Why New Catholic Encyclopedia declares trinity, a fictitious and pagan dogma?

Question

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.

Answer 1

How in the world do you get "pagan dogma" out of the quote you used? It doesn't even begin to imply that. It simply give a time frame for when the concept of the Holy Trinity was fully established ("assimilated") . . . the end of the 4th century.

Answer 2

Trinity: The central doctrine of religions of Christendom. According to the Athanasian Creed, there are three divine Persons (the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost), each said to be eternal, each said to be almighty, none greater or less than another, each said to be God, and yet together being but one God. Other statements of the dogma emphasize that these three “Persons” are not separate and distinct individuals but are three modes in which the divine essence exists. Thus some Trinitarians emphasize their belief that Jesus Christ is God, or that Jesus and the Holy Ghost are Jehovah. Not a Bible teaching.

What is the origin of the Trinity doctrine? 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.

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.

According to the Nouveau Dictionnaire Universel, “The Platonic trinity, itself merely a rearrangement of older trinities dating back to earlier peoples, appears to be the rational philosophic trinity of attributes that gave birth to the three hypostases or divine persons taught by the Christian churches. . . . This Greek philosopher’s [Plato, fourth century B.C.E.] conception of the divine trinity . . . can be found in all the ancient [pagan] religions.”—(Paris, 1865-1870), edited by M. Lachâtre, Vol. 2, p. 1467.

John L. McKenzie, S.J., in his Dictionary of the Bible, says: “The trinity of persons within the unity of nature is defined in terms of ‘person’ and ‘nature’ which are G[ree]k philosophical terms; actually the terms do not appear in the Bible. The trinitarian definitions arose as the result of long controversies in which these terms and others such as ‘essence’ and ‘substance’ were erroneously applied to God by some theologians.”—(New York, 1965), p. 899.

Answer 3

Well, this quote does not state that the doctrine is fictitious and pagan. It does, however, point out that the doctrine was slowly established and assimilated into professed Christian life at about the end of the fourth century.

This is noteworthy for it naturally means that the first century Christians knew nothing of a doctrine that taught there was one God in three persons.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 4

Just as I answered the first two times you asked this question, ...

I haven't the slightest idea what the 1967 edition of the New Catholic Encyclopedia has to say. It is not the official Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The Bible does not contain the word Trinity. However, the Holy Trinity is hinted at repeatedly in both the Old and New Testaments.

Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the early Christians prayed and struggled over these hints for a couple of centuries. The concept of the Holy Trinity (three persons in one God) was mainstream Christianity in 325 A.D. at the Council of Nicaea and our belief is expressed in the Nicene Creed from that council:

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. ...

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. ...

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

I've seen this same type of question a dozen times. Have you actually read the entire article in its complete context? The dogma of the Trinity is one of the foundational beliefs of the Catholic Church. Do you honestly think the Church would call Her own dogma fictitious and pagan in Her own encyclopedia? A little common sense please.

Answer 6

I haven't the slightest idea what the 1967 edition of the New Catholic Encyclopedia has to say. It is not the official Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Bible does not contain the word Trinity. However, the Holy Trinity is hinted at repeatedly in both the Old and New Testaments. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the early Christians prayed and struggled over these hints for a couple of centuries. The concept of the Holy Trinity (three persons in one God) was mainstream Christianity in 325 A.D. at the Council of Nicaea and our belief is expressed in the Nicene Creed from that council: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. ... We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. ... With love in Christ.

Answer 7

Well let's see here.

You've got Jesus. He would certainly know who he was and who his Father was. The apostles were around him daily for 3 and 1/2 years. They would know Jesus.

Yet, they never said anything about the 3 headed guy in the room? WOW! That is control!

Over 300 years after all of them were dead, THEN they notice Jesus had 3 heads? That is just soo wrong.

Answer 8

Doesn't really matter what the encyclopedia says. Jesus himself said that he is not the son of God. and the whole concept of trinity is ficticious, And this can be proven using he bible.

Many people know the historical details of how the "Trinity" was first concocted and inserted into the Bible, so they refuse to believe in it. However, they do not realize *WHY* the "Trinity" needed to be concocted in the first place. Once a person begins to study the reasons behind the fabrication of the "Trinity" they will come to realize that the "Trinity" is only the final block placed in the elaborate structure the Trinitarians had built up around the original message of Jesus (pbuh). The "Trinity" is actually the final piece of duct-tape used by the followers of Paul to hold their concoction together.

The "son of God":

"And unto Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and the earth and those who dwell in His presence do not scorn to worship Him nor do they weary. They glorify Him night and day; They flag not. Or have they chosen gods from the earth who raise the dead. If there were therein gods besides Allah then verily both (the heavens and the earth) would have gone to ruin. Glorified be Allah, the lord of the throne from all they ascribe (unto Him). He is not questioned as to that which He does, but they will be questioned. Or have they chosen other gods besides Him, say: Bring your proof (of their godhead), this is the reminder of those with me and those before me, but most of them know not the truth so they are averse (to it). And we sent no messenger before you but we inspired him (saying): There is no god save Me (Allah) so worship Me. And they say: The Beneficent has taken unto himself a son. Nay! but (they) are but honored servants. They speak not until He has spoken and they obey His command. He knows what is before them and what is behind them and they cannot intercede except for those whom He accepts and they quake for awe of Him. And whosoever among them says: I am a god other than Allah, the same shall We reward with hell. Thus do We reward the wrong doers". (Holy Quran)

Muslims are not the only ones who believe that Jesus (pbuh) is mortal and not a god. The Jews also believe this, in addition to *THE VERY FIRST* groups of Christianity such as the Ebonites, the Cerinthians, the Basilidians, the Capocratians, and the Hypisistarians. The Arians, Paulicians and Goths also accepted Jesus (pbuh) as a prophet of God. Even in the modern age there are churches in Asia, in Africa, the Unitarian church, the Jehovah's witnesses, and even the majority of today's Anglican Bishops do not worship Jesus (pbuh) as God.


There seems to be only two places in the Bible where Jesus (pbuh) refers to himself as "son of God". They are in John chapter 5 and 11. Hastings in "The dictionary of the Bible" says:

"Whether Jesus used it of himself is doubtful".

Even Jesus (pbuh) himself tells us that miracles by themselves do not prove anything: "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" Matthew 24:24. So even false Christs can supply great wonders and miracles of such magnitude that even the most knowledgeable among men shall be deceived.

Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is *GIVEN* unto me in heaven and in earth".

Answer 9

Just about means Jesus didnt teach it and neither did his apostles eh?

Well an observant christian answerer once said that the trinity is our imperfect way of trying to bring an understanding to God and His relationship with Jesus.

I forgot to ask him tho, if its imperfect, how can you preach it as if its the word of God?

Answer 10

There is no question that the Father, Son and Spirit are one in purpose.