When faced with the scriptural statement that God is one, trinitarian Christians will sometimes point to the use of the Hebrew word “Elohim” in Genesis 1:1,26 & 27. They assert that because Elohim is a plural noun used with singular verbs for God that it indicates that God is both singular and plural. In addition, they teach that the combination of God saying “let us make man in our image” in verse 26 (a plural reference) and “God created man in his own image” in verse 27 (a singular reference) demonstrates their point that God is a trinity, both three and one. They view it as evidence that the trinity is clearly taught in the bible. However, if we look at these assertions more deeply, we will see that Read More
What about Titus 2:13?
It seems that Titus 2:13 is one of the go-to verses that is used to show that Jesus is called ‘God’ in the bible. Usually, the phrase “Our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” is quoted as the defining part of the verse. Of course, if you take this trinitarian argument at face value, you might indeed concede that Jesus is called ‘God’ in this verse. However, like most trinitarian proof texts, there is always more than meets the eye. I will be taking a closer look at this verse, and we will explore the issues of translation, Greek interpretation, and context and consistency with other scriptures. Emphasizing one aspect of the discussion will only lead to a skewed view. So, let’s get into it. Read More
What about 1 John 5 v7?
Is the “trinity” in the bible? I say “No”, but many Christians say “Yes, it is”. One of the main verses that they refer to is 1 John 5:7. Does this verse speak of the trinity? Have you ever looked up this verse in your bible? This is a very intriguing verse because it is missing from some bibles and present in others. Did you know that? Do you know why that is? Some say that Satan is trying to corrupt the scriptures by removing this verse from modern bibles. Others say that the verse is a forgery that was added to the scriptures. So, which is it? And furthermore, what does the verse actually say? Does it really define or support the trinity? We’re going to look at all of these questions. Let’s dive in. Read More
In the beginning of what?
When you open a bible to the first book of Genesis, the first three words you read are “In the beginning”. It’s a great start to what many of us consider to be a great book. Interestingly enough, there is another book in the Bible that starts with those exact same three words, this is the Gospel of John in the New Testament. What is most interesting is that many Christian scholars, clergymen and bible preachers promote the idea that because both books start with the same three words, it means that the writer of the Gospel of John is directly referring to the Genesis creation account. This is something I heard all my life, but is this really the intention of the writer of John’s gospel? Is the beginning that John is referring to the creation in Genesis or is it the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and the Gospel. Well, let’s explore this. Read More
Common sense issues with trinity doctrine
I have had discussions recently with people who believe in the trinity doctrine. What I have noticed is that most persons assume and some assert that the trinity is in the bible. I have even listened to debates where one side defends the trinity by quoting verses in the bible, and the other side debunks the trinity by also quoting verses in the bible. Oftentimes, both side quote the very same verses. Difference in meaning, interpretation, and text are often highlighted and argued. However, one thing that is often missing from discussions on the topic of the trinity is common sense reasoning. Reason and logic are present and contend in any discussion, but simple common sense is usually missing. For me, this is where I start. I want to express and share some of what I consider to be common sense thoughts on the trinity. Let’s get into this. Read More
Opposing Opinions: Responding to trinitarian evidences
Several months ago, I asked a trinitarian family member why he believed in the trinity, since no “trinity” or “triune God” or “God the Son” or “God the Holy Spirit” are in the bible. He then asserted that God is triune, Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God. My follow-up was to ask for scripture references that confirm his assertions. He provided my with a short list with brief comments, and I also gave my response, which was more lengthy. Unfortunately the dialog didn’t get too far as my response was met with dismissal, and I was told that I was “splitting hairs to prove a point”. Thinking about it, I thought it might be beneficial to share my responses on my blog. Will others think my reasoning is unworthy of consideration or valuable for understanding the truth? Let opposing opinions be heard. Read More
Curious Conclusion – “I am” versus “ego eimi” versus “ho on”
Have you ever heard someone talk about Jesus being ‘the great I AM’? And you may have wondered what is this all about. Talking about Jesus being the ‘I AM’ is essentially saying he is God, and even more precisely that he is the God of the Old Testament, YeHoVaH or Yahweh or Jehovah, himself. That is quite a claim. I recently decided to examine this further, as although I have heard this over the years, I never really took the time to determine where it comes from. It seems like Christian apologists and scholars make a big deal when Jesus says ‘I am’, but does he mean what they say he means? Well, let’s check it out. Read More
Are we nothing?
A few of weeks ago, a brother gave a prayer at church, and in the middle of the prayer, he said, “Father, we are nothing”. As soon as I heard this, the first thing that popped into my mind was, “Does the bible really say that?”. I reflected on it a bit, and realized that I have heard this or similar statements before from different people in different churches at different times. The idea that ‘we are nothing’ is something that has been perpetuated in churches for a long time. Persons say it out of a sense of piety, humility or self-deprecation. Others say it because they believe the bible teaches it. Either way, I find it to be counter-productive to faith and confidence of mind. The question I want to ask is whether the bible actually says it. So, let’s dive in and find out. Read More
Tricky Translation: behind or after
One of the most interesting, and also frustrating, things of studying the bible and comparing our English translations with the Koine Greek source is realizing that the translators often translate one Greek word as different English words. This can sometimes be a good thing, and other times be a bad thing. I want to examine the use of a particular word in Matthew 16. Jesus uses this same word twice in the passage, in succession, but the translators have translated it as two different words. I think that this course of action has created such a disconnect with what Jesus said from one verse to another than many Christians interpret those verses as distinct contexts. As such our understanding of what Jesus is really talking about has been skewed. Let’s see if we can straighten it out a bit. Read More
Who raised Jesus from the dead?
If you were asked about what you think is the most critical belief someone must have to be a Christian, what would that belief be? I don’t know about you, but for me, it would be that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. This is the main claim of the Gospels, and the Apostle Paul reiterates this point. We have accounts of how this happened, but the follow-up question that could be asked is, “Who raised Jesus from the dead?” I have heard claims that Jesus raised himself from the dead, because he was God and had the power to do so. However, how can a dead person raise himself? Also, if Jesus raised himself from the dead then why did the apostles not proclaim this clearly throughout the New Testament? Let’s examine Jesus’ words and the apostles’ words to see if we can figure this out. Read More