BIBLICAL BRIEFS 53
The doctrine regarding the Trinity, is often presented as non-negotiable. Let’s start off by saying that the term “Trinity” is nowhere used in Scripture. As a matter of fact, it is explicitly stated in Deut. 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.” The Jewish Publication Society Bible translates it as follows: “HEAR, O ISRAEL: THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE.” Even when Jesus has to answer this question, it is undeniably clear: “one of the scribes asked Him: ‘Which commandment is the most important of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD.’” (Mark 12:28-29). ‘Trinity’ is merely an erroneous term which is theologically used as an attempt to describe the essence of the generative Deity. In Gen. 1: 1, the noun, God, truly has to be translated as Elohim – it is a plural noun meaning, “more than one God”, or literally “Gods”. The Complete Word Study Dictionary explains it as follows: “A masculine plural noun meaning God, gods, judges, angels. Occurring more than 2,600 times in the Old Testament, this word commonly designates the one true God.” It is important to understand that God in essence, is alone and therefore lonely. Therefore, it is so prominent that from all possible names that God could choose for himself, He chooses the name “Father” (2Sam. 4:17). The name Father, necessarily implicates descendants and relationship. Therefore, the verse with regard to Jesus, who is “begotten” (John 3:16), appears no less than five times in Scripture: “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You” (Ps. 2:7; Act. 13:33; Heb. 1:5 and 5:5) and points out the two Figures as Jehovah-God and His Son, Jesus, in whom both the Spirit of God resides. Before time and creation existed, the only God made a decision and bowed into Himself and from his Being begot a Son (John 1:18). God “generated a Son” for one very important reason – “He sought a Godly offspring” (Mal. 2:15)! In short: God, as the ONLY LORD is still the Only Truth, but the One-ness gave birth to a Son who exactly resembles Him, and thus fashioned an offspring for Him, who is exactly like Him. God’s eternal dream is an “offspring” (Isa. 53:10). God decided that He will bring forth a seed according to his Image, “who will do according to what is in my heart and in my soul” (1Sam. 2:35). The devout in his time condemned Jesus “because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God”. Jesus answers them in the following verse that it is written in the law, “I said you are gods.” He then emphasizes: “Scripture cannot be broken”, hence it applies to everyone who is born- again from the Son – we clearly are part of the Elohim.
Dr. Tom Gouws
