Changes

A good three-fold [[Human being|human]] [[analogy]] is someone who is inwardly a healthy and intelligent individual, good, honest and truthful—someone who is outwardly modest and decent in dress, speech and actions, always kindly, generous, willing to help, and skillful in defending truth and right with wisdom, expressing good [[Moral|character]]—someone who with good reason is spiritually delighted and pleased with both the self-knowledge of true personal goodness and the personally reassuring, consistent, successfully genuine self-expression of goodness in being an actual benefit to everyone else in the whole community. We have the inner being, the outer expression, and a richly personal self-delight in both, as one well-balanced healthy individual.  

A good three-fold [[Human being|human]] [[analogy]] is someone who is inwardly a healthy and intelligent individual, good, honest and truthful—someone who is outwardly modest and decent in dress, speech and actions, always kindly, generous, willing to help, and skillful in defending truth and right with wisdom, expressing good [[Moral|character]]—someone who with good reason is spiritually delighted and pleased with both the self-knowledge of true personal goodness and the personally reassuring, consistent, successfully genuine self-expression of goodness in being an actual benefit to everyone else in the whole community. We have the inner being, the outer expression, and a richly personal self-delight in both, as one well-balanced healthy individual.  

In the same way, God exists as the three distinct but united whole persons of one divine being, utterly unique<ref>"unique" means the only one, one-of-a-kind. See [http://www.biblehub.com/multi/isaiah/45-21.htm Isaiah 45:21] and [http://www.biblehub.com/multi/isaiah/45-22.htm Isaiah 45:22]</ref>. God is the Uncreated Holy ''Good''<ref>The word "good" was originally the Old English and Middle English word "God".

In the same way, God exists as the three distinct but united whole persons of one divine being, utterly unique.<ref>"unique" means the only one, one-of-a-kind. See [http://www.biblehub.com/multi/isaiah/45-21.htm Isaiah 45:21] and [http://www.biblehub.com/multi/isaiah/45-22.htm Isaiah 45:22]</ref> God is the Uncreated Holy ''Good'',<ref>The word "good" was originally the Old English and Middle English word "God".

*[http://www.bibleanswerstand.org/God.htm The Origin of the English Word for God. Part One. By Craig Bluemal (bibleanswerstand.org)]

*[http://www.bibleanswerstand.org/God.htm The Origin of the English Word for God. Part One. By Craig Bluemal (bibleanswerstand.org)]

*[http://wahiduddin.net/words/name_god.htm Etymology of the Name ''God'' (wahiduddin.net)]</ref>, the Perfect, All-powerful, ''Eternal One'', fully Self-expressing and Self-expressed with Loving Self-knowledge, totally ''Complete'', limitlessly expressing the limitless expression of limitless self-giving loving [[Existence|Being]]. "''God is love''" [http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/1_john/4-8.htm 1 John 4:8b].

*[http://wahiduddin.net/words/name_god.htm Etymology of the Name ''God'' (wahiduddin.net)]</ref> the Perfect, All-powerful, ''Eternal One'', fully Self-expressing and Self-expressed with Loving Self-knowledge, totally ''Complete'', limitlessly expressing the limitless expression of limitless self-giving loving [[Existence|Being]]. "''God is love''" [http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/1_john/4-8.htm 1 John 4:8b].

==Filioque controversy==

==Filioque controversy==

In the 20th century [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] do not believe in the Trinity, and see it as contradicting the commandment to have no god but the one God.<ref>Watchtower, July 2008</ref>  Jehovah Witnesses disparage the Trinity by depicting it as a three-headed creature and claim the doctrine as a corrupt addition by [[Satan]] to Christianity. See [[Great Apostasy]].

In the 20th century [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] do not believe in the Trinity, and see it as contradicting the commandment to have no god but the one God.<ref>Watchtower, July 2008</ref>  Jehovah Witnesses disparage the Trinity by depicting it as a three-headed creature and claim the doctrine as a corrupt addition by [[Satan]] to Christianity. See [[Great Apostasy]].

