11,141
edits
William Branham and the Trinity Doctrine: Difference between revisions
William Branham and the Trinity Doctrine (view source)
Revision as of 18:13, 23 November 2017
, 6 years agono edit summary
No edit summary |
|||
| (3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Template:Trinity}} | {{Template:Trinity}} | ||
The Trinity is an explanation of the [[The Godhead]] that has historically been accepted by | The Trinity is an explanation of the [[The Godhead]] that has historically been accepted by the vast majority of the world's Christian churches. The word "Trinity" was first used circa. A.D. 200 by Tertullian, a Latin theologian from Carthage. | ||
The doctrine of the Trinity is shown in John 14:23, when Jesus says: | The doctrine of the Trinity is shown in John 14:23, when Jesus says: | ||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
:''If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and '''we''' will come unto him, and make '''our''' abode with him.<ref>The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jn 14:23.</ref> | :''If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and '''we''' will come unto him, and make '''our''' abode with him.<ref>The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jn 14:23.</ref> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
=The historical context of the doctrine of the Trinity= | |||
The problem that non-Trinitiarians must address from a historical context is that '''no significant leader in the Christian church in the last 1700 years has been non-Trinitarian.''' They all believed and stood for the doctrine of the Trinity. | |||
=William Branham's Critique of the Trinity= | =William Branham's Critique of the Trinity= | ||
| Line 22: | Line 27: | ||
William Branham alleged that the doctrine of the Trinity was unbiblical because it teaches three Gods. However, this objection is a straw man because, in fact, the doctrine of the Trinity affirms the existence of only one God.<ref>Kenneth Richard Samples, A World of Difference: Putting Christian Truth-Claims to the Worldview Test (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2007), 66–67.</ref> | William Branham alleged that the doctrine of the Trinity was unbiblical because it teaches three Gods. However, this objection is a straw man because, in fact, the doctrine of the Trinity affirms the existence of only one God.<ref>Kenneth Richard Samples, A World of Difference: Putting Christian Truth-Claims to the Worldview Test (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2007), 66–67.</ref> | ||
William Branham also criticized Oneness theology by saying "you get off the wrong track when you try to think that God is one like your finger is one. He can't be His Own Father."<ref>59-0823, Palmerworm, Locust, Cankerworm, Caterpillar</ref> If Jesus could not be his own father, then it is difficult to see how William Branham could reject the doctrine of the Trinity. | William Branham also criticized Oneness theology by saying "''you get off the wrong track when you try to think that God is one like your finger is one. He can't be His Own Father''."<ref>59-0823, Palmerworm, Locust, Cankerworm, Caterpillar</ref> '''If Jesus could not be his own father, then it is difficult to see how William Branham could reject the doctrine of the Trinity.''' | ||
It is important to notice that William Branham's critique of the doctrine of the Trinity is not backed up by a lot of scripture. So first, he misrepresented the doctrine of the Trinity (no Trinitarian believes in three Gods), and then critiqued his own misrepresentation of the Trinity. | It is important to notice that William Branham's critique of the doctrine of the Trinity is not backed up by a lot of scripture. So first, he misrepresented the doctrine of the Trinity through a straw man argument (no Trinitarian believes in three Gods), and then critiqued his own misrepresentation of the Trinity. | ||
=The Historic Doctrine of the Trinity= | =The Historic Doctrine of the Trinity= | ||
| Line 91: | Line 96: | ||
=The Limitations of the Doctrine= | =The Limitations of the Doctrine= | ||
The doctrine of the Trinity is the | The doctrine of the Trinity is the summary expression of what Christians have to say in answer to the question who God is and what God is in the divine life and in relation to what is not God.<ref>Colin E. Gunton, The Doctrine of Creation : Essays in Dogmatics, History and Philosophy (London; New York: T&T Clark, 2004), 155.</ref>However, William Branham felt that he could reject almost 2000 years of thought and study out of hand: | ||
:''So they say... He said, "Well, Mr. Branham, you know, even the--the theologians can't explain it." | :''So they say... He said, "Well, Mr. Branham, you know, even the--the theologians can't explain it." | ||