I) THE BIBLICAL PROOF OF HIS DEITY – He is called God by…

I want to be more like Christ.

How can I do this without knowing Him ?

Phil 3:10 "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"

Know : Gr. - Ginosko

W.E. Vine Expository Dict. Of N.T. Words :

"Signifies "to be taking in knowledge, to come to know, recognize, understand," or "to understand completely,"

Used of sexual union of a man and woman.

This is a foundational doctrine - impossible to deny and be saved.

The Deity of Christ : Jesus is God - of the same essence as God.

We are not saying that :

1) Jesus is the same person as the Father or the H.S.

2) Jesus is a lesser god.

3) There are three Gods in the Trinity.

Two Heresies in the early church :

The Arian heresy

1) Only the Father is God.

2) Christ was created.

The Gnostic heresy

1) Secret teaching

2) Docetism - appearance of a body.

The Church responded with :

1) The Councils

2) The Creeds

3) The Fathers

Jesus is called God by...

A) THOMAS JOHN 20:28

Thomas wouldn't believe unless he saw Him.

Some say :

1) This was an emotional outburst.

"THEOS" - the one true God.

To blurt it out would have been blasphemy.

2) Dr. Weiriwil - he meant "My Godly Lord".

Qu. Dr. Strong - "This address cannot be interpreted as a sudden appeal to God in surprise and admiration, without charging the apostle with profanity. Nor can it be considered a mere exhibition of overwrought enthusiasm, since it was accepted by Christ."

B) GOD HEB 1:8

The writer is comparing angels, Moses, man & Melkezedek to Christ.

He is showing Christ's supremacy in His Deity.

The Word was Christ. (V14 Humanity).

The Word was in the beginning (Preexistent).

The Word was God. (Clearest reference to His Deity in the N.T.)

D) THE JEWS JN 5:18; 10:30-33

He said "My Father" not "our Father".

The Jews didn't refer to God as "My Father".

This was blasphemy to them.

In the mind of the Jew Jesus could never be God because He broke the Sabbath and testified of Himself.

JN 10:30-33 He said "My Father and I are One".

Some say this means one in purpose.

Qu. A.T. Robertson : "one" is neuter... in the Greek, and does not

indicate one in person or purpose but rather one in essence or nature.

The Jews wanted to stone Him for blasphemy.

Jesus was crucified not for what He did, but for who He was.

These uninspired men had firsthand account from Christ and concluded He was calling Himself God.

Ex 3:13,14 God revealed Himself as "I AM".

JN 8:51-59 Jesus used the Septuagint (70 scholars), 125 B.C.

A common Translation.

He took the Divine name and applied it to Himself.

The Jews understood and wanted to kill Him.

Mighty God meaning the one and only true God not a lesser form of Deity

c.f. Isa 43:10 No God before Me or after Me.

c.f. Jehovah is the mighty God Isa 10:21

Christ existed eternally in the past.

Heb 1:6 "And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten

into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God

worship him."

Luke 4:8 "for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy

God, and him only shalt thou serve."

In Rev 22:8,9 an angel refused worship.

ii) BY MEN MATT 14:33

Jesus walked on the water and they worshiped Him.

Paul proclaimed the supremacy of Christ by showing He is the :

1) Redeemer

2) First to raise and never die again

3) Head of the Church

4) Fullness of the Godhead

5) Creator and sustainer of all things

He slept, hungered, thirsted, became tired, cried, loved, had compassion, got angry, grew, learned.

He is called a "Man" and "Son of man".

He wasn't all God, no man - Apollinarianism

He wasn't all man, no God - Ebionitism

He didn't switch between God and man.

The divine and human didn't blend into another being.

He wasn't 50/50,

He was 100/100.

Theanthropos - the God/man.

Prov 8:22 "The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

1 Cor 1:30 "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"

Collapsing context.

Prov 8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence.

Prov 8:1 "…Put fourth her voice."

"...for My Father is greater than I."

Claim : Jesus was subordinate to the Father.

The comparison is QUANTITATIVE not QUALITATIVE.

Relation of position not nature or quality.

Heb 1:4 "Being made so much better than the angels..."

A QUALITATIVE comparison of natures.

QUALITATIVELY He was God.

QUANTITATIVELY He was limited to a human body.

If Jesus said "The Father is BETTER..." it would be different.

The president might be GREATER (due to his position) than we are but it would be different to say that he was BETTER.

"...the firstborn of every creature"

Some claim He was the 1st created thing.

Does firstborn mean first created ? NOT NECESSARILY.

GEN 48:14 Manasseh - firstborn.

JER 31:9 Ephraim is called the firstborn.

Firstborn means Preeminent or Supreme.

How do we know that this is what it means in Col 1:15 ?

Theme of Col. - Christ is the head of the Church.

They didn't get upset when then He healed, only when He forgave.

God alone has all authority.

III) OBJECTIONS TO THE DOCTRINE

A) THE FATHER WAS GREATER THAN CHRIST Jn 14:28

"...for My Father is greater than I."

Claim : Jesus was subordinate to the Father.

The comparison is QUANTITATIVE not QUALITATIVE.

Relation of position not nature or quality.

Heb 1:4 "Being made so much better than the angels..."

A QUALITATIVE comparison of natures.

QUALITATIVELY He was God.

QUANTITATIVELY He was limited to a human body.

If Jesus said "The Father is BETTER..." it would be different.

The president might be GREATER (due to his position) than we are but it

would be different to say that he was BETTER.

B) CHRIST WAS THE 1ST CREATION OF GOD Col 1:15

"...the firstborn of every creature"

Some claim He was the 1st created thing.

