Hey, trinitarians. If Jesus is God, where does that leave the Father and the holy spirit?

Question

Scruffy, bad example. You may be all those things, but you are still one person. In the trinity, there are 3 co-equal persons that make up God

Answer 1

I am not a Trinitarian, so perhaps I should not respond. Still . . .

The Trinity is defined as this: the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet they are not three Gods but one God. Neither is afore or after the other. They are – each of them - co-eternal, co-equal. They are each of them God in different forms but God nonetheless.

I have heard this explained using an apple: the core, the skin and the flesh. However, if one means to draw a parallel between the parts of an apple and the Trinity, a few key factors are being overlooked – not the least of which is the fact that the core of an apple is not constituted the Apple. Neither is the skin. So if I go to the grocery store to purchase some apples for my apple pie, and the clerk hands me a bag full of apple cores, or a bag full of skin, there’s a problem, is there not? The core does not constitute an apple. So all this serves to illustrate is that Jesus alone does not constitute God - so he cannot be God. And the Holy Spirit alone does not constitute God - so it cannot be God.

I have also heard this explained using water, steam and ice. Again, if one means to draw a parallel between those three, a few key factors are being overlooked again. If I ask for a cup of hot water, and somebody hands me a cup of steam (if that were even possible), something is missing, is it not? For those who say that the three make up a trinity simply because three are mentioned, and we should be able to count, does that make Abraham, Isaac and Jacob a Hebrew Trinity simply because all three of them are mentioned in scripture together?

Others reference 1 Thessalonians 5:23 which speaks of the body, soul and spirit of those in the congregation. Was Paul alluding to humans being made up of those three? No. Just like a person can show a certain spirit, so too a group or body of people may manifest a certain spirit – that is, a dominant mental inclination. Compare please Galatians 6:18. The Christian congregation was to be united in spirit, reflecting the spirit of their Head, Christ Jesus. This does not teach that humans are made up of a body, a soul and a spirit. Nor in fact can it since the scriptures very clearly teach that the soul is the person. But even if humans were made up of these so-called three components, how does that prove God is a Trinity? As was mentioned above, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are mentioned together numerous times, but that does not make them one. Peter, James, and John are named together, but that does not make them one either.

All that said, I wonder the same as you: for those who embrace this doctrine, where does that leave Yahweh and his Holy Spirit?

Hannah J Paul

Answer 2

There are some interesting concepts that people have brought out in their answers to you even as Isolde says that, the Bible calls this the Godhead, that' is strange in all the years that I have studied the Bible I have never read that anywhere in it, but what is more interesting is that Isolde does not mention where in the Bible it says that, but it is true that the Bible clearly mentions the Father, Son,and the holy spirit, even so, it does not go on to explain that they are a three in one God and co-equal, nowhere in the Bible is there any explanation of the trinity,or of the three in one God, nowhere does the Bible say that Jesus is God,but in(John14:28) Jesus does say that his Father is greater than he is,if Jesus was God why did he get baptised in dedication to God?And why is it then, that he does not know the day or the hour of the end of this system of things? God knows that day and hour so should Jesus if he is indeed God. (Matthew24:36)If Jesus is God,why did he pretend to be God's Son, and why did Gods say that Jesus is his Son?(Matthew3:16,17)None of the claimed concepts or claims of the trinity and co-equality of the Father Son and holy spirit have been substantiated with Bible Scriptures in the answers you have received .

Answer 3

Sorry so long.......... Jesus, was in a covenant relationship with Jehovah God when he thus presented himself to John for baptism. Jesus was there doing something more than what was required of him under the Law. He was presenting himself to his Father Jehovah to do his Father’s “will” with reference to the offering of his own “prepared” body and with regard to doing away with animal sacrifices that were offered according to the Law. The apostle Paul comments: “By the said ‘will’ we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.” (Heb 10:10) The Father’s will for Jesus also involved activity in connection with the Kingdom, and for this service too Jesus presented himself. (Lu 4:43; 17:20, 21) Jehovah accepted and acknowledged this presentation of his Son, anointing him with holy spirit and saying: “You are my Son, the beloved; I have approved you.”—Mr 1:9-11; Lu 3:21-23; Mt 3:13-17. The Hebrew Scriptures are consistently clear in showing that there is but one Almighty God, the Creator of all things and the Most High, whose name is Jehovah. (Ge 17:1; Isa 45:18; Ps 83:18) Jesus Christ himself said, “The Father is greater than I am” and referred to the Father as his God, “the only true God.” (Joh 14:28; 17:3; 20:17; Mr 15:34; Re 1:1; 3:12) On numerous occasions Jesus expressed his inferiority and subordination to his Father. (Mt 4:9, 10; 20:23; Lu 22:41, 42; Joh 5:19; 8:42; 13:16) Even after Jesus’ ascension into heaven his apostles continued to present the same picture.—1Co 11:3; 15:20, 24-28; 1Pe 1:3; 1Jo 2:1; 4:9, 10. 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. 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 4

Try this out - An apple has three main things - The skin, the flesh, and the core. Each component represents it's part of the complete apple. The Father [God] The son the Holy Spirit. All are one. One are all.

Answer 5

The Bible calls this the Godhead. The Heavenly Father is our ruler, Jesus Christ is our Savior and the Holy Ghost testifies of the truth. Each play a part in the plan of salvation. Each is a separate person, they are united in purpose.

The Bible uses the term godhead three times. It does not say Trinity anywhere.

Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.


Romans 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be awise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Jesus said the Father was greater. So how can they be equal?

John 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

Answer 6

The Father and the Holy Spirit are parts of the trinity as well.

Answer 7

You still don't get it. Jesus is not God and God only.

EXAMPLE:

You have a pitcher full of water (God). Jesus' body is like a glass. God poured himself (not ALL of himself) into the glass (Jesus' body). Therefore Jesus is fully God, but God is not fully Jesus.

Are you saying there's something God can't do? Can he not be a trinity? Is he able?

You think you understand it but I can see, by far, from your accusations and descriptions you don't.

Answer 8

You have three parts also. Mind, body, and soul
How about time. past, present, and future. You need all three. But I guess these examples don't count for some reason, because they don't fit into your idea of whatever you choose to believe. Christians are folowers of Christ despite not having ALL the answers, and the little we do know we do not second guess God.

Answer 9

The Bible clearly mentions The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit... that comes to three... that is a trinity... The Trinity... just that simple... don't make such a big deal out of it.

Answer 10

One God, three aspects.

I am a son to my parents, a husband to my wife, Father to my children, and the devil incarnate to liberals. But I am still me.

I think it would be silly if my Mom were to argue with my son whether I was a son or a father.