tritheism

[Dr. Waite]

Does the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists teach tritheism?

Quote from www.adventist.org:

"There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present."

Quote for Wikipedia:

"Tritheism is the belief that there are three distinct, powerful gods, who form a triad. Generally three gods are envisaged as having separate powers and separate supreme beings or spheres of influence but working together."

"Some have suggested that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has embraced a Trithiestic view of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as it does not see their singularity as a Godhead consisting in one being but rather as three separate beings in a single group."

[Gibs]

No there is no 3 co eternal Gods. Their statement is not completely correct, these verses prove it.

Isa 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Isa 45:5 ¶ I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

Isa 45:6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Isa 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

( The Holy Spirit is God and not another God, He is with us that way and not destroying us as in His Personal Presence. )

2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

It was the Father who was in Christ making Him God but not another God, will you limit God that He couldn't give Himself in His and our redeemer? He gave of Himself in that wonderful gift!

Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[Gerr]

There is NO TRItheism in Scripture. The Bible presents ONE God in 3 persons.

[12tribes]

Matthew 28:19 KJV

(19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Notice it says the name not names. What is the name all three have in common? God. God is like a family name.

God the Father

God the Son

God the Holy Spirit.

[Dr. Waite]

Matthew 28:19 KJV

(19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Notice it says the name not names. What is the name all three have in common? God. God is like a family name.

God the Father

God the Son

God the Holy Spirit.

Where in the Holy Scriptures do we find the term "God the Son"?

Did Jesus Christ refer to himself as "God the Son"?

Where in the Holy Scriptures do we find the term "God the Holy Spirit"?

Did Jesus Christ refer to any person or entity as "God the Holy Spirit"?

Did Jesus Christ refer to any person or entity as "God" other than his Father?

If the doctrine of Christ is that his Father is the only true God (John 17:3) and there is NO other person besides his Father who is the only true God, what are we to do with those persons who teach another doctrine or abideth in another doctrine?

2 John 1:9-11: "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."

[12tribes]

Matthew 1:23 KJV

(23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

[Gibs]

Yes, 12tribes, the Father was in Him who is God, Jesus was not another God.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[Gerr]

‎‎ESV | ‎Jn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ‎2 He was in the beginning with God. ‎3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

[Gibs]

Joh 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

The Jews had never before heard such words from human lips, and a convicting influence attended them; for it seemed that divinity flashed through humanity as Jesus said, "I and my Father are one." The words of Christ were full of deep meaning as he put forth the claim that he and the Father were of one substance, possessing the same attributes.--The Signs of the Times, Nov. 27, 1893, p. 54. {7ABC 437.3}

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[JoeMo]

I confess that Dr. Waite's question has occurred to me before. I find myself praying separately to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; yet I also find myself praying to them together also. I looked at the prayers in the NT; and in general they seem to pray to the Father, in the name of the Son, for the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all show up as separate entities at Christ's baptism. The Comforter (Holy Spirit) could not coe unless Jesus left.

I tend to think of "God" as a family name; but I can't help but think of "God" as closer than that.

[CoAspen]

My question is...why again??? This subject has been debated over and over and.....The cows have come home, gone to the barn, been milked and gone to bed!!! What else can be asked that hasn't been answered??

[Dr. Waite]

I confess that Dr. Waite's question has occurred to me before. I find myself praying separately to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; yet I also find myself praying to them together also. I looked at the prayers in the NT; and in general they seem to pray to the Father, in the name of the Son, for the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all show up as separate entities at Christ's baptism. The Comforter (Holy Spirit) could not coe unless Jesus left.

I tend to think of "God" as a family name; but I can't help but think of "God" as closer than that.

You state: "The Comforter (Holy Spirit) could not coe unless Jesus left."

IS THIS TRUE?

Jesus had not left this earth yet and this occurred:

John 20:19-22: "Then the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you. And when he had so said, he showed unto them [his] hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost"

Did the Holy Spirit come from Jesus or from another separate and distinct person?

[12tribes]

I confess that Dr. Waite's question has occurred to me before. I find myself praying separately to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; yet I also find myself praying to them together also. I looked at the prayers in the NT; and in general they seem to pray to the Father, in the name of the Son, for the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all show up as separate entities at Christ's baptism. The Comforter (Holy Spirit) could not coe unless Jesus left.

I tend to think of "God" as a family name; but I can't help but think of "God" as closer than that.

I pray to the Father for the Holy Spirit who gives us power, conviction and other things in Jesus name.

[Gordon1]

God the Father,

God the Son,

God the Holy Spirit..

...is a man made phrase in many churches. We take it for granted.

We memorize it subconsciously as a Christian doctrine.

But only God the Father is found in the Bible.

God the Son & God the Holy Spirit are not Biblical terms.

[12tribes]

God the Father,

God the Son,

God the Holy Spirit..

