Trinity. - Immanuel Kant, philosophical giant

Transcription

1

2 What is The Trinity? What is the Trinitarian God of the Bible like? Does the Trinity appear in the OT? Does the Trinity appear in the NT? What is the history of the doctrine of the Trinity? Why should be study the doctrine of the Trinity? What are major doctrinal errors regarding the Trinity? What are the practical implications of the Trinity?

3 The doctrine of the Trinity provides nothing, absolutely nothing, of practical value, even if one claims to understand it; still less when one is convinced that it far surpasses our understanding. It costs the student nothing to accept that we adore three or ten persons in the divinity Furthermore, this distinction offers absolutely no guidance for his conduct. - Immanuel Kant, philosophical giant

4 When we shall have done away with the incomprehensible jargon of the Trinitarian arithmetic, that three are one, and one is three; when we shall have knocked down the artificial scaffolding, reared to mark from view the very simple structure of Jesus; when, in short, we shall have unlearned everything which has been taught since his day, and got back to the pure and simple doctrines he inculcated, we shall then be truly and worthily his disciples. - Thomas Jefferson, founding father, theological idiot

5 Why should we study the doctrine of the Trinity? Every type of heresy is, in the last analysis, an attack upon the Trinity. Van Til, IST This world is made by God and, therefore, to the extent that it is capable of doing so, it may be thought of as revealing God as he exists. And God exists as a triune being. Van Til, IST

6 Why should we study the doctrine of the Trinity? Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic [that is the church s orthodox] faith; which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the catholic faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity. Athanasian Creed

7 Why should we study the doctrine of the Trinity? The bedrock of our faith is nothing less than God himself, and every aspect of the gospel creation, revelation, salvation is only Christian insofar as it is the creation, revelation, and salvation of this God, the triune God

8 Why should we study the doctrine of the Trinity? I could believe in the death of a man called Jesus, I could believe in his bodily resurrection, I could even believe in a salvation by grace alone; but if I do not believe in this God, then, quite simply, I am not a Christian. Michael Reeves, Delighting In The Trinity

9 In The OT Does the Trinity appear in the OT? As to the Old Testament, there have been two extreme tendencies that we do well to avoid. There have been those who have sought a complete system of theology in the Old Testament. They have accordingly maintained that the doctrine of the Trinity is clearly taught here. On the other hand there have been those who deny that the Scripture teaches one unified system of doctrine. They have maintained that there is no evidence of the Trinity in the Old Testament. Van Til, IST

10 In The OT Does the Trinity appear in the OT? The Old Testament contains some indications of more than one Person in God. God speaks of Himself in the plural, Gen. 1:26; 11:7 The Angel of Jehovah is represented as a divine Person, Gen. 16:7-13; 18:1-21; 19:1-22; The Spirit is spoken of as a distinct Person, Isa. 48:16; 63:10. Moreover, there are some passages in which the Messiah is speaking and mentions two other Persons, Isa. 48:16; 61:6; 63:9, 10. (Louis Berkhof, SCD)

11 In The NT Does the Trinity appear in the NT? The Baptism Formula Jesus Baptism Paul's Benedictions The Ephesian Formula Jude's Summary and call to prayer The Johannine Farewell Discourses John's Prologue John's Epistles The Salutation in the Revelation of John Philippians 2 Colossians 1 Salvation History summary in Hebrews

12 What Is The Trinity? What is The Trinity? In the unity of the Godhead there be three Persons of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son (WCF, 2.3)

13 What Is The Trinity? In what sense can we speak of a general Fatherhood of God? I Cor. 8:6; Eph. 3:14, 15; Heb. 12:9; Jas. 1:17. Cf. also Num. 16:22. Can you prove the deity of the incarnate Son? John 1:1; 20:28; Phil. 2:6; Tit. 2:13; Jer. 28:5, 6; Isa. 9:6; John 1:3; Rev. 1:8; Col. 1:17; John 14:1; II Cor. 13:14. How do the following passages prove the personality of the Holy Spirit? Gen. 1:2; 6:3; Luke 12:12; John 14:26; 15:26; 16:8; Acts 8:29; 13:2; Rom. 8:11; I Cor. 2:10, 11. What works are ascribed to the Spirit in Ps. 33:6; 104:30; Ex, 28:3; II Pet. 1:21; I Cor. 3:16; 12:4 ff.? - Louis Berkhof, (SCD)