A John 3:16 Thought...

[Kevin H]

The issue is that there is a oneness of opposites in the trinity. Rachel, I hate to say this as you are searching, but your God is too small and you are reading modern western mindsets into the text instead of ancient eastern mindsets.

As we enter the realm of the infinite, outside of time and space it is only one God but a God so out side of time and space that finite minds cannot conserve. But many ideas are in this problem, including the Roman Catholic view of trinity which looks at a 3 leaf clover or a rope with 3 strands.

To try to translate into our mindset a glass of water representing time and space with someone outside of time and space putting in 3 fingers that reveals 3 aspects of this someone that we need to know to have a relationship with this someone.

It might be good for you to look into studies on "The Angel of the Lord" and there is a fantastic book written by a non-Trinitarian (He's a Jewish Rabbi) James Kugel "The God of Old" http://www.amazon.com/The-God-Old-Inside-World/dp/0743235851

[8thdaypriest]

The issue is that there is a oneness of opposites in the trinity. Rachel, I hate to say this as you are searching, but your God is too small and you are reading modern western mindsets into the text instead of ancient eastern mindsets.

As we enter the realm of the infinite, outside of time and space it is only one God but a God so out side of time and space that finite minds cannot conserve. But many ideas are in this problem, including the Roman Catholic view of trinity which looks at a 3 leaf clover or a rope with 3 strands.

To try to translate into our mindset a glass of water representing time and space with someone outside of time and space putting in 3 fingers that reveals 3 aspects of this someone that we need to know to have a relationship with this someone.

It might be good for you to look into studies on "The Angel of the Lord" and there is a fantastic book written by a non-Trinitarian (He's a Jewish Rabbi) James Kugel "The God of Old" http://www.amazon.com/The-God-Old-Inside-World/dp/0743235851

The Messenger of the Covenant is Christ - the Son of God our Father.  He was the Angel in the pillar.  Of Him, God said, "My name is in Him" (Exo 23:21).  That expression - my name is in him - is another way of saying, "He is My Son." 

You Kevin, seem to believe in the Baptist and Roman Catholic Trinity - one divine Being who manifests in 3 ways. 

Edited October 17, 2015 by 8thdaypriest

[8thdaypriest]

If the God of Heaven said, "This is my beloved Son" then who am I who disbelieve?  If God "gave His only begotten son", then who are we, to say that God never beget a Son?  

Was God intentionally trying to deceive us.  I don't believe so. 

Adam was called "the son of God" (Lk 3:38)  but he was NOT called "the only begotten Son of God".   The ONE who incarnated was "begotten" of God our Father.   And He was begotten BEFORE anything was created.  That is why Christ is called "the beginning of the creation of God".  It is because God created all things THROUGH His Son.