“If I knew what you meant by the term, I might tell you; but from the days of Athanasius until now all discussion about the Trinity has been an attempt to define the indefinable and the incomprehensible. Thousands have been put to death for not professing belief in a formula which even its professors could not comprehend, nor state in terms that anybody else could comprehend.”
I think this is a profound summary.
“The Scriptures reveal "One God and Father of all," our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the brightness of the Father's glory, and "the eternal Spirit" through whom Christ offered Himself and was raised from the dead; but we do not profess any knowledge of them beyond what the Scriptures give us. In teaching and preaching the Gospel we always confine ourselves strictly to Scripture terms and language; those who manufacture terms must be looked to for definitions of them.” He concluded “It is safest not to presume to define what the Bible has not defined, nor to attempt to explain infinite"
This also is profound IMO.
And also a conundrum.
Scripture IS written Knowledge.
Teachers teach the written word.
The listeners can thus Verify what they are taught with Scripture.
However ~
The Understanding of the Knowledge....
Understanding is Two-Fold.
1) from a mans MIND.
2) from the man receiving FROM GOD, Gods Understanding (which is rarely, if ever, the same as a mans MIND)
It is mans curious nature to delve into the Understanding of Scripture, and rarely is the Understanding IN the written Scriptures.
It is routinely, the Understanding that is "debated" among men....often to adnausim and ridiculousness.
The Correct Understanding IS ALWAYS Gods Understanding.
Gods Understanding IS ALWAYS a gift from God individually TO a man/person.
Two men WHO agree on the MINDUFL Understanding can AGREE and easily discuss their Understanding IN AGREEMENT.
Two men WHO have received Gods Understanding can AGREE and easily discuss their Understanding According to God, IN AGREEMENT.
(And young men, coming into Learning, or other outsiders Hearing the "DEBATE" {between the one who MINDFULLY and the other who SPIRITUALLY (via God) Understands}......such outsiders stand on the sideline listening....thinking and saying....
WHAT KIND OF CRAZY RELIGION is the Christianity, ya'll both say you AGREE to be part of....but yet have Completely DIFFERENT
VIEWS!)
To quote pastor Terry Hill.
In our discussions regarding the Godhead, the one thing we need to remember is that there cannot be found in Scripture any explanation of how the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have their existence together.
This is my Point.
Explanation IS Understanding.
Scripture reveals the Knowledge.
The "explanation" is summarized in ONE word.
MIRACULOUS
This is why we should be very guarded not to make any attempt to explain it -
Back to the conundrum ~
A man who MINDFULLY understands...
CAN
Quote and Identify IN 'OTHER" writings ...
The Basis FOR their "understanding".
(Catechisms, Commentaries, Philosophers writings, creeds, other historical writings).
A man who SPIRITUALLY understands...
CAN NOT
Quote or Identify "any OTHER" "WRITINGS" for the Basis FOR their "understanding".
(It was Given them Spiritually BY GOD).
And thus...Men who MINDFULLY agree, can discuss their agreement and Be content, with a "man-made writing" as their Basis of "proof".
And Men who SPIRITUALLY agree, can discuss their agreement and Be content, with them both having had received From God the Same Understanding.
even though each of the three divine personalities
Another Conundrum......
Men TRYING to even TALK ABOUT GOD....
Using terms....Three, PersonalitieS, PersonS, etc.
Further IMO exacerbates the INTENT to Describe God.
This is why the trinity doctrine - the teaching that says all three divine personalities exist inseparably together in one substance as the ‘one immortal God’ -
Is THAT what the "Trinity" means?
Another Conundrum.....
Tri - the prefix means THREE.
Unity - means NOT being "multiple", but Being ONE.
Thus the basic term "TRINITY", can MEAN different things to different people.
To some as quoted above apparently the TRINITY......DESCRIBES, three divine "personalities" exist together as ONE "substance."
Of course Scripture says no such thing....about "personalities" or "substance".
The MYSTERY of God....is the KEY.
Few Understand the Mystery of God.
Many do not.
God Bless,
Taken