PPM, let’s say I’m a stranger — someone brand new in the faith, just starting to learn about God. If I came to you and asked, 'Can you show me who or what the Trinity is from the Bible?' how would you answer me?
Very simple, just look at the book of the bible, that you say you follow the OT is about the Father, and the NT is about the Son and the Holy Spirit, now, we are living in the times of the Holy Spirit in the Church
When you view the Bible as a whole, you can see the presence of the Trinity throughout both the Old and New Testaments, just a simple look, the OT predominantly emphasizes the Father, and the NT reveals the Son and the Holy Spirit, all three persons are present and at work throughout the biblical narrative. For example, Genesis 1:26 ("Let us make man in our image") suggests a plurality within the Godhead, The Father sends the Son (John 3:16), and the Son promises the sending of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). Each person of the Trinity plays a distinct yet unified role in God's plan of salvation. this distinctive roles that you need to understand in regards to our salvation to understand the Trinity
One God, Three Persons:
Christianity is monotheistic, meaning it teaches the existence of only one God.
Within the one divine essence, God exists as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity is fully and completely God, yet they are not three separate gods, or the same Person
The Father: Is the creator and sustainer of the universe, the Father is the source of the Godhead. He is associated with authority and love.
The Son (Jesus Christ): The Son is both fully divine and fully human. Jesus was incarnated to redeem humanity through His life, death, and resurrection. He reveals the nature of God to humanity.
The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the active presence of God in the world today, guiding, comforting, and empowering believers. He plays a crucial role in the process of sanctification and the application of Jesus's teachings.
Matthew 28:19 includes the command to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, indicating a Trinitarian formula.
John 1:1-14 speaks to the divinity of Christ, stating that "the Word was God" and "the Word became flesh," affirming Jesus's divine nature.
2 Corinthians 13:14 references all three persons in a blessing, showing their relational aspect.
The term "Trinity" helped to distinguish Christian belief from various heretical views, including Arianism, which denied the full divinity of the Son. By formalizing the concept of the Trinity, early theologians sought to communicate a coherent understanding of God that was faithful to the teachings of Scripture and the apostolic tradition.
Now,
Why is it deemed inappropriate for me to reference the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, its Councils, and its longstanding traditions? After all, Christ established a church, and truth is fundamentally unchanging.
Who determines the rules that guide our discussions? It seems to me that you impose your own standards in a way that aligns with your personal beliefs.
Furthermore, why do you continue to draw from Protestant traditions in your arguments? Do you genuinely believe that your citations are strictly derived from the Bible? I assure you; they are not. Much of what you reference mirrors the interpretations commonly held by Protestant denominations. It is important to recognize that you haven't independently arrived at these conclusions from the bible alone; they are shaped by the broader Protestant tradition rather than an unbiased examination of scripture.
Although the Bible is undeniably a foundational text for Christian faith, the Church, along with its Councils and historical context, plays an essential role in effectively interpreting and living out that faith. These elements guide us through the complexities of life, promote doctrinal unity, and cultivate a supportive community of believers that strengthens the body of Christ.
While the Bible serves as a crucial source for Christian doctrine, it is not inherently self-explanatory. Various denominations and individuals such as yourself often arrive at differing interpretations of Scripture. The teachings and traditions of the Church establish a framework that allows for a clearer and more consistent understanding of the Bible. This is especially important when addressing complex theological issues and moral dilemmas that may arise."
The Church serves as the living body of Christ on Earth. It was established by Jesus to guide believers, provide community, and interpret Scripture.The Church helps maintain a continuity of faith and practice that goes back to the apostles and their teachings, assuring that the message of the Gospel remains authentic and relevant across generations.
Understanding the history of the Church is critical. Councils throughout history have addressed essential questions of faith, clarified doctrines, and unified believers, from all the heresies that rose up during the ages of time, these gatherings were ecumenical discussions that helped define foundational Christian beliefs even giving us the canon to which we hold today in shaping our believe, such as the nature of Christ and the Trinity—that are central to Christianity today.
And no not at all, I do not fear the "word" not at all, what gets me is the different spin that people put on it and then maintain that they are right and everybody else is wrong, stubbornly digging in and doing mental gymnasium, citing straws to justify their existence with never-ending tit for tat and bickering bible bashing each other which has been going on for 500 years, telling Catholics not to cite CC teaching while all along they cite Protestant teaching and tradition of man invented in the last 500 years.
The sad part is they cannot see what themselves are actually doing, yet tell others not to do it
