Is worshipping the Trinity worshipping three gods?

joshua 1 9 said:

Just where do we find triune or trinity in the Bible? We need to be careful not to add words that are not in our Bible.

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The Father is God. The Son is God. The Holy Spirit is God. There is only One God.

All of that is straight from the Bible.

Do you think some other word (not Trinity) would say it better?

Neostarwcc said:

Why is the worship of the father son and holy spirit not polytheism? Clearly we worship three Gods because we call the triune God three separate persons which anybody can see is the worship of three Gods. True we add three persons in one God but not a single Christian can explain just how that works. Instead we just say that's a mystery of God.

I'm not saying that I will stop believing in the Triune God. I'm just asking for an explanation as to how I'm not worshipping three separate Gods. Especially when we say that God is three separate persons. It just does not make sense when you examine it.

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Does the Trinity Make Sense | Stand to Reason

The Trinity: A Solution, Not a Problem Part 1 | Stand to Reason

The Trinity: A Solution, Not a Problem Part 2 | Stand to Reason

Neostarwcc said:

So this is a serious question. I am by all definitions a Christian and I've been a Christian for the last seven years almost now. I do worship the Triune God on a daily basis but my question is "is this worship polytheistic?"

We Christian's keep saying that God is one God in three distinct persons we also quote Genesis 1:26 in our defense of the trinity because God says "let us create mankind in our image" if God were not at least two persons in one God why would he say "let us create mankind in our image?" There are also other parts of the Old Testament that refers to God's spirit as a separate and distinct God (Ezekiel 36:26-27, Zekeriah 4:6). So one could argue that God at least two in one. But what about the numerous verses in the Old testament that say that God is one?

Why is the worship of the father son and holy spirit not polytheism? Clearly we worship three Gods because we call the triune God three separate persons which anybody can see is the worship of three Gods. True we add three persons in one God but not a single Christian can explain just how that works. Instead we just say that's a mystery of God.

I'm not saying that I will stop believing in the Triune God. I'm just asking for an explanation as to how I'm not worshipping three separate Gods. Especially when we say that God is three separate persons. It just does not make sense when you examine it.

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Maybe you can think of the trinity like three different shaped glasses of water. The water is the same in all the glasses yet are formed differently after each glass. You can drink from either one and you get water. Does this make sense?

Neostarwcc said:

So this is a serious question. I am by all definitions a Christian and I've been a Christian for the last seven years almost now. I do worship the Triune God on a daily basis but my question is "is this worship polytheistic?"

We Christian's keep saying that God is one God in three distinct persons we also quote Genesis 1:26 in our defense of the trinity because God says "let us create mankind in our image" if God were not at least two persons in one God why would he say "let us create mankind in our image?" There are also other parts of the Old Testament that refers to God's spirit as a separate and distinct God (Ezekiel 36:26-27, Zekeriah 4:6). So one could argue that God at least two in one. But what about the numerous verses in the Old testament that say that God is one?

Why is the worship of the father son and holy spirit not polytheism? Clearly we worship three Gods because we call the triune God three separate persons which anybody can see is the worship of three Gods. True we add three persons in one God but not a single Christian can explain just how that works. Instead we just say that's a mystery of God.

I'm not saying that I will stop believing in the Triune God. I'm just asking for an explanation as to how I'm not worshipping three separate Gods. Especially when we say that God is three separate persons. It just does not make sense when you examine it.

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While no picture can capture who God is, and or to truly describe Him, to understand the concept of how the Trinity works, think of it sort of like this...



They are three, and yet, they are connected together as one.

believe its God in main sense (the Father) God in the earthy sense ( the Son [the Word of God made flesh]) and God in the spiritual sense (Holy Spirit) this is God the one the only the Most High [I QUOTE="Neostarwcc, post: 74222354, member: 383061"]So this is a serious question. I am by all definitions a Christian and I've been a Christian for the last seven years almost now. I do worship the Triune God on a daily basis but my question is "is this worship polytheistic?"

We Christian's keep saying that God is one God in three distinct persons we also quote Genesis 1:26 in our defense of the trinity because God says "let us create mankind in our image" if God were not at least two persons in one God why would he say "let us create mankind in our image?" There are also other parts of the Old Testament that refers to God's spirit as a separate and distinct God (Ezekiel 36:26-27, Zekeriah 4:6). So one could argue that God at least two in one. But what about the numerous verses in the Old testament that say that God is one?

Why is the worship of the father son and holy spirit not polytheism? Clearly we worship three Gods because we call the triune God three separate persons which anybody can see is the worship of three Gods. True we add three persons in one God but not a single Christian can explain just how that works. Instead we just say that's a mystery of God.

