Church of God a Worldwide Association Fundamental Beliefs

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Amos 3: 3 shows the importance of agreeing on doctrine. “Can two walk together unless they are agreed? ” Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Introduction to Doctrine Review 1. What do the Latin terms “Sola scriptura” and “Sacra Scriptura est Verbum Dei” mean? Only Scripture; Holy Scripture is the Word of God Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Introduction to Doctrine Review 2. There are two primary Greek words translated “doctrine” or “teaching” in the New Testament. What are they? What is the difference between the two? Didache and Didaskalia. Didache means teaching. Didaskalia is most often translated doctrine. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Introduction to Doctrine Review 3. Explain 2 Timothy 3: 16 -17. What is the key word in the Greek and what does it mean? Greek “theo-pneu-stos” means God breathed. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Introduction to Doctrine Review 4. Define hermeneutics. Interpretation of Scripture in an organized fashion. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Introduction to Doctrine Review 5. Define exegesis. To draw out the meaning of the text. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Introduction to Doctrine Review 6. What is the origin of the 20 Fundamental Beliefs? The 20 fundamental beliefs are based on two documents written by Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong in 1938 and 1946. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Understanding God… Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God is not a popular subject in our modern society… Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Fundamental Belief: The Godhead God the Father is an eternally existing Spirit, a perfect, personal Being of supreme love, intelligence, knowledge, justice, power and authority… There is one Lord, Jesus Christ, who has eternally existed. God is an eternal family currently consisting of the Father and the Son. Both the Father and Son are involved in the creative work of expanding this family by bringing many children (sons and daughters) to glory. The Holy Spirit is the power of God and the Spirit of life eternal, not a separate entity or being. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Title of Class: The Plurality of the Godhead 1. Does the Godhead consist of one being? ? 2. Is God a trinity? 3. Is Jesus Christ God? 4. What did the New Testament Church believe about God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit? Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God What does the Bible tell us about the greatness of God? Deuteronomy 29: 29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. ” Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God What does the Bible tell us about the greatness of God? Isaiah 55: 9… “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts. ” Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God We are warned about arguing over words… 2 Timothy 2: 14 “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ” Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God What did the New Testament Church believe about the Godhead? • Term “monotheism” does not appear in the Bible. It did not become an issue historically until well after the time of Christ. • The concept of “oneness” can be found clearly in the Old Testament, but how was this interpreted by the Church? • “It is generally acknowledged that the church father Tertullian (ca. A. D. 145 -220) either coined the term [trinity] or was the first to use it with reference to God” (Harper’s Bible Dictionary). Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God The Trinity… The test of “Christianity” is whether one accepts the trinity. Groups are labeled as “cults” if they reject the trinity. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Early drawing representing the trinity. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God The Trinity… “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. ” Walter Martin, Essential Christianity, Vision House, Santa Anna, 1975, p. 21 Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God The Trinity… “Trinity is, of course, not a biblical word. Neither are triunity, trine, trinal, subsistence, nor essence. Yet we employ them, and often helpfully, in trying to express this doctrine which is so fraught with difficulties. Furthermore, this is a doctrine which in the New Testament is not explicit even though it is often said that it is implicit in the Old and explicit in the New. But explicit means ‘characterized by full, clear expression, ’ an adjective hard to apply to this doctrine. ” Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology, Victor Books, Wheaton, IL, 1987, electronic media. