Beyond Today | Is God a Trinity? (Video Transcript)

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Beyond Today — Is God a Trinity?

Narrator / Host:
More than two billion people claim to be Christian and belong to churches that teach the doctrine of the Trinity.

That’s the idea that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit together form the three-in-one God.

But does it add up.

Have you ever wondered if the teaching agrees with the Bible.

How did the Trinity become an official doctrine anyway.

More importantly, should you believe it.

Believe it or not, your eternal life could be at stake.

Now let me tell you this.

I’m a Christian.

I believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

But I don’t believe in the Trinity.

Today I’ll explain why.

So stay tuned to Beyond Today as we answer the question: Is God a Trinity.

Join our host Steve Myers and his guests as they help you understand your future on Beyond Today.

You may think the whole Christian world professes the Trinity.

But many Christians throughout history have not accepted it.

Let’s think about that.

Do you know when the New Testament was written.

If you thought about it, you’d probably say it was in the first century.

And you’d be right.

Now when did the teachings that led to the development of the Trinity begin.

You might think the Old Testament.

No.

Then you might think it must be the New Testament.

It actually began at a Catholic church council meeting in the city of Nicaea.

That’s what led to the development of the Trinity doctrine.

That wasn’t just 50 years after the New Testament.

Not 100 years.

Not even 150 years later.

It was actually in 325 A.D.

That’s more than two centuries after the completion of the Bible.

A statement of belief accredited to that council established the first official definition of God and Christ according to the New Catholic Encyclopedia.

But there’s a problem.

The Trinity doctrine is hopelessly flawed and unbiblical.

Why was it necessary to try to define God and Jesus Christ centuries after the Bible was completed.

Do you think the Bible was hazy on the concept of the Father and Jesus.

No, it’s not.

There’s no doubt that both God the Father and His Son Jesus are eternal.

So let’s notice a bit of history for just a moment.

The original apostles had long been martyred.

To avoid being fed to the lions, Christians went underground for much of that time.

The Roman Empire was declining.

Christianity was splintered and broken.

With that background, Roman Emperor Constantine ordered, led, and in the end approved what developed into the formula of three persons in one being.

That’s the basis of the Trinity doctrine.

Why.

Because factions of Christianity couldn’t agree.

It had become so hostile that it erupted into disunity in his empire.

In spite of the fact that Constantine didn’t even believe in the Trinity, it became part of his political campaign.

His goal was to unite the factions under one state religion in order to strengthen his empire.

Few dispute the facts.

There’s no evidence to pretend Constantine was a holy man led by God.

That just is not true.

It was only four years before Nicaea that Constantine declared Sunday an empire-wide day of rest in honor of the sun god.

That’s certainly not Christian.

So he wasn’t seeking religious truth.

He wanted to be sure religion wouldn’t divide his empire.

The reasons are plentiful to believe he formed the Nicene Council strictly for political purposes.

Imagine if that happened today.

That would be like the President of the United States inviting representatives from all Christian denominations.

Next, he would hold a conference to mix together their different beliefs.

Then he would tell them to come up with a consensus and work out the differences.

Then they would be told to form a unified church.

A single religion for the entire country.

And it would be sanctioned and led by a political leader, not a religious leader.

That’s about what it was like.

So what actually happened.

Just like in politics, the views of the majority were accepted and implemented.

Constantine got what he wanted.

A more unified empire.

But not true biblical teaching.

In the big debate, definitions of God and Christ were won by the majority.

They won the argument.

So what happened to the losing belief.

It was criticized.

It was condemned.

It was denounced as heresy.

It was labeled unorthodox.

What if spiritual teachings were decided like that today.

Can you imagine if your beliefs had to be approved by the majority.

How would that change Bible teachings.

Would a majority today say it’s wrong to look at a woman with lust.

Would a majority approve biblical marriage or condemn adultery.

What if it were put up for a vote.

How many commandments would we have.

Seven.

Maybe three.

That is certainly not the best way to determine biblical truth.

Let alone define the nature of God.

Even the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “In order to articulate the dogma of the Trinity, the Church had to develop her own terminology with the help of certain notions of philosophical origin.”

