Is the Trinity an essential doctrine?

[5stringJeff]

Greetings,

Just a quick question that I wanted to get other people's take on: Is belief in the Trinitarian nature of God an essential Christian doctrine?

I will post my answer a little later, I just wanted to know what others think.

 

[Philip]

Yes. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity, along with the Incarnation, is one of the two core doctrines of Christianity.

 

[davidoffinland]

From Finland.

The Christian Church officially hammered this out to be a doctrine starting in the 4th CT. There was a high/low christology in the NT depending upon who you read. But the doctrine did not become "official" until the 5th CT.

The history of this doctrine between the Antiochian vs Alexandrain church fathers is fascintating if you like to read this stuff. Lots of stuff on the internet.

Shalom, David.

 

[depthdeception]

Greetings,

Just a quick question that I wanted to get other people's take on: Is belief in the Trinitarian nature of God an essential Christian doctrine?

There is no more essential doctrine to Christian faith than this, except for perhaps the doctrine of the Incarnation which, interestingly enough, is based upon a trinitarian understanding of God. "Trinity" and "Christian" are not merely correlary terms--they are synonymous with one another. Christianity without the Trinity is not Christianity at all.

 

[PaladinValer]

It is, as Philip and depthdeception have pointed out, a vital dogma to believe in.

 

[Blackhawk]

Yes. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity, along with the Incarnation, is one of the two core doctrines of Christianity.

True. The Church Fathers did not seperate the incarnation and the Trinity as we do today. Just like they did not seperate Christology with soteriology. One can say that the Trinity is the base doctrine of Christianity from which all spring out.

 

[depthdeception]

True. The Church Fathers did not seperate the incarnation and the Trinity as we do today. Just like they did not seperate Christology with soteriology. One can say that the Trinity is the base doctrine of Christianity from which all spring out.

Good point.

 

[Philip]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Blackhawk again.

 

[Blackhawk]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Blackhawk again.

Why? If anyone wants to give me some reputation they should. You know they give it to me because I am so smart and also so humble.

Live long and Prosper! Peace out!

 

[JVAC]

Greetings,

Just a quick question that I wanted to get other people's take on: Is belief in the Trinitarian nature of God an essential Christian doctrine?

I will post my answer a little later, I just wanted to know what others think.

The Athanasian Creed states this:

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]And the catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three Eternals, but one Eternal. As there are not three Uncreated nor three Incomprehensibles, but one Uncreated and one Incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Ghost almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord, So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Father is made of none: neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before or after other; none is greater or less than another; But the whole three Persons are coeternal together, and coequal: so that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped. He, therefore, that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.[/font]

...

(emphasis is mine)

-James[/font]

 

[5stringJeff]

Thanks for your replies. I agree that the Trinity is an essential doctrine. It is obvious from the Bible that there is only one God, and it is also obvious that Jesus did things that only God can do - forgiving sins and defying death come to mind. But I'm not so great at verbalizing (or typing) my reasoning.

Jeff

 

[Aningat]

cross-preacher.com

 

[Gisbertus Voetius]

Trinity is reality.
It answers the age old problem of the One and the Many.
If the emphasis is strictly on the One we fall prey to Platonism and monism and pantheism.
If the emphasis is on the many we fall prey to Nihilism and pluralism and panentheism.
Only a proper balance that acknowledges both reveals reality, for God is reality.

 

[Tertius]

This verse about says it all...

I John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 

[5stringJeff]

This verse about says it all...

I John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

E-mail: timothy@gracebeacon.net - Website: http://gracebeacon.net
Visit my site for free online dispensational charts, studies, books and a message board
Romans 16:25 ...the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began...

Except that that verse, according to the study Bibles I've read, was a 16th century addition. There are many other verses in the Bible that attest to the Trinity.

 

[PaladinValer]

That verse is a forgery, unfortunately. It took an Ecumenical Council, not Scripture, to establish the belief as dogma.

And interestingly enough, that verse wasn't in the first editions of the Vulgate. It were was only in later ones. And Erasmus' Greek Text didn't have it in its first two editions, and it was only added in the third through fifth only reluctantly because out of a threat and a trick.

I do not accept it as a part of the Canon.

 

[depthdeception]

That verse is a forgery, unfortunately. It took an Ecumenical Council, not Scripture, to establish the belief as dogma.

And interestingly enough, that verse wasn't in the first editions of the Vulgate. It were was only in later ones. And Erasmus' Greek Text didn't have it in its first two editions, and it was only added in the third through fifth only reluctantly because out of a threat and a trick.

I do not accept it as a part of the Canon.

Agreed.

 

[edie19]

Greetings,

Just a quick question that I wanted to get other people's take on: Is belief in the Trinitarian nature of God an essential Christian doctrine?

I will post my answer a little later, I just wanted to know what others think.

Quick answer - yes.

 

[Blackhawk]

That verse is a forgery, unfortunately. It took an Ecumenical Council, not Scripture, to establish the belief as dogma.

But the participants in the ecumenical councils took what they believed in large part from scripture. Especially the Baptismal formaula found in Matthew. So I do not think it is correct to state that the council did it instead of scripture since the council used scripture as a primary source as to why it was true.

 

[depthdeception]

But the participants in the ecumenical councils took what they believed in large part from scripture. Especially the Baptismal formaula found in Matthew. So I do not think it is correct to state that the council did it instead of scripture since the council used scripture as a primary source as to why it was true.

Of course the council used Scripture as a source. However, if one considers the orthodox definition of the Trinity, one will very quickly realize that such a definition cannot be explicitly found in Scripture. Therefore, it took the council of the bishops of the Church to authoritatively speak on this matter of doctrine (which was what Christ had commissioned them to do) in order to distinguish between false and correct belief. Remember, the definition of the Trinity, Christ's nature, etc. were done just for the heck of it. Rather, these definitions were bourne out of the necessity of preserving the truth faith which had been taught by the apostles from false teaching that, interesting enough, was very much based upon "Scripture."