The doctrine of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]] teaches that God the Father and Jesus as God the Son are two separate physical beings of flesh and bone, and that the Holy Spirit is not a physical Person but a Spirit Personage with influence of guidance and holiness<ref> The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints General Conference, April 1974. The Holy Ghost,

The doctrine of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]] teaches that God the Father and Jesus as God the Son are two separate physical beings of flesh and bone, and that the Holy Spirit is not a physical Person but a Spirit Personage with influence of guidance and holiness.<ref>The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints General Conference, April 1974. The Holy Ghost,

Marion G. Romney[https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1974/04/the-holy-ghost?lang=eng]</ref>.

Marion G. Romney [https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1974/04/the-holy-ghost?lang=eng]</ref>  

:Joseph Smith declared, "I will preach on the plurality of Gods. I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and the Holy Ghost as a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods" (''Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith'', p. 370)<ref>''Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith'', 1977, Desert Book Co. ISBN 978-0877476269</ref>.

:Joseph Smith declared, "I will preach on the plurality of Gods. I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and the Holy Ghost as a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods" (''Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith'', p. 370).<ref>''Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith'', 1977, Desert Book Co. ISBN 978-0877476269</ref>

Former Mormons have stated that, in the Mormon Temple, the traditional beliefs of orthodox Christians are portrayed as absurd and ridiculous.<ref>[https://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Cults/mormon.htm Mormonism: Christian or Cult? —"The endowment ceremony mocked all doctrines held to by Biblical Christianity." (9. Temple Rituals.) (rapidnet.com)]</ref>

Former Mormons have stated that, in the Mormon Temple, the traditional beliefs of orthodox Christians are portrayed as absurd and ridiculous.<ref>[https://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Cults/mormon.htm Mormonism: Christian or Cult? —"The endowment ceremony mocked all doctrines held to by Biblical Christianity." (9. Temple Rituals.) (rapidnet.com)]</ref>

== External links ==

== External links ==

[http://www.openbible.info/topics/trinity 100 Bible verses about Trinity (openbible.info)]

* [http://www.openbible.info/topics/trinity 100 Bible verses about Trinity (openbible.info)]

 

* [http://www.tms.edu/m/msj24l.pdf Did Constantine Invent the Trinity? The Doctrine of the Trinity in the writings of the Early Church Fathers, Nathan Busewitz (tms.edu)] pdf

[http://www.tms.edu/m/msj24l.pdf Did Constantine Invent the Trinity? The Doctrine of the Trinity in the writings of the Early Church Fathers, Nathan Busewitz (tms.edu)] pdf

* [http://www.aliveandpowerful.com/pdf/Doc%20of%20the%20Trinity.pdf Doctrine of the Trinity (aliveandpowerful.com)] pdf ''an outline''

 

* [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Filioque OrthodoxWiki article: Filioque]

[http://www.aliveandpowerful.com/pdf/Doc%20of%20the%20Trinity.pdf Doctrine of the Trinity (aliveandpowerful.com)] pdf ''an outline''

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06073a.htm Catholic encyclopedia - Filioque].

 

* [http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/John%20Owen%20Vindication%20Doctrine%20of%20Trinity.pdf A Brief Declaration and Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity, by John Owen (ntslibrary.com)] pdf

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Filioque OrthodoxWiki article: Filioque]

* [http://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/44/44-2/44-2-PP297-318_JETS.pdf The Trinitarian Doctrine of Jonathan Edwards: An Investigation of Charges Against its Orthodoxy, Richard M. Weber (etsjets.org)] pdf

 

* [http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-is-the-doctrine-of-the-trinity What Is the Doctrine of the Trinity? article by Matt Perman (desiringgod.org)] pdf

[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06073a.htm Catholic encyclopedia - Filioque].

