The Blessed Trinity, like the other dogmas of the Catholic Church, is a belief that has been held since the teaching of Christ to the Apostles. The Trinity is not found clearly defined in any passage in Sacred Scripture, nor does the name "trinity" appear within its pages. However, in order to be considered "Christian," one must believe in the Trinitarian God. In the first centuries the Church sought to clarify what the Trinity was by deepening its own understanding and by defending it against errors. In order to do this, the Church had to develop its own terminology which is reflected the dogmatic statement:
"In God there are 3 Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each of the 3 persons possesses one Divine Substance."
The term "substance" designates the divine being in its unity (there is only one God); it doesn't mean that God has a size or shape. The term "person" designates the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (these persons are really distinct from each other).
Attempts to describe this relationship clearly always fall short. St. Patrick is credited with using the shamrock; one stem composed of three leaves. Others have used water; a material which exists as ice, liquid, and steam. No matter how it is described, the Trinity is three persons in one God.
2007-09-25 16:27:09
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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There have been many pagan faiths that had Trinities, the Celtic/Druids had a female Trinity the Babylonians had a male Trinity, the latter it is believed is where the Roman Catholics came up with the concept they put forward of a Christian Trinity, though the Bible is clear there is only One God.
Trinity is a belief in one god manifest in three persons. As the Druidic Maiden/Mother/Crone. Interestingly some that study the Druid Path consider Brigid to be the Druid Trinity goddess. That is particularily interesting since the Catholics in an attempt to convert the Celtic people changed up the goddess into St. Brigid.The name was the same and some of the stories but the rest is really messed up.
2007-09-25 23:30:45
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answer #2
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answered by cowboy_christian_fellowship 4
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The term "trinity" does not occur in the Bible and therefore I stay away from the term.
The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit are one.
That is what I believe and that is what I teach.
Now, what does that mean? LoL That is the REAL question. And I don't think I can fully comprehend it.
2007-09-25 23:26:11
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." -Colossians 2:9
Skeptics of the Word of God often like to point out that the word "Trinity" is not found in the Scriptures; however, the Word "Godhead" most certainly is. We find the "Godhead" mentioned in Acts 17:29, Romans 1:20, and Colossians 2:9. Colossians 2:9 states it all so well... "For in him [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Literally, the Godhead came to this earth incarnate in the man Christ Jesus. Jesus was 100% man, and 100% God. Jesus did not give up His deity when He came to the earth. According to Hebrews 5:8, Jesus humbled Himself to the Father in Heaven, even being obedient unto death (the crucifixion).
We read in Genesis 1:26, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." "Us" and "Our" are plural in the Hebrew. Clearly, God has manifest (or revealed) Himself to mankind as a Godhead, i.e., one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), yet three distinct individual Persons. It may not make good math; but, it definitely makes good Bible. I didn't author the Bible, God did. Either you believe that the Bible is God's Word, or you don't. We plainly read in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Here we see all three individual members of the Godhead. Again in Luke 3:22 we see all three individual members of the Godhead, "And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased."
These Scriptures cannot be thrown away. Several false religions, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, deny the Godhead. The argument is that the Trinity originated in pagan ancient Babylon. However, a distinct difference must be noted between the masculine Godhead of the Word of God, and the pagan goddess worship which originated with Nimrod and Semiramis. It was not Christianity that imitated paganism; but paganism Christianity. Furthermore, there is no ancient pagan religion which taught the Biblical doctrine of the Godhead. There are an abundance of Scriptural references to "God the father," and to the "Son of God." Clearly, they are two distinguished individuals. Also, we see the individuality of the Holy Spirit in Luke 12:10, "And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven." Acts 5:32, "And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." Notice the word "Whom," not "it." The Holy Spirit is a Person. In John 16:13 we read, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." Six times in John 16:13, the Holy Spirit is referred to as "he."
The Godhead is a mystery. We read of "the mystery of God" in Colossians 2:2. You either believe the Bible is the Word of God, or you don't. By the way, many modern corrupted Bibles have entirely removed the word "Godhead," such as in the New International Version (NIV). This is a direct attack on Christ's deity. Also, wherever the King James Bible says that someone "worshipped" Jesus, the NIV changes it to "knelt" instead. How deceitful.
The NIV Brutally Attacks Jesus' Deity
I recently received a letter from a man, who quoted me Philippians 2:6 from the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible, claiming that Jesus was not the manifestation of the Godhead. Here's Philippians 2:6 from the King James Bible...
"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God."
Now here's the damnable NIV...
"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped."
Do you see why so many people are being deceived by Satan nowadays? Jesus Christ is the manifestation of the Godhead... "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." Colossians 2:9 so beautifully states... "For in him [Jesus] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." If you want to come to the God of the Bible, then you MUST come only through Jesus Christ... "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also" (1st John 2:22,23).
It is obvious to the faithful Christian who is awake to righteousness.
2007-09-26 14:52:29
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answer #6
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answered by cheesesamiches1987 2
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