What is nontrinitarianism?

Response

Nontrinitarianism is a theological perspective that rejects the doctrine of the Trinity. Any group that denies the concept of God existing in three eternal, co-equal Persons sharing one nature in perfect unity is considered nontrinitarian. Within Christianity, there are nontrinitarian factions that acknowledge God the Father as divine but do not view Jesus and the Holy Spirit as fully equal to Him.

There are various misconceptions associated with nontrinitarianism. Adoptionism suggests that Jesus was “adopted” as the Son of God at some point during His earthly life—such as at His baptism, resurrection, or ascension. Modalism asserts that God is an indivisible being who reveals Himself as one of three Persons at different times. Subordinationism claims that the Son and the Holy Spirit are subordinate to the Father in nature and essence. Nontrinitarian groups identifying with Christ include Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Swedenborgians, Christadelphians, members of the United Church of God, and Oneness Pentecostals.

Nontrinitarianism raises concerns because it contradicts biblical teachings and, in some instances, diminishes the divinity of Jesus Christ. The divinity of Christ is clearly affirmed in Scripture. Jesus told the religious Jews, “I and the Father are one” «I and my Father are one. », (John 10:30). The Jews correctly interpreted this as Jesus claiming equality with the Father. They responded, “You, a mere man, claim to be God!” «The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. », (John 10:33). Subsequently, they attempted to stone Him, as was the prescribed punishment for blasphemy according to the law «And he thatTo blaspheme the name of the LORD is a serious offense. According to Leviticus 24:16, anyone who does so shall surely be put to death by stoning, whether they are a stranger or a native of the land.

For a nontrinitarian who believes that Jesus is not equal to the Father, explaining why the Jews were unjustified in their response can be challenging. If one is not equal to God, claiming equality would be considered blasphemy. As stated in Isaiah 46:9, God emphasizes that there is no other like Him, reinforcing His uniqueness.

If Jesus were not fully God, His assertion to the Jews would have equated Him with Lucifer, who sought to exalt himself above God, as seen in Isaiah 14:14.

The Holy Spirit, while being God, is distinct from the other Persons of the Godhead, as illustrated in Acts 5:4. The account of Ananias and Sapphira lying to God and the Holy Spirit highlights this distinction. Peter specifically addresses Ananias for lying to the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the separate identity of the Holy Spirit within the Trinity.

(Acts 5:3). This was the same lie, from the lips of one man to one God. Lying to the Holy Spirit is thus equated with lying to the Father. The Bible also tells us that the Holy Spirit has distinct emotions, a distinct will, and a special purpose (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 14:25-26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15).

Why do nontrinitarian doctrines exist? What is the motivation to reject the Trinity? Part of the answer may be that the idea of the Trinity is so hard to grasp. How can the One God be also three distinct Persons? It makes no sense to our finite minds. But that is not a reason to discount it. There are many difficult doctrines that Christians struggle with, and many things in the Bible that seem impossible or are hard to understand. If we could fully understand everything God is and does, we would have a comfortable feeling of control. But, if anything, God’s mysterious and profound nature is an argument for the Bible being true. If there is a God who has the power to create us and the world around us, wouldn’t it make sense for Him to be beyond our understanding see Isaiah 55:8?

The clear and consistent teaching of the New Testament is that God exists in three Persons. Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14 are two passages in which the doctrine of the Trinity is found. Jesus taught much about all three Persons of the Trinity in John chapters 14—17. And in His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus speaks of the work of the Spirit who regenerates «The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. », (John 3:8), the Son who was crucified (John 3:14-15), and the Father who sent the Son (John 3:16-17).

There is no doubt that the Trinity is challenging for human minds to grasp. We are not tri-personal beings; we are each one person. However, God is unlike us. In His Word, He has revealed that He is of one nature and essence while simultaneously existing eternally in three Persons. The Nicene Creed (AD 325) affirms that “we believe in one God the Father Almighty, . . . and in one Lord Jesus Christ, . . . and we believe in the Holy Spirit.”

The fourth-century Athanasian Creed did an admirable job in attempting to convey the truth of the triune nature of God, stating, in part,

“We worship one God in trinity and the Trinity in unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the divine being. For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Spirit is still another. But the deity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, equal in glory, coeternal in majesty. What the Father is, the Son is, and so is the Holy Spirit. Uncreated is the Father; uncreated is the Son; uncreated is the Spirit. The Father is infinite; the Son is infinite; the Holy Spirit is infinite. Eternal is the Father; eternal is the Son; eternal is the Spirit: And yet there are not three eternal beings, but one who is eternal; as there are not three uncreated and unlimited beings, but one who is uncreated and unlimited. Almighty is the Father; almighty is the Son; almighty is the Spirit: And yet there are not three almighty beings, but one who is almighty. Thus the Father is God; the Son is God; the Holy Spirit is God: And yet there are not three gods, but one God. Thus the Father is Lord; the Son is Lord; the Holy Spirit is Lord: And yet there are not three lords, but one Lord. . . .

“And in this Trinity, no one is before or after, greater or less than the other; but all three persons are in themselves, coeternal and coequal; and so we must wor

Ship the Trinity in unity and the one God in three persons.”

Nontrinitarianism rejects these creeds and biblical teaching about the Trinity. Trinitarians affirm Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:19 concerning baptism “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” and they sing with conviction the words of the Doxology, “Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”