Barton W. Stone The Trinity
Stone and Jesus proof that there is ONE GOD the Father and ONE LORD, the man Jesus Christ.
STATEMENTS OF APOSTOLIC CREED NOW USED BY CATHOLIC INSTEAD OF THE NICEAN.
| In the Old Testament the man Jesus of Nazareth is not included: when God "breathed" or inspired a prophet it was the same Spirit OF Christ: Christ is Messiah
and is not a "god" word. God is always Jehovah as the only TRUE
Elohim: Elohim can be applied to everyone whom people consider their ruler. BLESS the
Lord, O my soul. O Lord (Jehovah self-exostemg)
But the
Lord (Jehovah) is the true God (Elohim), he is the
living God, A fair reading of Genesis 1 is that "to begin with the elohim totally cast down the heavens and earth." This literally happened in Sumer where Moses begins his warning of people now abandoned
back to captivity and death because of musical idolatry of the Egyptian
trinity. However, Christ in Isaiah says that Jehovah did not make the
mess. Jesus Jesus said parables or figures are to HIDE truth and said that God HIDES from the wise or sophists: speakers for hire, singers, instrument players. Thus shall ye say
unto them, The gods
(several or elohim)
He hath made the earth
by When For thus
saith the Everything that God does is throgh
His Thought, His Breath (spirit) and His Word (His Son). Everything
that is created in the New spiritual world is said to have been now
created by Jesus His Son Barton W. Stone was not alone in rejecting the trinity in the sense of separate "persons or people." Does one call God in all of the many passages stupid for not being postmodern enough to say "Jehovah who is OUR elohim is THREE GODS"? Deut. 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine [1] heart, and with all thy [2] soul, and with all thy [3] might. Deut. 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: Paul read the Law and Prophets and affirmed Moses because Jesus was A Prophet like Moses who was called a god or elohim 1Cor. 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none [oude] other God [theos] but one. heis. Hesiod Theogony [145] but one eye only was set in the midst of their foreheads. And they were surnamed CyclopesThe fulness of the Godhead dwelled in Jesus of Nazareth: that does not mean God with three heads but the DIVINE NATURE which dwells in all of God's Little Flock. Jesus was not a God Person because the One God the Father made Jesus TO BE Lord (ruler) and Christ (Messiah0 Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,1Cor. 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords [kurioi] many,) 1Cor. 8:6 But to us there is but ONE God, the Father, OF whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord [theos] Jesus Christ, BY whom are all things, and we by him. In the Wilderness CHRIST was the ROCK. Everything is created by God's anointeds. When Jesus was MADE TO BE both Lord and Christ He is called Jesus THE Christ. Christ is not a "god" word. Jesus was the visible FORM or IMAGE of God. Barton W. Stone notes that when Elohim is used of Jehovah is, as noted above, to distinguish HIM from THEM: The doctrine of a plurality of persons in the one God, is argued from the plural termination of the Hebrew word Elohim, translated God. As great stress is laid on this argument, I will particularly examine it. Here it will be necessary to introduce the rule in the Hebrew Grammar, by which we shall determine the point. "Pluralis pro singulari positus, denotat magnitudinem, et excellentiam"--which, literally translated, is, "A plural put for a singular denotes greatness and excellency."--Robertson's Heb. Gram., p. 240. Now, according to this rule, Elohim, God, is put in the plural; because the word expresses dignity and majesty. For the same reason, the Lord said unto Moses, "See, I have made thee Elohim, a God unto Pharaoh"--Exod. 7, 1. No one supposes, that because Moses was called Elohim in the plural, there must have been a plurality of persons in him; but he [9] was so called because of his dignity and greatness. For the same reason Aaron called the molten calf he made Elohim--Exod. 32, 4, 8--wishing, by expressing it in the plural, to attach dignity and majesty to it, and by this means to excite reverence in the minds of its worshippers.
For the same reason, the Israelites called their
idol Baal-berith, their Elohim, God--Judg. 9, 33.--And
the Philistines called their idol Dagon, in the
plural, Elohim, God--Judg. 16, 22, 24. Also the
idol Ashteroth, Chemosh, Milcom, Baalzebub, Nisroch,
&c. though each is in the singular; yet each
is called Elohim, God, in the plural--1 Kings, 11,
32; 2 Kings, 1, 2, & 19, 37. No doubt that those
idol worshippers expressed their particular idol in
the plural, because of its supposed dignity, majesty
and excellence. This is true of Jesus of Nazareth Who displayed who all of the MAGESTY of the pagan "father, spirit (mother, self-fertilized) and infant son. " He will be called emmanuel as a SINGULAR Morphe or Image so no one can find |
The trinity concept was a political battle: a turf battle. Whatever the nature of God the command is not to teach that which has not been written. While trinity was a speculation in order to destroy Arius, it became a tradition which had to be observed as a test of fellowship and defense from being executed. The early creeds spoke of the one Father and One Mediator Jesus Christ. They "believed in the Holy Spirit" but did not IT into a HIM.
