Can One Be Justifiably Incredulous of the Trinity Based On This Meme?

I saw the following meme on Facebook and I responded to it with what I wrote below it. It's my very brief refutation:

MY RESPONSE:

Nearly Every other doctrine in the Bible needs to be systematized. Whether the attributes of God, eschatology, ecclesiology, sacramentology, atonement theories, how and in what sense the OT laws continue and/or are abrogated under the New Covenant, the relationship [if any] between Israel and the Church, etc. Why think that wouldn't be the case for Christology and theology proper [i.e. the doctrine of God in particular]? Most of the New Testament books are occasional letters. Meaning letters written on an occasion to address a particular issue the author deems necessary to focus on. They weren't written to teach the very basics of the faith.

The rudimentary elements and concept of the Trinity are presupposed in the New Testament Scriptures, and strongly hinted at in the Old Testament. The Trinity makes most sense of the comprehensive data and evidence we find in the Bible. It's the best abductive explanation. Abduction is inference to the best explanation. Or reasoning to that theory that has the greatest explanatory power, explanatory scope, is least Ad Hoc, fits best with already established facts, et cetera. 

For example, it only makes sense that the Holy Spirit is in some sense divine if Christians are the temple of God due to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit [1 Cor. 6:19; 3:16-17] . It only makes sense that Jesus is fully divine if He's worshipped to the same degree as the Father [John 5:23; Heb. 1:6 citing the LXX of Ps. 97:7 & Deut. 32:43]. These, and many other thing, are things that don't make sense in various types of anti-Trinitarian Unitarianism. 

Why for example does the New Testament teach all three persons dwell in believers [Father and Son: John 14:21-23; Son: Rev. 3:20; John 17:23], if it's not the case that all three persons are divine. Why are ALL THREE said to be INVOLVED in creation [Jesus: John 1:1ff.; 1Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16; Spirit:Job 33:4; Ps. 33:6; 104:30], and redemption [Spirit: Eph. 4:30; Rom. 8:23], sanctification [Jesus: 1 Cor. 1:2, 30; Heb. 10:10; 13:12; Spirit: 1 Pet. 1:2; 2 Thess. 2:13; Rom. 15:16] and the resurrection of Christ [Christ: John 2:18; 10:17-18; Spirit: Rom. 1:4; 8:11]? Why are all three taught to be followed and obeyed [Jesus is obvious; Spirit: Isa. 63:10; Acts 7:51]? Why all three are said to give spiritual gifts [Jesus: Eph. 4:7ff.; Spirit: 1 Cor. 12:11]? Why all three said to be mentioned and invoked in the initiation rite of entrance into the church [Matt. 28:19ff.]? Why all three invoked in a benediction [2 Cor. 13:14]? Why all three are said to be objects whom we ought not to blaspheme [Mark 3:28-29; Matt. 12:31-32; Luke 12:10]? Why all three objects whom we are to seek fellowship [Jesus: 1 John 1:3; Spirit: 2 Cor. 13:14]? Why all three teach and guide us [Jesus: John 13:14; 8:12; Spirit: John 14:26; Luke 12:12; 1 Cor. 2:12-13, Heb. 9:8; Job 32:8]  Why all three are a source of grace [Jesus: 1 Thess. 5:28; 1 Cor. 13:14; Phil 4:23; Spirit: Heb. 10:29; Zech 12:10]? EXAMPLES COULD BE MULTIPIED. But they will never be enough for a hard headed Unitarian.

The Athanasian Creed: Christianity’s Most Controversial Statement of Faith by Gavin Ortlund

 
As I've written I'm open to various models of the Trinity. The following is a video by Gavin Ortlund on the Athanasian Creed.

The Athanasian Creed: Christianity’s Most Controversial Statement of Faith 
https://youtu.be/qpekHClbGjI

 

 

 

 

James White Explains Why John Chapter 1 Affirms the Eternal Preexistence of Christ

 

James White explains why John chapter 1 affirms the Eternal Preexistence of Christ in the following YouTube video starting at 33:10 minutes.

https://youtu.be/g88Bu9MO4DA?si=wyba1x9RODhbx-N3

Trinitarianism Is More Monotheistic Than Unitarianism

 

Unitarians often argue that the understanding of monotheism of the Jews during the Biblical periods precludes Trinitarianism and Binitarianism because it's a strict understanding of the unity and singularity of God. 

