“Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ” (1 John 4:1 NIV) Is the Trinity in James?
Is the Trinity in James? James’ short general letter to early Christians doesn’t have a plethora of references to God, Jesus, and the holy Spirit, but what it does have is more than enough to figure out whether the Trinity doctrine is in the book of James. First of all, notice who James is a servant of:
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1 NIV). We immediately notice that “God” is identified as being someone other than “the Lord Jesus Christ”. James identifies himself as serving two distinct personages, namely Almighty God and Jesus Christ. These two are not mysteriously merged together, as Trinitarians assert. Their distinctive separateness is maintained. Notable by absence are references to the Trinity and the holy Spirit. If these are real, why isn’t James serving them?—Perhaps because the Trinity is fictional. He’s not serving the holy Spirit because it is not a person, even though it is real. “The holy Spirit” is called “it” at John 1:32 (ESV); 14:17 (NAB, REB), Acts 2:33; 8:16; 11:15 NAB, and Romans 8:16,26,27 (NAB; REB). Persons are not called “it”. The holy Spirit is God’s “power” (Acts 1:8), not a person.read more
Is the Trinity doctrine in the book of Colossians? Let’s examine all the verses in this Bible book where God and Jesus are mentioned in relation to each other. Also. let’s look for any references to the holy Spirit, which is said to be the third person of the Trinity. Then, let’s see whether what Bible says agrees with Trinitarianism, or proves it to be false. Notice all the references in this letter to the superior position of Almighty God toward his Son, Jesus Christ, and the subordinate position of Jesus Christ in relation to his heavenly Father.read more
2 Peter—Is Jesus Christ Almighty God, or Part of a Trinity?
Trinitarian bias has influenced translators to render the first verse of the letter of 2 Peter in a way that makes it appear as though Jesus is Almighty God. For example,
“by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1ESV). read more
“There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all”—1 Timothy 2:5,6 NIV
“Mediator. One who represents God to humans and humans to God–and who removes all alienation between them by offering himself as a ransom for ‘all'”—NIV Study Bible footnote on 1 Timothy 2:5
The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the mediator BETWEEN God and mankind.
“GOD-MAN” MEDIATOR CLAIMS
Trinitarians claim that Jesus is God, and their “God-man” also. How do they explain this apparent contradiction?
They claim that only Jesus could be the mediator because he is the “God-man”, that is, he’s “fully god, fully man”, they claim”, thus being part and parcel of both parties he represents.
Jesus is the Mediator between God and mankind. Yet, Trinitarians claim Jesus is also God, and call him “God-man.”Trinitarians say: “Jesus MUST be God in order to be our mediator.”
That is the crux of their argument. Since there is nothing in the scriptures to support such an idea, Trinitarians resort to equivocation by changing the meaning of “mediator”, since Jesus being the mediator BETWEEN humans and God (1 Timothy 2:5) presents a huge problem for their Trinity doctrine. (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).
Trinitarians ask: “If he did not share God’s nature, how could he bring us to God and God to us?”
“GOD-MAN” MEDIATOR CONCEPT IS SELF-DEFEATING
And the Biblical answer is…
“Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. THAT IS WHY HE IS THE ONE WHO MEDIATES a new covenant between God and people” (Hebrews 9:14,15 NLT).read more
Are God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit a Trinity in 2 Thessalonians?
In the Bible book of 2 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul speaks of God, Jesus Christ, and the holy Spirit. If Paul and/or the early Christians believed Jesus is God or part of a Trinity, we should be able to find evidence of this in the New Testament letters. But is this the case in 2 Thessalonians? Is the Trinity in 2 Thessalonians? Let’s examine some of the pertinent verses to find out.
Paul speaks of both God, Jesus, and the holy Spirit in 2 Thessalonians. But does he believe God is a Trinity?
We’re going to take a look at the relationship between God and Jesus in this short article about the Bible book of 2 John. Is there any indication that Jesus is God, or is equal to God? What about the holy Spirit? Is it mentioned in this letter? Are God and Jesus the same person, or are they two separate and distinct individuals? Is the Trinity in the letter of 2 John? Let’s find out.
“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son.” (2 John 1:3) Notice the conjunction “and” separates “God the Father” and “the Father’s Son”. Obviously, they are separate and distinct, with Jesus identified, not as “God the Son,” an expression that occurs nowhere in the Bible, but as “the Father’s Son.” We also notice that greetings do not come from the holy Spirit, which is very unusual if it is a person. Many other Scriptures indicate that “the Spirit of God” (Matthew 12:28) is a real force (Luke 1:17; Acts 1:8), but not a person (Luke 12:12: Matthew 10:20).
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist” (2 John 1:7 LSB; NASB). Only Jesus came in the flesh, not God the Father. Trinitarians claim that Jesus came as a “God-man”. However,
This article is part of our series about what is stated concerning God, Jesus and the holy Spirit, and whether they together comprise a Trinity, in the various books of the New Testament. We will examine the four chapter book of Philippians. Notice the distinctive relationship between God and Jesus throughout this book of Philippians, especially the superior role of God compared to Jesus. What does it say about the holy Spirit? Is the Trinity in Philippians?
Is the Trinity found in Philippians? The superior role of God compared to Jesus is evident from the Bible book of Philippians
“To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi.” (Philippians 1:1) Notice they are God’s, not Christ’s, holy people. God is always the one in control, and is using Christ to gather his people, which shows his superiority over Christ, and eliminates the equality aspect of the Trinity doctrine (John 14:28).
