“The Trinity is one of the most important teachings of the Christian faith. It defines God’s very essence and describes how he relates to us”—The Forgotten Trinity, back cover
Since Second Corinthians was written over twenty years after the start of Christianity, we would expect to see at least some evidence of such an important doctrine as the Trinity in the Letter’s 13 chapters, if it is a true Christian doctrine. Let’s examine scriptures from this book which tell us something about God, Jesus, and the holy Spirit.read more
Are Jesus Christ, God Almighty, and the holy Spirit a Trinity in Philippians?
We continue our series about what is stated concerning God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, 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?
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) God is always the one in control, and using Christ to gather his people.
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:2) God and Jesus are separate and distinct. The holy Spirit, since it is not a person, does not give greetings. Neither does the Trinity, since it doesn’t exist.
“God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:8) God and Jesus are spoken of as separate and distinct.
“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.
“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 2:5-6 NASB) Someone who already has something does not need 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.
“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) 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. The makes clear that “Yahweh . . . God . . . never dies” (Habakkuk 1:12 NJB). God, the superior one, highly exalted Jesus, not the other way around.
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow . . . and every tongue should acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10,11a NIV). Trinitarians often stop their quote of the scripture at this point, and use this to “prove” that Jesus is God. However, when we actually look at the rest of the scripture, we find that it is “to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11b NIV). By reading the full scripture, we find that the scripture actually proves that Jesus is inferior to God, contradicting the Trinity doctrine.
“It is we who are in the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God, and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3 NRSV). Christians serve God and worship him, not Christ. Notice, though, that they do it “in the Spirit of God.” “In the Spirit,” and “of God,” are evidences that the holy Spirit is not a person.
“But that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” (Philippians 3:9) The righteousness from God comes through faith in Christ. God and Christ are separate individuals, with God as superior.
“The prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) God calls Paul heavenward through Jesus. Same point as above.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7) Same point as above.
“My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) “My God” is obviously the Father. His gift “Christ Jesus.”
Throughout the book of Philippians, we find the distinctive relationship between God and Jesus. The superior role of God compared to Jesus is evident upon examination of the above verses. The holy Spirit is shown to not be a person.
All scriptures quoted from New International Version (NIV) unless noted otherwise.
Why does the Trinity matter? – Is Jesus Christ Almighty God?
Does the Trinity matter? It matters because the Bible says:
“No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the LORD [Yahweh]”—Proverbs 21:30 NLT
Does this picture make sense? It is confusing and contradictory!
“Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3)
The Bible says our eternal life depends on knowing the only true God the Father, and His Son, whom he sent, Jesus Christ. “Knowing” would have to include knowing who they are.
The Athanasian Creed, which many denominations accept, says a person’s eternal life depends on acceptance of certain statements of belief about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit (Ghost).
“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.”
“So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity.”
“Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation; that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess; that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Substance [Essence] of the Father; begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the Substance [Essence] of his Mother, born in the world. Perfect God; and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.”
“And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire. This is the catholic faith; which except a man believe truly and firmly, he cannot be saved.”
As part of our series about what is stated in the Bible concerning whether God, Jesus and the holy Spirit are a Trinity in the various books of the New Testament, this article examines the book of Galatians.
Galatians 1:1 – “Through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead” (NAB). – God is shown to be the Father. Jesus is not referred to as God. God and Jesus are revealed to be two separate and distinct individuals – the superior, God, resurrects the lesser one, Jesus, from the dead. “Yahweh . . . God . . . never dies” (Habakkuk 1:12 NJB). Jesus “was dead” (Revelation 1:18). Therefore, Jesus cannot be Almighty God.
Galatians 1:3 – “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (NAB). – Two separate and distinct individuals, namely “God our Father” and “Jesus Christ,” are mentioned, but there is no mention of the holy Spirit. Why not? If the holy Spirit is the third part of a Trinity “Godhead,” as Trinitarians assert, it should have been mentioned here in these greetings. But it’s not, because it’s not a person, and so there cannot be a Trinity.
Galatians 1:4 – “…who gave himself for our sins… according to the will of our God and Father.” – Jesus’ willing sacrificial death was according to his Father’s “will.”
Galatians 1:6 – “Turning away from Him (God) who called you by the grace of Christ.” – Two people, with God, the superior, doing the calling.
Galatians 1:15-16 – “God… set me apart… to reveal His Son in me.” – God reveals his Son Jesus by using Paul.
Galatians 3:16-18 – “To your seed, who is Christ… God granted it to Abraham through the promise.” – God gave Abraham the promise that through his seed (Christ), all nations will be blessed. God is shown to be someone there than “the seed, who is Christ.”
Galalatians 3:21-22 – “God’s promises… the promise by faith in Jesus Christ.” – God’s promises are available to people who have faith in Jesus Christ. God is the giver; Jesus is the object. Obviously, Jesus is not equal to God, and is not God.
Galatians 3:26 – “You are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ.” – Christians become sons of God by faith in Jesus Christ. They are never referred to as sons of Jesus. God has “sons” (Revelation 21:5-7), but no “brothers.” Jesus has “brothers” (Matthew 25:40; Hebrews 2:11), but no “sons.” Thus, there is no equality between God and Jesus, and Jesus is not God
Galatians 4:4 – “God sent his Son.” – The greater sends the lesser. According to this verse, “God” is someone other than his Son.
