CHRISTIAN MONOTHEISM NOT TRITHEISM

The development of the doctrine of the Trinity in early Christian theology was indeed influenced by the intellectual environment of the time, which included Greek philosophical thought among other factors. It's important to recognize that the formulation of Christian doctrines, including the Trinity, occurred in a context where various philosophical traditions provided the language and conceptual frameworks that theologians used to articulate their understanding of Christian revelation.

Terminology and Concepts: Early Christian theologians employed terms and concepts from Greek (PAGAN) philosophy to articulate the nature of God and the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For example, terms like "ousia" (essence or substance) and "hypostasis" (person) were used to describe the unity and distinction within the Godhead. These terms helped theologians to communicate complex theological ideas in a precise and nuanced way.
Platonism and Neoplatonism: These philosophical traditions influenced early Christian thought in significant ways. The emphasis on the transcendence of the highest good and the hierarchical ordering of reality in Platonism and Neoplatonism provided a framework for early Christians to understand the relationship between the divine and the material world. Concepts of emanation and participation in Neoplatonism, for example, helped some theologians think about how the Son could be understood as emanating from the Father without division or separation.
Logos Theology: The concept of the Logos (Word) in John's Gospel was interpreted by early Christians in light of the Stoic and Platonic notion of the Logos as a rational principle organizing the cosmos. This helped Christians articulate how the Son (the Logos) relates to the Father and the world. Theologians like Justin Martyr and Philo of Alexandria, a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher, made significant contributions to Logos theology by integrating these philosophical notions with biblical texts.

Jesus spoke Aramaic, the common language of Judea in his time. The New Testament was written primarily in Greek, but the focus was on conveying Jewish religious ideas, not Greek philosophy. The New Testament authors aimed to fulfill and reinterpret the Hebrew Bible for a Jewish audience, not introduce foreign philosophical ideas. Jesus and the original writers of the New Testament did not explicitly use Greek philosophy in their teachings in the way we might think of a philosopher engaging directly with philosophical concepts or systems. Their primary context was the religious and cultural milieu of 1st-century Judaism, and their teachings are deeply rooted in the Jewish Scriptures and apocalyptic expectations of the time.

The New Testament writings, including the teachings of Jesus, emphasize the close relationship between the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Passages such as the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19, where Jesus instructs His disciples to baptize "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," and the farewell discourse in the Gospel of John (chapters 14–16), where Jesus speaks extensively about the role of the Father and the Holy Spirit, highlight the early Christian understanding of a complex interrelationship between Father, Son, and Spirit. However, these writings do not articulate the doctrine of the Trinity in the explicit, formalized manner seen in later creedal formulations.

There are plenty of times in scripture where there is evidence of the Father, Son, and Spirit are present at the same time. So it is easily shown that there are 3 persons in the Godhead. And yet there are also plenty of verses that say that God is One.
When we find verses in the NT that add more information on a subject, this is to be expected. Afterall, God has revealed more of Himself and His ways over time. But we are never to try to understand the teachings of the new covenant by restricting them by the old covenant. This is what Jesus referred to as putting new wine in old wineskins. The old covenant will simply not hold the new revelations and will burst or not be understood correctly. Instead, we are to understand the old covenant according to the new information given, and thereby come to fuller understanding.
Do I fully understand how God can be One and Three. Nope. But this is what scripture teaches.

O.K. But If Jesus meant plurality of persons, He had the perfect opportunity to use the word "names" when giving the command to baptize but He used the singular to keep in line with God being inseparably ONE. Jewish community as a whole wouldn't except His claim to Full deity because that would violate ONE strict monotheistic God who is Inseparable according to their teachings.

Speaking of God as a person does not do justice to Him. The word person connotes a human being with a human personality—an individual with body, soul, and spirit. Thus, we limit our conception of God if we describe Him as a person. For this reason, I never said there is one person in the Godhead or God is one person. The most I have said is that Jesus Christ is one person, because Jesus was God manifested in flesh as a human person.

Speaking of God as a plurality of persons further violates the biblical concept of God. Regardless of what persons meant in ancient church history, today the word definitely connotes a plurality of individuals, personalities, minds, wills and bodies. Even in ancient church history, we have shown that the vast majority of believers saw it as a departure from biblical monotheism.

