Mike Owens
PO Box 852
Albion Mi 49224
http://www.bcity.com/graphotech
DocGraphy@yahoo.com
I believe in the One Ever Living, Eternal God: infinite in power, holy in nature, attributes and purpose; and possessing absolute, indivisible deity. This One True God has revealed Himself in separate and distinct forms as Father in authority, as Son in redemption and as the Holy Spirit in power; three separate and distinct individuals, originating from the same absolute indivisible essence.
Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Ex 20:3Not counting the nearly 2500 usages of 'elohim and 'adonay, there are 201 separate references to the Godhead in Scripture. Though it is true, none of these references directly state this doctrine, it is still implied through what is said and can be reasonably assessed without having to do great maneuvering or twisting. A close look at these verses should show what I mean.God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent:hath He said, and shall He not doit? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good? Nu 23:19
And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness... So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him, male and female created He them. Ge 1:26,27A literal translation of this would be: Let Us make man in Our image (b'salmenu),... So God created man in Their own image ( b'salmo). in the image of God created He them. This is a justified translation of this phrase since in the second half So God created man in Their own image the word for image salem has the plural ending showing ownership. For instance, in Exodus we read: ...sacrifice unto the LORD our God1. The word for our God is 'elohenu. A look at any concordance will show that this is the same as 'elohim, with the enu ending. This ending in the Hebrew shows ownership, literally of us and is usually translated our. In like manner the o ending in the word b'salmo is the third person past tense plural form of the regular verb salem and is usually translated they.
Secondly, in Hebrew poetry the second line of a verse corresponds with the first, making the second line say the same thing in different words. In like manner, the phrase Let Us Make in the first part of the verse corresponds with the phrase So God created in the second part of the verse, and the phrase in Our image of the first part of the verse corresponds with the phrase in His own image in the second part of the verse. Therefore, a fair reading of this passage would be: So God created man in Their image.
There is the third person plural endings to 'elohim (enu: of us, our)and salem (O: their). There is the correspondence of meaning in the poetic language. All of this implies a triune nature to God, which would be further strengthened by the triune nature of man: body, soul and spirit.
What is the b'salmo'elohenu? A triune nature:1) man has a physical body, God has a physical body2.Can God paint any clearer a picture of His triune nature then this? God is describing Himself throughout Scripture with words that make Him like man. This is not to belittle God or to elevate man, this is said only to show what b'salmo 'elohenu is, a triune nature. It can be argued that God only used phrases such as these to communicate with man in words and images he could understand, that is why God spoke as having a body, or arms, or legs, or eyes. But this is an insult! It insults the greatness, the power, the creativeness of God, it insults the intellegence and wisdom of man who was created in God's image! How could someone have the amazing ability to name everything God had created, the birds, the animals, the fish, the bugs, everything5, and still not have reasoning power to comprehend what his Creator was talking about? God created man to communicate with Him.
2)Man has a soul (emotions), God has a soul (emotions)3.
3) Man has a spirit, God has a Spirit4.
It is a proven fact of nature that the farther one gets from the original parent, the weaker and more degenerate the offspring. It is no different with man: Adam was created in the image of God with the wisdom and intellegence surpassed only by God, yet we who are so very far removed from the original parent dare to think that our understanding of what God is saying to us is so much greater? Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord:6, but first I will have to wait until you can fully understand Me.
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of Us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Ge 3:22A literal translation of this verse would be: the (YHVH elohim) said, the man has become (hayah: has as opposed to hayita was v. 1, 2; heyot should be v 2:18) , in unity (b'ehad) with Us (mimehnu, the plural nu ending), to know good and evil....
The divine council's centering on man had first taken place long before the beginning of time7. On the sixth day of creation another such council took place to discuss the creation of man, and God's ancient plan took form. Now the inner council of the triune Godhead meets to again discuss man's future, his expulsion from the Garden and the tree of life. As before, the divine unity is stressed, YHVH 'elohim said; while also showing the plurality of persons, the man has become as one of Us. God is not talking to the angels here, He is talking to an equal; He is not talking to a created being, but to the Creator. God is talking to the other members of the Godhead.
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto Me, Thou art my son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ps 2:7I will declare the decree I will inscribe into Law ('asah rah'eh hok YHVH the Law of God). God has written in stone (Ex 24:12), this day have I begotten You. Which day? The day that the divine council of God first established Their plan for man7. God's Son was established on this day. God's Son was in physical form on this day. God's Son was in communication to the Father on this day. God's Son was God on this day8.
Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: the scepter of Thy kingdom is a right scepter: Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. Ps 45:6O God ('elohim)... God, Thy God ('elohim 'elohimqa); this is obviously referring to Christ (He 1:8), yet it clearly states ...God, Your God has anointed You... and in all three uses the word for God is 'elohim. This verse is talking about two separate and disticnt individuals and at the same time using the same word as each of their names, 'elohim.
{A psalm of David} The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. Ps 110:1Any time you see the word LORD or GOD in the KJV Bible, it is the word YHVH. This verse, like the one preceding it, is a prophecy of Christ, and was used by Christ (Mt 22:44) when He asked the Pharisees whose son was the Messiah and they answered David's. He answered them, How then does David in Spirit call Him Lord?, then quotes this verse. Surely Christ must have known what He was talking about. If He did not intend to say that He was the Lord, if He did not intend to say that He was before David, for David in Spirit called Him Lord, if He did not intend to say that He was in communication with another individual who was also called God, then His statement was truly misleading at best.
