Is the Doctrine of the Trinity a man-made creed or is it truly a biblical doctrine? E. Calvin Beisner, writer in theology, posed this question in the preface to hia book, "God in Three Persons". The answer to this question can readily be duduced from his admission that "the word TRINITY is not found in the Bible". If this doctrine is not found in the Bible, obviously, it is man-made. However, the Trinitarians argue that although the concept of the Trinity was merely formulated by men, it is an accurate representation of the teaching of the New Testament (God in Three Persons, p.7)

It behooves us then to examine the Trinity doctrine in the light of the Holy Scriptures. Is there really any teaching in the Bible that supports the concept of God having three distinct divine persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? The Bible tells us that sinvce the Beginning, the people of God have believed in a solitary God with no hint whatsoever that He is divided into three distinct beings. Moses, the Prophet of God, spoke to the Israelites and proclaimed: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!" (Dt. 6:4, New King James Version).

In the Hebrew Bible which is also called The Old Testament, the Israelites recite twice daily the Shema in accordance with the rabbinic interpretation of Deuteronomy 6:7. The shema, Hebrew, "Hear [O Israel]," the first word of Deutoronomy 6:4, clearly reveals to us the strict monotheism upheld by Israelites. There is no doubt in their minds that there is only one true God. (Is. 46:9; Jer. 10:10)

Jesus our Lord, when asked by one of the scribes, "What is the greatest commandment in the law?" being an Israelite, replied by affirming the oneness of God: "...The first of all the commandment is: "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one'" (Mk. 12:29, NKJV)

With regard to the identity of the one true God, Christ didactically emphasized in His mediatory prayer that it is the Father alone who should be recognized as the only true God. John recorded this statement of our Lord Jesus Christ in 17:1,3: ".. Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that you Son also may glorify you, .. And this eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (Ibid.)

Hiwever, in contrast to what was taught by Moses and Jesus Christ, Catholics and Protestants adhere to an ambiguous and confusing concept of God based on a crees ascribed to a certain Athahnasius. Part of the ao-called Athanasian creed reads: "And the Catholic faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neithet confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and anothet of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son and another of the Holy Gjlhost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost". (MccClintock and Strong Encyclopedia)

The trinity doctrine, considered as sacrosanct by its adherents, is crucial to Catholic and Protestant theologians in explaining their view of God from the basic Judeo-Christian perspective. Although these theologians do not subscribe to Judaism's strict monotheism , they use the Old Testament in expounding their belief on the Trinity. This doctrine is so much ingrained into their theology. Consequently, voluminous writings were made in trying to explain the dogma. Books on systematic theology abound with critical analyses of the doctrine.

However, is Trinity taught in the Holy Scriptures? Edmund J. Fortman, an author who discusses a historical study of the doctrine of the Trinity, says: "Catholic theologians today maintain that neither trinity or a plurality of divine persons is taught or revealed explicitly in the Old Testament." (The Triune God: A Historical Study of the Doctrine of the Trinity, p. 290)

Explicitly or implicitly there is nothing in the Bible that teaches God as a Trinity. Catholic authorities further admit: "The word 'Trinity' does not appear in the New Testament; and the meanings of the words are uses to bear the message of God, had to be carefully refined to bear that message rightly." (The Teaching of Christ: A Catholic Catechism for Adults, p.177)

"The doctrine of the Trinity as commonly defined is not found in the Bible. For we assert that thereare three persons in one God. a statement not found in Scripture" (Full Christianity: A Catholic Response to Fundamental Questions, p.25)

If one were to ask a Trinitarian to explain the doctrine that there are three persons in one God, he would likely get this same answer: "This [the Trinity] is a mystery that no human mind can completely understand." (A Cathechism for Adults, p.13) Could a person who is learned in the Scriptures, for instance a theologian, comprehend the Trinity doctrine?

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