Bs"d
Well, it is a kind of simple: When God is one, than He is NOT more than three, and also not more than one.
That’s a fitting response to the question that is the subject of this thread.
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Bs"d
Well, it is a kind of simple: When God is one, than He is NOT more than three, and also not more than one.
Ps 2:6,7,“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
“I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Isaiah 9:2-7 "2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. 3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased its joy; they rejoice before thee as with joy at the harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as on the day of Mid'ian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace". 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this."Is 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Bs"dThere's only Scriptural support for there being the One Triune God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19)
Bs"d
Nowhere in the Bible, also not in Matt 28:19, is a triune God to be found.
All over the Bible it says that God is one.
God is one
Bs"d "Hear Israel, Y-H-W-H is our God, Y-H-W-H is ONE!" Deut 6:4 "Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One" Holman Christian Standard Bible "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." English Standard Version "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!" Newsites.google.com
And that is what the Bible teaches:
Bs"d
Nowhere in the Bible, also not in Matt 28:19, is a triune God to be found.
All over the Bible it says that God is one.
God is one
Bs"d "Hear Israel, Y-H-W-H is our God, Y-H-W-H is ONE!" Deut 6:4 "Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One" Holman Christian Standard Bible "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." English Standard Version "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!" Newsites.google.com
"And they shall be one flesh"
Bs"d
Psalm 2 speaks of King David. He is the anointed one, (messiah means "anointed one") see I Sam 16:12-13. Here David is anointed by the priest and prophet Samuel, something that never happened with Jesus, he was never anointed by a prophet or priest, but only by a sinful woman, which of course means nothing.
"For I have set my king upon Zion, my holy hill." King David ruled from Mount Zion, he lived there and was buried there, but none of this applies to JC; he was never a king, and he never ruled from Mount Zion.
"He said to me, You are my son; this day I have begotten you." This does not mean that King David was a physical son of God. The expression "son of God" is used for people and angels who are greatly loved or favored by God, as we see in Genesis 6:4, Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7, Psalm 82:6, 89:6 and many other verses.
Verse 8: "Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, the ends of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." All of this applies to King David, God gave him victory over all his enemies, but none of this applies to JC.
The claim that he will do the above after his second coming is a worthless claim, because anyone can claim that. And that is why it is absurd to say that Psalm 2 is about JC instead of King David.
"Kiss the son". The word "bar" in Hebrew means "clean" or "pure", and in Aramaic "son". In Psalm 2, it is translated by Christians as if it were Aramaic, and means "son", and they make it: "Kiss the son..." But since the Psalms are written in Hebrew, it is illogical to translate that one word as if it were Aramaic. The word "bar" occurs more often in the Psalms, and is never translated as "son". Here are a few examples of "bar" in the Psalms:
"The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands has he rewarded me." Psalm 18:21
"The LORD hath rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight" Psalm 18:25
"Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart," Psalm 24:3-4
So we see that the word "bar" is simply translated as "pure", and not as son. And likewise it should be translated in Psalm 2. And that is why the Jewish Stone Edition of the Tanakh says there: "Yearn for purity", and not something like "kiss the son". That "kiss the son" is therefore just another Christian twisting of their Bible translations.
Isaiah 9:2-7 "2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. 3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased its joy; they rejoice before thee as with joy at the harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as on the day of Mid'ian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace". 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this."
Please take notice of the fact that Isaiah is talking in the past tense: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.|
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government is upon his shoulder, and his name was called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
These are things which had happened already in the days of Isaiah.
If, despite these facts, you still want to apply these verses to JC, than read verse 5, 6, and 7, and see that JC didn't do any of those things. He never ruled on the throne of David, he never had any government on his shoulders, and there never was endless peace over his kingdom.
The same holds true for the verses 6 and 7: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace". 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this."
