, but to the Son of the Most High. See Luke 1:32. All true Christians believe this today.

Answer 6

No, I do not believe in the trinity. My God is one God and he is the true God.His name is Jehovah (Psalms 83:18) Jehovah God has a Son and his name is Jesus.
The word Trinity does not appear in the Bible because it is a man-made doctrine.
Acts 3:13 states--"The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go." (New King James Version)
If Jesus is God's servant, then they cannot be equal.
At John 14:28 it states: "You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I."
If the Father is greater than Jesus, they cannot be equal. -No mention is made of the holy spirit, because it is God's active force, not a person.
John 5:30--"I (Jesus) can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (If Jesus were God, he could do everything)
This is why many believe in such man-made doctrines:
2 Timothy 4:3-4---" For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."

Answer 7

The Trinity is completely derived from and supportable from scripture. The ecumenical councils did they best they could to harmonize the schizophrenic content of the various NT writers who wavered between asserting Jesus was the son of Yahweh or in fact Yahweh in the flesh, and varied over whether the Pneuma of God was an emanating force or a disembodied Jesus or a non material manifestation of God or what have you. In reality the various NT authors were not in harmony with each other in a period of still very amorphous Christology, Pneumatology and Mariology that would requite seven ecumencial councils to resolve with explanations that amount to straining at gnats and swallowing camels whole.

But no, I don't believe in the Trinity or any other Middle Eastern monotheism notions of deity.

Answer 8

I believe that the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are three separate entities, but in one perfect accord.

The word trinity is not in the Bible, as the word rapture, they are words people have used to describe larger ideas that are mentioned in the Bible.

Answer 9

Yes I do! I believe every blessed word. I know I have the truth, and I choose to believe his wonderful promises! I know the wonder of his love. It is a choice that he gives us. He is such a gentleman. The concept comes from God, The source of all things. God Is! Jesus is the forgiver, the way to God, and the Holy Spirit is the fortitude inside of you that reminds you of your promise to put God first in all things It is his word in your heart and soul. He could have all of us as tin soldiers, made to live however He chooses. But he wants us to come to Him of our own free will with the faith that He is the Lord of the Universe!! All Praises to God Almighty!!!

Answer 10

I believe in the Trinity,but not in the same manner as others believe
let me express it this way.You have a egg, it has a shell, a white, a yolk,You may separate them as Jesus came to earth, that did not leave heaven empty.Yet a complete egg does have 3 parts.