How the Trinity Became a Church Doctrine

The doctrine of the Trinity was unknown to the Apostles and the early churches of the 1st and 2nd centuries. The word trinity is not found in God’s Word. But by the 3rd century the Christian Church was rising to power, pagan persecutions had ceased, and many pagans sought entrance into the church, carrying with them their heathen beliefs of many gods.

From the Bible Study Monthly of England we have extracted the following historical note on the Trinity:

“For many years pagans had been familiar with the trinitarian beliefs of the East, beliefs which found their strongest expression in the complicated theology of Hinduism and Brahmanism. It is in honor of the three chief Brahman deities, Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, that a very early hymn to the trinity was composed. Nearly a hundred years before Christ, Kalidasa, one of the greatest of Indian poets, wrote:

‘In those three Persons the one God was shown

Each first in place, each last – not one alone;

Of Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, each may be

First, second, third, among the blessed Three.’

The similarity of those words to the later doctrine of the trinity as defined in the Athanasian Creed is obvious. It was in the 4th century AD, nearly 500 years after Kalidasa wrote his hymn, that the controversy which had been gathering force in the church came to a head.”

At this time the church formulated a doctrine that within the one true God there are actually three persons. Thus the expression came about that there are “three persons of the Godhead.” Trinitarians have used various definitions in order to have the Trinity understood. One such definition is that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are each co-equal and co-eternal as the one true God. Though even Trinitarians admit it is difficult to comprehend, it still remains the very foundation belief of the majority of present-day Christian churches.

Arius, in approximately 318 AD, began to raise objections to the Trinity teaching. He was responsible for starting a controversy that still exists today. Again quoting from the above source: “Arius was an old man. Athanasius, a younger man well versed in philosophy and literature, and with his ability and energy, led the Council to decide in favor of his demand that the doctrine of the Trinity be declared the teaching of the Church. Only two bishops, Thomas of Marmarica and Secundus of Ptolemais, supported Arius. Arius, being thus defeated, was excommunicated and banished, and his books ordered to be burnt. Even so, a considerable portion of Christendom refused, at first, to accept the doctrine. Several centuries elapsed before the Trinity was firmly established as a generally accepted Christian doctrine.”

For over 12 centuries there was practically no study of Scriptures. During that time all Scriptural interpretations were formulated by the teaching and creeds of the Apostolic Bishops who directed the beliefs of the Church. These days were called the Dark Ages since the Gospel light was almost quenched, God’s Word not being available to the common man, but reserved only for the clergy.

We would like to point out to you more than 60 texts that challenge the Trinity doctrine. The Scriptures admonish us to “prove all things and hold fast to that which is good.” We hope that you accept the challenge.

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