By the end of the fourth century and other councils, the Trinity had essentially taken the form it has today.

Three persons in one God.

But this wasn’t the New Testament Church’s teaching.

Notice this quote.

“The doctrine of the Trinity is not a product of the earliest Christian period.”

So it becomes clear.

The doctrine of the Trinity is a man-made idea.

It’s a compromise of religious ideas.

Now before you change the channel, let me say again.

The Bible portrays God the Father and Jesus Christ as eternal members of the Godhead.

But let me challenge you.

Biblical scholars are aware of the problems and history of the three-in-one Trinity.

Two theology professors wrote, “Nowhere is it clearly and unequivocally stated in Scripture.”

“How can it be so important if it’s not explicitly stated in Scripture.”

The doctrine of the Trinity developed gradually after the completion of the New Testament.

The Trinitarian dogma was invented hundreds of years after Christ.

With the approval of the Pope, debate was no longer tolerated.

To speak against the Trinity was blasphemy.

If you did, you could be sentenced to mutilation or even death.

People turned on each other.

Thousands were maimed and slaughtered over differences of opinion.

But even that didn’t stop the controversy.

And the controversy continues today.

Exactly how could God be the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, supposedly existing as three distinct but equal persons.

The late New York Archbishop Cardinal John O’Connor said he did not begin to understand the Trinity.

But should it be that way.

Does it matter if you can’t understand God.

Absolutely.

It impacts your eternal life.

The Trinity is a core teaching of mainstream Christianity.

But the program argues it obstructs your understanding and relationship with the Father and Jesus Christ.

A Christian website asked, “Can you become a Christian if you deny the Trinity.”

It answered, “No.”

“If you don’t believe in the Trinity, then you don’t understand who God is.”

“Second, you couldn’t possibly understand who Christ is.”

“To deny the Trinity is to wrongly understand the true gospel.”

By that standard, the program argues Cardinal O’Connor would not be a Christian.

Even more shocking, it claims Jesus Himself would not be considered a Christian under that standard.

The program cites Jesus’ statement that true worshipers worship the Father in spirit and truth.

It argues Jesus did not say to worship a triune God.

The program cites Jesus’ statement, “My Father is greater than I.”

It argues that contradicts the idea of co-equality.

It asks how a person can know the true God if the Trinity is a mystery that must be accepted but cannot be understood.

It says understanding God is essential.

It cites Jesus’ statement: “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”

The program says there is much more to say about the subject than can be covered in one episode.

It urges viewers to request a free study aid titled Is God a Trinity?

It says the guide explains the origins of the Trinity doctrine.

It also says the guide addresses how God and Jesus Christ are one.

And it asks what exactly the Holy Spirit is.

The program again argues Constantine orchestrated the Trinity doctrine to unite the Roman Empire.

It cites the Illustrated Bible Dictionary as admitting the doctrine is not biblical in the sense that any formulation can be found in Scripture.

It claims a council of men concocted it and came to consensus.

It argues that those who follow biblical teachings are branded heretics.

It says teachers of the Trinity ignore critical information.

It claims paganism influenced Christianity.

It quotes a book introduction saying Christianity was corrupted by paganism.

It argues that the Church of Rome changed early Christianity into the dogma of the Trinity.

It claims ancient Egyptian ideas and Plato’s philosophy influenced the doctrine.

It cites historian Edward Gibbon as connecting Plato to later Trinitarian teaching.

It argues the Trinity owes more to Greek philosophy than to the Bible.

It cites Paul’s warning against hollow and deceptive philosophy based on human tradition.

It asks viewers whether their church teaches deceptive ideas.

It argues the Trinity is impossible to understand.

It claims pastors, ministers, and priests admit it cannot be comprehended.

It argues that if theologians say it is beyond human understanding, they cannot know they have it correct.

It says God desires a relationship with people and wants them to know Him.

It cites a passage describing God practicing lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness.

It again cites Christianity.com saying denial of the Trinity means someone is not Christian.

It claims that same source admits no one fully understands it.

It describes the Trinity as a mystery and paradox.

It quotes a saying: “If you try to explain the Trinity you will lose your mind.”