But we Trinitarians argue that that approach doesn't go far enough in explaining the radical nature of Jewish monotheism. Because Biblical Jewish monotheism was so extreme that it would not permit any similarly and association between YHWH/Yahweh/Jehovah and any other being or person with near or exact status. It made sure to distance YHWH and all other things and beings. The very fact that the New Testament so identifies Jesus and the Holy Spirit with the Father and the Father's attributes is a strong telling sign that Trinitarianism is true. Because it would have been blasphemous to Biblical Jews to so associate something else with YHWH with YHWH's unique attributes, honors, prerogatives, name, deeds/works, and authority if the Son and Spirit weren't full, true and proper deity along with and united to the Father.

Note that I'm talking about orthodox Jewish theology during the Biblical periods. Extra-biblical and post-Biblical Jews did sometimes associate other beings to near status of God. But often still distinguishing the Most High with the exalted mediator. 

Given that, either the Jesus of the New Testament is a heretical mutation of Biblical Judaism, or something like Trinitarianism or Binitarianism must be true.

Here are some examples of attributes and prerogatives that only belong to YHWH, yet the New Testament also assigns to Jesus:

Jesus will judge the world, despite the Old Testament teaching that YHWH will judge the world [John 5:22; 2 Cor. 5:10 compare Gen. 18:25; Rom. 14:10; Ps. 7:8; 9:8, 18; 58:11; 67:4; 82:8; 96:10-13; 98:9]

Jesus tests hearts and rewards according to works [Rev. 2:23 compare Jer. 17:10;  Ps. 62:12]

Jesus is the First and Last [Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:12-13 compare Isa. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12]

See my blog:

http://trinitynotes.blogspot.com/2014/03/revelation-2212-13-and-deity-of-christ.html

The Fear of the Lord Jesus is tantamount to the Fear of YHWH. See my blog:

http://trinitynotes.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-reverence-for-jesus-is-fear-of.html

The "Day of YHWH" is associated with the "Day of the Lord (Jesus)" [1 Cor. 5:5; 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Thess. 2:2]

God's angels are Jesus' angels [Matt. 13:41; 16:27]

God's Spirit is Jesus' Spirit [Rom. 8:9; Gal. 4:6; 1 Pet. 1:11]. 

This makes sense given the Trinitarian doctrine of perichoresis/circumincession.

See my blog:

http://trinitynotes.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-spirit-of-jesus.html

Jesus is to be Worshipped by all the angels with the highest form of worship. The Septuagint of Deut. 32:43 and Ps. 97:7 is applied to Jesus in Heb. 1:6 even though the original context is of the Supreme worship given to YHWH.

Jesus was involved in creation despite Isa. 44:24 saying only YHWH was involved in creation [compare John 1:1-3; 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16]

Jesus trods the winepress of the wrath of God Rev. 19:15 despite Isa. 63:3 saying YHWH alone does so.

Testing Jesus amounts to testing YHWH as per 1 Cor. 10:9

See my blog:

http://trinitynotes.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-temptingtesting-of-christ-is.html

The Will of Jesus is paramount as God's is. [Cf. 1 Cor. 4:19; 16:7; Acts 21:13-14; 2 Cor. 2:12-13; Acts 16:6-7]

http://trinitynotes.blogspot.com/2014/05/lord-jesus-christ-willing-gods-will-and.html

Trusting in Jesus is tantamount to trusting in YHWH. See my blog:

http://trinitynotes.blogspot.com/2014/05/trust-in-jesus-is-apparently-trust-in.html

Jesus may work on the sabbath as YHWH works on the Sabbath:

See my blog:

http://trinitynotes.blogspot.com/2014/05/jesus-breaking-sabbath-as-evidence-of.html

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath as YHWH is the Lord of the Sabbath. See my blog:

http://trinitynotes.blogspot.com/2014/05/jesus-lord-of-sabbath.html

Jesus is omniscient as YHWH. See my blog:

http://trinitynotes.blogspot.com/2015/12/jesus-omniscience.html

The table of Jesus is the table of YHWH. See my blog:

http://trinitynotes.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-cup-and-table-of-lord-as-evidence.html