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God The Trinity (a summary)… Webster’s Dictionary “The union of three divine persons (or hypostases), the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in one divinity, so that all three are one God as to substance, but three Persons (or hypostases) as to individuality. ” Warfield writes “There is one only and true God, but in the unity of the Godhead there are three coeternal and coequal Persons, the same in substance but distinct in subsistence” (B. B. Warfield, “Trinity, ” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia). Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Arius… “In about 320 a fierce theological passion had seized the churches of Egypt, Syria and Asia Minor. . . The controversy had been kindled by Arius… He had issued a challenge which his bishop, Alexander, found impossible to ignore but even more difficult to rebut: how could Jesus Christ have been God in the same way as God the Father? Arius was not denying the divinity of Christ; indeed, he called Jesus ‘strong God’ and ‘full God, ’ but he argued that it was blasphemous to think that he was divine by nature. . . The controversy became so heated that the emperor Constantine himself intervened and summoned a synod to Nicaea in modern Turkey to settle the issue. ” “History of God” by Karen Armstrong, page 107. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Athanasius… Another player in this drama during the 4 th century was Athanasius. He was the capable assistant of the bishop from Alexandria who was named Alexander. Athanasius was selected to answer the arguments of Arius. This prompted the Nicean Council and the development of the “Athanasian” Creed. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God What conclusions do we reach? Either Christ, the Word, belonged to the divine realm (which was the domain of God alone) or He belonged to the fragile created order. Arius placed Him in the “fragile created order” but Athanasius placed Him in the “divine realm. ” The Trinity was developed to defeat the argument of Arius. It had no basis in scripture. Summary: The doctrine of the trinity is steeped in Greek philosophy and pagan thought. It originated over 200 years after the death of the last Apostle (John). Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Council of Nicaea (325 A. D. ) and the Athanasian Creed… “We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things, visible and invisible, and in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten of the father, that is, of the substance (ousia) of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one substance (homoousion) with the Father, in whom all things were made, those things that are in heaven and those things that are on earth, who for us men and for our salvation came down and was made man, suffered, rose again on the third day, ascended into the heavens and will come to judge the living and the dead. And we believe in the Holy Spirit. ” Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God The Cappadocians and the Trinity… “But Christians were still confused: if there was only one God, how could the Logos also be divine? Eventually three outstanding theologians of Cappadocia in eastern Turkey came up with a solution that satisfied the Eastern Orthodox Church. These were Basil, Bishop of Caesarea (ca 329 -379), his younger brother Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa (335 -395) and his friend Gregory of Nazianzus (329 -391). . . Trained in Greek philosophy, they were all aware of a crucial distinction between the factual content of truth and its more elusive aspects. . . They employed a formula that Athanasius had used in his dispute with Arius: God had a single essence (ousia) which remained incomprehensible to us-- but three expressions (hypostases) which made him known. ” “History of God, ” by Karen Armstrong. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Scriptures Used to Support the Trinity… 1 John 5: 7 -8 “For there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three agree as one. ” Margin of NKJV: “NU, M omit the words from in heaven in verse 7 through on earth in verse 8. Only four or five very late mss. contain these words in Greek. ” Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Historical Development of the Trinity… No mention of Trinity Old Testament Scriptures Moses - Ezra (1500 - 400 BC) Coins term “Trinity” Tertullian 200 A. D. Trinity Explained Three Cappadocian Brothers 350 - 380 A. D. No mention of Trinity New Testament Church/Scriptures 31 A. D. - 200 A. D. Athanasian Creed Arius and the Council of Nicea 325 A. D. Nicene Creed Council of Constantinople 381 A. D. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God The Trinity remains a mystery to most people. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Oneness of God… Deuteronomy 6: 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Deuteronomy 6: 4 -- The Issue of Oneness • NKJV… “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one. ” • NRSV… “Hear, O Israel: the LORD is our God, the LORD alone. ” • RSV… “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD. ” • KJV… “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD. ” • American… “Hear O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. ” Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Understanding the Hebrew… Nine different Hebrew words that can be translated as “one. ” Most only apply to men and women. Of the ones that apply to God, two are primary. The two words are: “echad” “yachid” Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Echad… dj; a, adj. num. one — 1. one; as subst. sq. ÷mi ; pl. = few, a few. 2. each, every; also repeated, distributive sense. 