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Bible Talk => Theology => Topic started by: Titus on February 08, 2023, 11:14:56 AM

Title: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: Titus on February 08, 2023, 11:14:56 AM
So the Bible doesn't contain an actual "teaching" of the trinity anywhere from Genesis to Revelation. Let's discuss the reasons that the majority of mainstream Christendom teaches, and embraces, a concept that is found nowhere in Scripture.

It is interesting that all the Protestant churches pride themselves on being different, separate, from the Catholic Church and its teachings, yet they all teach and embrace many concepts that originate with the Catholic Church. The trinity is the most well-known concept that came about with the advent of the Catholic church and is still considered a foundation of the Christian Faith though it holds no valid correlation with the Bible whatsoever.
Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: Athanasius on February 08, 2023, 11:23:48 AM
I look forward to your fresh look.
Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: Titus on February 08, 2023, 12:06:56 PM
I look forward to your fresh look.
That's the spirit.

Not the Spirit-spirit, but ... you know.

Where would you like to begin?
Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: Athanasius on February 08, 2023, 12:27:04 PM
I look forward to your fresh look.
That's the spirit.

Not the Spirit-spirit, but ... you know.

Where would you like to begin?

It's your thread, so, go for it.
Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: Titus on February 08, 2023, 01:10:37 PM
I look forward to your fresh look.
That's the spirit.

Not the Spirit-spirit, but ... you know.

Where would you like to begin?

It's your thread, so, go for it.
I made a number of statements in my OP.

So you agree with all of the above?
Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: Fenris on February 08, 2023, 01:39:21 PM
I made a number of statements in my OP.
We're waiting for you to provide evidence for the correctness of your views. Or are we already at the "case closed" stage of your argument?
Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: Athanasius on February 08, 2023, 01:42:30 PM
We're waiting for you to provide evidence for the correctness of your views. Or are we already at the "case closed" stage of your argument?

I think he wants us to disagree with the OP so he can put the onus of proof on any of us. "I say it's not in the Bible, but you say it is, so prove it!". Well, it's all just kind of boring.
Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: Fenris on February 08, 2023, 01:45:40 PM
I think he wants us to disagree with the OP so he can put the onus of proof on any of us.
I am amused in that I apparently understand Christian theology better than he does.
Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: Athanasius on February 08, 2023, 01:52:35 PM
I made a number of statements in my OP.

So you agree with all of the above?

Your OP is little more than a prefatory sentence or two and being prefatory in nature it doesn't matter if I agree or disagree. You've set the stage: you don't believe that the doctrine of the Trinity is a concept "found... in Scripture", and so, you are - presumably - going to say something to that end possibly with reference to the dynamic between Protestant and Catholic churches (I don't know why, but you do you).

So, what's your "fresh look"? Is this like the New Perspective on Paul? Or, well, I look forward to whatever argument you put forward.
Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: Athanasius on February 08, 2023, 02:03:05 PM
I think he wants us to disagree with the OP so he can put the onus of proof on any of us.
I am amused in that I apparently understand Christian theology better than he does.

Philosopher Dale Tuggy writes for a site that reviews various notions, objections, etc., of the doctrine of the Trinity (or notion of Trinities, I suppose) that you may find an interesting read https://trinities.org/blog/. Also, he runs an RE20 microphone in his podcasts so, he's got a good ear.

But also, I think it's fairly uncontroversial to suggest that a good portion of Christians who affirm the doctrine of the Trinity, in practice, believe something quite different. It's not exactly an easy doctrine.
Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: RabbiKnife on February 08, 2023, 03:15:45 PM
Uh oh.

You asked for it, Patrick.

Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: Titus on February 08, 2023, 03:31:19 PM
I made a number of statements in my OP.
We're waiting for you to provide evidence for the correctness of your views. Or are we already at the "case closed" stage of your argument?
That ship sailed long before this thread began.

Select one of the points from my argument that you take exception to and I will happily flesh out my case.

See how simple that is?

People so like to complicate life, but most the time, it's a matter of overcomplicating and very simple process.

Small bites. Or, as Jodie Foster's character's father said in Contact, "Small steps, Ellie. Small steps."

Another version is the children's (Hymn):

Little by little, inch by inch.
By the yard, it's hard. By the inch, it's a cinch.
Don't stare up the stairs, just step up the steps.
Little by little, inch by inch.

God echoes this sentiment in His direction to learn the Scriptures a little at a time so it's not too much to absorb at once.

"Precept upon precept, line upon line. Here a little, there a little."
Isaiah 28:10

One brick at a time, taking your time, builds a very sturdy wall.

You see?

You'll get there.
Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: RabbiKnife on February 08, 2023, 03:41:26 PM
You might want to read that Isaiah passage again.

It isn't exactly a compliment, and certainly not a teaching paradigm.
Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: Titus on February 08, 2023, 03:51:21 PM
You might want to read that Isaiah passage again.

It isn't exactly a compliment, and certainly not a teaching paradigm.
"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little."
Isaiah 28:10

Even after looking at the surrounding context of the passage, I don't see how it doesn't support my point. It's okay though if you disagree.

I'll just claim to be using it for my purposes then. No worries.
Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: Athanasius on February 08, 2023, 04:19:00 PM
I made a number of statements in my OP.
We're waiting for you to provide evidence for the correctness of your views. Or are we already at the "case closed" stage of your argument?
That ship sailed long before this thread began.

Select one of the points from my argument that you take exception to and I will happily flesh out my case.

See how simple that is?

People so like to complicate life, but most the time, it's a matter of overcomplicating and very simple process.

Small bites. Or, as Jodie Foster's character's father said in Contact, "Small steps, Ellie. Small steps."

Another version is the children's (Hymn):

Little by little, inch by inch.
By the yard, it's hard. By the inch, it's a cinch.
Don't stare up the stairs, just step up the steps.
Little by little, inch by inch.

God echoes this sentiment in His direction to learn the Scriptures a little at a time so it's not too much to absorb at once.

"Precept upon precept, line upon line. Here a little, there a little."
Isaiah 28:10

One brick at a time, taking your time, builds a very sturdy wall.

You see?

You'll get there.

You haven't put forth an argument. You've made some low-effort assertions, but we're not going to do the work for you. Arius and Eusebius were big boys who could put an argument together, so come on, let's hear it already.

You've got this, I believe in you. ❤️
Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: Titus on February 08, 2023, 04:50:51 PM
You haven't put forth an argument. You've made some low-effort assertions, but we're not going to do the work for you. Arius and Eusebius were big boys who could put an argument together, so come on, let's hear it already.

You've got this, I believe in you. ❤️
Thanks for the encouragement.

We can take this slow. No reason to rush.

So here's the first statement made challenging the trinity - from the OP:
Quote
... the Bible doesn't contain an actual "teaching" of the trinity anywhere from Genesis to Revelation.

If there is no objection, we can move along to the next ... and the next. So on and so forth.
Title: Re: A Fresh Look at the trinity
Post by: Athanasius on February 10, 2023, 11:35:56 AM
Low effort OP, closing. You can give this another go, but put some effort into it if you do.