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Decepto-Meter
Satanic Quote: Trinitarian
The watchtower quotes in such a highly selective way, that the reader is left with the opposite impression of the source.
McClintock and Strong: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and
Ecclesiastical Literature
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How the Watchtower quoted the source:
"Matthew 28:19 reads: "Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Do those verses say that God, Christ, and the holy spirit constitute a Trinitarian Godhead, that the three are equal in substance, power, and eternity? No, they do not, no more than listing three people, such as Tom, Dick, and Harry, means that they are three in one. This type of reference, admits McClintock and Strong's Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, "proves only that there are the three subjects named, . . . but it does not prove, by itself, that all the three belong necessarily to the divine nature, and possess equal divine honor." Although a supporter of the Trinity, that source says of 2 Corinthians 13:13 (14): "We could not justly infer that they possessed equal authority, or the same nature." And of Matthew 28:18-20 it says: "This text, however, taken by itself, would not prove decisively either the personality of the three subjects mentioned, or their equality or divinity."" (McClintock and Strong: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol x, p. 552, as quoted in, Should you believe the Trinity?, Watchtower publication)
What they left out in order to deliberately mislead you
The texts relating to the doctrine of the Trinity may be divided into two classes - those in which the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are mentioned in connection, and those in which these three subjects am mentioned separately, and in which their nature and mutual relation are more particularly described. 1. The first class of texts, taken by itself, proves only that there in the three subjects named, and that there is a difference between them; that the Father in certain respects differs from the Son, etc.; but it does not prove, by itself, that all the three belong necessarily to the divine nature, and possess equal divine honor. In proof of this, the second class of texts must be adduced. The following texts are placed in this [first] class: Mt 28:18-20. This text, however, taken by itself, would not prove decisively either the personality of the three subjects mentioned, or their equality or divinity. ... 2 Cor. 13:14, " The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and beloved of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Here we might infer, from the parallelism of the third member of the passage with the two former, the personality of the Holy Spirit; but we could not justly infer that they possessed equal authority, or the same nature. John 14:26 offers three different personal subjects ... Mt 3:16-17, has been considered a very strong proof text for the whole doctrine of the Trinity. But though three personal subjects are mentioned ... 2. We now turn to the second class of texts, viz. those in which the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are separately mentioned and in which their nature and essential relation are taught. These texts prove (a) that the Son and Holy Spirit, according to the doctrine of the New Test, are divine, or belong to the one divine nature; and (b) that the three subjects are personal and equal ... The Deity of Christ: To prove the deity of Christ we present three classes of texts (McClintock and Strong: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol x, Trinity, p 552)
What else they failed to tell you the source said:
It was the custom in former times for theologians to blend their own speculations and those of others with the statement of the Bible doctrine. It is customary now to exhibit first the simple doctrine of the Bible, and afterwards, in a separate part, the speculations of the learned respecting it. (McClintock and Strong: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol x, Trinity, p 551-553)
It has always been allowed that the doctrine of the Trinity was not fully revealed before the time of Christ, and is clearly taught only in the New Test. Yet while it is true (1) that if the New Test did not exist we could not derive the doctrine of the Trinity from the Old Test alone, it is equally true (2) that by the manner of God's revelation of himself in the Old Test. the way was prepared for the more full disclosure of his nature that was afterwards made. (McClintock and Strong: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol x, Trinity, p 551-553)
2 Cor. 13:14, " The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and beloved of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Here we might infer, from the parallelism of the third member of the passage with the two former, the personality of the Holy Spirit; but we could not justly infer that they possessed equal authority, or the same nature. (McClintock and Strong: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol x, Trinity, p 551-553)
John 14:26 offers three different personal subjects ... Mt 3:16-17 ... three personal subjects are mentioned (McClintock and Strong: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol x, Trinity, p 551-553)
John 20:28. Here Thomas, convinced at last that Christ was actually risen from the dead, thus addresses him, "My Lord and my God." This must not be considered an exclamation of surprise or wonder, as some have understood it; for it is preceded by the [Greek], "be said this to him." Thomas probably remembered what Jesus bad often said respecting his. superhuman origin (v, 8,10,17). and he now saw it all confirmed by his resurrection from the dead. (McClintock and Strong: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol x, Trinity, p 551-553)
It is proper to say that "the conclusion is obvious that, while we are taught by the Scriptures to believe in three equal subjects in the Godhead, who are described as persons, we are still unable to determine in what manner or in what sense these three have the divine nature so in common that there is only one God" (McClintock and Strong: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol x, Trinity, p 555)
Deception Exposed:
Where do we begin? The deception is so large and satanic, that we are lost for words! But we will try:
McClintock at the outset of the article states that there are two classes of verses to prove the trinity. The first class prove the Father Son and Holy Spirit are persons without reference to their nature or deity. The second as McClintock says, "that all the three belong necessarily to the divine nature, and possess equal divine honor. In proof of this, the second class of texts must be adduced."
Not only does the Watchtower not tell you there are two classes of proof texts that McClintock lists, they only quote from the first set and never the second set that prove "all the three belong necessarily to the divine nature, and possess equal divine honor." How deceptive!
