First we will look at the parts of Godhead belief we can all agree on. Using myself as an example of mainline SDA belief, I think we can all agree with the antitrinitarians and James himself on the following:
From the post, James White on the Personality of God
- God the Father has a physical form
- God can be anywhere by his representative, the Spirit
- Jesus has a physical form
- Heaven is a physical place
- Christ was "in a special sense" Comforter while on earth with his disciples.
- While Christ is absent the Holy Spirit is His representative and Comforter.
- The Catholic trinity doctrine is error
- The Father and Son were one in man's creation and in his redemption
- The "three in one and one in three" formulation is a fallacy, neither Biblical or explicable.
- The Father and the Son are two distinct beings, yet one in the design and accomplishment of redemption.
- The old Trinitarian creed is unscriptural
- Jesus is second in authority to the Father
- Jesus is the Father's "only beloved"
- The Catholic trinity doctrine "does away the personality of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ"
- The Father is never called an angel but Jesus is frequently called an angel in the Old Testament.
- Jesus is given credit for what angels do because they are His agents.
- Jesus represents the Father's mind (thinking) in the events of deliverance.
This is a fairly long list and means that there is much common ground even over the Godhead. I invite comments and corrections. Next we will look at where we disagree with James and each other.
4 comments:
I am glad that you can agree with JW in saying that Christ is next in Authority to the Father. I am not sure if the theologians could agree, especially with the next one.
"Sin originated with him who, next to Christ, had been most honored of God and who stood highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of heaven."
The "three in one and one in three" formulation is a fallacy, neither Biblical or explicable.
Do you really agree with James on that? It is commonly found in Adventist literature and in our hymn book.
The Catholic trinity doctrine "does away the personality of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ" How do they do that? By doing away with the literal sonship of Christ, as do other trinitarians. James was not alone in his belief in the literal Son Of God,
so that we have the personality of a real Father and the personality of a real Son. The antichrist proclaims belief in the Son of God, but denies that He is an actual Son, thus fulfilling the description in 1 John 2:22 "He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son"
It would be interesting to see what the theologians thought of the "Sin originated " comment , wouldn't it.
I personally have no problem with it.
By the way, where is the quote from?
"Three in one and one in three" is used to back the belief that when Jesus returned to heaven he merged back into the ineffable "One".
On the other hand I believe that the Son and Father are and always have been, distinct individuals.
I haven't read much Adventist literature on the Godhead so can't comment on that but agree there are hymns that tend that way. A bit sloppy but it depends what you infer from it.
Your most recent comment, correctly says that the Catholic trinity doctrine does away with the personality of God and of his Son. Kellogg did the same thing, in the same way and it is NOT in the way you suggest but by spiritualizing the distinct individuality of the Father and Son away and turning them into a single entity.
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