Does firstborn mean first created ? NOT NECESSARILY.

GEN 48:14 Manasseh - firstborn.

JER 31:9 Ephraim is called the firstborn.

Firstborn means Preeminent or Supreme.

How do we know that this is what it means in Col 1:15 ?

1) Theme of Col. - Christ is the head of the Church.

This was written because heresies were coming into the Church.

2) Surrounding text

Vs. 16 - all things were created by Him.

Vs. 17 - He is before all things, He sustains all.

Vs. 18 - He is the head of the Church,

He has PREEMINENCE in all things.

Vs. 19 - All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him (c.f. 2:9).

CONC :

Irenaeus - Against heresies :

"...but the Son, eternally co-existing w/ the Father always

reveals the Father to Angels..." II, 30:9

He said that the Son...

"was very man, and that He was very God." IV 6:7

Athanasius :

We do not worship a creature.... But we worship the Lord of

Creation, Incarnate, the Word of God... but knowing that "the Word was

made flesh," we recognize Him as God also, after having come in the

flesh.

Tertullian - Against Praxeas :

In this work he offered a reflective account of the incarnation,

explaining that the person of Christ is a union of two distinct,

unconfused "substances," divine and human, in a single "person".

Walker, Williston A History of the Christian Church. Scribners, New

York, 1985 P. 81.

Augistine - On the Trinity :

"But I would boldly say, that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

of one and the same substance, God the Creator, the Omnipotent Trinity,

work indivisibly...."

THE DEFINITION OF THE FAITH OF CHALCEDON :

Following, then, the holy Fathers, we all with one voice teach

that it should be confessed that our Lord Jesus Christ is one and the

same God, the Same perfect in Godhead, the Same perfect in manhood,

truly God and truly man....

THE NICENE CREED :

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things

visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten

of the Father that is, from the substance of the Father, God of God,

light of light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, of one

substance [homoousios] with the Father, through whom all things were

made, both in heaven and on earth, who for us humans and for our

salvation descended and became incarnate, becoming human, suffered and

rose again on the third day, ascended to the heavens, and will come to

judge the living and the dead.

And in the Holy Spirit.

But those who say that there was when He was not, and that before

being begotten He was not, or that He came from that which is not, or

that the Son of God is of a different substance [hypostasis] or essence

[ousia], or that he is created, or mutable, these the Catholic Church

anathematizes.

THE ATHANASIAN CREED :

The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. The Son

is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten. The Holy

Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor crated, nor

begotten, but proceeding.... And in this Trinity none is afore, or

after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole

three persons are co-eternal and co-equal. So that in all things, as

aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be

worshiped.

1) The Deity of Christ - Christology

The Deity and personality of the H.S. - Pnumatology

2) The doctrine of the Trinity - Theology

3) The doctrine of the Chruch - Ecclesiology

4) The doctrine of man and sin - Anthropology, Hamartiology

5) The doctrine of salvation - Soteriology

i) Blood atonement

ii) Justification

iii) Sanctification

iv) Regeneration

6) The doctrine of last things - Eschatology

i) Heaven

ii) Hell

iii) The second coming of Christ

B) The humanity of Christ

A) The Trinity

3) April 24, 1999 - Hamartiology - The doctrine of man and sin

A) Blood atonement

B) Justification

C) Sanctification

D) Regeneration

A) Heaven

B) Hell

C) The second coming of Christ

IF JESUS WAS GOD HOW COULD HE BE TEMPTED (MATT 4) SINCE JAMES SAYS GOD CANNOT BE TEMPTED ?

IF JESUS WAS GOD WHY DID HE HAVE TO PRAY ?

WAS HE TALKING TO HIMSELF ?

WHY DID HE SAY HE WAS ASCENDING TO “MY GOD” ?

IN I COR 15:28 JESUS IS SUBJECT TO THE FATHER.

IS HE THEREFORE SUBORDINATE ?

PROV 8:22 SAYS THAT GOD CREATED WISDOM.

I COR 2:?? SAYS CHRIST IS THE WISDOM OF GOD. WAS CHRIST CREATED.

REV 3:15 SAYS CHRIST WAS THE “BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD”

WAS HE THEREFORE CREATED ?

THEOLOGY - THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY Glenn Robinson

April 17, 1999

I) BIBLICAL PROOF OF THE DOCTRINE

B) Each one is ascribed the title of Deity

C) There is only one God

D) Old Testament indications of the doctrine

II) HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOCTRINE

A) Heresies concerning the Trinity

i) Dividing the substance of the Godhead

ii) Confusing the persons of the Godhead

B) The consensus of the Church

i) The Fathers

ii) The Creeds

iii) The Councils

THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY

Definition : See O/L.

It is not tritheism or modalism.

Importance : Foundational doctrine.

How many teachings have you heard on the Trinity in recent yrs.

Important to know what you believe and why.

It can't be proven by 1 vs.

A) THERE ARE 3 PERSONS CALLED FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT Mt 28:19

B) EACH ONE IS ASCRIBED THE TITLE OF DEITY

i) FATHER II PET 1:17

ii) SON

1) He is spoken of as God :

By Paul Col 2:9

iii) HOLY SPIRIT

1) He is a person :

Personal pronouns are used of Him - Jn 16:13

Personal characteristics are ascribed to Him :

Intellect - 1 Cor 2:11

Will - 1 Cor 12:11

Personal acts are performed by Him, He :

Speaks - Acts 13:2

Teaches - Jn 14:26

Directs - Acts 16:6,7

He is treated as a person, He is :

Lied to - Acts 5:3

Grieved - Eph 4:30

Blasphemed - Matt 12:31

2) He is spoken of as God - Acts 5:1-4

C) THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD I Tim 2:5

Transitive Property of Equality -

Things equal to the same thing are equal to each other

D) OLD TESTAMENT INDICATIONS OF THE DOCTRINE

The use of composite unity word for "one" in the Shema of

Deut 6:4,5

c.f. Gen 2:24 "one" flesh.

