A Straightforward Discussion of the Trinity and Similar Godhead Errors

This is a study for the purpose of helping Seventh-day Adventists to be aware of the dangers of resorting to human reason in attempts to explain the origin, nature or attributes of the members the divine Godhead."The world is to be taken captive by Satan's deceiving representations. Where then is our security? How shall we guard against Satan's bewitching artifices?-By reading the Word of God with an intensity of desire to know Him in the light of revelation which He has left on record of Himself; by meditating upon His precepts diligently. We are to obey His commands, afraid to venture out of the path of divine revelation, and to indulge in fallacious reasoning." Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 50, 51. (emphasis added).Scripture records that down through the millennia, God has revealed the names or terms by which He is to be known to mankind. God, the Spirit of God, the LORD, the LORD GOD, and JEHOVAH are notable terms of the Old Testament. Psalm 2, and elsewhere, tells of the Lord speaking of "My King," and of "My Son" (verses 6, 7). King Nebuchadnezzar described the fourth person in the fiery furnace as "like the Son of God" (Daniel 3:25). With the incarnation of Christ, there was an emphasis on additional terms or titles such as God the Father, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Christ (Messiah), the Spirit, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, and the Godhead. The prophet, John the Baptist, referred to Christ as "the Lamb of God." With the New Testament explosion in divine titles, God revealed more clearly to man that there are multiple members of the Godhead, all involved in the plan of saving repentant man-all who will trust and have faith in Him. Obviously, God intends for us to think of Him/Them in the terms and titles that He has given. Unfortunately, Satan has motivated inquisitive man to try to explain, in more detail than God has revealed, the natures, and even origins of the various members, and the relationships between them."Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?" Proverbs 30:4.CONTENTSINTRODUCTIONA Study for Seventh-day AdventistsCHRIST THE SUPERHUMAN MEDIATORTHE TRINITY-HUMAN EXPLANATION OF DIVINITYRESPONSE OF PIONEER ADVENTIST LEADERS TO THE TRINITY DOCTRINEJ. N. AndrewsJoseph Bates D. M. CanrightM. E. CornellR. F. CottrellD. W. Hull J. N. LoughboroughE. J. Waggoner Judson WashburnJames WhiteE. G. WhiteSEMI-ARIAN POSITION OF MANY PIONEERSE. J. Waggoner J. M. StephensonJames WhiteJ. G. Matteson EXTENT OF BELIEF IN THE TRINITYA Tritheism ExceptionNew Seventh-day Adventism PositionCLARIFYING TRUTHThe Eternal Sonship of ChristPrevious Resolution of Another Complex IssueLIMIT TO INSPIRED TERMSTheological IdolsThe Big Question and SolutionAPPENDIX ADevil's TrinitiesAPPENDIX B"Misrepresentations of the GodheadAPPENDIX CLiving Temple Associated TestimoniesAPPENDIX DForty-one Ellen White Statements that Directly Say Christ Took Man's Post-Fall NatureFallenSinfulFallen and SinfulIndirect StatementsInspired Statements Regarding the Enmity NatureDual Human Natures at WarEnmity and the Born Again ChristianChrist's Enmity NatureEnmity Belief of the PioneersElder A. T. JonesElder E. J. WaggonerElder S. N. Haskell