I want to give you the basics on the fact that there are views other than the trinity. This is something that is rarely spoken of. There are several views, and it is very important to know the tiniest differences. The reason the trinity can get away with being promoted so much is because most people have no idea what it is. Some, who present themselves to be in a place of authority, will explain that away and say, “it’s a mystery,” but that is not an excuse for ignoring information God has given us. We then assume, if it is a mystery, that means we will never know until we meet God in heaven, so we stop searching His word with that question in mind.
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 17:11
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17
I am going to put two images below to show the trinity and monarchianism. My argument is that “monarchianism” is what the Bible is describing as the nature of the Father in heaven in relation to Jesus on earth. The simple way to explain monarchianism (sometimes called modalistic monarchianism) would be to say that Jesus is the Father/YHWH. Remember, the trinity says that Jesus is not the Father/YHWH. When you search the internet, there will be people who describe all these words (trinity, modalism, oneness, tritheism, etc.) with different definitions, so be careful.
Modalism means “mode,” and this word will very often be described differently by people, so be aware of that. It’s really a poor word to use, but stick with me. Monarchians do not believe God changes modes, but He is always the same. This is why modalism shouldn’t be used in relation to monarchianism, but many do it anyway. Monarchianism claims there is one God, who is Jesus and the Father, never separate. Monarchy can be defined as: “a political system based upon the undivided sovereignty or rule of a single person.”
This subject is not an easy study when there are so many definitions. It takes awhile to get your head around it all. Always go to the word of God because that we can know is 100% always correct when all else fails! We might just have to wait a while to understand some things in His word. I think every Christian has acknowledged to the day they die that they still have not learned everything there is. That’s amazing, but for me, I have to remember to be patient, as a very curious person.
Trinitarian, James White, says that most Christians are modalists, and they don’t even know it. We have a lot of historical evidence on what the early church believed. The trinity was largely forced upon people by Rome and others. Origen and Tertullian say the Christians were Monarchists at their time. They clearly were not in agreement, and Origen called them “stupid.”
“Ordinary Christians hold fast to the idea of ‘monarchy,’ from fear of polytheism.”
Tertullian Against Praxeas
“But when they come to the title Logos (Word), and repeat that Christ alone is the Word of God, they are not consistent, and do not, as in the case of the other titles, search out what is behind the meaning of the term Word. I wonder at the stupidity of the general run of Christians in this matter.”
The Commentary on the Gospel of John by Origen, Book 1, Chapter 23
From my observation, most Christians are not trinitarians because it’s simply not in the Bible. A lot of times someone will say they are a trinitarian but then go on to describe monarchianism as their belief. They have it confused. The ones who are trinitarians are usually educated in colleges, or Christians who like to learn about advanced doctrine and follow the work of these educated men.
You might have many questions, such as “what about the word Godhead” and “why were Jesus and the Father interacting,” etc. There are a lot of studies on this. I pray you seek more on this subject.
For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself
Hebrews 6:13
Another problem for trinitarians is that when Jesus “came down from heaven,” Jesus either:
- literally and completely vacated heaven, or
- remained omnipotent in heaven while simultaneously walking this earth as “the man Christ Jesus”.
We both agree that Jesus was fully God and fully man, so He never stopped being God. This points to a form of modalism.
God appeared on earth several times in the Old Testament. This is recorded in Gen 16:7; 17:1; 12:7; 32:24, Judges 13:3, etc.
After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
Mark 16:12
Will we ever see God, the Father, in heaven? According to trinitarians and my research, we will not. We will also never see the holy spirit. The holy spirit is simply God/Jesus/the Father. No verses describe the holy spirit as a person, nor can the Greek word be used as a person or a single being.
Here is a video to show what trinitarians believe about Jesus’creation. Their argument is not consistent.
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.” John 8:24-27
In verse 24, when Jesus Christ the Son of God says “I am he”, He is claiming to be someone. The Jews do not understand who the someone is, so in verse 25, they demand to know, “who art thou?” Jesus then answers the Jews’ question, but not explicitly, so the Jews still do not understand who the someone is. But in verse 27, the Bible tells the reader what the Jews did not understand, that the someone Jesus is claiming to be is the Father. “They understood not that he spake to them of THE FATHER.”
I will leave you with this for now. I hope you are interested in learning more on the topic. Don’t get frustrated when you hear a large amount of unfamiliar words studying this because you will catch on. There are many debates on this topic, and I suggest you watch some of those videos, so that way you can see both sides.
Follow Caleb on YouTube.
A few debates can be seen in the links below, and there are many more that can be searched on YouTube and the internet.
DISCUSSION | The Trinity vs. Monarchianism || Matt Slick vs. Caleb Purtscher
Matt Slick/Andrew Rappaport Vs Daniel Evans/Caleb Purtscher: Monarchianism and the Godhead? EP 303