I.

Introduction

This lecture is a presentation of the Christian concept of the Trinity. Today, many would question the validity of defending any dogma of an ancient religion, much less a dogma that cannot be examined by the scientific method like the nature of God. Our age is full of dogmatic uncertainty and tolerance for all kinds of competing, conflicting ideas. Pluralism is the watchword. Critical thought as applied to religious and philosophical ideas is the victim. Many seek refuge in what can only be proven scientifically. For the bigger questions like the purpose of life, the afterlife, the problem of evil in the world - the issues that bring us to the "why's" of our existence--many don't have a coherent way of deciding what to believe and choose their beliefs with a bewildering variety of justifications. Personal experience is often the authority with all the things that can shape it. Family heritage, supernatural experiences, personal preference all play their parts. But the search for truth is out of fashion, perhaps because it is easy to assume it is an impossible, impractical quest. I want to challenge this and instead state that your thoughts and beliefs about God are the most important thoughts and beliefs you will have in your life. Your beliefs about God or your lack of them shape every area of your life. Your standard of morality is determined by them. Your views of marriage, family, personal relationships and good and evil are determined by your beliefs about God. Your values for what is of worth in this world and what is worthy of your work and sacrifice, and the ethics with which you will conduct your life and career are all determined by your views of God. Christians and Muslims both actively recognize this. Their religions are based on the views of God presented in their holy books. And they realize that this basic issue of faith - what God is like - is of the utmost importance. This article is mainly addressed to those who already realize the importance of right thinking about God. It is mainly addressed to Christians and Muslims, but it is also hoped that those who are uncommitted or committed to another faith will find this lecture of interest and benefit.

The Trinity has always been a controversial concept but it has proved through the ages to be the most consistent and reasonable summary of the Bible's teaching about the nature of God. It has also proven to be the wellspring of all that Christianity offers in Jesus Christ--the full reconciliation between God and man that makes all other reconciliations possible. The Trinity has come up against many criticisms and challenges throughout the centuries. Today I want to address three of the major arguments people have used to try to disprove it.

First, to answer the charge that the Bible doesn't really teach a trinitarian view of God, it will be shown that the concept of the Trinity is a fair and consistent description of the Bible's teaching concerning God's nature. This is important because many try to read the Bible to support a view of God that is unitarian, or monotheistic in an absolute sense, devoid of any mystery, incomprehensibility, or internal distinction. The Bible's view is not this way and the Christian doctrine of the Trinity does present the view of God that is most consistent with the teaching of the Bible.

Second, many have charged that the Trinity is illogical, against common sense and reason. It will be shown that the concept of the Trinity does not violate reason, that it is a logical concept. Many find it difficult to see that Christians are not presenting a view of God that is 1+1+1=1. Christians are not saying this and what they are saying is not illogical.

And third, some charge that the Trinity is blasphemous speculation about the nature of God. It will be shown that the concept of the Trinity is a reverent attempt to describe the nature of God. It is not an irreverent or blasphemous speculation concerning God's secret nature. It is instead a humble attempt to accept and understand what God has revealed about Himself in the Bible. It is a reverent attempt to accept what God has revealed and guard Christian doctrine from the blasphemies of polytheism.

Christians have always recognized that the word "Trinity" is not found in the Bible. It is a known fact that one of it's earliest written uses was circa AD 180 as the word "trias" in the writings of the church father, Theophilus of Antioch. The word did not come into official and widespread usage until the Council of Nicea in AD 325. With these facts, however, it must be recognized that the concept of the Trinity has been present from the beginnings of Christianity itself in the teachings of Jesus Christ and His apostles. That is why I will stress the word "concept" of the Trinity so much in this article. The concept was not carefully elaborated and explained at the beginning but it was implied and consistently stated in Jesus Christ's teaching and in the Apostles' teaching. This is seen especially in the Bible's teaching that Jesus the Messiah is fully God and fully human.

Let us now consider the scriptural basis for the concept of the Trinity.