The Trinity, What is Revealed in the Bible? by Blair Andrew The Questions What is it about human nature, that causes us to think we are right in everything we believe? Why are the vast majority of Christians deceived; believing error, such as the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, or the teaching of eternal hellfire, or the “secret rapture”? None of these doctrines have their foundation in the Bible, but millions believe them. What are the forces at play that bring us to believe something? What is a belief? How does that become a doctrine? What are the underlying pre-suppositions of doctrines, that cause people to debate, argue, fight – and eventually kill over them? The purpose of doctrine is to bring us to Christ, to keep us walking in the light that leads to the true saviour, and not a counterfeit. How is that millions believe things which are purely based on traditions, and have no basis in truth? What are the factors that cause us to become emotionally attached to something, to the point that we turn on our friends, and make them enemies? These are the questions that need to be answered, as you look at the doctrine of the Trinity, for its history is marred with the blood of martyrs. The Trinity, is there any Biblical Evidence? There are so many unanswered questions about the Trinity Doctrine. The most obvious is, where in the Bible is it explained? Scholars throughout history have acknowledged that it is not even found in the Bible. Just ask Erasmus, or Sir Isaac Newton. They were known for their clear thinking, for their genius and Biblical scholarship, but neither accepted the idea. So where did it come from? Let us take a brief look at what the Seventh-day Adventist Church currently teach in regard to the Trinity doctrine. From our official work, “Seventh-day Adventists Believe . .” written by the Ministerial Association: "In contrast to the heathen of surrounding nations, Israel believed there was only one God (Deut.4:35;6:4; Isa.45:5; Zech14:9). The New Testament makes the same emphasis on the unity of God . This monotheistic emphasis does not contradict the Christian concept of the triune God or Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit; rather it affirms that there is no pantheon of various deities. Although the Old Testament does not explicitly teach that God is triune, it alludes to a plurality within the Godhead" . "While the Godhead is not one in person, God is one in purpose, mind and character. This oneness does not obliterate the distinct personalities of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Nor does the separateness of personalities within the Deity destroy the monotheistic thrust of Scripture, that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God." Seventh-day Adventists Believe . A Biblical Exposition of 27 Fundamental Doctrine, 1988. R & H, pp 22-23. (emphasis supplied) Several points come out of this statement. We know that the word God means deity, or divine; and we see no problem with our Father being called God, and Jesus being called God, because they both are divine, and are related, just as your earthly father and you are related; ie. family. But “mono” mean one. And “tri” means three. So, if God is one, and yet is three divine persons, that again seems to contradict logic. And yet it says that “this monotheistic emphasis does not contradict the Christian concept of the triune God or trinity.” As well as this, it states that the Old Testament does not teach that God is triune, but alludes to a plurality. We need more evidence than alluding to something to build our faith on. All of Adventist’s other doctrinal beliefs are based on clear scriptural exegesis. But it would seem from the above statement that we do not have this for the trinity doctrine. Let us turn for a moment to another official Adventist source, and see if they can shed more light on the topic. Adventist Review: “While no single scriptural passage states formally the doctrine of the Trinity, it is assumed as a fact by Bible writers and mentioned several times. It is implied in Genesis 1, where God and the Spirit of God are portrayed acting in Creation. Only by faith can we accept the existence of the Trinity. Nevertheless, reason supplies evidences that support our belief in God. Through the ages theologians have developed what have become known as the traditional proofs of God. ” Adventist Review, Vol. 158, No.31. July 1981.p.4. (emphasis supplied). So, we have no scriptural passage stating the trinity doctrine, again it is “assumed”, but now we are told it is “assumed as a fact by Bible writers and mentioned several times” by Bible writers. Evidence is not presented in the Review to support this statement, and I have searched elsewhere for it, without success. I cannot find anywhere in Scripture where the doctrine of the Trinity “is assumed as a fact” by any Bible writer. As well as this, I cannot find it “mentioned several times”, but I do agree that there is much we can “only accept it by faith”. The question begs to be asked though, should not our faith rest on evidence? Adventists have been known as “the people of the Book”, who can present and defend our positions on any doctrine. Has God revealed enough evidence about His nature to support the Trinity doctrine? Let us turn to Andrews University and see what their scholarship can produce. The Reign of God, by Richard Rice: “The role of the trinity in a doctrine of God always raises questions. One reason is that the word itself does not appear in the Bible, nor is there any clear statement of the idea. But the Bible does set the stage for its formulation, and the concept represents a development of biblical claims and concepts. So even though the doctrine of the trinity is not part of what the Bible itself says about God, it is part of what the church must say to safeguard the biblical view of God.” The Reign of God, An Introduction to Christian Theology from a Seventh-day Adventist Perspective. by Richard Rice. 1985. Andrews Uni Press. (emphasis supplied) This statement poses some interesting thoughts. Obvious contradictions abound. Rice is saying that although something is not found in Scripture, we should defend it to safeguard it as the Biblical view of God. I may not be an academic, but that type of circular reasoning defies logic, and should never have been put in print, let alone in a Christian text book for University level theology students. Let’s go to a recent work which is often quoted as an authoritative work on the topic. The Trinity, by Moon, Whidden & Reese, Andrews University. “Probably the strongest clues to such a divine triunity occur in the famous gospel commission that Jesus gave the church in its baptismal formula: ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’ (Matt. 28:19).” The Trinity, by Jerry Moon, Woodrow Whidden, & John W. Reese, published by R & H 2002, p.32. (Chapter entitled “The Strongest Biblical Evidence for the Trinity”) (emphasis supplied) We are now told by our three well respected academics that Matthew 28:19 is the “strongest clue” that we have to prove the trinity, when it is not even a text laying out a doctrinal position on the nature of God! Christ is making a statement on Baptism, and we do not find the early church using it in these words anywhere in Scripture. But, it is “strongest clue” we have. Is that the best that God has revealed for us, His remnant people, as the foundation of our faith, in regard to the God whom we worship? Let us look further at some other well known authors. Questions People have Asked Me, by Francis D. Nichol: The Mystery of the Trinity “I confess frankly that I cannot explain how there is but one God and yet three persons in the Godhead. Nor have I ever heard anyone explain it satisfactorily. Yet I believe it.” – Questions People have Asked Me, - F.D. Nichol, p.275. 1959. R & H. Getting Acquainted with God, by Otto H. Christensen: “The word trinity is not in the Bible, but the plurality of the divine triad can be inferred, some think, from the Sacred Record from the very beginning.” Getting Acquainted with God, Otto H. Christensen. p.70. 1970. R & H. No comment is necessary here. Both authors go on to defend the Trinity doctrine, neither presenting Biblical evidence for its existence. Recognised Sources on the origin of the Trinity doctrine Let us now check whether or not there are any scholarly sources outside of Adventism who can give us a clear scriptural basis for the trinity doctrine. The most commonly accessed Encyclopedia on the Internet, Wikipedia, states: “The consensus of Modern exegetes and theologians is that the Hebrew Bible does not contain a doctrine of Trinity (even though in the past dogmatic tracts texts like Gn. 1:26, Gn. 3:22, 11:7, Is. 6:2-3 were cited as proofs). Further, modern exegetes and theologians agree that the New Testament also does not explicitly contain the doctrine of the Trinity. The Trinity was thrashed out in debate and treatises as a result of continuous exploration of the biblical data, and was eventually formulated at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.