The Watchtower article deceives the reader in to thinking that the true statement and Jehovah's Witnesses comment: "Do those verses say that God, Christ, and the holy spirit constitute a Trinitarian Godhead, that the three are equal in substance, power, and eternity? No, they do not, no more than listing three people, such as Tom, Dick, and Harry, means that they are three in one". McClintock and virtually every trinitarian would agree with this for it is absolutely true! The deception is that listing three people, such as Tom, Dick, and Harry, doesn't tell us anything about them being three in one but it always tells us they are people and not things!. In fact the very quote from McClintock states that very thing: "proves only that there in the three subjects named". Now remember the two classes of verses? Both classes prove that the three mentioned are PERSONS not things.
All a trinitarian has to do to refute JW's doctrine is prove that the Holy Spirit is a person! They deceptively misquote McClintock for he says the passage "proves only that there in the three subjects named" (persons not things) just as the Watchtower's very own illustration about Tom, Dick, and Harry proves only that three persons (not things) are mentioned.
So in the midst of their deceptive quoting the Devil, who is the author of their hideous booklet, Satan has bitten them! They refuted their own doctrine by quoting McClintock who states that they are three are PERSONS and not things in the proof texts. JW's reject that the Holy Spirit is a person, but teach He is a thing! (Sorry Holy Spirit!)
Full Text:
Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity in the godhead includes the
three following particulars, viz. (a) There is only one God, one divine
nature; (b) but in this divine nature there is the distinction of Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost, as three (subjects or persons); and (e) these three
have equal, and in common with one another, the nature and perfection of
supreme divinity. It was the custom in former times for theologians to
blend their own speculations and those of others with the statement of the
Bible doctrine. It is customary now to exhibit first the simple doctrine of
the Bible, and afterwards, in a separate part, the speculations of the
learned respecting it. I. The Biblical Doctrine: It has always been allowed
that the doctrine of the Trinity was not fully revealed before the time of
Christ, and is clearly taught only in the New Test. Yet while it is true
(1) that if the New Test did not exist we could not derive the doctrine of
the Trinity from the Old Test alone, it is equally true (2) that by the
manner of God's revelation of himself in the Old Test. the way was prepared
for the more full disclosure of his nature that was afterwards made. But
(3) respecting the intimate connection of these persons, or respecting
other distinctions which belong to the Doctrine of the Trinity, there is
nothing said in the Old Test. While in each particular text allusion is
made to a trinity or plurality in God, yet these texts are so many in
number and so various in kind that they impress one with the opinion that
such a plurality in God is indicated in the Old Test., though it is not
fully developed or clearly defined. ... (II) Since we do not find in the
Old Test clear or decided proof upon this subject, we must now turn to the
New Test. The texts relating to the doctrine of the Trinity may be divided
into two classes - those in which the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are
mentioned in connection, and those in which these three subjects am
mentioned separately, and in which their nature and mutual relation are
more particularly described. 1. The first class of texts, taken by itself,
proves only that there in the three subjects named, and that there is a
difference between them; that the Father in certain respects differs from
the Son, etc.; but it does not prove, by itself, that all the three belong
necessarily to the divine nature, and possess equal divine honor. In proof
of this, the second class of texts must be adduced. The following texts are
placed in this [first] class: Mt 28:18-20. This text, however, taken by
itself, would not prove decisively either the personality of the three
subjects mentioned, or their equality or divinity. For (a) the subject into
which one is baptized is not necessarily a person but way be a doctrine or
religion (b) The person in whom one is baptized is not necessarily God, as
1 Cor. 1:13, " Were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" (c) The connection of
these three subjects does not prove their personality or equality. We
gather one thing from the text, viz. that Christ considered the doctrine
respecting Father, Son, and 'Holy Ghost as a fundamental doctrine of his
religion, because he requires all his followers to be bound to a profession
of it when admitted by baptism into the church. I Pet 1:2: " Elect
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of
the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ."
From what is here said of the Holy Spirit, it does not necessarily follow
that he is a personal subject; not from the predicates here ascribed to
Christ, that he is necessarily divine. This passage, therefore, taken by
itself is insufficient. 2 Cor. 13:14, " The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
and beloved of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.
Here we might infer, from the parallelism of the third member of the
passage with the two former, the personality of the Holy Spirit; but we
could not justly infer that they possessed equal authority, or the same
nature. John 14:26 offers three different personal subjects, viz. the
Comforter, the Father, and Christ; but it is not sufficiently proven from
this passage that these three subjects have equal divine honor, and belong
to one divine nature. Mt 3:16-17, has been considered a very strong proof
text for the whole doctrine of the Trinity. But though three personal
subjects are mentioned, viz. the voice of the Father, the symbol of the
Holy Spirit, and Christ, yet nothing is here said respecting their nature.
1 John 5:7-8 are generally admitted to be spurious; and, even if allowed to
be genuine, they do not determine the nature and essential connection of
the three subjects mentioned. 2. We now turn to the second class of texts,
viz. those in which the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are separately
mentioned and in which their nature and essential relation are taught.