* [http://bible-truth.org/Trinity.pdf Understanding the Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity (Godhead), By Cooper P. Abrams III (bible-truth.org)] pdf

 

* [http://21stcr.org/multimedia/PDF/The%20Doctrine%20of%20Trin.%20-%20Zarley%20-%203-30-10.pdf The Doctrine of the Trinity (A Brief Overview), by Kermit Zorley (21stcr.org)] pdf

[http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/John%20Owen%20Vindication%20Doctrine%20of%20Trinity.pdf A Brief Declaration and Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity, by John Owen (ntslibrary.com)] pdf

* [https://adventistbiblicalresearch.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Doctrine%20of%20the%20Trinity.pdf Reflections on the Doctrine of the Trinity, Raoul Dederen (adventistbiblicalresearch.org)] pdf

 

* [http://tobelikehim.com/ITAM%20Pdf%20Messages/3%20-%20Doctrine%20of%20the%20Trinity.pdf The Doctrine of the Trinity (tobelikehim.com)] pdf

[http://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/44/44-2/44-2-PP297-318_JETS.pdf The Trinitarian Doctrine of Jonathan Edwards: An Investigation of Charges Against its Orthodoxy, Richard M. Weber (etsjets.org)] pdf

* [http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/The%20Trinity.pdf The Trinity: Compiled and illustrated by Lionel Hartley PhD (ntslibrary.com)] pdf

 

* [https://archive.org/search.php?query=Trinity%2C+doctrine+of+the&page=3 Trinity, doctrine of the (archive.org)]

[http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-is-the-doctrine-of-the-trinity What Is the Doctrine of the Trinity? article by Matt Perman (desiringgod.org)] pdf

* [http://www.questia.com/read/98585702?title=The%20Three%20Persons%20in%20One%20God Slovan, Gerald S. ''The Three Persons in One God'' (1964) online edition (questia.com)]

 

[http://bible-truth.org/Trinity.pdf Understanding the Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity (Godhead), By Cooper P. Abrams III (bible-truth.org)] pdf

 

[http://21stcr.org/multimedia/PDF/The%20Doctrine%20of%20Trin.%20-%20Zarley%20-%203-30-10.pdf The Doctrine of the Trinity (A Brief Overview), by Kermit Zorley (21stcr.org)] pdf

 

[https://adventistbiblicalresearch.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Doctrine%20of%20the%20Trinity.pdf Reflections on the Doctrine of the Trinity, Raoul Dederen (adventistbiblicalresearch.org)] pdf

 

[http://tobelikehim.com/ITAM%20Pdf%20Messages/3%20-%20Doctrine%20of%20the%20Trinity.pdf The Doctrine of the Trinity (tobelikehim.com)] pdf

 

[http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/The%20Trinity.pdf The Trinity: Compiled and illustrated by Lionel Hartley PhD (ntslibrary.com)] pdf

 

[https://archive.org/search.php?query=Trinity%2C+doctrine+of+the&page=3 Trinity, doctrine of the (archive.org)]

 

[http://www.questia.com/read/98585702?title=The%20Three%20Persons%20in%20One%20God Slovan, Gerald S. ''The Three Persons in One God'' (1964) online edition (questia.com)]

;Catholic

;Catholic

[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15047a.htm The Blessed Trinity (newadvent.org)]

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15047a.htm The Blessed Trinity (newadvent.org)]

;Orthodox

;Orthodox

[https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-holy-trinity/the-doctrine-of-the-holy-trinity Orthodox Church in America - The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity (oca.org)]

* [https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-holy-trinity/the-doctrine-of-the-holy-trinity Orthodox Church in America - The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity (oca.org)]

;[[United Church of Christ]]

;[[United Church of Christ]]

 

* [https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/is-god-a-trinity/the-surprising-origins-of-the-trinity-doctrine The Surprising Origins of the Trinity Doctrine, by United Church of Christ (2011)] ''supports rejection of the Trinitarian doctrine as being firmly rooted in paganism—"the true Church was largely absent from the scene, having been driven underground"'' (the true Church is then identified with [[Heresy|heretics]], and the orthodox leaders are identified as false teachers of corrupted doctrines.)