...is a man made phrase in many churches. We take it for granted.

We memorize it subconsciously as a Christian doctrine.

But only God the Father is found in the Bible.

God the Son & God the Holy Spirit are not Biblical terms.

Does that mean you do not believe Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit as well?

[Q.E.D.]

If anyone thinks they can explain exactly what the Godhead is then perhaps they can also explain to everyone, in common english, what type or form of un-created, non-matter that God the Father, Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ, (before his earthly birth), consists of and how this un-created, non-matter is alive and creates living beings out of common dirt consisting of quarks, electrons, protons, and neutrons.

"Enquiring minds what to know. . ."

Q.E.D.

[JoeMo]

CoAspen,

This may have been discussed before; but I never noticed the subject - so it's new to me. Maybe it's new to some others, also.

Q.E.D.,

You had a great response. When I read it, I thoght about the story of the blind men trying to describe an elephant. We see His as through a glass darkly; but one day we will se Him as He is. Hopefully by then, we will be able to say "Oh Yeah!, that makes sense"!

Dr. Waite,

I realize Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to the disciples while He was here on earth; but the Holy Spirit didn't really come in its fullness until Pentecost. As a matter of fact, the Spirit was given in its fullness at Pentecost in Acts 2; and again in its fullness a couple chapters later. As far as the Comforter not coming unless Jesus left, those are His words - not mine. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." John 16:7. In my mind, that says the Spirit comes on or to people in different ways and in different levels. It also tells me that Jesus and the Holy Spirit could be separate entities, even though they are both God.

I was hoping to get some feedback on what people think of praying to individual members of the God head rather than praying to the entire trinity as a whole. Is it weird or normal?

[Gordon1]

Does that mean you do not believe Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit as well?

I hope my belief on this fundamental doctrine accords with the Bible.

The Bible says that Jesus is the Son of God, not simply the Son of man born in Bethlehem, but the Son of God brought forth from the Father in the days of eternity. As recorded in Proverbs 8:22-30 & Micah 5:2...these passages also quoted by Ellen White in the opening pages of her epic five-volume Conflict of the Ages series where she establishes the foundation of the faith, that none need err. (Patriarchs & Prophets p. 34)

How do the Father & Son differ? Christ is the express image of His Father, but of course he is a separate person, Holy and undefiled.

Christ is never God the Father, but He is our everlasting Father, who came to give us everlasting life.

By affirming the proper context of Proverbs 8 and Micah 5:2 (also revealed through careful Bible study),

Ellen White places her beliefs squarely in the 'off-shoot camp' of today's Adventism.

She would not be welcome in the GC of 2012. No matter, prophets are prone to banishment, just as her entire family was ejected from the Methodist Church.

"God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ has been given an exalted position.

He has been made equal with the Father. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son." 8 Testimonies 268.

"They are one in purpose, in mind, in character, but not in person.

It is thus that God and Christ are one." 8 Testimonies 269.

"..all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father." (John 5:23)

"For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself." (John 5:26)

[12tribes]

Originally Posted By: 12tribes

Does that mean you do not believe Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit as well?

I hope my belief on this fundamental doctrine accords with the Bible.

The Bible says that Jesus is the Son of God, not simply the Son of man born in Bethlehem, but the Son of God brought forth from the Father in the days of eternity. As recorded in Proverbs 8:22-30 & Micah 5:2...these passages also quoted by Ellen White in the opening pages of her epic five-volume Conflict of the Ages series where she establishes the foundation of the faith, that none need err. (Patriarchs & Prophets p. 34)

How do the Father & Son differ? Christ is the express image of His Father, but of course he is a separate person, Holy and undefiled.

Christ is never God the Father, but He is our everlasting Father, who came to give us everlasting life.

By affirming the proper context of Proverbs 8 and Micah 5:2 (also revealed through careful Bible study),

Ellen White places her beliefs squarely in the 'off-shoot camp' of today's Adventism.

She would not be welcome in the GC of 2012. No matter, prophets are prone to banishment, just as her entire family was ejected from the Methodist Church.

"God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ has been given an exalted position.

He has been made equal with the Father. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son." 8 Testimonies 268.

"They are one in purpose, in mind, in character, but not in person.

It is thus that God and Christ are one." 8 Testimonies 269.

"..all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father." (John 5:23)

"For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself." (John 5:26)

So then you do not believe Christ is eternal you believe He was literally begotten before there was any creation? I have heard this before.

[Gibs]

My question is...why again??? This subject has been debated over and over and.....The cows have come home, gone to the barn, been milked and gone to bed!!! What else can be asked that hasn't been answered??

CA, you know a lot of heads are spining on this and isn't it important to know who your God is? It needs air as do a lot of things that have come in and pressed upon the people.

Take part if you will and we might like your see on it.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.