The use of the number three in relation to God is also dangerous. If used to designate eternal distinctions in God, it leads to tritheism, which is a form of polytheism. If used to designate the only manifestations or roles God has, it limits God’s activity in a way not done in Scripture. God has manifested Himself in numerous ways, and we cannot even limit them to three. (See chapter 6.) The use of three goes against the clear emphasis both testaments place on associating the number one with God.

Trinitarians universally describe their doctrine as a mystery. As discussed in chapter 4, however, the only mystery relative to the Godhead is the manifestation of God in flesh, and even that has been revealed to those who believe. A mystery in Scripture is a divine truth previously unknown but now revealed.

Certainly our finite minds cannot understand all there is to know about God, but we can understand the simple truth that there is one God. God may transcend human logic, but He never contradicts true logic, nor is He illogical. He emphasizes His oneness so strongly in the Bible that He has dispelled any possible confusion or mystery on this issue.

The Bible never says that the Godhead is an unrevealed mystery or that the question of plurality in the Godhead is a mystery. Instead, it affirms in the strongest terms that God is one. Why resort to an explanation that the Godhead is an incomprehensible mystery in order to protect a man-made doctrine with nonbiblical terminology, when the Scriptures plainly give us a simple, unambiguous message that God is absolutely one? It is wrong to state that the Godhead is a mystery when the Bible clearly states that God has revealed the mystery to us.

God is inseparably One in essence. Otherwise Jesus couldn't do all He saw the Father doing. Can you do all that the Father is doing? Can you even see all the Father is doing? And if Jesus and the Father are both doing, how are they the same person?
Using the argument that the Jews wouldn't understand is a spurious argument. They didn't understand much at all about anything. They didn't even understand that God would take on flesh and suffer, yet it was in scripture all along.
I agree that speaking of God in terms of language is inadequate to do justice to all God is. But God refers to Himself as a person. Are we greater than God?
Speaking of God in plurality may offend your sensibilities, but it doesn't violate scripture. It actually reflects scripture. And you may see it as polytheism, but multiple God's are never said to be the same in character and essence. In fact, polytheism clearly distinguishes gods by characteristics.
And enumerating the different roles of the Godhead doesn't necessitate any lessening of God's infinite abilities. The opposite is true. It reveals more of what God is capable of doing and enlarges upon and reveals in greater depth His attributes.

That is excellent information thank you so much. Help my understanding of why or how (other than what I've stated) church history arrived at persons of God rather than an understanding that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is one God who has revealed Himself as Father in creation, Son in redemption, and Holy Ghost in regeneration.

The recognition of these three manifestations does not imply that God is limited to three manifestations or that a threeness exists in the nature of God. Moreover, there is not a total distinction of one manifestation from another. For example, God was the Holy Spirit back at creation and used His role as Spirit in creation (Genesis 1:2). Furthermore, God used His role as Son—that is, He depended upon His plan for the future Sonship—back at creation (Hebrews 1:2). God is our Father in regeneration as well as creation, because by the new birth we become the spiritual children of God.

We cannot confine God to three or any other number of specific roles and titles. Neither can we sharply divide Him, because He is one. Even His titles and roles overlap. He may manifest Himself in many ways, but He is one and only one being.

How then can we address God in a way that describes everything He is? What name includes the many roles and attributes of God? Of course, we could simply use the term God or the Old Testament name Jehovah. However, we have a new name revealed to us—the name of Jesus. When we use the name of Jesus, we encompass everything that God is. Jesus is the revelation of Father, Son, and Spirit. Jesus summarizes all the compound names of Jehovah. Jesus is everything that God is. Whatever roles or manifestations God has, they are all in Jesus (Colossians 2:9). We can use the name Jesus for God Himself, for it denotes the totality of God’s character, attributes, and self-revelation.

I am trying at my best to put aside all preconceived notions of any philosophical thought, denomination, and traditions and only use documented historical facts and Biblical authority. I just want to deeply know for the sake of seeking Truth.

If you are truly seeking only truth, forget everything else but the word,get alone before God, humble yourself, and ask for wisdom. Then be alert. He will reveal Himself. Since there are none who seek for God on a spiritual level apart from a work of God in the heart, you will surely find Him. If your search is merely an intellectual one to satisfy the conscience, then you will not, because the world through wisdom knows not God.

