The Trinity - Part 1
The “World-View” of Jesus
The idea of the Trinity is something which has been debated over the centuries. Is God one or is He three? Those who believe in the Trinity have tried to understand and explain it. “God is like an egg, with three parts: shell, yoke, and white.” No, God is not like an egg in any sense.
I would like to suggest a definition:
Trinity seems to be the “world-view” of Jesus. (Of course, it involves more than just the world. It contains all of existence and all of reality.) This is how Jesus understood God.
I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. (John 14:28)
The man, Jesus of Nazareth, saw the Father as someone who was distinct from himself, yet
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (John 17:5)
Jesus thought he was in heaven with God even before the planets were created. A man who thinks that is either deranged or he knows something that we do not know.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
He saw the Father as someone distinct from himself and whom he was also with before the earth was created. He saw the Spirit as distinct from himself and also distinct from the Father.
Jesus thought of the distinction of the Persons of God. He also spoke of perfect oneness and unity.
I and my Father are one. (John 10:30)
I think that the truth about the Trinity lies somewhere between the United Pentecostal Church's doctrine on Oneness and the idea that the throne of the universe is a bench seat. While driving on most roadways, there is a ditch on the left and on the right. In dealing with many Bible doctrines, there is an error on both sides of the revealed truths. One revealed Word from God does not negate another revealed truth. In Bible study as in driving, the actual roadway is probably located somewhere between the weeds.
We can imagine that we are in union with some like-minded people. We all say the same words and share the same opinions. Eventually, however, the selfishness in us will come out and reveal that we are sinful individuals. This reality will shatter our imaginary union and show that real oneness among humans is an imaginary thing. (The Holy Spirit can, however, produce a genuine unity among Christians.)
We cannot have any understanding of the integration of the Godhead. God is not a finite sinful creature. Humans have no comprehension of the perfect union of the “Persons” of God.
God revealed Himself to Abram, whom He called His friend (Isa 41:8). Abram was an idol worshiper but when he encountered God, he could never give attention to idols again. God also knew that Abram would instruct his children in the way of this God that was now his personal friend. But by the time of his grandchildren and their families, the sin of respecting idols was beginning to creep into Abram's family.
Moses commanded the Israelites to forsake idols. The prophets told the nation that invasion and exile would result if they gave themselves to idols. The nation would start to embrace idolatry, serious consequences would result, and they would have a half sincere repentance. The nation would be restored to peace and prosperity again. Before long, though, the nation would go astray again. This was repeated so many times throughout Israel's early history. Finally, the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and carried many of the people away. After 70 years the people were allowed to return to Judea. The Jews abandoned idolatry cold turkey after returning from Babylon and it never bothered them again. It took only about 1,200 years for the family of Abraham to learn this lesson *. Lesson #1 has been passed with flying colors. After that it was time for lesson #2, The “world-view” of Jesus. It has now been about 2,000 years and the lesson is not being received well so far. God has a plan to fix this. It will be a lot more severe than the Babylonian captivity but it will result in the entire nation embracing the world-view of Jesus, His teachings.
If there was anything that God tried to pound into the minds of His people for centuries, it was that God is One. As soon as you think you understand that fact, He reveals Himself as three distinguishable manifestations.
An example: Imagine 3 glasses of water sitting on a table. They are then poured into a pitcher. Now, please put the original water back into the glasses again. Impossible. Likewise it is impossible to dissect the one true God, yet He reveals Himself in 3 persons.
In Part 2 we will look at the Scriptural truth about the man we know as Jesus of Nazareth and his shocking claims.
July 11, 2023
*“After the return from Babylon, the Jews lost all desire for idolatry, after 1,000 years of clinging to it tenaciously and enthusiastically.”
Sat 1 Oct 2016 / 1 Elul 5776 B”H Dr Maurice M. Mizrahi Congregation Adat Reyim