The use of the plural "Elohim" for God instead of "El" with singular verbs and pronouns.

The "Us" passages in Gen 1:26, 3:22, 11:7; Isa 6:8.

Doctrine developed over time.

A) HERESIES CONCERNING THE TRINITY

i) Dividing the substance of the Godhead

The Father and Son are not of the same substance, nature, essence.

4th Cent. Arius of Alexandria - Only the Father is God

Claimed Christ was a created being.

ii) Confusing the persons of the Godhead

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the same person.

God reveals Himself in different modes in different ages.

Father - O.T., Son - Christ, H.S. - Church age.

Monarchianism, Modalism, Sabellianism, Patripassians (Father died)

Oneness - One man may be a son, husband, and brother.

REPROOF :

The burden of the evidence is on the Oneness position.

For Oneness to be true there must be nothing true (i.e. no property) of one mode which is not true of another mode.

If there is just one thing true of only one mode the belief is false.

If two things have every property in common, they are the same thing.

e.g. Casius Clay and Muhammud Ali. But if there is just one property that is not the same, then they are separate persons.

G.R. the Father can't know something G.R. the husband doesn’t know.

1) The Son has the property of not knowing what the Father knows Mt 24:36

2) The Son alone has the property of sole mediatorship 1 Tim 2:5

3) The Son has the property of "being the Son loved by the Father" but not the property of "being the Father who loves the Son".

Matt 3:16,17

MATT 28:19 Shows they are separate persons.

"in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

Not "in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."

B) THE CONSENSUS OF THE CHURCH

i) THE FATHERS

Tertullian - "... The connection of the Father in the Son, and of the Son in the Paraclete [Holy Spirit], produces three coherent Persons, who are yet distinct One from another. These Three are one essence...." Against Praxeas

Augistine - "But I would boldly say, that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, of one and the same substance, God the Creator, the Omnipotent Trinity, work indivisibly...." On the Trinity

Athanasius - We do not worship a creature.... But we worship the Lord of Creation, Incarnate, the Word of God... but knowing that "the Word was made flesh," we recognize Him as God also, after having come in the flesh.

ii) THE CREEDS

The Athanasian Creed :

...we worship one God in Trinity and the Trinity in unity, neither confusing the Persons nor dividing the substance... The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor crated, nor begotten, but proceeding.... And in this Trinity none is afore, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three persons are co-eternal and co-equal. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped.

The Definition of the Faith of Chalcedon :

Following, then, the holy Fathers, we all with one voice teach that it should be confessed that our Lord Jesus Christ is one and the same God, the Same perfect in Godhead, the Same perfect in manhood, truly God and truly man....

C) THE COUNCILS

Council of Constantinople :

They also declared The Holy Spirit "is worshiped and glorified

together w/ the Father and the Son."

ADD TO THIS

Irenaeus

"...but the Son, eternally co-existing w/ the Father always reveals

the Father to Angels..." Against Heresies II 30:9

He said that the Son...

"was very man, and that He was very God." Against heresies IV 6:7

The Nicene creed :

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things

visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten

of the Father that is, from the substance of the Father, God of God,

light of light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one

substance [homoousios] with the Father, through whom all things were

made, both in heaven and on earth, who for us humans and for our

salvation descended and became incarnate, becoming human, suffered and

rose again on the third day, ascended to the heavens, and will come to

judge the living and the dead.

And in the Holy Spirit.

But those who say that there was when He was not, and that before

being begotten He was not, or that He came from that which is not, or

that the Son of God is of a different substance [hypostasis] or essence

[ousia], or that he is created, or mutable, these the Catholic Church

anathematizes.

III) OBJECTIONS AND MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE TRINITY

A) OBJECTION #1 : THE FATHER IS GREATER THAN JESUS Jn 14:28

"...for My Father is greater than I."

Claim : Jesus was subordinate to the Father.

The comparison is QUANTITATIVE not QUALITATIVE.

Relation of position not nature or quality.

Heb 1:4 "Being made so much better than the angels..."

A QUALITATIVE comparison of natures.

QUALITATIVELY He was God.

QUANTITATIVELY He was limited to a human body.

If Jesus said "The Father is BETTER..." it would be different.

The president might be GREATER (due to his position) than we are but it

would be different to say that he was BETTER.

B) OBJECTION #2 : CHRIST WAS ONLY THE IMAGE OF GOD

C) OBJECTION #3 : CHRIST WAS THE FIRST CREATION OF GOD Col 1:15

"Who is the image of the invisible God,..."

Some claim He is only the image of God.

It doesn't say He is ONLY the image of God.

If this were the only vs. I would agree.

Sim. to a letter : 1st par. - Augie Herrera is a good man.

2nd par. - Augie is a good man and a Pastor.

You can't say He is ONLY a good man.

"...the firstborn of every creature"

Some claim He was the 1st created thing.

Does firstborn mean first created ? NOT NECESSARILY.

Gen 48:14 Manasseh - firstborn - left hand.

Jer 31:9 Ephraim is called the firstborn.

Firstborn means Preeminent or Supreme.

How do we know that this is what it means in Col 1:15 ?

1) Theme of Col. - Christ is the head of the Church.