That is precisely the point I am trying to make not to use the wisdom of this world through vain philosophies, but to adhere to what the Bible says.

Colossians 2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

This refers to a specific type of philosophy that is based on human tradition and the basic principles of the world, rather than on Christ. "Vain deceit" implies falsehood or empty deception—teachings that appear wise but lack true spiritual value.

"after the tradition of men" This phrase emphasizes that the philosophies in question are rooted in human traditions rather than divine revelation. They are man-made ideas (Greek philosophy the Trinity is based on) that may contradict or undermine the teachings of Christ.

Tertullian the father of the Trinity said this:

The simple, indeed (I will not call them unwise and unlearned), who always constitute the majority of believers, are startled at the dispensation (of the Three in One), on the very ground that their very Rule of Faith withdraws them from the world’s plurality of gods to the one only true God; not understanding that, although He is the one only God, He must yet be believed in with His own economy. The numerical order and distribution of the Trinity, they assume to be a division of the Unity.

He had the majority of the know Christian world opposed to his rather radical and greek borrowed philosophy.

Tertullian became a follower of Montanus, who claimed to be the last prophet before the end of the world and whom the institutional church deemed to be a heretic. Tertullian eventually began to praise celibacy and condemn marriage. In the end, he was excommunicated along with the rest of the Montanists.

I am researching and finding through historical facts and biblical understanding (to the best of my ability) this information. It makes me wonder about how we allowed greek (vain) philosophical thought and terms dictate how we interpret Scripture. When Scripture will always interpret itself. Its just some have to see the revelation that is already there.

You should also reject history. While it may tell you who believed what, it, too, often tends to bias one in pursuit of truth. No one in history has gotten everything correct...except Jesus or those while they were writing under inspiration.

I take horseradish capsules to clear my lungs. In moderation you might find it helpful.

First, I am a United Pentecostal church minister. By definition I am monotheistic.

Second, if you look through my post history you will not find anything where I am debating monotheism versus trinitarianism.

Why, you may ask, would I neglect so important a topic?

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Well, go ahead. You may ask...

Because it never does any good! I have never seen anybody change anybody's mind about this topic, never, on any thread where anybody has ever discussed it in the entire history of this forum.

You need to do something better with your time. Work at a soup kitchen. Tell people jokes and brighten their day. Shoot, even playing video games is better than yelling at people about this.

I am sorry to hear that... my lungs cause me problems also, and it affects a lot of what I do or cannot do.
That is interesting about the horseradish. I drink licorice tea because it is supposed to be good for general lung support.

Licorice helps as well but it isn’t good for folks with high blood pressure.

Do you believe the things i'm saying are true. And if so why are there so many people unwilling to search and believe the truth of Scripture. Especially knowing where the greek (pagan) thought process of the Trinity comes from. I think it could possibly be the greatest deception of the enemy to the Church. So much of time in history has flooded the minds of so many and my hope and prayers are that what I say here may find ears to hear and eyes to see what God has to say through His word. That is why i am careful when saying something to have scripture to prove it.

The trinity came up around 325-ish AD, to try to bring all the gnostics into the church. That's a matter of historical fact.

But look around. Look at this very thread. Are you doing any good here? Convinced anybody lately? Changed any beliefs yet?

All this thread has accomplished is to boost your ego by shouting about how you are right and they are wrong. And trinitarians have pitched in with a will, boosting their own egos by shouting back at you about how right they are and how wrong you are.

Has this thread been worth it so far? Think it's a great use of time and forum server space, do you?

Anytime I can speak the Truth of God's word is never a waste of time. My hope is for an honest look into what is being said and discuss from a true biblical perspective so we all can come to the knowledge of the Truth.

Which State do you preach in, if you do not mind?

In my family there are 3 cousins who are current UPC pastors and I know another 10+ from visiting churches with my cousins. Also have family members ordained with ALJC. I am Independent, no Denomination. Was just wondering the State you pastor in to see if you knew any of my family

List of names I have known/met from the UPC
Henson
Munson
Cottrill
Cox
Hodges
MacLeod
Faulkner
Baird
Hoffman


Just to name a few

He logged.
Oh well!