Why are most "Christian" beliefs not taught by Jesus?

Question

Such as the Trinity:
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.

Or the cross:
“The shape of the [two-beamed cross] had its origin in ancient Chaldea, and was used as the symbol of the god Tammuz (being in the shape of the mystic Tau, the initial of his name) in that country and in adjacent lands, including Egypt. By the middle of the 3rd cent. A.D. the churches had either departed from, or had travestied, certain doctrines of the Christian faith. In order to increase the prestige of the apostate ecclesiastical system pagans were received into the churches apart from

The rest of the 2nd quote:

regeneration by faith, and were permitted largely to retain their pagan signs and symbols. Hence the Tau or T, in its most frequent form, with the cross-piece lowered, was adopted to stand for the cross of Christ.”—An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (London, 1962), W. E. Vine, p. 256.

JC --- First, I only have so many words to work with, so I chose 2 of the more fundamental beliefs.

Second, if Jesus clearly taught the concept of the Trinity, why did it take 400 years to become doctrine?

Third, why did Christians choose the cross, when it clearly dates pre-christian and pagan?

Answer 1

Because most of them were made up, or borrowed from other faiths and added long after he was dead.

How was a dead guy supposed to teach them?

love and blessings Don

Answer 2

First, you only listed two beliefs. So for this to be most of the CHristians beliefs then you are saying that Christians only have 3 beliefs.

Secondly, Jesus does not mention trinity. However, Jesus clearly speaks of himself being the Son of God. He clearly speaks of a unity with the Father. And he clearly speaks that he will send a Spirit that is the Father's Spirit into our hearts.

No Jesus did not teach the cross. He just died on one. Pretty clear and strong teaching to me!

UPDATE: Christians did not choose the cross. The Romans choose to execute Jesus using the method of crucifixition. The Cross is not a chosen symbol its a historical occurance.

Secondly, I did not say that Jesus taught the "trinity." And just because 400 years later the term was created does not mean that the concept wasn't already being taught. And could have been taught since the 1st century church began. However, I would not be suprised that the way "trinity" is taught today is not the way that the early Christians taught it. And in fact, if the term "trinity" was created 400 years after the fact, that logically leads one to the conclusion that they were already and had been teaching the concept. The council just decided to give a name to the teaching.

Answer 3

You are confusing the Teachings of Jesus to Denominational Doctrine; the Trinity was around when God created the Earth (See Genesis 1 and 2). As far as the Cross goes, Christianity "adopted" it because, despite having been around for a long time prior to His Crucifixion, it was the Instrument upon which our Saviour sacrificied Himself for us.

Answer 4

Both forms of the cross were used by the romans for crucifixion. We don't know which one Jesus was killed on. And while the word trinity is more recent, the concept is not. Read the book "The case for christ". It should help explain what I mean.

Answer 5

Teaching is more than just the verbal or written word.
Jesus exemplified in His life all the things of Biblical Christianity.

Answer 6

churchianity is not true belief. It is baptized paganism. True belief is what is taught by Scripture, which is the Word of YHVH, and His Son the Savior YAHOSHUA.

Answer 7

Jesus was the cover boy for a Jewish sect created decades after his death, by people he never met. Paul, for instance.