This was written because heresies were coming into the Church.

2) Surrounding text

Vs. 16 - all things were created by Him.

Vs. 17 - He is before all things, He sustains all.

Vs. 18 - He is the head of the Church,

He has PREEMINENCE in all things.

Vs. 19 - All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him (c.f. 2:9).

D) MISCONCEPTION #1 : JESUS AND THE FATHER ARE THE SAME PERSON

Some are confused when they read :

"I and the Father are One" Jn 10:30

"He who has seen Me has seen the Father" Jn 14:9

Qu. Should You Believe in the Trinity P17 Jn 8:17,18 Jesus says He bore

witness of Himself, The Father bore witness of Him.

"Here Jesus shows that he and the Father... must be two distinct entities,

for how else could there truly be two witnesses ?"

E) MISCONCEPTION #2 : FAILURE TO REALIZE THAT JESUS HAD A HUMAN NATURE

Some think Christ couldn't have been divine if He displayed human

attributes.

1) God can't be tempted but Jesus was tempted. (Matt 4).

2) If Jesus was God why did He pray ? (Jn 17).

3) Jesus had limited knowledge. (Mk 13:32) - He doesn't now.

4) Jesus learned obedience. (Heb 5:8).

THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY

I) BIBLICAL PROOF OF THE DOCTRINE

A) There are 3 persons called Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

B) Each one is ascribed the title of Deity

C) There is only one God

II) HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOCTRINE

A) The consensus of the Church

i) Tertullian

ii) Theodosius

iii) Council of Constantinople

iv) Athanasian Creed

B) Heresies concerning the Trinity

i) Dividing the substance of the Godhead

ii) Confusing the persons of the Godhead

III) OBJECTIONS AND MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE TRINITY

A) Objection #1 : The Father is greater than Jesus Jn 14:28

B) Objection #2 : Christ was only the image of God Col 1:15a

C) Objection #3 : Christ was the 1st creation of God Col 1:15b

D) Misconception #1 : Jesus and the Father are the same person

E) Misconception #2 : Failure to realize Jesus had a human nature

I was recently confronted by a cultist and I had to agree w/ a point.

"Most Christians can't define the doctrine of the trinity or prove it."

Tonight we will :

1) Define the doctrine of the Trinity.

2) Find Biblical proof for the Trinity.

3) Find historical proof for the Trinity.

4) See common objections and misconceptions about the Trinity.

Two questions have been asked through history.

1) Does God exist ? 2) What is He like ?

1) ATHEISM There is no God or purpose to life.

2) AGNOSTICISM We can't (won't) know if God exists. - 1869 Prof. Huxley.

3) POLYTHEISM There are many gods.

4) PANTHEISM All is God. - 1677 Philosopher Spinoza.

5) DEISM God created everything and deserted man. - 1648 Edward Herbert.

6) MONOTHEISM The Biblical view.

Jesus is spoken of as God :

By God Heb 1:8

By Isaiah Is 9:6 c.f. 10:21

By Paul Phil 2:5-7, Col 2:9

By the Jews Jn 5:18, 10:30-33

By John Jn 1:1,14

By Thomas Jn 20:28

By Himself Jn 8:56-58 c.f. Exo 3:14

Other Vss. showing Christ's deity :

Col 1:15 f.f. Christ is the creator of the universe. Some versions use the

words "supreme" or "preeminent" here to show His position.

Rev 21:6 c.f. Isa 44:6, 48:12 c.f. Rev 22:13,16 God the Father is called

"The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last".

These titles are also applied to Christ in the Book of Revelation. There

can't be two "Alpha and Omegas, beginning and the endings, firsts and the

lasts" Therefore we conclude that Christ and the Father are of the same

nature.

Jn 17:5 Christ shared in the Father's glory "before the world was". This

means that Christ eternally preexisted with God the Father making

Him part of the Godhead.

Heb 1:6 c.f. Lk 4:8 The Father says that all the angels worship Christ yet

in Luke only God is to be worshiped.

Col 1:19 In Him all fullness dwells.

Matt 14:33 He received worship from men.

The works of God are ascribed to Him, He :

MK 2:5-7 FORGAVE SIN

MT 28:18 HAD ALL POWER

JN 28:20 IS ALL PRESENT

JN 4:16; 6:64 MT 17:22-27 IS ALL KNOWING

DIETY OF H.S.

IT MUST BE ESTABLISHED HE IS A PERSON NOT JUST AN INFLUENCE OF A DIVINE

POWER. THESSIN P 96

PERSONAL PRONOUNS ARE USED OF HIM :

HE - BY JESUSJN 14:26 ; 16:13F

HELPER - APPLIED TO JESUS JN 14:16 1 JN2:1 AND TO H.S. JN 14:16,26; 15:26;

16:7 IT SHOWS JESUS PERSONALITY AND MUST DO THE SAME FOR THE H.S.

HE HAS THE CHARICTERISTICS OF PERSONALITY :

INTELECT 1 COR 2:11

SENSIBILITIES RO 8:27 15:30

WILL 1 COR 12:11

PERSONAL ACTS ARE DONE BY HIM

REGENERATION JN 3 ;5

TEACHES JN 14:26

BEARS WITNESS JN 15:26

CONVICTS JN 16:8-11

GUIDES INTO TRUTH JN 16:13

GLORIFIES CHRIST JN 16:14

CALLS TO SERVICE ACT 13:2

SPEAKS AC 13:2 REV 2:7

DIRECTS IN SERVICE ACTS 16:6F

INTERCEEDES RO 8:26

SEARCHES OUT 1 COR 2:10

WORKS 1 COR 12:11

HE CAN BE TREATED AS A PERSON:

HE CAN BE TEMPTED ACT 5:9

LIED TO ACT 5:3

GRIEVED EPH 4:30 ISA 63:10

3) The Council of Constantinople (381) confirmed the Deity of the H.S.

