Someone at TheologyWeb had referred me to a theologian I had never heard of named Van Til. As I was researching his writings I came across a Unitarian blog with the usual rants about the Trinity. It is winter here in Oz, so today I was sitting in the sun trying to get warm and the following parable entered my thoughts... I think it needs tweaking, so your critique would be most appreciated...
In a "watch this, I'm going to drop him to the ground" moment, the Unitarian asked the Trinitarian: "In the doctrine of the Trinity you have three persons who are the one God. Is that correct?
Trinitarian: Close enough, though we emphasise the concrete reality of each person and the distinction between persons.
Unitarian: Ok. In my understanding, you also teach that the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. Is that correct?
Trinitarian: Close enough.
Unitarian exclaims triumphantly: Then you have three Gods, not one!
_____________
Trinitarian: If I saw two men and a woman standing at a bus stop, I would declare "There are three persons" and not "There are three men". Why do you think that is so?
Unitarian replies with some deflation: Obviously because a woman is not a man!
Trinitarian: Is it not written in the scriptures that God created "man" as both male and female?
Unitarian replies with obvious impatience: Adam was not created as both male and female!!!
Trinitarian: The person named Adam definitely wasn't, but Genesis 5:2 tells us that God collectively called the two persons he created "adam". In English we say "man".
Unitarian replies obviously irritated: You are avoiding my question!
Trinitarian: You didn't ask me a question! As judge, jury and executioner you made a statement. I'm attempting to demonstrate to you that your statement is silly.
As I said: If I saw two men and a woman standing at a bus stop, I would declare "There are three persons" and not "There are three men". The reason as you seem to agree is that there is distinction of persons in humanity. Each person, whether male or female, has the status of being human but none are all of humanity. Likewise the Trinity. There is distinction of persons. Each person has the status of being God (theotēs cp. Col 2:9), but alone, none is all of God in regards to the activity that mankind experiences....
In a "watch this, I'm going to drop him to the ground" moment, the Unitarian asked the Trinitarian: "In the doctrine of the Trinity you have three persons who are the one God. Is that correct?
Trinitarian: Close enough, though we emphasise the concrete reality of each person and the distinction between persons.
Unitarian: Ok. In my understanding, you also teach that the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. Is that correct?
Trinitarian: Close enough.
Unitarian exclaims triumphantly: Then you have three Gods, not one!
_____________
Trinitarian: If I saw two men and a woman standing at a bus stop, I would declare "There are three persons" and not "There are three men". Why do you think that is so?
Unitarian replies with some deflation: Obviously because a woman is not a man!
Trinitarian: Is it not written in the scriptures that God created "man" as both male and female?
Unitarian replies with obvious impatience: Adam was not created as both male and female!!!
Trinitarian: The person named Adam definitely wasn't, but Genesis 5:2 tells us that God collectively called the two persons he created "adam". In English we say "man".
Unitarian replies obviously irritated: You are avoiding my question!
Trinitarian: You didn't ask me a question! As judge, jury and executioner you made a statement. I'm attempting to demonstrate to you that your statement is silly.
As I said: If I saw two men and a woman standing at a bus stop, I would declare "There are three persons" and not "There are three men". The reason as you seem to agree is that there is distinction of persons in humanity. Each person, whether male or female, has the status of being human but none are all of humanity. Likewise the Trinity. There is distinction of persons. Each person has the status of being God (theotēs cp. Col 2:9), but alone, none is all of God in regards to the activity that mankind experiences....
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