Friday Night Apologetics 10/20/2006

Trinity Discussion - Unity of God

          Download

     We had a great discussion study in Paltalk on the topic of the Trinity called "Friday Night Apologetics Trinity Debate", and particularly discussed the Unity of God in the Old Testament.  We had people come to the microphone their thoughts and it was very good.  We towards the end had a non-Christian person attempt to discredit what was shared by us concerning Isaiah 48:12-16, but when examined his theory was proven wrong from Scripture.  You will enjoy this audio discussion as it had lots of information proving the Tri-Unity of God, especially from the Old Testament Scriptures in the Bible.  Any questions or comments please contact, God bless you.

     NOTES & INFO ON TRI-UNITY OF GOD IN OLD TESTAMENT

The Oneness of God could be one of the most misunderstood doctrines concerning the nature and identity of who God is.  In this lesson we will examine some key verses that bring forth clarity and understanding to the “Oneness of God” or what is called “Monotheism”.

• Monotheism is defined as, “The belief that there is the one true God.”

There are three major religious movements that believe in “Monotheism”

• Judaism believes in what called “Monotheism”

• Islam believes in what is called “Monotheism”

•  Christianity believes in what is called “Monotheism”

Do Judaism, Islam, and Christianity all have the accurate view on “Monotheism” concerning the nature of God?  No, Biblically specially only Christianity has an accurate view on monotheism concerning the nature of God, as what will be shown from the information in the notes following.

KEY SCRIPTURES

Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!"

This is a key verse for what is known as “Monotheism”.  The key to understanding this verse is having a accurate Biblical view on the word “one”.  The Hebrew word for “one” is the “echad” which means a compound unity and an absolute.  The Scriptures have this Hebrew word 'one' used in the Scriptures in reference to a unity.  Check out these verses and note how the word “one” (echad) is used in context.

“God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” (Gen. 1:5 NASB)

 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” (Gen. 2:24 NASB)

“The whole assembly numbered 42,360” (Ezra 2:64 NASB)

 Unfortunately there are people who view the nature and identity of God as being only “one” in number.  In Hebrew there is a word for “one” meaning number only, and that word is “yachid”.

God is not “one” in number only as some teach or believe.  If God was only “one” in number in reference to personage than Moses and other inspired writers would of used “yachid” instead of “echad” when addressing the nature of God.   It is very important to study what words mean in context.

“He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."” (Gen. 22:2 NASB)

 What is important about this verse is of importance.  The first part states "only son" in reference to Isaac, and the word there is "yachid" meaning only in reference to number.  When states "one of the mountains" that word one is "echad" which shows there were many mountains, thus a unity.  See the difference?  This truly is important to see.

“He said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."” (Gen. 22:12 NASB)

 “When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. Now she was his one {and} only child; besides her he had no son or daughter.” (Judges 11:34 NASB)

The Unity of God in the Old Testament is not fully understood until the revelation of the New Testament.  However when someone observes what the Old Testament Scriptures indicate it is clear that God has been identified in various areas as being in the plural.

 

• The Unity of God brings together clarity and understanding of the nature and identity of who God is.  Last week we examined “The Oneness of God” or what is called “Monotheism”.  This week we will be examining what the Old Testament Scriptures teach concerning God being more than one in personage.

KEY SCRIPTURES

Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:22; Genesis 11:7

“Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."” (Genesis 1:26 NASB)

“Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"”             (Genesis 3:22 NASB)

“"Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech."” (Genesis 11:7 NASB)

 The key to understanding these verses is that there is a “Unity of God” in the Scriptures for us to examine.  These Scriptures do not identify exactly who is being addressed, but it is clear there is more than one personage identified as God.

• Two personages identified as LORD?

This one is huge to see.  As we have seen Biblically God is one (echad) in unity and nature not number.  The following 2 Scripture references demonstrate that there is a unity of personages identified as God. 

“Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven” (Genesis 19:24 NASB)

Notice, the LORD rained fire and brimstone from the LORD...  Some will say no, this is not right, but check out Amos 4:10-11, and pay attention to the wording, very important!

“"I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt; I slew your young men by the sword along with your captured horses, And I made the stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils; Yet you have not returned to Me," declares the  LORD."I overthrew you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze; Yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD.”                       (Amos 4:10-11 NASB)

 The one speaking is identified as "the LORD" and states that "God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah", distinct from the One (LORD) speaking, wow!  What does this prove?  Does this prove Trinity?  It definitely does give support to the evidence of the unity of God being more than one in personage.  It proves that there are two identified as being called LORD, God, thus proving there is more than one in nature and identity as being God!

• Frequently Asked Questions

People ask, "Where do the Scriptures teach that there are three personages concerning the Tri-Unity of God in the Old Testament?"

“12 "Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last. 13 "Surely My hand founded the earth, And My right hand spread out the heavens; When I call to them, they stand together. 14 "Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them has declared these things? The LORD loves him; he will carry out His good pleasure on Babylon, And His arm will be against the Chaldeans. 15 "I, even I, have spoken; indeed I have called him, I have brought him, and He will make his ways successful. 16 "Come near to Me, listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, From the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit."” (Isaiah 48:12-16 NASB)

Notice the One speaking is identified as:  I am He; I am the first; I am the last; My hand founded the earth; My hand spread out the heavens; from the time it took place I was there...  What does this mean, what does this prove?  The one speaking is not Isaiah, that is clear.  The one speaking is clearly identified in reference to Deity, to say otherwise is to distort the Scriptures.  The One speaking was sent by the Lord God and His Spirit, what does this mean?  In these verses it does not say Trinity equals Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but from these Scriptures it seems to indicate that in doctrine.  This seems to be making reference to all three in reference to a Tri-Unity, though not explicit.  But there is strong reasons to believe this supports the doctrine of the Trinity.

• Unity of God is clearly Biblical and logical!

There are people to say the Tri-Unity is not Biblical and not logical, but that is not the case at all.  This information is given for people who were following along with our audio discussion and for further study notes for those who wish to examine this more.  If you have questions or comments please contact us, God bless you.