C) Holy Spirit

1) He is a person

a) Personal pronouns are used of Him Jn 16:13 f

b) Personal characteristics are ascribed to Him

i) Intelect 1 Cor 2:11

ii) Will 1 Cor 12:11

c) Personal acts are performed by Him. He :

i) Speaks Acts 13:2

ii) Teaches Jn 14:26

iii) Directs Acts 16:6,7

d) He is treated as a person

i) Lied to Acts 5:3

ii) Grieved Eph 4:30

iii) Blasphemed Matt 12:31

2) He is spoken of as God Acts 5:1-4

3) He performed the works of God

a) Creation Gen 1:2,26

b) Resurrection Ro 8:11

c) Regeneration Jn 3:5

d) Inspiration of Scripture 2 Pet 1:21

3) He received Divine worship Is 6:1-3,8

He is Deity :

Eternal : Heb 9:14

Omniscient : I cor 2:10, Jn 14:26, Jn 16:12.

Omnipotent : Lk 1:35

Omnipresent : Ps 139:7-10

Works of Deity are ascribed to Him :

Creation : Gen 1:2, Job 33:4, Psa 104;30.

Regeneration : Jn 3:5

Inspiration : 2 Pet 1:21 c.f. Acts 1;16; 28:25.

Raising the dead : Ro 8:11

Works of God are His works :

Is 6:9f c.f. Jn 12:39-41, Acts28:25-27

He is called God :

Acts 5 2 Cor 3:17f.

iii) HOLY SPIRIT

2) He is spoken of as God Acts 5:1-4

3) He received Divine worship Is 6:1-3,8

Rev 3:14 the beginning of God's creation P47 Mc Dowell

Rev 3 arche - can be rendered "origin". He is the origin of the creation

of God. (Heb 1:2, Col 1:16,17). P81 Martin

III) Opposing views of the doctrine

Mankind's search for God (J.W.) P264. Blames Greek philosophy for

Trinitarian doctrine.

Col 1:15f "firstborn" c.f. Gen. P 81 Martin P50 Mc Dowell Gen 49:3

Jacob said of Ruben "Thou art my firstborn..."

Rev 3:14 the beginning of God's creation P47 Mc Dowell

Prov 8:22-25 Yahwey created me... P558 Eerdmans bible com. P49 Mc Dowell

I Tim 2:5,6 gave Himself as a ransom for us... If He were God, the

ransom paid would be greater than the 1st Adam. P15 Trinity.

Sonship P15 Trinity

Jn 17:3 Jesus prays to the Father. P82 Martin

Jn 20:17 Jesus says He is asending to My God and your God.

Habakkuk 1:12 "O my God... you do not die" If Jesus were God, God would

have died.

Mk 13:32 Jesus had incomplete knowledge.

I cor 15:24,28 Jesus hands over the kingdom to the Father.

I cor 11:3 the head of Christ is God.

God couldn't be tempted. Limited knowledge Mk 13:32 p19 He learned

obedience Heb 5:8 p19 p14 JW trinity

Jn 14:28 Father is [MEIZON] greater P 104 Martin

He could say this because greater is a quantitative description of

position. Certianly in no sense of the context could it be construed as a

comparison of nature or quality. In Heb 1 the comparison made between them

is one of nature. He was qualitativly better than angels cuz He was their

creator. Qualitativly He was God manifested in the flesh, while

quantitatively He was limited as a man. Jn compares position, Heb compares

nature. If Jesus said "The Father is BETTER..." it would be different. The

president might be GREATER (due to his position) than we are but it would

be differnt to say that he was BETTER than we are because this comparison

involves quality, nature, and attributes. Heb 1:4 teaches that He was

qualitativly BETTER than the angels though He was made lower than them

positionally. The Father was greater than Jesus in expance because Jesus

was limited to a human body.

The doctrine of the Trinity

Intro :

The question that was 1st asked was "What is the relationship between hte

Father and Son ?" (Relationship of the Deity of Christ to the Trinity).

We can't prove this by a verse that speaks of all three.

what the trin. is not .... Thessin

1) Biblical proof of the doctrine

I) There are three persons called

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

II) Each one is ascribed the title of Deity

A) Father - IIPet 1:17

B) Son

1) He is spoken of as God Jn 10:31 ff.

By God Heb 1:8

By Isa. Is 9:6

By Paul Phil 2:5-7

By Paul Col 2:9 (all the fullness of the Godhead)

C) Holy Spirit

2) He is spoken of as God Acts 5:1-4

3) He received Divine worship Is 6:1-3,8

III) There is only one God I Tim 2:5

II) Historical proof of the doctrine

III) Opposing views of the doctrine

Mankind's search for God (J.W.) P264. Blames Greek philosophy for

Trinitarian doctrine.

Col 1:16f "firstborn" c.f. Gen.

THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY

One vss. doesn't prove this doctrine.

I) There are three persons called

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

II) Each one is ascribed the title of Deity

A) Father - IIPet 1:17

B) Son

1) He is spoken of as God Jn 10:31 ff.

