Post by Admin on Sept 13, 2021 11:01:53 GMT -5
This question was asked on another forum: If Trinitarianism is a biblical truth, then how come it has never been taught in Orthodox Judaism?
For the same reason that no-one prior to Pentecost understood the Trinity. Revelation has always been progressive, and it is never until God gives understanding of the revelation that we can actually incorporate that into how we understand any particular passage of Scripture and it's particular context. A good example of this is seen in the understanding of the disciples of Christ prior to Pentecost. The revelation available to them did indeed have numerous prophecies which, unless we keep revelation in context, would make us wonder why it is we see such ignorance on their parts concerning Christ. I mean, hadn't they ever read Isaiah 53 for example?
The key to placing this particular issue in its proper context is understanding that the Mystery of Christ had not been revealed to them and would not be until the Spirit of God came in the particular ministry of Comforter. Which brings us back to the question you asked. The Trinity is not found in an explicit teachings, however, many doctrines rely on implicit teaching. I will give one example of the Trinity implicitly taught by none other than Christ Himself:
John 14:15-23 KJV
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
I would first point out that Christ is the Comforter contrasted to the Comforter that will come. He was meant to be for the consolation of Israel. The promise given here is that while Christ stated He had to depart (John 16:7), another Comforter would come and He, not it, would be with them (the disciples) forever. Remember their hearts were sorrowful because of His departure.
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Here we see the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, was already with them (the Spirit of God has always ministered in and through men, and had empowered them for ministries such as Prophet, Priest, King, and Warrior (known as the Filling of the Spirit of God)), but would, at a future time...be in them.
Now we see that not only will the Comforter come to be in them forever, but...
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
...Christ, the Son of the Living God would also come to them.
So far we see the Son and the Spirit, Both coming to the disciples.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
"At that day," or in other words, in the future, the disciples would know (and this is the understanding that God would give them when the Mystery of Christ is revealed) that Jesus Christ is in (not with, though that is true as well) the Father, and the disciples in He (Jesus Christ), and Jesus Christ in the disciples.
I would ask you to consider at this point the state of the disciples at this time, just after the "last supper." Were the disciples in Christ at this time? No. This is precisely what Christ is stating will take place when the Comforter comes. And...when He comes.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Here we see that the Father is also said to be coming to abide in the disciples.
Now the question we ask is what does Scripture teach? Does it teach we are indwelt by the Father, Son, and Holy ghost...
...or not?
This teaching clearly sets forth the Eternal Indwelling of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The reason we can be indwelt by all Three is because God is One. One mistake people often make is failing to distinguish the Eternal Nature of the Son of God as opposed to the Christ having a beginning in time. That is...when God created the Body He would take up residence in for the purpose of Eternal Redemption, that He might reconcile Man unto Himself.
I will leave it at that and open this up for critique, but also wanted to answer one more question posed in this thread:
If Christ is part of a Trinity, then that would make him also The Holy Spirit. Is that correct?
If that being so, then how should a person understand this scripture?
Matthew 12:32
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
It wouldn't be a "trinity" if They were one and the same. In other words, we see a distinction made between The Son, and The Spirit throughout the New Testament. The Son did not descend upon Himself when He was baptized, nor was He the Father in Heaven that spoke.
As to this Scripture, it should be easy enough for us to understand: it is the Spirit of God that ministers in the hearts of men, and always has been. This is why we hear of those who "did despite unto the Spirit." Here is an example:
Acts 7:51
King James Version
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
The "age" in view in Matthew 12:32 is the Age of Law, that is the Age Jesus Christ the Son of God ministered in. He came to redeem men from that Age, to redeem them from...the (Covenant) of Law. The Age to come is the Age we are currently in, sometimes called the Age of Grace. The reason why men could be forgiven for speaking against Christ in the Age of Law is very simple: they were not held accountable for Revelation that had not yet been provided to them. That revelation is the Mystery of the Gospel. They did not understand Who Christ was because God had not given them understanding of the Gospel. The "Gospel" that the disciples were sent out to preach was the Gospel of the Kingdom, which was based upon the Revelation they were held accountable for. This is why Peter tried, with violence, to keep Christ from going to the Cross. This is why Peter denied the very Gospel of Christ (Matthew 16:20-23).
And the reason why men would not be forgiven their rejection of the Holy Spirit is because that is God Himself revealing truth directly to the hearts of men. If you reject the One Who is trying to save you...there is no more forgiveness to be found. That is the meaning behind this text:
Hebrews 10:26-29 KJV
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
The reason there is no more sacrifice for sin is that...
...only the Sacrifice of Christ can bring about Eternal Redemption (Hebrews 9:12).
Those who rejected God's will in the Old Testament (the Law, remember this Book is specific to the Hebrew People) died physically as a result of their sin in rejecting God's will. They are contrasted with those in this Age who reject...
1. Jesus Christ the Son of God;
2. His Death;
3. The New Covenant (by implication);
4. The Comforter, the Spirit of Grace, He that is revealing the Gospel of Christ to the hearts of men in this Age (John 167:7-9).
Both parties are those who reject God's will, not Christians losing Eternal Redemption. If it can be lost....it isn't eternal, and one thing we can be assured of is that God has said in His Word is that Salvation and Redemption are Eternal.
This is why Christ teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, unlike the One departing...would be with them forever.
God bless.