Question 6: Doesn’t the Trinity Contradict Jesus’s Own Teachings?

The Question

Question 6. If God is one and three simultaneously, then none of the three could be the complete God. Granting that such was the case, then when Jesus was on earth, he wasn’t a complete God, nor was the “Father in Heaven” a whole God. Doesn’t that contradict what Jesus always said about His God and our God in heaven, His Lord and our Lord? Does that also mean that there was no complete God then, between the claimed crucifixion and the claimed resurrection?

The Short Answer 

Your main question is: Doesn’t the Trinity contradict Jesus’ teachings? And the short answer: The Trinity contradicts Jesus’ teachings

The Trinity Doctrine

The doctrine of the Trinity holds that God is one being in three coequal (no hierarchy of power), coeternal (each without beginning), and consubstantial (each fully God) persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit

Co-eternal means each person of the Trinity existed eternally without beginning. None is before or after the others in time.

Co-equal means each person shares the same divine attributes of omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence; each is worthy of the same worship and glory; and there is no hierarchy of power or importance among them.

Consubstantial means the three persons are not three different gods, and are not parts of God, but each is fully God because they share the same single divine substance, essence, or being (homoousios in Greek).

If you’re asking whether this doctrine contradicts the teachings of Jesus, the answer is yes.

The Scriptural Position

According to Jesus, God is one, as in individual, and the Father whom Jesus preached is that one true God.

John.17.3 – And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only (one) true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

John.20.17 – Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.”’

Mark 12:32 – So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He.

Mark12.33 – And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Mark12.34 – Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.

Jesus is not God as presented in the Trinity. Jesus is the Son of God, not God the Son. He is not equal to the Father; the Father is greater than Him, and everything He has was given to Him by the Father, who we’ve seen is also His God. 

“Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.'” John 5:19

“You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.” John 14:28

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36

Jesus, before becoming flesh, Jesus in flesh, and Jesus glorified, is subject to the Father, prays to the Father, and serves the Father. 

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” John 6:38

“Jesus answered them and said, ‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.'” John 7:16

“My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” John 10:29

“But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” 1 Corinthians 11:3

“Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:28

The Spirit is not another person different from God or Christ but is the fellowship of both. The Holy Spirit in the life of a believer is both the presence of the Father and Jesus Christ in them. For other contexts, references, and applications, I will detail and explain in a separate article.

“For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” Matthew 10:20

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:9–11  

“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!'” Galatians 4:6

“And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” Revelation 4:5  

“For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:11

Understanding “Godhead” in Scripture

Trinity redefines the word Godhead to mean a group of three. However, all use of the word ‘Godhead’ in the Bible wasn’t used as a group of persons. It’s always a reference to the Father, who is the Head, Father, and God of all gods. Hence, the Godhead.

“Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature (Godhead) is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.” Acts 17:29

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” Romans 1:20

“For in Him (Jesus Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Colossians 2:9

Conclusion

The doctrine of the Trinity does contradict the Bible a whole lot. If you ever have to choose between believing Jesus/scripture or believing religious doctrines of men, please believe Jesus; believe God’s word. Let God be true and all men liars, Romans 3:4.

Next, I’ll be answering the question: Doesn’t Modalism Contradict Jesus’ Own Teachings?

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