Why do sola scriptura protestants believe in the Trinity?

[Curious_Hobbit]

Where in the bible is the doctrine of the Trinity mentioned? Where is it explicitly defined? Where does it say that there are 3 persons in 1 God?

What about Hypostatic union? Is that doctrine in the scriptures?

 

[jedicri]

Where in the bible is the doctrine of the Trinity mentioned? Where is it explicitly defined? Where does it say that there are 3 persons in 1 God?

What about Hypostatic union? Is that doctrine in the scriptures?

The Trinity may be discerned in Genesis 1: 1-3 in light of John 1: 1-3, 14 and Rev 1: 8.

*Gen 1:-3
[1]In the beginning God created heaven, and earth. [2] And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters. [3] And God said: Be light made. And light was made.

Jn 1: 1-3, 14
[1]In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made; … [14] And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Apoc 1: 8
[8]I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.*

In the Apocalypse, Jesus identifies Himself as *“the beginning”. * St. John in his Gospel identifies Jesus as the “Word” of God made flesh and that nothing was made without Him. Now if one were to substitute the words “the beginning” in Genesis with Jesus’ name, we would have the following: In Jesus, God created heaven, and earth.

The Holy Spirit is already present with the words “and the spirit of God moved over the waters.” And so we have the Holy Trinity present at creation.
In Jesus, God created heaven, and earth…and the spirit of God moved over the waters.

Since Jesus is God’s mouthpiece here on earth, God the Father *“speaking,” * ie. “God said,” signifies creation through the Son, by the Holy Spirit since “it was good”.

 

[Dave_B]

The Trinity may be discerned in Genesis 1: 1-3 in light of John 1: 1-3, 14 and Rev 1: 8…

Agree 100% with what you said, but I dont think it addresses the question.

Why do sola scriptura protestants believe in the Trinity? Answer: because they are not really sola scriptura

 

[simspt]

Where in the bible is the doctrine of the Trinity mentioned? Where is it explicitly defined? Where does it say that there are 3 persons in 1 God?

What about Hypostatic union? Is that doctrine in the scriptures?

To my understanding the pro Nicenes argued that it was the proper interpretation behind the Scriptures and used the Scriptures as their guide and anchor so to speak always arguing to be faithful to the scriptures. The Arians did the same. This seems to have forced the use of un scriptural terms to be used. Your question somewhat implies the doctrine of the Trinity can not be found in its incipient form within the scriptures. I doubt this is your position. IMO however this does show (i think what you are touching on) that most doctrines can be traced to the NT but also go “beyond the NT” in the sense that you are describing. Athanasius is a good example. Other doctrines even more so.

 

[JonNC]

Where in the bible is the doctrine of the Trinity mentioned? Where is it explicitly defined? Where does it say that there are 3 persons in 1 God?

What about Hypostatic union? Is that doctrine in the scriptures?

What is your definition of sola scriptura, that these would be questions for you?

Jon

 

[Curious_Hobbit]

I knew that there were places in the scriptures that lay the foundation for the trinity, but not specifically define the Trinity. One place I took notice of was when I read Exodus. When Moses built the Tabernacle there was the Menorah with 7 tongues of fire, the bread of the presence, and the ark of the covenant inside. Thanks for giving me those those verses, that was pretty helpful!

However, I still don’t see how the sola scriptura advocates can possibly accept the doctrine of the Trinity. Though there are teachings in scripture that lay the foundation for the Trinity, I don’t see how they can take all the relevant passages and arrive at the conclusion that God is 3 distinct persons in 1 being.

It’s just frustrating for me because John 6:48-64 clearly demonstrates the real presence of the Eucharist, but when I bring that up to some people they say the passage does not explicitly define transubstantiation.

 

[Curious_Hobbit]

What is your definition of sola scriptura, that these would be questions for you?

Jon

From what I understand Sola Scriptura is the belief that the bible alone by itself contains everything needed to define the Christian faith, without giving any weight to sacred tradition. Is that an accurate definition? How do you define it?

 

[JonNC]

=Curious Hobbit;7546152] However, I still don’t see how the sola scriptura advocates can possibly accept the doctrine of the Trinity. Though there are teachings in scripture that lay the foundation for the Trinity, I don’t see how they can take all the relevant passages and arrive at the conclusion that God is 3 distinct persons in 1 being.

They lay the foundation of the doctrine so clearly, that the early council and the creeds properly reflected scripture. This is precisely how sola scriptura works.

It’s just frustrating for me because John 6:48-64 clearly demonstrates the real presence of the Eucharist, but when I bring that up to some people they say the passage does not explicitly define transubstantiation.

Actually, these are 2 issues. One being the real presence, the other being Transubstantiation.
The accounts of the Last Supper in the Gospels and later by Paul even more clearly demonstrate the real presence of the body and blood in the Eucharist. Christ clearly says, this IS my body. The bread is His body! However, in none of these accounts is Christ explicit, or even implicit, regarding substance and accidents. In fact, He leaves it a mystery how mere bread, by His words, spoken by the pastor/priest, and the power of the Holy Spirit becomes His true and substantial body.

