Problems with the Trinity

Few Christians are aware of any problems with the doctrine of the Trinity. And if they were to investigate it further, they would be confronted with statements like the following:

"The mind of man cannot fully understand the mystery of the Trinity. He who would try to understand the mystery fully will lose his mind. But he who would deny the Trinity will lose his soul". -Harold Lindsey and Charles J. Woodbridge, A Handbook of Christian Truth, pp. 51-52

So powerful is the Christian belief in the Trinity that it is the litmus test for whether or not a person is considered to be orthodox. According to The Watchmen Foundation, the acceptance or rejection of the Trinity tops their list as to what they consider to be a cult. If a group does not believe in the Trinity, they are considered a cult.

Thus, the concept of the Trinity should be accepted or else. But blind belief is not what Christians are called to do. Paul teaches us: "Test all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). And Peter admonishes: "Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). Therefore the Christian is duty bound to prove whether or not God is a Trinity.

Clear Explanation Difficult

Yet, the Trinity is difficult to prove:

'The term 'Trinity' is not a Biblical term, and we are not using Biblical language when we define what is expressed by it as the doctrine" -The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, article "Trinity," p. 3012 (all emphasis is ours)

"In Christian doctrine, the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. Neither the word Trinity nor the explicit doctrine appears in the New Testament." - The Encyclopaedia Britannica, on the heading "Trinity"

"The trinity of God is defined by the Church as the belief that in God are three persons who subsist in one nature. That belief as so defined was reached only in the 4th and 5th centuries AD and hence is not explicitly and formally a biblical belief." -The Dictionary of the Bible, John L. McKenzie, S.J., p. 899

"It is difficult, in the second half of the 20th century, to offer a clear, objective, and straightforward account of the revelation, doctrinal evolution, and the theological elaboration of the mystery of the Trinity. Trinitarian discussion, Roman Catholic as well as other, presents a somewhat unsteady silhouette…There is the recognition on the part of exegetes and Biblical theologians, including a constantly growing number of Roman Catholics, that one should not speak of Trinitarianism in the New Testament without serious qualification." -The New Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. XIV, p. 295

One would think that such an important Christian doctrine as the Trinity would have clear Biblical revelation, but this is not the case. In fact, the word "Trinity" is never found in the Bible. Moreover, there is no substantive proof such a doctrine is even indicated.