Resources concerning the Trinity
Hey David;
How have you been? I have been in discussion with some Mormon friends of mine on the topic of the Trinity. The more I research this topic the more I get confused. Apparently the bible never directly mentions the Trinity. The text I come across on the internet will reference the plural nature of Genesis's God and how Jesus referred to Himself as God (Basically) in John. The more I read I have discovered that the Trinity was term used by early Catholics. But there are several religions who do not believe in the Trinity as an all in one persona.
Anyway any help you could give would be great.
One last question, what is good place to start studying languages of the bible and their translations.. I did buy The New Interpreter’s Study Bible you recommended in one of your responses a while back. Good source for certain.
Mark
Hey Mark,
Yes, the term “Trinity” is Latin, which means it’s not in the Bible. Proto-Trinitarian formulations are found in several places in the New Testament. But, the fuller sense of the term would not be unpacked until the fourth century. That is, the foundation of later Trinitarian formulations are to be found in the New Testament.
Today, there is no unified view on the Trinity. I find the “Social Trinity” view the most compelling. That’ll come out in the following literature. (I won't recommend too much that is highly technical; the following is more of an overview):
I would start with this: http://www.paulcopan.com/articles/pdf/is-the-Trinity-a-logical-blunder_God-as-three-and-one.pdf
Then, here are some more reflections:
It’ll get you started.
Concerning translations, I’d read this: http://www.amazon.com/How-Choose-Translation-Worth-Understanding/dp/0310278767/ref=pd_sim_14_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=1FNERHJ38ZB2AB3QD197&dpSrc=sims&dpST=_AC_UL320_SR214%2C320_
Best wishes!
DP