Jon

 

[Curious_Hobbit]

They lay the foundation of the doctrine so clearly, that the early council and the creeds properly reflected scripture. This is precisely how sola scriptura works.

Can you please give some examples? I’d like to learn more about this from a sola scriptura perspective.

Actually, these are 2 issues. One being the real presence, the other being Transubstantiation.
The accounts of the Last Supper in the Gospels and later by Paul even more clearly demonstrate the real presence of the body and blood in the Eucharist. Christ clearly says, this IS my body. The bread is His body! However, in none of these accounts is Christ explicit, or even implicit, regarding substance and accidents. In fact, He leaves it a mystery how mere bread, by His words, spoken by the pastor/priest, and the power of the Holy Spirit becomes His true and substantial body.

Jon

Thanks for the clarification. I should have stated the Real presence gets denied as well as transubstantiation.

 

[JonNC]

Thanks for the clarification. I should have stated the Real presence gets denied as well as transubstantiation.

Yes, by some it does. And, frankly, I’m confused how they come to that conclusion.

Can you please give some examples? I’d like to learn more about this from a sola scriptura perspective.

Sure.
Infant Baptism is approved by the historic Church Catholic, and is well enough implied by scripture that it is reflective of scripture ("go into all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit), etc.

Confession to a pastor/priest confessor is approved by the binding and loosing.

Jon

 

[janman55]

I believe Archbishop Sheen used that following verses as the earliest and simplest example of where the Trinity is revealed. In the first verse He refers to God in the plural “our” and in the very next verse singular.

From Gen 1…

26Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

 

[mackbrislawn]

Agree 100% with what you said, but I dont think it addresses the question.

Why do sola scriptura protestants believe in the Trinity? Answer: because they are not really sola scriptura

Good point.

I heard an evangelical once say that the Trinity is taught in the scriptures, but not defended in the scriptures. I think that is true.

So, this means the Trinity can be inferred by means thorough study of scriptures. However, thorough study requires a long time, and also requires a complete collection of biblical manuscripts at hand.

Now, what I find interesting is that, nevertheless, belief in Jesus as God existed in the writings of Ignatius about the year 110, well before there could have been much systematic exegesis of NT scripture. Even if all NT scriptures were available to the researcher, which they could not have been, since agreement on what NT scriptures actually were, was several centuries away.

So, if not through scriptural exegisis, how could the early Christians believe in the deity of Jesus? It could only be through traditional apostolic teaching. That is, Jesus’ divinity (and that of the HS) was taught orally by the apostles and their successors verbally to the churches. The early Christians did not, and could not, read their bibles to find this out! In other words, the early Chrisitans were not sola scriptura. It would have been impossible for them to be that way.

However, since later Christians had the correct apostolic teaching regarding Jesus, they were subsequently able to correctly understand the NT scriptures in regards to Jesus.

Unfortunately, many of those who in later centuries rejected the idea of apostolic tradition, and consequently did not have benefit of it, relying only on scripture, have come up with all sorts of ideas of who Jesus is. Some of them deny Jesus’ divinity, such as Unitarians and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some, by going by bible only, even say He is Michael the Archangel! Some say He wasn’t even bodily resurrected. And so on.

In summary, for those who already know that Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, see the Trinity clearly in scripture. But, for those who don’t have that prior knowledge, the ignorant, it is not at all clear.

 

[FaithfulAndTrue]

Agree 100% with what you said, but I dont think it addresses the question.

Why do sola scriptura protestants believe in the Trinity? Answer: because they are not really sola scriptura

Here are some scriptural examples…

Plurality of God

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Gen 1:1)

The Hebrew word used for “God” is “Elohiym” which is a 3 or more plural form of the word “God”.

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.” (Gen 1:26)

Again, Elohiym is the word used for God and also notice the words “Us” and “Our” are used instead of “Me” and “My”.

Plurality & Oneness of God

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:2-3)

Elohiym is used again for the word “God” but here the word “Me” is used instead of “Us” and notice the use of “I” in the “I am…”. Many gods (Elohiym, plural) and one god (I am/Me, singular) are both stated.

These examples of Elohiym are usually overlooked because it’s not so obvious in the English translation.

Trinity Examples

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders ; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

“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 48:16)

Note that the Messiah is speaking through Isaiah in 48:16.

After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water ; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)

All three persons are present at the same time in Matthew 3:16-17.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)

But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God ; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55-56)

All three persons are present at the same time in Acts 7:55-56.

 

[benidict]

some kabbalist who are mystical Jews were accused of believing in more than 3 in one…

 

[VeniEmmanuel]

It’s just frustrating for me because John 6:48-64 clearly demonstrates the real presence of the Eucharist, but when I bring that up to some people they say the passage does not explicitly define transubstantiation.

The passage does not explicitly define transubstantiation, as a believer in the real presence does not necessarily need to believe in transubstantiation.

 

[East_Anglican]

1 Corinthians 12:4-6
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Ephesians 3:16-17
16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Ephesians 4:6
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.