Barton W. Stone
The Apostle's Creed does not included the terms defined by neo trinitarians. Theologians may depend on outdated information because not even Catholics use the modified Nicean Creed.A short History, Ch IV: In the fall of I798, a call from the united congregations of Cane Ridge and Concord was presented me, through the Presbytery of Transylvania. I accepted, and a day not far ahead was appointed for adopt the Confession of Faith, as the system of doctrines taught in the Bible, I determined to give it a careful examination once more. This was to me almost the beginning of sorrows. I stumbled at the doctrine of Trinity as taught in the Confession; I labored to believe it, but could not conscientiously subscribe to it. Doubts, too, arose in my mind on the doctrines of election, reprobation and predestination, as there taught. I had before this time learned from my superiors the way of divesting those doctrines of their hard; repulsive features, and admitted them as true, yet unfathomable mysteries. Viewing them as such, I let them alone in my public discourses, and confined myself to the practical part of religion, and to subjects within my depth. But in reexamining these doctrines I found the covering put over them could not hide them from a discerning eye with close inspection. Indeed, I saw they were necessary to the system without any covering.
Barton W. Stone stated that The word Trinity is not found in the Bible. This is acknowledged by the celebrated Calvin, who calls the Trinity "a popish God, or idol, a mere human invention, a barbarous, insipid, and profane word." This was the common view of the American Restoration Movement. Because Rome knew that the trinity of gods could not be understood in light of clear Scripture, "she" called it a "mystery." Barton W. Stone from the charismatic wing of the restoration movement then identifies this trinity as "the mystery of Babylon" which began to work in the 4th century.
The Stone - Campbell Sectarians. Barton W. Stone came to agree with Alexander Campbell on all of the major issues which are distinct to the American Restoration Movement including baptism FOR the remission of sins. Therefore, it is not honest to invent the so- called Stone Campbell Movement which is admitted to being about a quarter of a century old. The fact is that non-instrumental churches of Christ have no significant connection to Barton W. Stone and espepcially repudiates experiential religion which led to the instrumental heresy. At the same time, no one can claim faithfulness to either Barton W. Stone or Alexander Campbell who accepts the idea of a trinity of three separated "persons" in the Godhead. No one can be a Stone Campbell disciple and still deliberately sow discord by adding music which did not exist in any of the denominations out of which the Campbells converted members: Baptists, Presbyterians and Methodists.
Because Rome knew that the trinity of gods could not be understood in light of clear Scripture, "she" called it a "mystery." Stone then identifies this trinity as "the mystery of Babylon" which began to work in the 4th century. Because Paul is so careful to identify the Spirit and Christ (1 Cor 2), or the Spirit as the Spirit of God or the Spirit of Christ (Rom 8) the teaching of the Spirit, like the teaching of grace, would have been easily misunderstood by those "just out of paganism" who identified with a group of gods.
However, even at Nicea the
Holy Spirit was
written off as "[We believe] also in the Holy Spirit." The Father-Son
with no "Spirit" person was explained:
Definition of word or age http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/nicene.htm
"When the Apostles' Creed was drawn up, the chief enemy was Gnosticism, which denied that Jesus was truly Man; and the emphases of the Apostles' Creed reflect a concern with repudiating this error. "
Church of England 1662 [plus Lutheran and others]
- 1. I believe in God the Father almighty, [Added 7th Century= creator of heaven and earth.
- 2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
- 3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
- 4. Under Pontius Pilate, He was crucified, died, and was buried.
- 5. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.
- 6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
- 7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
- 8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
- 9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
- 10. the forgiveness of sins,
- 11. the resurrection of the body,
- 12. and the life everlasting.
- Amen.
- I believe in God the Father Almighty,
- Maker of heaven and earth:
John warned because Christ is not a "god" word.
- And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
- Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
1John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit OF God:
Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:
and this is that spirit of antichrist,
whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2John 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
When the Nicene Creed was drawn up, the chief enemy was Arianism, which denied that Jesus was fully God. Arius was a presbyter (elder) in Alexandria in Egypt, in the early 300's. He taught that the Father, in the beginning, created (or begot) the Son, and that the Son, in conjunction with the Father, then proceeded to create the world. The result of this was to make the Son a created being, and hence not God in any meaningful sense.
