The Trinity?

Doveaman said:

Are there alternative explanations of the Trinity other than the one defined by the Nicene Creed?

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My understanding is that there many interpretations of the Trinity and of the Persons within the Trinity that are contrary to the Nicene Creed, which is why the early Church had the Council of Nicaea and some of the later ones (and, if I recall correctly, the earlier one at Chalcedon) in order to correct the errors that came with other interpretations.

Arianism, modalism, and various other heresies fall into this category, I would think, as well as modern groups’ interpretations such as “one in unity” proclaimed by the LDS. But I am no expert in this (or any) area.

But, to quote CS Lewis in his Cosmic Trilogy (That Hideous Strength), “There are a dozen views for everything until you know the answer. Then there’s never more than one.”

Hear, O Israel Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one. ~Deuteronomy 6:4

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ~Matthew 28:19

This is the scriptural basis for the three in one trinity concept. Because we have salvation in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit we know that they are all God for it says that "God is salvation." And God is one, thus the trinity refers to this reality.

Doveaman said:

Are there alternative explanations of the Trinity other than the one defined by the Nicene Creed?

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I know its a bad way to put it but the best example of how I came to know it is through water.

Water appears in three (3) distinct forms:

1. water
2. steam
3. ice (snow)

Three different forms, but still the same thing.

Trinity=God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

God Bless

Till all are one.

nm

DeaconDean said:

I know its a bad way to put it but the best example of how I came to know it is through water.

Water appears in three (3) distinct forms:

1. water
2. steam
3. ice (snow)

Three different forms, but still the same thing.

Trinity=God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

God Bless

Till all are one.

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That is the error of modalism.

DeaconDean said:

I know its a bad way to put it but the best example of how I came to know it is through water.

Water appears in three (3) distinct forms:

1. water
2. steam
3. ice (snow)

Three different forms, but still the same thing.

Trinity=God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

God Bless

Till all are one.

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No analogy is perfect, because nothing in nature is perfectly like God. The water analogy is as close as any, except that the Father doesn't become the Son, the Son doesn't become the Spirit, and so on. But, except for that caveat it's a decent analogy.

Danielwright2311 said:

Its not opinion sir, its written that Jesus was created before man.

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So, if Jesus was created before man, how could he have been created as a solution to sin?

Danielwright2311 said:

Its not opinion sir, its written that Jesus was created before man.

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Scripture please.

God Bless

Till all are one.

Doveaman said:

Can you provide a few of those scriptures showing that Jesus was created?

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I assume that he is referring to, e.g., Colossians 1:15, but I would suggest that that interpretation conflicts with John 1:1.

Danielwright2311 said:

God created all.

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Of course. God as Father, Son and Spirit created everything.

In the beginning was the Word. All things came into being thru the Son.

The Son was not created. God is all 3.

DeaconDean said:

Scripture please.

God Bless

Till all are one.

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John 6:38-40
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me; and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 1:15
15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.‘ “

John 8:58
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!“

Colossians 1:17
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Hebrews 1:1-2
1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

Danielwright2311 said:

Its not opinion sir, its written that Jesus was created before man.

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Chapter and verse?

Doveaman said:

Are you saying the Nicene Creed is the only correct explanation?
Which one is it?

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Yes. Wiser people than me have hashed this out for centuries. I accept their verdict as to the nature of the Trinity, as they laid it out in the Nicene Creed (without the filioque). If they were wrong, then I am wrong too, but as honestly wrong as I can be.

If a better/truer explanation can be given and explained to me, then I would consider it, but it would have to be quite convincing.

Dave-W said:

Chapter and verse?

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read my last post sir.

Doveaman said:

I'm denying the biblical Trinity.

I am questioning if the Nicene Creed is the only correct explanation.

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There is no need for an explanation of something you deny already. The trinity is substantiated in the word of God. But forget that term altogether. Do you not see for yourself that God is three in one? So whatever people may say about how that works or what that would look like, it is a scriptural doctrine that God is three in one. Move on. What man decides to think about it is extra but as it is, there is NO biblical explanation of God being three in one. It just is. So if the Nicene creed tries to explain it they are essentially going beyond what is written, which we are warned not to do that as humble handlers of the word of God.

Danielwright2311 said:

John 6:38-40
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me; and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 1:15
15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.‘ “

John 8:58
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!“

Colossians 1:17
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Hebrews 1:1-2
1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

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Those verses only prove the Son is God and created all things.