Do the Scriptures Support the Idea of the Trinity?

Answer: No! The Scripture most commonly quoted as supporting the Trinity is 1 John 5:7 (KJV): “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” However, Greek manuscripts of the New Testament which are older and hence closer to the original than those used for the King James version of the bible render this verse very differently.

The New American Standard Bible (NASB), based on these older manuscripts,  renders 1 John 5:6-8 as follows: “This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. (7) For there are three that testify: (8) the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.” The three in agreement are the water, blood and spirit and what they testify  that Jesus is the Christ. God’s holy spirit which came upon Jesus at Jordan and led him to do God’s will and speak God’s words, his baptism by John and his sacrifice unto death on the cross all witness that Jesus was the Messiah, the son of God, as prophesied in the Old Testament.

Other translations, Rotherham, Weymouth, Revised Version, Authorized Standard Version and the Diaglott all agree with the NASB translation.

Jesus did say in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.” This statement does not support the trinity because there is no mention of the Holy Spirit. Also, Jesus was not repudiating his other statements saying the Father was greater than himself. Instead, he was declaring his oneness in doing God’s will and saying what God what God commanded. Paul explains this in Heb. 1:2,3 (NASB): “In these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. (3)  And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Jesus reflected through his earthly ministry the character, the truth and principles of God.

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