3. a certain; hence 4. indefinite article. 5. only; & (fem. ) once; at once tj; a, B[. 6. one … another, the one … the other ×a … ×a; ×ah … ×a. 7. as ordinal, first; of first day of month; first year, tj'a' tn: v]. 8. in combin. , a. rc; ; ]dj'a’ eleven (cf. rc; ; ], y. Tev’][) as ordinal, eleventh hrec , ][tj'a’; b. with other numerals, as cardinal; as ordinal. Richard Whitaker, Editor, The Abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Scriptures That Use Hebrew “Echad” 1. Genesis 1: 5 “first” 2. Genesis 2: 24 Two become “one” 3. Exodus 24: 3 Congregation speaks with “one voice” 4. Nehemiah 8: 1 “whole congregation as one man” Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Scriptures That Use Hebrew “Echad” 5. Nehemiah 7: 66 “whole congregation together” 6. Isaiah 65: 25 “wolf and lamb together” 7. Genesis 11: 6 “people is one” Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Definition of Hebrew “Yachid” AV - only 6, darling 2, only child 1, only son 1, desolate 1, solitary 1; 12. Adjective 1) only, only one, solitary, one 1 a) only, unique, one 1 b) solitary 1 c) (TWOT) only begotten son 2) one Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Scriptures That Use Hebrew “Yachid” 1. Genesis 22: 2 “your only son” 2. Genesis 22: 12 “your only son” 3. Genesis 22: 16 “your only son” Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Scriptures That Use Hebrew “Yachid” 4. Judges 11: 34 “she was his only child” 5. Proverbs 4: 3 “the only one in the sight of my mother” 6. Zechariah 12: 10 “as one mourns for his only son” Maimonides (1135 -1204 A. D. ) in an effort to solve the problem of plurality suggested the substitution of the Hebrew “yachid” for “echad” in his 13 principles. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God One must use caution when building a doctrine from a translation issue. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Scriptures Showing Plurality… Genesis 1: 26 “Then God [Elohim] said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” Genesis 3: 22 “Then the Lord [YHVH] God [Elohim] said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever. ’” Genesis 11: 6 -7 “And the Lord [YHVH] said, ‘Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. ‘Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. ’” Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Scriptures Showing Plurality… Psalm 45: 6 -7 “Your throne, O God [Elohim], is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God [Elohim], Your God [Elohim], has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions. ” Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Elohim )µyhil¿aÔ( 1. n. m. pl. (f. ) pl. in number. a. rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power. b. divine ones, superhuman beings including God angels. c. angels; cf. µyhla. (h) ynb= (the) sons of God, or sons of gods = angels. d. gods. 2. Pl. intensive. a. god or goddess, always with sf. b. godlike one. c. works of God, or things specially belonging to him (vid. Lae. ( 3. µyhil¿aÔh; the (true) God. The Abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew. English Lexicon of the Old Testament Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Elohim with a plural verb… Genesis 20: 13 “And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house…” The verb in this verse is in the plural. It goes with the subject Elohim, and occurs in the third person common plural of the hiphil stem of the verb t’h, meaning to wander. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Plural of Majesty Concept (Genesis 1: 26)… The Great Mystery by Nassi The plural of majesty was “a thing unknown to Moses and the prophets. Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, David, and all the other kings throughout. . . (the Law, the Prophets, and the Hagiographa) speak in the singular, and not as modern kings in the plural. They do not say we, but I command; as in Genesis 41: 41; Daniel 3: 29; Ezra 1: 2; etc. ” Compounding this error, Unitarians attempt to explain even the plural word “elohim” away as a form of the plural of majesty, forgetting that the use of the royal “we” is limited to direct discourse and commands and not narratives or descriptions. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Plural of Majesty Concept (Genesis 1: 26)… The Trinity: Evidence and Issues by Robert Morely The concept “plural of majesty” is a hoax that was popularized by the Jewish scholar Gesenius in the nineteenth century. Using the plural of majesty to explain this and other passages away commits the fundamental mistake of reading a modern interpretation backward into Scripture. Plurality of the Godhead 2011

Fundamental Beliefs of the Church of God Handouts from Class… • Summary of Fundamental Belief– the Godhead • Beyond the Cosmos • Quotes about the Trinity • Review Sheet Plurality of the Godhead 2011