By God Heb 1:8

By Isa. Is 9:6

By Paul Phil 2:5-7

By Paul Col 2:9 (all the fullness of the Godhead)

2) He performed the works of God

a) Creation Col 1:16

b) Resurrection Jn 2:19-21

3) He received Divine worship Mt 14:33

Attributes of Deity Thissen P92 ff. Strong P304

Eternity: Jn 1:15 b4 John, b4 Abe Jn 8:58, b4 the world Jn17:5,24,

firstborn Col 1:15, in the begining Jn 1:1 cf. IJn 1:1, from the days of

eternity Mic 5:2, continues forever Is 9:6ff,Heb 1:11,13:8,

Omnipresence: in heaven while on earth Jn 3:13, Matt 18:20;28:20

Omniscience: Knows all Jn 16:30,21:17, He knew what was in man Jn2:24,

History of Samritian woman Jn4:29, the thoughts of men Lk 6:8,11:17, the

one who would betray Him Jn 6:70.

Omnipotence: Jn 5:19, the mighty God Is9:6 cf. Rev 1:8, upholds all things

by hte word of His power Heb 1:3, all authority is given to Him. Matt

28:18 all authority.

Immutability: Heb 1:12; 13:8

The offices of His Deity :

Creator : Jn 1:3, Col 1:16, Heb 1:10.

Upholder : Col 1:17, Heb 1:3.

The Perogatives of deity :

He forgave sin : Matt 9:2,6 Lk7:47.

He will raise the dead : Jn 5:25-29; 6:39f.,54; 11:25.

He will execute judgement : Jn 5:22

He had all authority Mt28:18

His identification w/ O.T. Jehovah :

Things said of J. in the O.T. are said of Christ in the N.T. :

He was creator Ps102:24-27 c.f. Heb 1:10-12.

He was seen by Isa. Isa6:1-4 c.f. Jn 12:41

He was preceeded by a forerunner Isa 40:3 c.f. Matt 3:3

Is the object of faith Joel 2:32 c.f. Rom 10:9,13.

Names that imply Deity :

Alpha and Omega Rev 22:13

I AM Jn 8:58

Immanuel "God w/ us" Matt 1:22f

He was worshipped as God

By men Matt 14:33

By Angles Heb 1:6 (Deut 32:43) c.f. Rev 22:8,9

C) Holy Spirit

1) He is a person

a) Personal pronouns are used of Him Jn 16:13 f

b) Personal characteristics are ascribed to Him

i) Intelect 1 Cor 2:11

ii) Will 1 Cor 12:11

c) Personal acts are performed by Him. He :

i) Speaks Acts 13:2

ii) Teaches Jn 14:26

iii) Directs Acts 16:6,7

d) He is treated as a person

i) Lied to Acts 5:3

ii) Grieved Eph 4:30

iii) Blasphemed Matt 12:31

2) He is spoken of as God Acts 5:1-4

3) He performed the works of God

a) Creation Gen 1:2,26

b) Resurrection Ro 8:11

c) Regeneration Jn 3:5

d) Inspiration of Scripture 2 Pet 1:21

3) He received Divine worship Is 6:1-3,8

He is Deity :

Eternal : Heb 9:14

Omniscient : I cor 2:10, Jn 14:26, Jn 16:12.

Omnipotent : Lk 1:35

Omnipresent : Ps 139:7-10

Works of Deity are ascribed to Him :

Creation : Gen 1:2, Job 33:4, Psa 104;30.

Regeneration : Jn 3:5

Inspiration : 2 Pet 1:21 c.f. Acts 1;16; 28:25.

Raising the dead : Ro 8:11

Works of God are His works :

Is 6:9f c.f. Jn 12:39-41, Acts28:25-27

He is called God :

Acts 5 2 Cor 3:17f.

III) There is only one God I Tim 2:5

Heresies :

1) Tritheism There are 3 Gods. Polytheistic pagan belief.

2) Sabellius (Higherarchial modalizm)

The Father became the Son who became the H.S.

Advocates - Jesus only people, Local Church.

3) Arius 325 A.D.

Reduced Christ and the H.S. to lower forms of deity.

Advocates - J.W.s

Church History :

1) The Athanasian creed "We worship one God in the Trinity and the

Trinity in unity. The three Persons are Coeternal and Coequal with one

another so that we worship complete unity in the Trinity an Trinity in

unity".

2) The Council of Nicaea (325) confirmed the Deity of Christ.

3) The Council of Constantinople (381) confirmed the Deity of the H.S.

For further study

THE DEITY OF CHRIST

1) He possessed the attributes of God.

A) Omnipresence JN 3:13 MT 18:20 28:20

B) Omnipotence JN5:19 IS 9:6 CF REV 1:8 MATT 28:18

C) Immutabilty HEB 1:12

OFFICES OF HIS DIETY :

CREATOR JN 1:3 COL 1:16 HEB 1:10

SUSTAINOR COL 1:17 HEB 1:3

PROGITIVES OF HIS DEITY :

FORGAVE SIN MATT 9:2

JUDGES JN 5:22

HIS IDENTIFICATION W/ JEHOVAH :

THINGS SAID OF J. ARE SAID OF HIM

PRECEEDED BY A FORRUNNER IS 40:3 , MATT 3:3

CREATOR PS 102:24F

HOLY IS 8:13 1PET 3:15

LEADS CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE PS 68:18 EPH 4:8

OBJECT OF FAITH JOEL 2:32 RO 10:9,13

NAMES IMPLYING DIETY :

ALPHA AND OMEGA REV 22:13

HE IS CALLED IMMANUEL IS 7:14 MATT 1:22F

HE IS WORSHIPED MATT 14:33 AC 10:25F REV 19:10; 22:8F

N.T. ASKS US TO WORSHIP HIM JN 5:23 HEB 1:6

DIETY OF H.S.