I'm not saying that I will stop believing in the Triune God. I'm just asking for an explanation as to how I'm not worshipping three separate Gods. Especially when we say that God is three separate persons. It just does not make sense when you examine it.[/QUOTE]

John 14:9 so we know Christ and God are 1

2 Corinthians 3:3 Holy Spirit and God are 1

Thus it is the ONE and ONLY TRUE God

Perhaps you are putting too much of a worldly view on the Spirit that is God and that we in our current state would be foolish to think we can have full understanding of God for His thoughts are above ours


QUOTE="Neostarwcc, post: 74225356, member: 383061"][/QUOTE]

But its commonly taught that the whole trinity each played a role in creation. So if God the Father is God in the main sense than why did Gods spirit form mankind and Jesus spoke the words of creation and talked to Moses and all of the OT prophets ...etc? Also when Isaiah saw God and visions of God he saw one God. Its commonly taught that Isiaiah saw Christ and Christ in his glory but... him idk. K guess I just can accept that it's a mystery and that there's no explaining how God can be three separate persons yet remain one God.[/QUOTE]

joshua 1 9 said:

Just where do we find triune or trinity in the Bible? We need to be careful not to add words that are not in our Bible. It is enough to understand the word of God without adding words that are not there. We need to study the word of God and not worry so much about what man teaches. The Holy Spirit of God is to be our Teacher and our Guide.

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The word Bible isn't on the Bible.

David Cabrera said:

The word Bible isn't on the Bible.

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In Greek the word is Biblia translated books. John 21:25 "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." The word comes from the Phoenician city of Byblos.

Albion said:

Do you think some other word (not Trinity) would say it better?

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Trinity is misleading because we are told that God is one. The whole purpose of this tread was to deal with the confusion caused by the word trinity. Three in Hebrew is represented by the letter Gimmel which is the symbol of the foot. Then means to run and return. This is like the camel on their trade route. The camel did not return home empty. They traded back and forth and the camel carried a load in both directions.

We should use the word singularity. Because we are told that God is one. This is why we are to pray: "They Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as in Heaven". God's plan is for Heaven and Earth to be united as one.

joshua 1 9 said:

We should use the word singularity. Because we are told that God is one. This is why we are to pray: "They Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as in Heaven". God's plan is for Heaven and Earth to be united as one.

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Wouldn't that deny that Christ and the Holy Spirit are God? If so, that would be in clear disagreement with Scripture. Or do you want to say that they are simply other manifestations of the Father or different names for him?

Neostarwcc said:

I mean I'll believe in the Trinity until I die but just how the trinity can be true I just have no clue.

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This seems to be an unwise way to live. Why hold as truth, a doctrine still death, that you have no clue about.

It is important to know in whom we believe lest they be accounted with those building alters to "the Unknown God" as some did in the NT.

Albion said:

Wouldn't that deny that Christ and the Holy Spirit are God?

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Just the opposite. IN the Hebrew we are told that Yehweh (Jesus) and Elohim (God) are one. The first letter is YOD the smallest letter. Just like before the big bang you had the big crunch or what they call a contraction. Also they talk about "run and return". God made male and female, so that they could be united together and become one. In the same way we are co heirs with Christ. We will rule and reign with Him as we become one with Him. This is why we are to have the Mind of Christ and think the Divine thoughts of God. As God is to become one with Israel, the Gentiles or Church are to become one with Jesus. He was sent to redeem us.

joshua 1 9 said:

Just the opposite. IN the Hebrew we are told that Yehweh (Jesus) and Elohim (God) are one.

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Meaning that Jesus is God, not that he is the Father.

Anyway, you said you thought Singularity was a better term than Trinity, but we are all, as Christians, monotheists, so that word wouldn't describe anything about the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Neostarwcc said:

So this is a serious question. I am by all definitions a Christian and I've been a Christian for the last seven years almost now. I do worship the Triune God on a daily basis but my question is "is this worship polytheistic?"

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Here are some reasons to delight in the Trinity (I can elaborate more if you'd like me to):

1) It's what the Bible teaches and particularly how the New Testament Jews (monotheists) expressed the reality of God that had been revealed with the coming of the Son. Take a look at John 14-17, Titus 3:3-7, and Romans 6-8 just to scratch the surface this isn't something that was made up just to be difficult, it is the only way to account for the data. Note that the Father, Son and Spirit are all distinct from one another, all share attributes, all exist in close relationship, all have distinct functions in the life of the church and each believer, creation, and redemption.

2) It makes sense of God's essential quality being "agape" (1 John 4:8 "God IS agape"). Agape love requires at least two people since it is defined as benevolent (other-benefiting) love. You can't "agape" alone. The Father can't have always been the Father if the Son hasn't always been the Son. Jesus can't return to the glory he had WITH the Father, if he hadn't been with and distinct from the Father.

3) It makes sense of the Christian life as participation in the life of God. The Father sent the Son, the Father and Son sent the Spirit in order to bring us into the relationship (family) they have always enjoyed together. Read Ephesians 1:3-14 for more on that. 2 Peter 1:1-4 is helpful too: we are participants in the divine nature. We are "in" one of the Members of the Trinity (the Son - see Romans 6) and we have one of the Members "in" us (the Spirit - see Romans 8, and John 14).

