The Doctrine

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We need to ask ourselves the question:  Is the Trinity in the Bible?

If you ask a strong Trinitarian this question, they will probably say YES.

But where is the evidence?

​That is, where is a text that specifically speaks of the Trinity?

Today many are turning to Isaiah 6:3. "And one cried unto another, and said, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."

If you are a Trinitarian, you may have used this verse.    But does it really say there is a Trinity?

No, it repeats the word 'holy' three times.  This type of 'evidence' is called eisegesis, which is based on a subjective non-analytical reading of the text.  

The person who sees this as Trinitarian has a belief in their mind, and this is put into the verse.  It is not genuine Bible study, but a theological bias.

On the other hand, to say this text shows there are beings in heaven who worship the Lord of hosts by crying out holy, holy, holy is an objective analysis.  This is exegesis, based on a careful objective analysis of the text.​

Many Trinitarian scholars, who use these texts, admit they are 'hints' rather than evidence.  

The above is taken from a Catholic website.    

Others have also used the word 'hints' for the doctrine of the Trinity and it is correct to do so. 

But we must ask ourselves -- Can we base such an important doctrine on 'hints'.    

What if the hints are not hints at all?

What if they are the bias of our own minds, which has come from the bias of the minds of others?

Sadly, the 'several passages (that) suggest or even imply' mentioned above for the Trinity, are not based on exegesis, but eisegesis.  The hint has become reality because the mind believes it.

Below are statements of scholars who have used similar language in speaking of the Trinity.

"​Exegetes and theologians today are in agreement that the Hebrew Bible does not contain a doctrine of the Trinity, even though it was customary…" www.comparativebiblestudylessons.com

"The doctrine of the Trinity is not found in any explicit statement in Scripture... Although God is a unity, He is a compound unity made up of three distinct persons ..." www.blueletterbible.org

"The question was: If the Trinity is such an essential doctrine, why isn't it explicitly taught ... whether the doctrine of the Trinity is biblical or not..."  www.rightreason.org

"The doctrine of the Trinity is not plainly revealed in the Old Testament. ... Although not explicitly mentioned, the basis of the doctrine can be detected when ..."  www.ccbce.com

"Although Scripture does not give us a formulated doctrine of the Trinity, it contains all the .... Theologians agree that the Bible also does not contain any explicit..."  www.bible.ca

"The word Trinity is not found in the Bible, and though used by Tertulian in the last decade of the 2nd century, it did not find a place formerly in the theology of the church till the 4th century. It is however the distinctive and all-comprehensive doctrine of the Christian faith.

Though it is not a Biblical doctrine in the sense that any formulation of it can be found in the Bible, it can be seen to underlie the revelation of God...

The necessity to formulate the doctrine was thrust upon the church by forces from without, and it was, in particular, its faith in the deity of Christ, and the necessity to defend it, that first compelled the church to face the duty of formulating a full doctrine of the Trinity for its rule of faith."  Divine Truth or Human Tradition. Patrick Navas

In the above book, other scholars query the statement, saying "... if the true faith held by Christians is communicated accurately and sufficiently in the 'God-breathed' Scriptures (which exist so that the man of God may be 'adequate' and 'fully equipped for every good work'. 2 Timothy 3:17.18) how could it be said at the same time, that it was 'necessary' for the 'church fathers' or 'church councils' to 'develop' or 'formulate' a doctrine as significant and as allegedly central as the Trinity, the very definition of who God is?

Is there any evidence that the formation of these councils were authorized by God or by Christ?  

And  should Christians, with respect to the essentials of the faith, regard the decisions of the councils as binding and conclusive?'  Ibid.

Good question.

Do you remember what Martin Luther said about church councils in his monumental speech before the Diet of Worms?  

He said, 'Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen." Brackets in quote.   D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation

Shouldn't we also stand by the Word of God?  

"Where Scripture is silent, it is unwise to make definitive pronounce-ments."   Wayne A Grudem