IT MUST BE ESTABLISHED HE IS A PERSON NOT JUST AN INFLUENCE OF A DIVINE

POWER. THESSIN P 96

PERSONAL PRONOUNS ARE USED OF HIM :

HE - BY JESUSJN 14:26 ; 16:13F

HELPER - APPLIED TO JESUS JN 14:16 1 JN2:1 AND TO H.S. JN 14:16,26; 15:26;

16:7 IT SHOWS JESUS PERSONALITY AND MUST DO THE SAME FOR THE H.S.

HE HAS THE CHARICTERISTICS OF PERSONALITY :

INTELECT 1 COR 2:11

SENSIBILITIES RO 8:27 15:30

WILL 1 COR 12:11

PERSONAL ACTS ARE DONE BY HIM

REGENERATION JN 3 ;5

TEACHES JN 14:26

BEARS WITNESS JN 15:26

CONVICTS JN 16:8-11

GUIDES INTO TRUTH JN 16:13

GLORIFIES CHRIST JN 16:14

CALLS TO SERVICE ACT 13:2

SPEAKS AC 13:2 REV 2:7

DIRECTS IN SERVICE ACTS 16:6F

INTERCEEDES RO 8:26

SEARCHES OUT 1 COR 2:10

WORKS 1 COR 12:11

HE CAN BE TREATED AS A PERSON:

HE CAN BE TEMPTED ACT 5:9

LIED TO ACT 5:3

GRIEVED EPH 4:30 ISA 63:10

RESISTED ACTS 7:51

INSULTED HEB 10:29

BLASPHEMED MATT 12:31F

HE IS DIETY : ATTRIBUTES OF DEITY ARE ASCRIBED TO HIM

ETERNITY HEB 9:14

OMNISCIENT 1 COR 2:10FJN 14:26 16:12F

OMNIPOTENT LK 1:35

OMNI PRESENT PS 139:7-10

WORKS OF DEITY ARE ASCRIBED TO HIM

CREATION GEN 1:2 JOB 33:4 PS 104:30

REGNENERATION JN 3:5

INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE 2 PET 1:21CF ACTS 1:16; 28:25

RAISING THE DEAD RO 8:11

THE WORDS AND WORKS OF THE H.S. ARE CONSIDERED THOSE OF THE FATHER AND

JESUS. IS 6:9 CF JN 12:39-41 , ACTS 28:25-27 EXO 16:7 CF PS 95:8-111 IS

63:9F CF HEB 3:7-9 GEN 1:27 CF JOB 33:4

HE IS CALLED GOD ACTS 5 2 COR 3:17F

DIVINE NAMES ARE APPLIED TO HIM

EX 17:7 CF HEB 3:7-9 2 TIM 3:16 CF 2 PET 1:21

ARIUS TAUGHT THE H.S. WAS CREATED BY JESUS.

MACEDONIUS , BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE 341-360 A.D. TAUGHT THE H.S. WAS

SUBORDINATE TO THE SON.

SOCINUS SAID HE WAS THE MANIFISTATION OF GOD'S POWER ONLY.

THE COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE 381 CONFIRMED HIS DIETY

THE FILOQUE CONTROVERSY - DID THE H.S. PROCEED FROM THE FATHER ONLY OR

THE FATHER AND THE SON ?

THE COUNCIL OF TOLEDO 589 SAID HE PROCEEDED FROM BOTH

Sabellian Maintains the unity of God by denying the personality of Jesus

and the H.S. Modalism holds to the deity of Christ but doesn't see him as

a distinct person from the Father. God reveals Himself under different

modes in different ages. i.e. Father in creation and the law, Son in

Christ, H.S. in the church age. Christ cannot be our advocate w/ the

Father in this view 1 jn 2:1 nor can He live forever to make intercession

for us Heb 7:25. Modalists use Jn 10:30 I and the Father are 1, and Jn

14:9 He who has seen the Father has seen Me. Modalists object to the

doctrine of the vicarious atonement cuz atonement is made to the Father.

P148,238,239,263,276,282,315,322 Christian thought P85-6,328-9 History of

the Christian Church P327 Strong P112, 117 Short history Higherarcial

modalizm. Monarchianism.

Filioque controvercy - H.S. proceed from the Father or the Son ? concil of

Toledo 589 A.D. said He proceeded from both.

P99 herisies

Socinus (Lelio Sozzini) P536,535-38,542,585,612 said He was the eternal

manifestaion of God's power.

Constantinople 381 confirmed His deity.

The Caps made two points 1) God is 1, 2) this one God is a triad. They

answered the question - how can 1 God be 3 persons ? P150 herisies

Athanasius asked how can one God exist in 3 persons ? The 3 Caps asked

how can the 3 persons exist in 1 God ?

Basil confronted the problem of those who denied the diety of the H.S.

(Macedonians - Pneumatomachi, Spirit fighters). He wrote "On the H.S."

Justo Gonzalez - A History of Christian Thought P294 "The Cappadocians

took upon themselves the task of defining more clearly the unity and the

diversity within the Godhead and of seeking a terminology capable of

expressing both poles of this issue."

Macedonius Pneumatomachians, 291-2,296,312,316-19 Christian thought

P143,145,176 History of Christian Church. Bishop of constantinoople from

341-360 A.D. held that the H.S. was a creature subordinate to the Son.

v) Tertullian P112 Short History - taught that there is 1 divine nature.

The Father and Son have this 1 nature in common. They are distinct so far

as their persons are concerned. Subordinationism - the Son isn't eternal.