4) It makes sense of Jesus's extreme self-knowledge and Yahweh-only actions : receiving worship, forgiving sins (Psalm 51:4, walking on water (see Job 9), calming the storm (see Psalm 65: 5-7), having all authority and judgement (John and Matthew 28:19

5) Jesus's parity with the Angel of Yahweh in the Old Testament(who also blesses, receives worship, doesn't give his name, is with but distinct from Yahweh, has Yahweh's Name which no one else can have, etc., see John 10, Jesus is not comparing himself to human rulers but to Spirit beings in Psalm 82. The author of Hebrews picks up on this: Jesus is way above angels.)

6) Makes sense of the New Covenant in which God forgives sins and writes His law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34 and again in Hebrews 8-11, also Joel 2:28-29 quoted in Acts 2. See also Romans 8 for how the Spirit enables us to keep God's righteous legal requirements).

7) Makes sense of baptism in the NAME (singular) of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20) and the disciples constant use of those three names as distinct but unified. There's a constant and simultaneous blurring yet distinction on the three persons (the Father and Son and in Acts, the Son and the Holy Spirit.)

8) It makes sense of both the Father and Son's insistence that while the Father is the "focus" person (the one who initiatives relationship with us) the Son provides the means of the relationship. "If you have the Son you have the Father too, if you don't have the Son you don't have the Father (John 14, John 15:9). The Father delights in the Son, if you delight in the Son then you've properly evaluated Him and the Father loves you because He loves the Son.

9) It makes sense of Creation: All things were made by the Son and for the Son (Colossians 1:16). Creation is a gift of love from the Father to the Son, cooperatively created by the three-persons. As such, the universe has loving relationship, not power, as its core. That's really good news.

That's just the tip of the iceberg. Sadly most Christians are not taught the "why" of the Magnificent Three, let alone the "what". I hope that gives some helpful things to ponder.

Grace and Peace.

There is a Jewish prayer that goes like "Sh'ma Yisra'el, YHWH 'eloheinu, YHWH 'eḥad." --"Hear, O Israel: the LORD is our God, the LORD is One... This is the bases of one God. But in reference to Genesis, God used the phrase "our(shelanu) image." Thus signifying a unity
When God created man, the scripture says "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." then in the progressive chapter, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." The term 'one' use in the phrase they shall be one flesh is the same used in the shema prayer i.e. 'ehad. it is also the term used in the psalm 133 indicative the oneness of brethren. This oneness is not necessary indicative of mathematical one but it a unified; whole.
In place of 'ehad, Jesus used the Hellenic term 'hen' instead of mono when he said "my Father and I are one." One in regard to God isn't indicative of the number line one but a union. Thus, Paul wrote that Christ is the Godhead dwelling bodily... that is to say the oneness of God is expressed in the person Christ who is the whole person of God. And not distinct characters. See for instant the term El shaddai has feminine inclination as compared to the term Adonai. The whole of creation especially as expressed through mankind manifest the distinct nature of God expressed as one: as said, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
I am not saying that we have a male and female god like the pagan do, but 'ehad is a holy characteristic beyond our comprehension you can imagine why he never gave a specific name of himself to Moses but only said I Am.
We cannot battle with the oneness of God or how many characters are involved but remember we are not God but we are part of God in that we represent him in the earth. Se what Paul said Ephesians 4:3–6 (KJV 1900): 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. I believe from the above scripture written by Paul reveals the oneness of God.

Neostarwcc said:

So this is a serious question. I am by all definitions a Christian and I've been a Christian for the last seven years almost now. I do worship the Triune God on a daily basis but my question is "is this worship polytheistic?"

We Christian's keep saying that God is one God in three distinct persons we also quote Genesis 1:26 in our defense of the trinity because God says "let us create mankind in our image" if God were not at least two persons in one God why would he say "let us create mankind in our image?" There are also other parts of the Old Testament that refers to God's spirit as a separate and distinct God (Ezekiel 36:26-27, Zekeriah 4:6). So one could argue that God at least two in one. But what about the numerous verses in the Old testament that say that God is one?

Why is the worship of the father son and holy spirit not polytheism? Clearly we worship three Gods because we call the triune God three separate persons which anybody can see is the worship of three Gods. True we add three persons in one God but not a single Christian can explain just how that works. Instead we just say that's a mystery of God.

I'm not saying that I will stop believing in the Triune God. I'm just asking for an explanation as to how I'm not worshipping three separate Gods. Especially when we say that God is three separate persons. It just does not make sense when you examine it.

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Some make it seem like we are worshiping three Gods. So, I get your question. However, without entering into long debates, this is how I see it. Speaking of God, the Bible says "He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16)." Therefore, if He approached us we would be repelled. Conversely, we can't approach Him because of the immensity of the Light. Therefore, in order for God to begin to have a relationship with us, He revealed Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three different roles, but one God. Kind of like a man being a father, son, and a husband. Grace and Peace.