I have just learnt that the original Greek of Erasmus’ Textus Receptus did not contain parts of 1 John 5:7-8. This is known to scholars of theology as the Johannine Comma, and it is the clearest statement in Bible translations such as the KJV of the doctrine of the Trinity – the idea that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three persons and at the same time one God.
Here is how 1 John 5:7-8 reads in the KJV:
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
1 John 5:7-8, KJV
Here is the same passage in the LSV:
because [there] are three who are testifying [[in Heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one; and [there] are three who are testifying in the earth]]: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood, and the three are into the one.
1 John 5:7-8, LSV
The words that are within the double square brackets of the LSV were not in the first and second editions of Erasmus’ Textus Receptus. They were not in the Greek manuscripts that Eramus came across, but in the Latin Vulgate. It was only in the third edition of the Textus Receptus that Erasmus included the Johannine Comma. He did this because the Catholic church was about to accuse him of promoting a kind of Arianism.
Arianism takes as its starting point the idea that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, begotten of God the Father before time itself. Now, because the Son of God is distinct from God the Father, Arianism insists, the Son has to be subordinate to the Father. During the Patristic Period, the church declared this theology by Arius to be heresy. In its stead arose the doctrine of the Trinity: the concept that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are equally God, which means no one of the three is lesser or greater than the other two.
Looking at it now, given the absence of the Johannine Comma in the original Greek of Erasmus, and in light of all the mistakes of the Patristic Period, I think the Trinity is not altogether correct and for that matter Arius was not in error.
Theology is the study of God. Although the world has witnessed and documented the Son of man Jesus Christ, his miraculous powers and his resurrection, and furthermore although the world has remembered the miracles of the Holy Spirit when the Holy Spirit was given to the apostles, we can only ever know things about God through Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit. The reason for this is that God the Father is invisible. So, first and foremost, theology must be based on the words of the Bible. From 2 Timothy 3:16, we know that all scripture was given by inspiration of God, which means if something is there in the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, it was given to mankind by the Holy Spirit.
Now, in his day as the Son of man, Jesus Christ remarked that his Father is greater than him.
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
John 14:28
But at that time, Jesus also said, that his Father is greater than all, and that he and his Father are “one”.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.
John 10:29-30
Here, you can see that scripture can be read as supporting Arius, and yet in favour of the Trinity.
Of course, the expression “I and my Father are one” can mean instead that the Son of God and God the Father are always together in agreement. In this case, Arius’ position is actually better than the Trinity.
Now, God the Father has said that he is “the first” of everything and everyone, and he is “with the last”.
Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet. Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
Isaiah 41:2-4
Further to that, the Son of God Jesus Christ has said that he was “the first” in the universe, and he will be “the last”.
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Revelation 1:13-18
Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
Isaiah 48:12-13
The point here is that the Father is with the Son.
Now, an important thing to know is that Jesus Christ was begotten of God the Father at the beginning, and in turn Jesus Christ created everything and everyone else, including space and even time itself.
Colossians 1 says, Jesus Christ is “the firstborn of every creature” and “by him were all things created”. So, “he is before all things and by him all things consist”.
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Colossians 1:12-19
Ephesians 3 puts it plainly that God the Father created all things by Jesus Christ.
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 3:9
So, Jesus Christ is “from everlasting”, which means before time itself, and what is more, he is the creator. Then, some two thousands years ago from our point of view, he was made flesh, born into the world as a human being through the virgin Mary.
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Micah 5:2
Now, even though the Son of man is described in Isaiah 53 as a “servant” of God, and in Isaiah 42 as the chosen or “elect” of God – in other words, the anointed one or the Christ of Israel – since he is the creator and he created everything, he is also actually God. Thus, as John puts it, in the beginning, “the Word was with God” and “the Word was God”, and then “the Word was made flesh”.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-14
This point that Jesus Christ is God can also be found in Isaiah 44, when “the King of Israel” says “beside me there is no God”.
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Isaiah 44:6
Similarly, in Hebrews 1, the Son of God, who is the expressed image of God the Father, is addressed by God the Father as “O God”, and furthermore God the Father prophesies that the throne of the Son of God will be forever. In other words, the kingdom of God will be everlasting.
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
Hebrews 1:1-10
So you see, God the Father, who is eternal and greater than all, created the Son of God to serve him as the one and only God of this universe visible to creation, and also to reign on the throne of the kingdom of God, so that all creatures might worship the Son and in so doing worship him the Father as well, who is invisible.
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
1 John 2:22-23
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Isaiah 44:8
As for Jesus Christ being “the last”, I suppose this is one way of saying that as long as the universe exists, Jesus Christ will exist, because God the Father is forever and he and his Son are together. This is an important point because not only is Jesus Christ God, having God-like power to create and to destroy at will, but God the Father who is even more powerful than him will always be with him. For these reasons, Jesus Christ is Almighty.
See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
Deuteronomy 32:39-40
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 1:8
Now, as I mentioned earlier, God the Father is invisible. He is not only invisible on earth but he is also invisible in heaven. No creature has ever seen God the Father: neither mankind nor angels. Only the Son of God has spoken of him.
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature
Colossians 1:15
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 1:18
This is why James said, even devils believe there is one God, and tremble. Every angel, good and bad, will have seen the Son of God Jesus Christ in heaven. But no angel has ever seen God the Father, nor can anyone see him.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
James 2:19
What is more, the Bible hints that mankind will never be able to fully understand the nature and power of God the Father.
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:24
It is very interesting that in Hebrews 1, God the Father describes his Son Jesus Christ using the word “God”, but then adds that he is to him not only a Father but importantly also his “God”. Yet again this speaks to the point that the Father is considerably greater than the Son.
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Hebrews 1:8-9
All of that is to say, the doctrine of the Trinity cannot be correct.
Yes, the Father and the Son are together, and yes, the Son is actually God and so is the Father, and yes, the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of the Son, is also technically God. And even in the very first sentence of Genesis, the word for God is plural, Elohim, and yet masculine and singular, due to the Hebrew conjugation of the verb create, bara. And then there is also the pronoun “our” in Genesis 1:26-27 – “in our image, after our likeness”.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 1:26-27
But despite all of this, there is still the inescapable fact that God the Father is greater than the Son of God.
The Trinity fails as a theory of God because it insists that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are equal. Besides that, there is the incoherence and the illogic of God being three and yet one.
The truth of one LORD and one Son, who is the Messiah and also in effect God, is much simpler to grasp.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD
Deuteronomy 6:4
Anyway, in due time all will be revealed.
Soon, the world will see Jesus Christ in person coming back to the earth in the clouds with great power and great glory.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away…. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1 Corinthians 13:9-12
The creation of the 144000 saints, a new heavenly army, will also constitute proof that Jesus Christ is indeed God, as in the creator.
Plus, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit to the elect of Judah and Israel will make it clear that the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of the Son of God, is also special and God-like in power.
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Jeremiah 31:33-34