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ . . . God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:2,8) God and Jesus are presented as separate and distinct, not of the same “being”, “substance”, or “essence”. The holy Spirit, since it is not a person, does not give greetings. Neither does the Trinity, since it doesn’t exist.
“Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:11) Fruitage from God flows through Jesus and brings glory and praise to God. God is presented is someone other than Jesus, and superior to Jesus (John 14:28), which doesn’t support the Trinity doctrine.
“Participation in the Spirit” (Philippians 2:1 ESV). Since some versions render this as “fellowship of the Spirit”, Trinitarians have claimed this means the holy Spirit is a person. However, the rendering “participation in the Spirit” is more accurate. We can’t participate in a person. But we can “have a share in his Spirit” (1 John 4:13 NJB). All this gives evidence that the holy Spirit isn’t a person. Without the holy Spirit being a person, the Trinity doctrine collapses.
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped.” (Philippians 2:6 LSB; NASB).
“Who, although he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness, and found human in appearance”—Philippians 2:6,7 NAB
If Jesus was God, it would make no sense to say that he was in the form of God. Thus, being,”in the form of God”, means that Jesus is not God!
“What the man Jesus refused to grasp at to attain divinity . . . Jesus, though . . . in the form of God (Gn 1:26-27) did not reach out for equality with God, in contrast with the first Adam in Gn 3:5-6”—NAB note
“Ureil ben-Mordechai[1] points out that the Greek negative in this verse (ouk) is not attached to the verb (hegesato) but rather to the noun harpagmon. That means the reading of this verse should be “counted not something to be grasped,” instead of “not counted something to be grasped.” Let me make the difference clearer. The standard Christian translation of this Greek phrase suggests that Yeshua did not consider equality something to be grasped. But the actual Greek text reads, “counted equality not something that could be grasped.” In other words, if the negative particle ouk is tied to the noun rather than the verb, the implication is the Yeshua saw equality with God as something unattainable. Do you realize what this means? It means that this verse does not say that Yeshua gave up equality with God voluntarily because it did not serve the purposes of the Messiah. It says that Yeshua never aspired to be equal with God because equality with God is not possible.”—Skip Moen, Phd
Since many translations render Philippians 2:6 with Trinitarian bias, let’s look at some other accurate translations of Philippians 2:6:
“He was in the form of God, yet he laid no claim to equality with God, but made himself nothing, assuming the form of a slave. Bearing the human likeness”—Philippians 2:6,7 REB
“who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped”—ESV
“Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped”—NJB
“Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped”—BSB; BLB
“who, although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped”—LSB
“who, being in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be on an equality with God”—ERV
“In God’s own form existed he, and shared with God equality, deemed nothing needed grasping.”—LSV
“Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped”—MSB
“who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped”—NET
“who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped”—NHB
“who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped”—WEB
“who, being in the form of God, thought [it] not something to be seized to be equal to God”—LSV
“who, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be seized”—CPDV
Someone who already has something does not have to ‘grasp’ for it. Jesus would not even think about trying to be equal to God. Christians are to have the same attitude of humility. Obviously, Jesus is separate from, and inferior to, God. Philippians 2:5,6 flatly debunks the equality aspect of the Trinity doctrine.
“He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted him.” (Philippians 2:8,9 NASB) God is clearly shown to be someone other than Christ. Jesus’ obedience bespeaks of his submission to his Father. His death means he is not God, and not eternal, since he was not in existence while he “was dead” (Revelation 1:18). The scriptures make clear that “Yahweh . . . God . . . never dies” (Habakkuk 1:12 NJB). God, the superior one, highly exalted Jesus, not the other way around. Thus, three Trinitarian pillars of Jesus being God, eternal, and equal are eliminated by these scriptures.
Philippians 2:10,11a – “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow . . . and every tongue should acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord” (NIV). Trinitarians often stop their quote of the scripture at this point, and use this to “prove” that Jesus is God. Here is a typical example of a Trinitarian claim:
“God the Father stated, “To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear” (Isaiah 45:23). The same exact description is also applied to Jesus (Philippians 2:10-11). This means that both the Father and the Son are Yahweh.”read more
In the Bible, particularly the New Testament letters, greetings are given from God and Jesus in 20 of the 21 New Testament canonical letters. We know that God the Father and Jesus Christ are both persons, so we should expect to see their greetings, and we do in these 20 letters. (Third John does not have such a greeting or praises.) But what about the Holy Spirit and the Trinity? If the holy Spirit is a person, or if the Trinity is a real entity, we should expect to see some type of greetings from the holy Spirit, and/or the Trinity, and/or praises to the holy spirit, or Trinity, as well. But is this the case? Let’s examine the greetings in the letters to find out.
Where are greetings or praises from or to the holy Spirit and the Trinity in the Bible letters?
Greetings
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:7)
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:3)
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:2)
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:3)
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:2)read more
Is The Trinity In Ephesians? Is Jesus Christ Almighty God?
This article is one of a series about what is stated concerning Jesus in the various books of the New Testament, the book of Ephesians. Almighty God and the holy Spirit are also discussed to see if there is any evidence of a Trinity doctrine in this Biblical letter, which is all about doctrine. A key component of the Trinity doctrine is that the holy Spirit is a person. In this article, we’ll see whether the Trinity is in Ephesians.
The Book of Ephesians provides some clues as to whether or not Jesus Christ is Almighty God
The vast majority of Christian churches and preachers teach that the Trinity doctrine is true, and is a vitally important Biblical message. On this basis, therefore many sincere Christians believe in the Trinity doctrine. Can a believer in the Trinity have a relationship with God?