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory, Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us? Then said I, Here am I, send me. Is 6:3Holy, Holy, Holy, is YHVH ...and the voice of 'adonay saying. Again, the name that testifies of His self-existing character, and the name that stresses His triune nature are united in the same verse. There is also the use of Us at the end of the verse, who is Us if not the three members of the Godhead?. Coupled with this is the Jewish idiom of repeating something to give it emphasis. In English we have good, better, best, in Hebrew they simply repeat the word, the more times, the more emphasis. Verily, verily, Christ is on earth giving testimony, God the Father and God the Holy Spirit are in heaven verifying that testimony. In other words, the idiom itself is a by-product of the testimony of the Godhead, each member giving His testimony.
And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD; and shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears: Is 11:2This verse is a prophecy of Christ, therefore it automaticly refers to two members of the Godhead, but it goes further then this in that it says the Spirit of YHVH shall rest upon Him9. John the Baptist saw (iedon)the heavens ripped opened (szhizomenous) and the Holy Spirit (to pneuma to agion)of God descending in the bodily form (somatko eidei:corporel shape) of a dove. Then originating in heaven (genesthai), he heard the voice of God the Father saying You are My Son, The Beloved. This is definitely the worse deception ever played upon man since the serpent in the Garden of Eden if it does not intend to show three separate and distinct individuals operating in unison AS GOD.
Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My Spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. Is 42:1hinneh 'av diy 'et maqbo b'here ratztah napshe Behold! My Servant whom I support, My Chosen, whom I am pleased with in My soul. We would say Behold! My Child whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased. Pay close attention, this is important! This is My Chosen Son whom I support, My soul is filled with pleasure by Him. I have given My Spirit upon Him. This passage, both in the original and in the quote, is talking about three separate and distinct individuals;I, My Son, My Spirit. God is not the author of confusion, God is not a man that He should lie. With this in mind, can this be taken for anything else beside the triune Godhead?
Come ye near unto Me, hear this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and His Spirit, hath sent Me. Is 48:16This is a prophecy of Christ, spoken in the first person (so it is Christ speaking). Two statements are made by Christ which are significant. First, Let us look at the phrase from the time that it was, there am I. This should read from the time that it was, there I am, this phrase is very similar to the one found in John10, Christ is making a direct statement to being God, IAM! That is why the Pharisees were ready to stone Him, because He was saying He was God. It is the same here, from the beginning, IAM.
Secondly is the phrase . The Lord God ('adonay YHVH), that's one; and His Spirit, that's two; has sent Me, that's three. Three separate and distinct individuals are mentioned in this verse: God, His Spirit, and Christ (IAM).
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek ; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; Is 61:1, 2; Lk 4:18This is another prophecy of Christ and was quoted by Christ as pertaining to Him11. Christ is speaking in this prophecy: The Spirit of 'adonay YHVH is upon Me, because YHVH has anointed Me. We, as Christians, are anointed with the Holy Spirit to empower us for our ministry, just as Christ was anointed by the Holy spirit at His baptizm12. This involves the Holy Spirit dwelling within the believer in full power, guiding him and directing him. Therefore this prophecy is referring to three separate and distinct individuals: YHVH, the speaker (Christ) and the Holy Spirit. The verse goes on to say to proclaim the day of vengeance of our God. The word here for our God is 'elohenu. If you will remember 'elohenu is the plural of 'eloah used with a singular verb, which shows the triune nature of God. When Christ read this prophecy in His hometown as referring to Him, the people were ready to stone Him, because they knew what this passage was referring to. Yet He clearly states, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your eyes.
In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled, and vexed His Holy Spirit: therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them. Is 63:9, 10; He 4:15The passage actually says in all their affliction He was not a foe and the Angel of His presence saved them. YHVH sent the Angel of His presence to save them. This Angel is none other then Christ Himself. In v. :8 God became their Savior, or moshayah (messiah). This is from the same root from which we get yeshuah (Joshuah, which means salvation), the proper name of Christ. That this Angel is Christ is beyond doubt, for He is given all the attributes of God13. But for all that God had done, they rebelled and provoked His Holy Spirit. What does this passage say then? there is God, the Angel of His presence, and His Holy Spirit, three separate and distinct individuals.
This covers the major texts in the Old Testament, now we will move into the New Testament. For most people opposed to the Trinity doctrine the New Testament carries far less wieght then does the Old Testament, for they maintain that it is a New Testament doctrine and there is no reference to it in the Old Testament. But I have covered the major Old Testament verses carefully and have shown that they do indeed speak of the Godhead, therefore, the testimony of the New Testament is only support for the testimony already given. Women were never used as witnesses in Christ's day, for their testimony was considered unreliable, yet they are the first witnesses mentioned concerning the resurrection of Christ because the Disciples felt that their proof had already been given and they didn't need the women's testimony to prove their case. So it is here, I offer the New Testament only as supporting evidence to a case already proven.
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