It argues the Trinity is confusing.

It cites the statement that God is not the author of confusion.

It cites Paul’s prayer for wisdom and revelation to know God intimately.

The program argues another issue undermines the Trinity.

It asks why Peter, Paul, or Jesus did not mention the Holy Spirit as a divine third person.

It notes Paul’s greetings in his letters consistently mention God the Father and Jesus Christ.

It claims Paul never includes the Holy Spirit as a separate being or person.

It argues that if God were a Trinity, Paul would have taught it.

It calls the omission significant.

It says Peter does the same in his greetings.

It says neither explains the Trinity.

It argues they followed Jesus.

It claims Jesus never spoke of the Holy Spirit as a divine third person.

It says Jesus repeatedly spoke of the relationship between Himself and the Father.

It cites: “Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

It warns against false philosophies.

It urges viewers to seek “authentic Christianity.”

It says the Trinity is widely accepted but not scriptural.

It again urges viewers to order the free guide Is God a Trinity?

It offers a toll-free number and website.

It says those who order will also receive a free subscription to The Good News magazine.

It then introduces fellow hosts Darris McNeely and Gary Petty.

Darris McNeely:
One passage Trinitarians often use is Deuteronomy 6:4.

It says, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

They use it to point toward a triune God.

But I thought it might be helpful to discuss why this does not support the Trinity.

And what it really means.

Gary Petty (or Co-host):
The word in that verse is a Hebrew word that does mean one.

But it can mean one in terms of a grouping.

Such as a team, an organization, or a family.

It can mean the number one in another context.

But here it points to something else.

If you limit it to one being, you’re reading into the verse what the word does not say.

This is a problem even in the Jewish faith.

They have limited it to one being in efforts to deal with the plurality of God.

That plurality is at the heart of the confusion.

And at the heart of how the Trinity teaching came to be.

But when you take the Scriptures in context, you understand it includes more than one.

It argues there are two beings in the family of God.

Understanding the family concept opens understanding of what God is doing.

It argues God is bringing many members into that family.

Darris McNeely:
Jesus helps explain the relationship in John.

He prays and says the Father and I are one.

But He is talking about relationship.

He does not say, “I am the Father.”

He is praying to Him.

He does not say, “The Father is me.”

But He says, “We are one.”

He then asks that disciples come into a relationship of oneness like theirs.

That shows oneness is relational.

It is in the spirit world.

It is more profound than human relationships.

It is a relationship between the Father and Jesus Christ.

Christ also said: “This is eternal life that they may know You the one true God and Jesus Christ whom You sent.”

That verse, the program argues, contains the full picture.

So it emphasizes unity between Father and Son.

It says believers are included in that unity.

It argues the oneness suggests a grouping.

A congregation.

A church.

A family.

It says family defines what God is about.

Gary Petty (or Co-host):
The Trinity teaching is described as a closed system.

It does not allow entry.

It is a closed triune Godhead.

The program says salvation is described in Scripture as bringing many sons to glory.

It argues the Trinity teaching undermines that family concept.

It says Paul speaks of receiving the Holy Spirit.

It says God pours out Himself as Spirit into human beings.

It calls it the spirit of love, power, and a sound mind.

It argues the Spirit is God’s power, love, and mind.

It says understanding family helps understand God’s plan.

The hosts again promote the free guide and magazine.

They invite viewers to join bi-weekly Bible studies.

They also invite viewers to find a Sabbath-keeping congregation.

Steve Myers:
I hope you’ve come to see the Trinity is a counterfeit that hinders your relationship with the Father and Jesus Christ.

If not, don’t you owe it to yourself to look into the questions surrounding the Trinity.

It is God’s will for you to understand Him and know Him.

May God bless you as you seek the truth.

Thanks for joining us today.

Don’t forget our free offers.

Be sure to tell your family and friends.

Tune in again next week for another edition of Beyond Today.

Join us in praying, “Thy Kingdom come.”

For Beyond Today, I’m Steve Myers.

Thanks for watching.

For the free literature offered on today’s program, go online to BeyondToday.tv.

Please join us again next week on Beyond Today.