| |
NAVIGATION
|
|
|
|
The Trinity- Fact or Fiction?
|
It seems to me that the doctrine of the Trinity is becoming increasingly challenged in America's churches, particularly among the youth. There are many so-called Christians I have met who reject the notion of the Triune God as absurd. I have also met many Bible-believing Christians who fail utterly when trying to defend their beliefs against the skeptical world. This paeg contains simple, powerful biblical evidence that God is Three in One.
Let me say first of all that we cannot explain the Trinity. In the words of a popular bumper sticker, "God said it, I believe it, and that settles it." But unfortunately, disbelievers most often will not take that for an answer. So it is up to us to at least show that the Bible supports this idea that is crucial to the very basis of Christianity. There is not much else we can do, because the very concept of the trinity is beyond our full comprehension.
Jews and non-believing Christians alike point to the Great Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, soundly refutes the doctrine of the trinity. It goes like this: "Hear O Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD..." If God is one, how can He be three?
The answer lies in the Hebrew. It is fascinating to note that the word 'one' in the Great Shema is not the Hebrew word used throughout the rest of the Old testament to denote absolute singularity. The Hebrew word is echad, which is used to demonstrate compound unity of oneness. For example, here are a few of the verses* in which the Hebrew echad is used:
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one [echad] flesh. (Genesis 2:24)
Now the whole earth used the same [echad] language and the same [echad] words. (Genesis 11:1)
And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one [echad] people, and they all have the same [echad] language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. (Genesis 11:6)
Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We'll settle among you and become one [echad] people with you. (Genesis 34:16)
Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the LORD and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one [echad] voice, and said, "All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do!" (Exodus 24:3)
Then they came to the valley of Eshcol and from there cut down a branch with a single [echad] cluster of grapes; and they carried it on a pole between two men, with some of the pomegranates and the figs. (Numbers 13:23)
Make sense now? So the word 'one' used in the Great Shema doesn't mean one singular, it means one plural! and now contrast that to the word used in the rest of the OT to mean one singular: yachid. Here are a few verses* in which yachid is used:
And He said, "Take now your son, your only [yachid] son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." (Genesis 22:2)
And he said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only [yachid] son, from Me." (Genesis 22:12)
and said, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only [yachid] son, (Genesis 22:16)
When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. Now she was his one and only [yachid] child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter. (Judges 11:34)
Deliver my soul from the sword, My only [yachid] life from the power of the dog. (Psalms 22:20)
Very clear-cut. But it goes farther. In the Old Testament, God (Elohim in Hebrew) is never refered to as yachid! When refering to god, the Old Testament writers always used echad!
Clearly, God is plural. Not multiple, but plural. It is inexplainable, but as I wrote in "You Want Proof?", I consider that one of the greatest arguments for the existence of God! It doesn't make sense! If God make perfect sense, it would show we invented him!
*these verses come from www.evidence.info/theology/triunity.html. I take no credit for looking them all up. |
|
? Brendini Productions, LTD 2002
Create a
free website at Webs.com
|  |
|