These texts prove (a) that the Son and Holy Spirit, according to the
doctrine of the New Test, are divine, or belong to the one divine nature;
and (b) that the three subjects are personal and equal ... The Deity of
Christ: To prove the deity of Christ we present three classes of texts (a.)
The following are the principal texts in which divine names are given to
Christ: John 1:1, 2. Christ is here called [Greek] (the Word), which
signified among the Jews and other ancient people, when applied to God,
everything by which, God reveals himself to man, and makes known to them
his will. Hence those who made known the divine will to men were called b
the Hellenists [Greek]. It was probably on this account that John declared
Jesus to be the Logos which existed [Greek]; that the Logos was with God,
and the Logos was God. In this passage the principal proof does not lie in
the word [Aoyoi], nor even in the word theos, which in a larger sense is
often applied to kings and earthly rulers; but to what is predicated of the
[Greek], viz. that he existed from eternity with God, that the world was
made by him, etc. John 20:28. Here Thomas, convinced at last that Christ
was actually risen from the dead, thus addresses him, "My Lord and my God."
This must not be considered an exclamation of surprise or wonder, as some
have understood it; for it is preceded by the [Greek], "be said this to
him." Thomas probably remembered what Jesus bad often said respecting his.
superhuman origin (v, 8,10,17). and he now saw it all confirmed by his
resurrection from the dead. Phil 2:6-11 Who, being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery to be equal with God." There it is said of Christ
that he is [Greek]; not [Greek] terms applied by Homer to kings and heroes.
The term [Greek], on the contrary, is never applied to a finite or created
being. Hence the Jews (John 5:18) considered it as blasphemy in Christ to
make himself [Greek]. John 10:28-30, ''I and my Father are one." These
words are not to be understood to denote so much as equality of nature as
unanimity of feeling and purpose. Still the passage is quite remarkable;
because Christ professes to do his work in common with his Father; and that
is more than any man, prophet, or even angel is ever add in the Bible to
do. That being one with God, therefore, which Jesus here asserts for
himself is something peculiar, which belongs to him only as be is a being
of a higher nature. Tit 2:13, "We expect the glorious appearance," In this
passage, since [Greek] is omitted before [Greek], both [Greek] and [Greek]
must be construed in apposition with [Greek] Moreover [Greek] is the word
by which the solemn coming of Christ is appropriately designated. In some
of the texts in which Christ is called the Son of God, the name is used in
three different senses - [I] Messiah or king, a title very commonly given
to, the Messiah by the Jews (see Matt xvi, 16; Luke ix, 20; Matt xxvii, 40;
Luke xxiii, 85; see also Mark xiii, 32; 1 Cor. xv, 28); [2] the higher
nature of Christ (John v, 17 sq.; x, 80, 33; xx, 31 ; Rom. i, 3,4); [3] he
is also called the Son of God (Luke i, 35), to designate the immediate
power of God in the miraculous production of his human nature. (b.) Texts
in which divine attributes and works are ascribed to Christ. It is not
necessary to find texts to prove that all the divine attributes are
ascribed to Christ. These attributes cannot be separated; and if one of
them is ascribed to Christ in the Bible, the conclusion is inevitable that
he must possess all the rest. The following attributes and works are
distinctly ascribed to Christ in the Scriptures: [i.] Eternity (John i, 1;
viii, 58; xvii, 5; Col. i, 17). [ii.] Creation and preservation of the
world (John i, 18, 10; Col i, 16; Heb. 1:10 [where Psa. cii, 26 is quoted
and applied to Christ]; ii, 10). [iii] Omnipotence is ascribed to Christ
(Phil. 3:21); omniscience (Matt. xi, 27). He is described as the searcher
of heart, etc. (I Cor. iv, 5). (c) Texts in which divine honor is required
for Christ. The following an the principal texts of this class: John, v,
23, 11 All men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father" Acts i,
24; vii, 59; 2 Cor. xii, 8, where Christ is approached in prayer; and those
in which the apostles refer to Christ the texts of the ,Old Test. that
speak of the honor and worship of God, e.g. Heb. i, 6 from Psa. xcvii, 7;
also Rom xiv, 11 from Isa. xlv, 8; Phil 2:10; 2 Cor. v, 8-11; 2 Tim. iv,
17, 18 (3.) The third point in the discussion of this doctrine is the
personality and divinity of the Holy Spirit; for a fail discussion of which
see Holy Ghost. (McClintock and Strong: Cyclopedia of Biblical,
Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol x, Trinity, p 551-553)
It is proper to say that "the conclusion is obvious that, while we
are taught by the Scriptures to believe in three equal subjects in the
Godhead, who are described as persons, we are still unable to determine in
what manner or in what sense these three have the divine nature so in
common that there is only one God" (McClintock and Strong: Cyclopedia of
Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol x, Trinity, p
555)
Go To Alphabetical Index Of Deceptive Quotes
Written By Steve Rudd, Used by permission at: www.bible.ca
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