THE TRINITY
God is multiple but one. Mr Viney, a science teacher once explained that trinity is within our comprehension. The idea of 3 but one is like something we use everyday, water, three parts but one- H2O. Each element/atom can operate independently or together as one. This particular idea is trinitarian, that God is three but one. Trinitarian views are usually relational, that there is an intimate and loving relationship between the parts of the Godhead. They are persons, they can operate independently of each other, or as one. There is a personhood of each part and a hierarchy. They can possibly have different roles, power and knowledge. Saying this we must be careful to survey historical notions of Godhead in the church and why many of these are considered false by the church.
GOD DESCRIBED AS A PLURAL
The following scriptures use Hebrew plural pronouns and verbs for God. Plural pronouns are somewhat unique to the Hebrew language. This plural nature of God is not polytheistic in the normal sense but is an intimate union that is so closely knit in relationship that it is one, and has always existed as such. Despite different manifestations, the figure "Lord God," stands out from powerful angels.
- Genesis 3:22 The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.
- Genesis 1:26 Then God said, let us make man in our image, according to our own likeness.
- Genesis 11:7 Come let Us go down and there confuse their language so that they will not understand one another's speech.
CHRISTOPHANIES, THEOPHANIES & "SPIRITOPHANIES"
Separate persons in a Godhead may also be suggested in the character that talks with Adam and Eve in the garden, a possible Christophany (Appearance of Jesus Christ), the Spirit of God hovers over the waters, that strives with man and takes the bodily form of a dove "Spiritophany". God in the form of a person walks in the garden with Adam and Eve, though other scripture indicates that if one looks at God, they will die (this seems to refer to another aspect or person of God). So these "persons" might be assumed to be separate, yet still God. There is the Spirit and The Lord God, who walks and talks with people. The Lord as a "man" also seems to reside in an area at the beginning. When Cain is banished, he understands himself as being cast from God's presence in a literal sense. Three entities are salient, the Spirit of God which comes down as a dove, hovers and can dwell in numerous believers. There is a God "that you cannot see," and the "walking talking God." Appearances of God the father are rarer, but seem apparent in the "Non-human presentation" of the entity. God still seems to be appearing to people in person, there are many accounts in churches and from the mission field.
- Genesis 1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
- Genesis 3:8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
- Genesis 1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
- Genesis 4:13-14 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."
- Exodus 6:2-3 God spoke further to Moses and said to him, "I am the Lord; and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but My name LORD I did not make myself known to them."
- Exodus 33:20 You cannot see My face, for no one can see me and live.
- John 8:58 Before Abraham was, I AM (Jesus speaking)
- Luke 3:22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased."
IMAGE OF GOD INFERED FROM "PLURAL" CREATION
The Image of God Can be derived from the plurality in the image of Man as a bi (man and woman) or tri entity (after children). Man is created male and female, so the image of God, might be understood as a multiple. This does not seem to be an image of male and female in the Godhead, but rather male and female depicts God's relationship with people, a temporary form. God might be understood to be neither male nor female, as there is no marriage in heaven, rather we will be like the angels. Angels are male or genderless, souls seem sexless. God calling himself male, as is standard throughout the Old and New Testaments. This seems symbolic, as God is considered the bridegroom of His people the bride, this despite Israel being a male name. There are numerous scriptures that use this symbolic relationship.
- Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
- Matthew 22: 29-30 "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of God. " For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
GOD'S NATURE IN SYMBOLS, 3 but 1, plus us
Many people speak of the incomprehensibility, or mystery of God, yet creation, as revealed in scripture is full of illustrations of the nature of God. These can be understood as education tools from God. Romans 1 suggests that the nature of God is demonstrated through creation. Much of God's nature is focussed on developing a loving relationship, in which God is glorified. If we understand God to have predestined the form of things, and accept that nature is partly an education tool, nature may very well have a form which reveals God, the bible certainly suggests this:
- Psalm 104:24-30 O Lord, how many are Thy works! In wisdom Thou hast made them all; the earth is full of thy posessions. There is the sea, great and broad. In which are swarms without number, animals both small and great. There the ships move along, and leviathan, which thou hast formed to sport in it. They all wait for Thee, to give them their food in due season. Thou dost give to them, they gather it up; Though dost open Thy hand, they are satisfied with good. Thou dost hide thy face, they are dismayed; Thou dost take away their spirit, they expire, and return to their dust. Thou dost send forth Thy Spirit, they are created;
- Psalm 89:35-37 'Once and for all, I have sworn by my holiness- and I will not lie to David- that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.' Selah
WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT GOD'S PLURAL NATURE
Jesus indicates and demonstrates insights into the nature of God and the way by which humans have access to God. Jesus shows that we relate to God the father through Him, and it is through the Spirit of God that we have relationship with Him. Further it is His Spirit, which He sends. An announcement from heaven comes when Jesus is baptised that this is "My Son in whom I am well pleased." The Spirit also descends on Jesus in the form of a dove. The following passages reveal the nature of the Spirit and God's relationship between the different elements. A voice comes from a cloud enveloping some disciples later, saying, "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased."
PHYSICAL & MYSTICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF GOD
Many people claim to have seen God in various forms. These Theophanieshave take various forms such as: physical manifestations, visions and experiences. They involve God both "visiting" them or being taken up to God or heaven. The scriptures also reveal a variety of ways that God appears. Angels also appear and interact with people, even mediating in their circumstances as representatives of God. They sometimes instruct, protect and encourage. In church history and recently, there are claims that, the Holy Spirit has visited a person in physical form, there are many examples of Christophanies and very rarely Theophanies. Mystical experience and union with God is a common experience of many/most believers. Alastair McGrath defines mysticism:
MYSTICISM: a multifaceted term which can bear a variety of meanings. In its most important sense, the term refers to the union with God, which is seen as the ultimate goal of the Christian life. This union is not to be thought of in rational or intellectual terms, but more in terms of a direct consciousness or experience of God 1
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REFERENCES
1 Alastair, McGrath, Christian Theology:An Inroduction,
(Malden,Massachussetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2007), 491
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CHECK OUT:
Plural References to God in The Old Testament 1
http://www.bible.ca/trinity/trinity-oneness-unity-plural-nouns-pronouns-verbs-adverbs.htm
A Criticism of the idea of Trinity based on Old Testament "monotheism."
http://www.apostolic.net/biblicalstudies/usandour.htm
A Criticism of Plural Verbs based on the idea of "bias in interpreters"
http://www.israelofgod.org/genesis1.htm
Jewish Names of God
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Names_of_G-d/names_of_g-d.html
The appearances of God against "Christadelphian monarchianism"
http://www.carm.org/christadelphian/godseen.htm
A Book about Christophanies "J.A. Borland, Christ in the Old Testament"
http://www.beginningwithmoses.org/library/christotapps.htm
Criticism of J.A.Borland, Christ in the Old Testament
http://www.beginningwithmoses.org/library/revchristothuman.htm
Symbolism of Numbers in the Bible
http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/3.html
The Gospel in the stars
http://ldolphin.org/studynotes/stars.htm
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