God became the Father when he begot the Son and creator when He made the

world. On this point he is one w/ the Apologists. He related the H.S. to

the Father and the Son. - 1st major author to write in latin and use

technical terms. In Against Paraxeas (modalist)

he developed trinitarian doctrine. P111

Eerdmans.

Against P.[not one Person, as it is said "I and the Father are One," in

resssspect of unity of substance, not singularity of number."] Tertullian

P145 Herisies.

Origen He explained how the Son can be the Son w/o beginning. The Father

eternally begets the Son. P89 Heresies.

The 3 Cappadocians - Basil of Caesarea, Gegory of Nyssa, and Gregory of

Nazianzus. They contributed to the final victory of the Nicene cause. The

Cappadocians took upon themselves the task of defining more clearly the

unity and the diversity within the Godhead and of seeking a terminology

capable of expressing both poles of this issue. Their solution was based

on the distinction between the terms ousia and hypostasis. They affirm

that there are 3 hypostases and only one ousia or, 3 individual

subsistences that participate in one divine essence. This formula was

influential at the council of Constantinople 381. At Constantinople they

didn't draw up a new creed but reaffirmed the creed of 325 A.D. and

condemned Ariaism, anomoean, homoean, pneumatomachian, and

Apollinarianism.

If this is true :

1) Christ cannot be our advocate w/ the Father. 1 Jn 2:1

2) Christ can't live forever to make intercession for us. Heb 7:25

3) He could not pray the prayer of Jn 17.

THE DEITY OF CHRIST

1) He possessed the attributes of God.

A) Omnipresence JN 3:13 MT 18:20 28:20

B) Omnipotence JN5:19 IS 9:6 CF REV 1:8 MATT 28:18

C) Immutabilty HEB 1:12

OFFICES OF HIS DIETY :

CREATOR JN 1:3 COL 1:16 HEB 1:10

SUSTAINOR COL 1:17 HEB 1:3

PROGITIVES OF HIS DEITY :

FORGAVE SIN MATT 9:2

JUDGES JN 5:22

HIS IDENTIFICATION W/ JEHOVAH :

THINGS SAID OF J. ARE SAID OF HIM

PRECEEDED BY A FORRUNNER IS 40:3 , MATT 3:3

CREATOR PS 102:24F

HOLY IS 8:13 1PET 3:15

LEADS CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE PS 68:18 EPH 4:8

OBJECT OF FAITH JOEL 2:32 RO 10:9,13

NAMES IMPLYING DIETY :

ALPHA AND OMEGA REV 22:13

HE IS CALLED IMMANUEL IS 7:14 MATT 1:22F

HE IS WORSHIPED MATT 14:33 AC 10:25F REV 19:10; 22:8F

N.T. ASKS US TO WORSHIP HIM JN 5:23 HEB 1:6

Attributes of Deity Thissen P92 ff. Strong P304

Eternity: Jn 1:15 b4 John, b4 Abe Jn 8:58, b4 the world Jn17:5,24,

firstborn Col 1:15, in the begining Jn 1:1 cf. IJn 1:1, from the days of

eternity Mic 5:2, continues forever Is 9:6ff,Heb 1:11,13:8,

Omnipresence: in heaven while on earth Jn 3:13, Matt 18:20;28:20

Omniscience: Knows all Jn 16:30,21:17, He knew what was in man Jn2:24,

History of Samritian woman Jn4:29, the thoughts of men Lk 6:8,11:17, the

one who would betray Him Jn 6:70.

Omnipotence: Jn 5:19, the mighty God Is9:6 cf. Rev 1:8, upholds all things

by hte word of His power Heb 1:3, all authority is given to Him. Matt

28:18 all authority.

Immutability: Heb 1:12; 13:8

The offices of His Deity :

Creator : Jn 1:3, Col 1:16, Heb 1:10.

Upholder : Col 1:17, Heb 1:3.

The Perogatives of deity :

He forgave sin : Matt 9:2,6 Lk7:47.

He will raise the dead : Jn 5:25-29; 6:39f.,54; 11:25.

He will execute judgement : Jn 5:22

He had all authority Mt28:18

His identification w/ O.T. Jehovah :

Things said of J. in the O.T. are said of Christ in the N.T. :

He was creator Ps102:24-27 c.f. Heb 1:10-12.

He was seen by Isa. Isa6:1-4 c.f. Jn 12:41

He was preceeded by a forerunner Isa 40:3 c.f. Matt 3:3

Is the object of faith Joel 2:32 c.f. Rom 10:9,13.

Names that imply Deity :

Alpha and Omega Rev 22:13

I AM Jn 8:58

Immanuel "God w/ us" Matt 1:22f

He was worshipped as God

By men Matt 14:33

By Angles Heb 1:6 (Deut 32:43) c.f. Rev 22:8,9

Rev 21:6 c.f. Isa 44:6, 48:12 c.f. Rev 22:13,16 God the Father is called

"The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last".

These titles are also applied to Christ in the Book of Revelation. There

can't be two "Alpha and Omegas, beginning and the endings, firsts and the

lasts" Therefore we conclude that Christ and the Father are of the same

nature.

The doctrine of the Trinity

Intro :

Definition

1) Biblical proof of the doctrine

I) There are three persons called

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

II) Each one is ascribed the title of Deity

A) Father - II Pet 1:17

B) Son

By Isa. Is 9:6

By Paul Phil 2:5-7

By Paul Col 2:9

from the days of eternity Mic 5:2, continues forever Is 9:6ff,

C) Holy Spirit

2) He is spoken of as God Acts 5:1-4

3) He received Divine worship Is 6:1-3,8

III) There is only one God I Tim 2:5

II) Historical proof of the doctrine

III) Opposing views of the doctrine