Many think that it was formulated at the Council of Nicaea in 325 C.E. That is not totally correct, however. The Council of Nicaea did assert that Christ was of the same substance as God, which laid the groundwork for later Trinitarian theology. But it did not establish the Trinity, for at that council there was no mention of the holy spirit as the third person of a triune Godhead. To be continued...
Constantine's Role at Nicaea For many years, there had been much opposition on Biblical grounds to the developing idea that Jesus was God. To try to solve the dispute, Roman emperor Constantine summoned all bishops to Nicaea. About 300, a fraction of the total, actually attended. Constantine was not a Christian. Supposedly, he converted later in life, but he was not baptized until he lay dying. Regarding him, Henry Chadwick says in The Early Church: "Constantine, like his father, worshiped the Unconquered Sun;... his conversion should not be interpreted as an inward experience of grace ... It was a military matter. His comprehension of Christian doctrine was never very clear, but he was sure that victory in Battle lay in the gift of the God of the Christians." To be continued...
What role did this unbaptized emperor play at the Council of Nicaea? The Encyclopedia Britannica relates: "Constantine himself presided, actively guiding the discussions, and personally proposed . . . the crucial formula expressing the relation of Christ to God in the creed issued by the council, 'of one substance with the Father' . . . Overawed by the emperor, the bishops, with two exceptions only, signed the creed, many of them much against their inclination." Hence, Constantine's role was crucial. After two months of furious religious debate, this pagan politician intervened and decided in favor of those who said that Jesus was God. But why? Certainly not because of any Biblical conviction. "Constantine had basically no understanding whatsoever of the questions that were being asked in Greek theology," says A Short History of Christian Doctrine. What he did understand was that religious division was a threat to his empire, and he wanted to solidify his domain. None of the bishops at Nicaea promoted a Trinity, however. They decided only the nature of Jesus but not the role of the holy spirit. If a Trinity had been a clear Bible truth, should they not have proposed it at that time?
The doctrine of trinity is actually UNKNOWN to Christ! Believe it or not - The word “Trinity†never appears in the Bible, and it was not an official doctrine until the 4th century. Here are two interesting articles: History of The Trinity The History of the Trinity - What the Watchtower Doesn’t Want You to Know If there is Trinity and Christ is a part of this 'trio God' concept, the following problems will arise: 1) This doctrin is against Christ's teaching and Bible's statement about God. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" John 4:24 Christ is NOT a spirit. He is just a 'word of God', a prophet (human being) delivered by a women. 2) God born in Bethlehem ? "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem" Matthew 2:1 3) Why 'God's life PROTECTED' from Herod ? "But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. Matthew 2:19-20 4) God baptized by a man ? "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him." Matthew 3:13 5) If Jesus is God, then why the devil tells him "All these things will I give thee" "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." Matthew 4:8-9 6) Jesus is NOT teaching people to Worship him but THE REAL GOD in heaven. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:21-23 7) Jesus - A 'God' for Israel or a prophet for Israel ? These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye NOT: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 10:5-6 And again; "But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" Matthew 15:23-24 8) Who is the Real God - the Father , Son or both ? "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." Matthew 11:27 "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matthew 19:16-17 "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Matthew 24:36 "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Matthew 12:50 9) Jesus as a prophet. "And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house." Matthew 13:57 10) Jesus - a praying God ? "And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" Matthew 26:39 22) Jesus - a Crying God ? "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46 Now ask yourself to whom is he crying "My God, my God" ? To the one and only True God as mentioned in John 4:24 Ishaq.
How Did the Trinity Doctrine Develop? A group of people sat around and tried to explain something which is totally illogical. After many day of bull shitting and being incapable of coming up with an explanation that any semi-intelligent person can accept, they just gave up and said: This is the way it is and we won't talk about any more.
I'm glad to know that you think talking about God is bullshit...I'm even more glad I'm not on your side.
Did you notice the part that I said about trying to come up with an explanation that a semi-intelligent person can accept and they couldn't? It is obvious that you can accept it.
Exactly, d16, which is precisely the inspiration behind my "blah-blah-blah, blah-blah, blah-blah-blah-blah" It only invites the type of puerile comments that gworld offers, and the rest are fueled, typically, by Christian cults. Life is short, read your Bible and thank the Holy Spirit for the insight He has blessed you with. At least this is how I see it now. Were I to think for one minute that someone might be led astray by these falling-aways from the truth, I too would jump in. But after a few months here, I really do not believe this to be the case.
Precisely, SEO, my point. I'd hate to see this all degenerate into nothing more than the O.K. Bible Corral.
And so does d16... My suggestion is that as Christians we reflect on such matters in prayer and leave God to lead us then. I really don't recall any "Why don't you believe in the Trinity?" threads... it seems to me always to be the other way around.
So what was wrong with my description? Did they come up with any logical explanation or did they agree that the whole idea is so stupid that there is no logical explanation?
Too bad that in this case we are not even sure if it is real horse that is running in the race or just an imaginary horse. I hope you are aware that there is no proof that the horse ever existed.
gworld, actually there is no proof that you ever existed. Afterall, this is the internet. On the other hand, God's work is there in front of me everywhere I look.