| The Trinity [message #14237] |
Wed, 20 August 2025 14:05 |
 Mark L
Messages: 890
Registered: October 2006
Location: Canada |
Senior Member |
|
|
Questions have been raised on Youtube concerning Dr. Freemans teaching on the Trinity. Meaning that it was unorthodox influenced by oneness doctrine and just plain weird. You can read the entire thread concerning Bro. Freeman right here.
http://overcomersonline.com/FUDforum2/index.php?t=msg&th =1571&start=0&S=7e497ef8cca7f1114d5863374649e138
Here are some thoughts:
Gods Triunity
HEF"S teaching:
God is one Divine Spirit eternally manifested as Father Son and Holy Spirit
The pod casters definition is:
God is one in one or more senses
God is three in one or more senses
Which one is right? HEF"S definition is one you can clearly understand. It simple and to the point. Although obviously there is much much more to know and understand. The pod casters definition is to my mind more philosophical. One for the highfalutin theological types to debate and discuss. The bible wasn't written for them. It wasn't written apart from them either. It was written so we all could understand basic truth. Teachers that can explain difficult issues should be highly valued.
We're told on the podcast on this issue that Dr. Freeman was heavily influenced by William Branham's beliefs. His (HEF's) doctrine was unorthodox and very weird. He crossed paths with oneness doctrine and Jesus only doctrine. Meaning he picked up info there. He was influenced by Branham's United Pentescostal Church (oneness) background.
Well I think that is absolute unmitigated nonsense. Dr. Freemans doctrine on the trinity is simple easy to understand and perfectly orthodox. Meaning it lines up with mainstream Christian teaching everywhere.
A couple of comments from the internets;
The AI definition from google:
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity, or Triunity, defines God as one being existing in three co-equal, co-eternal persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. These three persons share the same divine nature or essence, yet are distinct in their relationships and roles within the Godhead
Walter Martins comment (Kingdom of the Cults):
No man can fully explain the Trinity, though in every age scholars have propounded theories and advanced hypotheses to explore this mysterious Biblical teaching. But despite the worthy efforts of these scholars, the Trinity is still largely incomprehensible to the mind of man.
Perhaps the chief reason for this is that the Trinity is a-logical, or beyond logic. It, therefore, cannot be made subject to human reason or logic. Because of this, opponents of the doctrine argue that the idea of the Trinity must be rejected as untenable. Such thinking, however, makes man's corrupted human reason the sole criterion for determining the truth of divine revelation
For myself personally I have several comments.
You can see all three personalities in one place in Acts 7/55-56 and again in Matt. 3/16-17
Another comment is I think the term "personality" much better describes God's nature rather than "person". Personality brings more of a spiritual corporeal intangible invisible aspect to it. Obviously that has limits as well but much less than person which to my mind brings more of a physical aspect to it.
My other comment is
Habakkuk 2/14. For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord's glory, as the waters cover the sea.
So there is a lot to know. We will for sure know a lot more. Although never all of it. What we have now is a very tiny bit. That is really reflected in our knowledge on this subject.
A couple further comments:
I think it is perfectly normal for a theologian to deepen their understanding on subjects like this.
I also took a look on internet land to see what other well known theologians and teachers defined the trinity as:
John MacArthur defines the Trinity as the Christian doctrine that God is one being eternally existing in three co-equal persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit
Charles Stanley defines the Trinity as one God existing in three co-equal, co-eternal persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit
Haddon Robinson He affirmed the traditional understanding of the Trinity as one God existing in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He acknowledged that while the Bible doesn't use the word "Trinity," it clearly presents God as a unified being with these three co-equal and co-eternal persons
R.C. Sproul defined the Trinity as the Christian doctrine that God is one in essence but three in person: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Wayne Grudem defines the Trinity as one God existing in three co-equal persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.
I guess we'll just have to make up our own minds as to whether his definition was orthodox or not
Edited to add: The word person is actually the proper word to use. But it really needs to be understood in its biblical sense. Christianity here in the western world is biblically illiterate. Which is why I think the word personality is a better fit.
[Updated on: Sun, 31 August 2025 14:27]
You can read
"Meanderings on Scripture by Mark
https://mlederman.substack.com/
|
|
|
Members
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
E-mail to friend 
