A Trinitarian Statement

Praxeas · #1 09-06-2007, 07:14 PM

This is a statement found on a website
Spirit of Fire Evangelistic Ministries

We Believe:
In the One True God, who reveals Himself in three distinct persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Three being one and equal and eternally self existent as the Great "I AM."
http://www.spiritoffire.org/statementoffaith.html

I wonder how many Trinitarians agreed?

My question here is this...if a "he" is a person why do Trinitarians so often say "reveals HIMSELF in three distint persons"? as though God is one person revealed in three persons? Why not say "reveals itself"? Or why say that at all since revealing might be best said to be an attribute of a person....why not say "Father, Son and Holy Ghost reveals themselves as God"?

Darcie · #2 09-06-2007, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

This is a statement found on a website
Spirit of Fire Evangelistic Ministries

We Believe:
In the One True God, who reveals Himself in three distinct persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Three being one and equal and eternally self existent as the Great "I AM."
http://www.spiritoffire.org/statementoffaith.html

I wonder how many Trinitarians agreed?

My question here is this...if a "he" is a person why do Trinitarians so often say "reveals HIMSELF in three distint persons"? as though God is one person revealed in three persons? Why not say "reveals itself"? Or why say that at all since revealing might be best said to be an attribute of a person....why not say "Father, Son and Holy Ghost reveals themselves as God"?

Because as many have said in the past, not too many "Trinnies" believe in 3 Gods!

Praxeas · #3 09-06-2007, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darcie

Because as many have said in the past, not too many "Trinnies" believe in 3 Gods!

Im not sure how that pertains to my point or question. If the pronoun HE refers to person as is often said by Trinitarians, then aren't they saying One person is Three persons? Not sure where the three gods comes into this.

Darcie · #4 09-06-2007, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Im not sure how that pertains to my point or question. If the pronoun HE refers to person as is often said by Trinitarians, then aren't they saying One person is Three persons? Not sure where the three gods comes into this.

Most use persons like we use manifestations. I guess I didn't read throughly, (sound familiar?).

Praxeas · #5 09-06-2007, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darcie

Most use persons like we use manifestations. I guess I didn't read throughly, (sound familiar?).

Im gonna see if I can persuade Dan to take a quick pic or your knees

Darcie · #6 09-07-2007, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Im gonna see if I can persuade Dan to take a quick pic or your knees

Prax, I'm glad to see this lighter side of you!

mizpeh · #7 09-06-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

This is a statement found on a website
Spirit of Fire Evangelistic Ministries

We Believe:
In the One True God, who reveals Himself in three distinct persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Three being one and equal and eternally self existent as the Great "I AM."
http://www.spiritoffire.org/statementoffaith.html

I wonder how many Trinitarians agreed?

My question here is this...if a "he" is a person why do Trinitarians so often say "reveals HIMSELF in three distinct persons"? as though God is one person revealed in three persons? Why not say "reveals itself"? Or why say that at all since revealing might be best said to be an attribute of a person....why not say "Father, Son and Holy Ghost reveals themselves as God"?

If they want to be consistent, then maybe it should be worded like this: In the One True God, who is revealed in three distinct persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Three being one and equal and eternally self existent as the Great "I AM".

No matter how you slice it, it doesn't make sense. Three distinct persons who can each say "I AM", but yet there is only one "I AM"

Do you notice how they also use the words, one and God, with multiple meanings in the same two sentences? Ambiguity and equivocation. The One True God....One as in Number, God as in nature.... and then...one and equal...one as in unity...and then God the Father.....God as in identity! It makes your head spin.

#8 09-06-2007, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizpeh

If they want to be consistent, then maybe it should be worded like this: In the One True God, who is revealed in three distinct persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Three being one and equal and eternally self existent as the Great "I AM".

No matter how you slice it, it doesn't make sense. Three distinct persons who can each say "I AM", but yet there is only one "I AM"

Do you notice how they also use the words, one and God, with multiple meanings in the same two sentences? Ambiguity and equivocation. The One True God....One as in Number, God as in nature.... and then...one and equal...one as in unity...and then God the Father.....God as in identity! It makes your head spin.

You mean like one cluster of grapes means there is only one grape? Or, like one body of Christ is only one person? Or how a man and a woman becomes "ONE" flesh? (speaking spiritually not physically).

mizpeh · #9 09-08-2007, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Believer

You mean like one cluster of grapes means there is only one grape? Or, like one body of Christ is only one person? Or how a man and a woman becomes "ONE" flesh? (speaking spiritually not physically).

Let me try this again:

Quote:

In the One [ to most people this implies a numerical one] True God [to most people this implies identity or a "Who "], who reveals Himself in three distinct persons ; God [ identity] the Father, God [identity] the Son, and God [identity] the Holy Spirit. The Three being one [a united one similar to how husband and wife are one flesh] and equal and eternally self existent as the Great "I [ implies one singular identity not a united one] AM."
http://www.spiritoffire.org/statementoffaith.html

The equivocation of terms here is evident. Does this answer your question?
Your examples are not what I mean. I know you are being facetious. Especially with spiritual flesh!

You go ahead and try to decipher this definition of the Trinity and define the words, God and one, as you go. Because the definitions change and thus the ambiguity.

#10 09-08-2007, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Let me try this again:

The equivocation of terms here is evident. Does this answer your question?
Your examples are not what I mean. I know you are being facetious. Especially with spiritual flesh!

You go ahead and try to decipher this definition of the Trinity and define the words, God and one, as you go. Because the definitions change and thus the ambiguity.

What is there to define? I can only show you scripture. Persons talk to each other, persons love each other, person have relationships with each other. All these apply to the Person of the Son and the Person of the Father. Natures are attributes; natures don't love or talk, or sing, or pray. Persons do. It really is that simple.