Roman Catholic Church Rite of Baptism 1974
1. Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
2. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
3. Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
Profession of faith at Mass
Since the 2002 edition, the Apostles' Creed is included in the Roman Missal with the indication, "Instead of the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, especially during Lent and Easter time, the baptismal Symbol of the Roman Church, known as the Apostles' Creed, may be used." Previously the Nicene Creed was the only profession of faith that the Missal gave for use at Mass, except in Masses for children; but in some countries use of the Apostles' Creed was already permitted.
- when it was generally admitted that ousias (of the essence or substance) simply implied that the Son is of the Father indeed, but does not subsist as a part of the Father. To this interpretation of the sacred doctrine which declares that the Son is of the
Father, but is not a part of his substance, it seemed right to us to assent."Thus also the declaration that "the Son is consubstantial with the Father" having been discussed,
or in any way analogous to mortal creatures;
inasmuch as it is neither by division of substance,
nor by abscission nor by any change of the Father's substance and power.
"since the underived nature of the Father is inconsistent with all these things.
- That he is consubstantial with the Father then simply Father only who begat him; and that he is of no other substance or essence but OF the Father
When carefully read, none of the early documents give any support to those who see "God" as "three persons able to stand side-by-side or face-to-face to hold conferences to decide which separated Being is best equipped for which dispensation or task."
"Newman, an ardent trinitarian, did not hesitate to admit that trinitarian dogma does not come from the Bible but from the "mystery cults" of antiquity and from the "dispensation of paganism." The "secret tradition" of the mystery cults, wrote Newman, was "perpetuated" in the "early Councils," meaning that the "secret tradition" of paganism was used to solve the Arian Controversy by superimposing trinitarian dogma on Christianity.
The famous Nicene Creed, in other words, the foundation of Roman Catholicism and most Protestant denominations, including Messianic Judaism today, and the basis of later trinitarianism, is the very "secret doctrine" of the ancient "mystery cults" in disguise! (Quotes from Cardinal John Henry Newman, a famous Anglican turned Roman Catholic, entitled, The Arians of the Fourth Century. Source
Karen Armstrong, an ex nun (more at bottom of page) informs us that at that time theologians did not suddenly wake up and believe that God was composed of three persons in the sense of separate beings.
Rather, as the church sought to accommodate itself to Greek religion their "trinity" was an attempt to explain Monotheism which could not be explained to a triad-of-gods culture. In fact, early Christians were considered atheists because they didn't believe in more than one God.
Therefore, they sought to explain God in terms of a mystery but absolutely not in a corporeal or mortal sense.
However, as yesterday's myths become today's creeds, in the 19th century people accepted the "figure showing itself as the true god" as reality and began to teach that God was really a committee of three co-equal persons. This, of course, could not prevent the belief in three Gods: the Father of the "old Testament," the Son's dispensation of "Bible times" and today the dispensation of the Holy Spirit God. Paul Tillich marks the 19th century as the real departure even from early church "fathers" and that calling God three persons would have been considered heresy.
Barton W. Stone understood that even post-John Calvin, the Reformed group for which he preached had adopted the ancient mystery which had been turned into a reality which his "brethren" treated as more Biblical than the Bible. However, the trinity -- like images or idols in the church as "aids" of worship -- was not proposed as a physical reality.
You may or may not agree with Stone. However, his view is one of several which rejected the purely Catholic trinity of three beings. He seems to drift into explanations with which we might disagree but he is speaking within the context of his Presbyterian "brethren."
Quotations from Address to the Christian Churches, Works of Elder B. W. Stone Vol. 1, 2nd Edition, James Mathes.
45 On Stone's Trinitarian views see Winfred Ernest Garrison and Alfred T. DeGroot, The Disciples of Christ A History, St. Louis: Christian Board of
Publication, 1948, pp. 118ff. Joseph Badger was the first Connexion leader to visit the Stoneites, going to Kentucky in 1825 (Holland, p.266). The Eastern
Christians knew little about the Stone people before that time. In 1834 David Millard made a trip to the West, and from his letters it is obvious that the two
groups were by no means merged (Christian Palladium, June 16, 1834).
That there is but one living and true God, is a plain doctrine of revelation. "We know that an Idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called Gods, whether in Heaven or in earth (as there be Gods many and Lords many). But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and [50] we by him." 1 Cor. viii: 4-6. Also Deut. vi: 4. Mark xii: 29, etc.