[https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/is-god-a-trinity/the-surprising-origins-of-the-trinity-doctrine The Surprising Origins of the Trinity Doctrine, by United Church of Christ (2011)] ''supports rejection of the Trinitarian doctrine as being firmly rooted in paganism—"the true Church was largely absent from the scene, having been driven underground"'' (the true Church is then identified with [[Heresy|heretics]], and the orthodox leaders are identified as false teachers of corrupted doctrines.)

* [https://www.probe.org/the-council-of-nicea/ The Council of Nicea and the Doctrine of the Trinity, Written by Don Closson (probe.org)] ''answers by a [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] and historian to all the points of objection raised against Trinitarian doctrine'' (a perfect counterpoint to the UCC article above)

 

[https://www.probe.org/the-council-of-nicea/ The Council of Nicea and the Doctrine of the Trinity, Written by Don Closson (probe.org)] ''answers by a [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] and historian to all the points of objection raised against Trinitarian doctrine'' (a perfect counterpoint to the UCC article above)

;Unitarian

;Unitarian

[http://www.biblebelievers.com/greathouse_b1.html The Unitarian Church - A Study Outline: Salvation by Character, By Braxton Greathouse (1992) (biblebelievers.com)] ''history and beliefs, Unitarian reasons for rejecting the doctrine of the Trinity''

* [http://www.biblebelievers.com/greathouse_b1.html The Unitarian Church - A Study Outline: Salvation by Character, By Braxton Greathouse (1992) (biblebelievers.com)] ''history and beliefs, Unitarian reasons for rejecting the doctrine of the Trinity''

 

* [https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/trinity/unitarianism.html Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Unitarianism (plato.stanford.edu)]

[https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/trinity/unitarianism.html Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Unitarianism (plato.stanford.edu)]

* [https://www.reddit.com/r/Christianity/comments/539rlx/unitarians_what_are_some_reasons_or_arguments_why/ Unitarians: What are some reasons (or arguments) why you reject the doctrine of the Trinity? What are for you the best objections to the doctrine of the Trinity? (reddit.com)]

 

* [http://www.angelfire.com/space/thegospeltruth/trinity/articles/abandon.html The Trinity Delusion: Why I abandoned the Trinity, by Brother Kel, servant of Jesus (angelfire.com)] ''written by a former Lutheran''

[https://www.reddit.com/r/Christianity/comments/539rlx/unitarians_what_are_some_reasons_or_arguments_why/ Unitarians: What are some reasons (or arguments) why you reject the doctrine of the Trinity? What are for you the best objections to the doctrine of the Trinity? (reddit.com)]

 

[http://www.angelfire.com/space/thegospeltruth/trinity/articles/abandon.html The Trinity Delusion: Why I abandoned the Trinity, by Brother Kel, servant of Jesus (angelfire.com)] ''written by a former Lutheran''

;Trinitarian Apologetics

;Trinitarian Apologetics

[http://capro.info/Cults_and_Isms/Unitarianism/Unitarianism.html Unitarianism: The Close-Minded & Intolerant Religion, Paul Derengowski, ThM]

* [http://capro.info/Cults_and_Isms/Unitarianism/Unitarianism.html Unitarianism: The Close-Minded & Intolerant Religion, Paul Derengowski, ThM]

 

* [https://carm.org/trinity CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry. Trinity Chart, by Matt Slick (carm.org)]

[https://carm.org/trinity CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry. Trinity Chart, by Matt Slick (carm.org)]

* [http://www.apologeticsindex.org/t10.html Apologetics Index. The Doctrine of the Trinity (apologeticsindex.org)]

 

* [http://apologetics.com/blog/jdaniel/the-doctrine-of-trinity/ Apologetics.com The Doctrine of Trinity (apologetics.com)] ''the reasonableness of the mystery of God—"it is beyond reason, but it is not against reason."''

[http://www.apologeticsindex.org/t10.html Apologetics Index. The Doctrine of the Trinity (apologeticsindex.org)]

 

[http://apologetics.com/blog/jdaniel/the-doctrine-of-trinity/ Apologetics.com The Doctrine of Trinity (apologetics.com)] ''the reasonableness of the mystery of God—"it is beyond reason, but it is not against reason."''

== Classic art ==

== Classic art ==