All of this doesn't hold true for JC; he never had any government on his shoulder. And also here is spoken in the past tense: "A child is born, a son is given. But most translations give it in the future tense. For instance the RSV, NIV, NAS, ESV, KJV, NIRV, the all say; "His name will be called ....", future tense. However, in the Hebrew text this too is past tense: "His name was called ...." The Hebrew expression here is "wayikra". That is the first word in the book of Leviticus. And all the previously mentioned translations there say: "And the Lord called Mozes ..." Past tense. Exactly the same the word. Isn't that weird? Exactly the same word is used in Genesis 5:1; "And God called the light 'day'" Called. Past tense. Nobody argues with that one. But why then, in Isaiah 9, is it suddenly changed to future tense? The answer is simple: The past tense doesn't fit with the Christian theology, and therefore the Bible translations are corrupted and twisted to fit the Christian religion. Just like that. There is only one solution for this problem: Take a course in Biblical Hebrew. It is more easy then it looks. Then your eyes will be opened and the Christian deception will stare you in the face. And yes, I do sympathize with the poor misguided Christians whom are being led astray by their clergy by means of twisted and corrupted Bible translations. That's the reason why I fulfill my duty of being a light unto the nations and uncovering the Christian deception.
"Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end" "There will be no end", future tense. And this too is WRONG. It is in the Hebrew present tense. I found only one translation which is correct here, and that is Young's Literal Translation.
Why all this stress on the tenses? Isaiah spoke about a king who was living in his days, and therefore JC is out. The king that Isaiah speaks about is Hezekiah, the son of Achaz who got from Isaiah the sign about the young woman (no, not the virgin) who was pregnant and gave birth to the son Immanuel.
The Talmud explains that under the rule of the God fearing Hezekiah the Jewish kingdom rose to great heights, and that's why he was entitled to those impressive titles.
Because of the fact that the name of the son is "Mighty God", (or "God is Mighty", both are possible translations) and "Eternal Father", the Christians deduce that the boy spoken about must have been God.
HOWEVER, a name is only that; a name. A name is not a description of the bearer of that name. An example: Buffalo Bill was not a buffalo. The Indian chief Sitting Bull was not a bull.
Many times people in the Bible have in their name the word "God", or the name of God, but that doesn't mean that those people are God. For instance; in Exodus 6:23 is spoken about a man called "Elazar". That means "God is helper", or "Helping God". But that doesn't mean that that man was God.
Exodus 6:24; "Elkanah", that means "God acquired", or "acquiring God". II Samuel 22:19; "Elchanan"; "God is merciful", or "Merciful God". But these men were not God, just like the the child in Isaiah 9 wasn't God.
Apart from that, the Hebrew words "El gibor", in Christian Bibles translated with "Mighty God", can have a different meaning. "El" can mean "God", but it can also mean "judge", "leader", or "mighty man". In Exodus 4:16 God says to Moses that he will be of an elohiem for his brother Aharon. ("elohim" is the longer form of the word "el") This doesn't mean that Moses was a God for Aharon and Aharon started to worship his brother, it meant that Moses would be the leader of Aharon.
In Exodus 21:1-6 is spoken about a slave who after the normal period of servitude ended, doesn't want to leave his master. In that case the owner has to take him to court, where the slave will make a statement that he doesn't want to leave his master, and that he will serve his master until his death. The Hebrew text there says that his master must take him to the "elohim". There the NAS, ASV, ESV, NRSV, RSV, YLT, they all say that his master must take him "to God". However, his master doesn't take him for a ride to heaven, but takes him to the courthouse. Therefore the NIV, KJV, TNIV, and the NIRV, they all say that the master must take him to "the judges".
Even so in Isaiah 9 the word "El" does not necessarily mean "God". Therefore the text in Isaiah 9 is in no way a proof that the child spoken about was God.
Please (everyone) take your discussions about that which by policy cannot be discussed anywhere on Christianity Board somewhere else. Thanks.
In the Bible the concept of "One' and the extended meaning or meanings is in numerous places in the Bible, and perhaps no more than in the New Testament. But not just the New Testament, because even the authors of the New Testament were speaking in reference to Jesus Christ and Him being One with God, as understanding of what is happening.
