Is God A Trinity PDF - Church of God Faithful Flock

Is the Trinity Bibhcal'? 19philosophy of the time- that was accepted by the Churchin the early part of the fourth century - over threehundred years after Christ's death.Even theologians recognize that the Trinity is a creationof the fourth century, not the first!"There is recognition on the part of exegetist andBiblical theologians, including a constantly growing numberof Roman Catholics, that one should not speak ofTrinitarianism in the New Testament without seriousqualification. There is also the closely parallel recognition-that when one does speak of unqualified Trinitarianism,one has moved from the period of Christian origins to say,the last quadrant of the 4th century. It was only then thatwhat might be called the definitive Trinitarian dogma 'oneGod in three persons' became thoroughly assimilated intoChristian life and thought" (New Catholic Encyclopedia,article "Trinity," Vol. 14, p. 295).The Council of NicaeaIt was at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 that twomembers of the Alexandrian congregation, Arius, a priest,who believed that Christ was not a God, but a createdbeing; and Athanasius, a deacon who believed that theFather, Son and Spirit are the same being living in athreefold form (or in three relationships, as a man may beat the same time a father, a son and a brother), presentedtheir cases.The Council of Nicaea was not called by the churchleaders, as one might suppose. It was called by theEmperor Constantine. And he had a far-from-spiritualreason for wanting to solve the dispute that had arisen."In 325 the Emperor Constantine called an ecclesiasticalcouncil to meet at Nicaea in Bithynia. In thehope of securing for his throne the support of the growingbody of Christians he had shown them considerable favorand it was to his interest to have the church vigorous andunited. The Arian controversy was threatening its unityand menacing its strength. He therefore undertook to putan end to the trouble. It was suggested to him, perhaps bythe Spanish bishop Hosius who was influential at court,