So while the word 'trinity' is not in the Bible (and for good reason if a person had understanding), still the concept of God being One and the meaning behind it is a common subject in the Bible. So even if there is a policy against the discussing the concept of God being One, that is not from God because it is a discussion in the Sacred and Holy Writings that God had people who did know Him wrote.
Yet someone notes that is causes controversy? Of course it does. Can you live with the Lord in this world and not have controversy considering the Satan and his dark forces are also around, and we battle with them. Indeed, if wisdom is had by a person, then don't they know that Satan battles with us in the areas that bother Satan the most. Or did they not even read where Wisdom and Understanding are names for the Spirit and our Lord Jesus Christ?
Prov 7:4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your intimate friend;
So when I write "understanding of what is happening" I mean Jesus Christ (who should be your friend that you know and talk to) has the understanding of what is happening!
And when I write "if wisdom is had by a person" I mean if the Holy Spirit is had by a person, and does not Jesus send His Holy Spirit with His words so that they dwell in us as the temple of God. And if Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God, because His Father gave Him all the things of the Father, then that includes the very words of God, so Jesus owns the very words of God, and the Spirit takes them and speaks them to our spirit.
So then, if we have the Holy Spirit in us, we are a new creature, being a creature with God in us, meaning the Holy Spirit dwells in us with the words of God which belong to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whose name is called The Word of God because He owns the words of God because they were given to Him by His Father. And if His words are given to Him by His Father and we have His words, even the very words of God in us, because we have His Spirit in us, then are we not also one with God like Jesus is one with His Father. So God being "One", does not just mean the triune God, but it means we His people are one with Him, like He is one with His Father, and all that via the Holy Spirit and the words of God which passed through the Father to the Son and brought to us via His Holy Spirit.
So God being One God means we become one with Jesus Christ like He is one with the Father, and all that via the Holy Spirit of God, but who would really know this and who would not know this. Can even reading Bible and leaning on your own understanding get you the wisdom, understanding, and knowledge about this? Of course not, because God had is written:
Prov 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
And you cannot make God a liar!
You are either going to make it about every word that comes out of them mouth of God or you are going to fall into the temptation of Satan who tried to even tell Jesus to make bread out of those stones Moses brought down in the desert. If you are searching the Scriptures, thinking in them you have eternal life instead of actually seeking the voice of our Lord by faith, then you will never understand how God is One (Father, Son, Holy Spirit ---- and us who believe in Him) or did you not read:
Jn 17:20,21 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
So does this Christian forum require I thought out these verses out of the Sacred Writings, and others like them?
People - when Jesus asks His Father for something, He gets what He askes for? Or is it not written:
Jn 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
and Jn 16:23 “In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.
They read but they can not understand because they don't have Understanding (Jesus Christ) as their intimate friend, nor do they know Wisdom (the Holy Spirit) as a member of their family, like their sister. They don't know that God being One was as a saying or parable that means we (believers) are to be made as one with God like Jesus is one with His Father!! And that is like it is written:
Jn 17:22,23 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;
I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
Unity in God is what God being One God was always about, but that is hidden from the unbelievers - and my pointing it out (even here) will not help them, because I have just shown you what was already written in the Bible and you didn't believe it either!
I also know God is one. Just as he tells us in his own words.My God is only one -> Yahweh, the God and Father of Jesus Messiah. That will come as no surprise to anyone who has read my posts on the subject.
I came across a Christian yesterday who stated that God is probably more than three. No explanation for the belief was presented.
This is a highly unusual encounter for me but not unprecedented. I‘ve met and spoken extensively with another Christian who believes and teaches that God could be hundreds or thousands.
This thread isn’t about my God, nor is it about the Trinity (which by current policy cannot be discussed - pro or con - on Christianity Board). This thread is solely concerned with the proposition that “God is probably more than three”.
Are there any denominations within Christianity, past or present, which hold as part of their doctrine / teaching that God is probably more than three?
Is there any biblical support for the idea that God is probably more than three?
Finally, is there any support for the softened position that God is possibly more than three?
I hope it changes in the near future.I’m not responsible for the current Christianity Board policy on the matter and have no ability to change it. I would if I could.