A reader recently passed us some questions a certain Unitarian passes around debate forums, claiming they are questions that have "never received an answer from a Trinitarian." Well, here they are and the answers. We use as a basis out items on Jesus as Wisdom and the the Holy Spirit (we also recommend our reply to Unitarians here).

1. In the beginning - The roles of the three persons prior to creation. Did the son always exist? What was his role, function, purpose? Was he ever subordinate in any way?

   We assume that the arguer like most Unitarians believes that the Father has always existed, even prior to time, when chrono-language had no meaning. If so: the answer is, yes, the son always existed; though it is better to say, Wisdom and Word always existed. Some would say the title of Son only came at the human birth of Jesus. The matter is of little difference; we need only say that the Word/Wisdom always existed as a center of conscious thought, even in eternity. Role, etc: As Word, his role was to enact the will of the Father. Subordinate: Yes, in a functional sense; the Word did whatever the Father ordered. Not in an ontological sense; the Word, as an attribute of the Father, was of the Father's nature and is therefore ontologically equal to the Father.

2. Creation - The roles of the three persons in creation. Who made the heavens and the earth?

   God made them, using Wisdom as a guide, tool, and a blueprint (Prov. 8, and see our link above) and the Spirit as the effective instrument (also see link).

3. The fall - The roles of the three persons in the fall. Who did what, when? What was the function and role of each person in the process of the fall, judgment, and the promise of salvation?

   There is no specific information given as to what role each had in the Fall, if any. Judgment is passed to Wisdom incarnate as the Son. The Father directed the Word to become incarnate to effect our salvation; the incarnation was performed by the work of the Spirit. The linked articles refer to the role of each in the world.

4. The call of Abraham - The roles of the three persons in the life of Abraham. Who did what, when? What was the function and role of each person in the life of Abraham? To whom did he speak? Who gave the promises? What is a Christophany? What about a Pneumaphany? Did God the Father come down to earth in a human body?

   There is little specific information given as to what role each had in the promise. By the roles outlined above and in the links, the Father was the source of all promises; the Word was in effect inclusive of the promises, and the Spirit effected whatever was needed to enact them (if anything at all -- perhaps rejuvenating the bodies of Sarah and Abraham, for example). A Christophany is an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ. A Pneumaphany would be the same for the Spirit. There is no indication that the Father came down to earth one way or the other. The linked articles refer to the role of each in the world.

5. The captivity and exodus - The roles of the three persons in the captivity and exodus. Who did what, when? What was the function and role of each person in the captivity and exodus? Whom did Moses see? Who went with Israel through the wilderness? Who was the name bearing angel, and what was the name he bore?

   There is no specific information given. By the roles outlined in the links and above, Moses may have seen the Word or the Spirit in a "-phany" that went with Israel and was the angel, but the Word is more likely, and the Spirit is likelier the Shekinah glory seen above the tabernacle.

6. The promises to David - The roles of the three persons in the life of David. Who did what, when? Who gave the promises? Concerning whom? Did David have the Holy Spirit? Did David understand the promises?

   Again these are mostly non-answerable from the texts we have, regardless of our point of view. Again, the Father was the source of all promises; the Word was in effect inclusive of the promises, and the Spirit effected whatever was needed to enact them. Did David have the Spirit and understand the promises? We have no data for or against, or to say in what way David may have had the Spirit or to what extent he understood.

7. The prophets and the exile - The roles of the three persons in the lives of the prophets, and in the exile. Who did what, when? Whom did the prophets see? With whom did they speak? How were they inspired? Did they understand what they wrote?

   The Spirit had the role of inspiring prophets to relate what God said via the Word. Fpr who they saw and spoke with, see on Moses above. Inspiration may be anything from dictation ("Thus says the Lord") to implanting of an idea; we have little data to say what was used when except where "Thus says the Lord" statements are used. The prophets probably did not always understand the implications of the all they wrote (like Daniel).

8. The coming of messiah - The roles of the three persons in the life of Christ. Who did what, when? Who was his father? With whom did he speak? Was he subordinate to the other two persons? What was his purpose? How does the trinity relate to the atonement?

   We have already answered these above; they are different forms of the same question.

9. The apostolic faith - The roles of the three persons in the life of Christ. Who did what, when? How important was the trinity to the apostles?

   Who did what and when, in what instances? We need more specifics. How important? We have no list of rankings, but presumably, anything having to do with God and His nature was of great importance to any Jew.

   In what way did they attempt to explain this completely novel and obviously controversial doctrine to Jews who did not even believe that Jesus had been the Christ?

   By use of the Wisdom template (explained above link).

   The apostles cover all of the key doctrines of their faith in comprehensive detail, both in their speeches and writings - what prominence is given to the trinity? To what extent do they explain this new doctrine? How do they reconcile these concepts which were a radical departure from the Old Testament faith, with the writings of the Law and the prophets?

   See link above; many cites relate a Trinitarian doctrine. They did not need a great deal of explanation; the Wisdom template provided enough background, which was not a radical departure at all but a very minor one.

   Where do they find the trinity in the Old Testament?

   In references to God's word/wisdom and spirit.

   Did Christ have what some Christians call 'a fallen nature', that is, a nature biased towards sin, like our own?

   No.

   What did Christ empty himself of in Philippians 2?

   He emptied himself of his power and glory.

   Was Christ 'eternally begotten'?

   It would be better to say, "Is Christ eternally begotten," and the answer is yes.

   Does Christ 'proceed from the Father'?

   Yes.

   Is Christ eternally subordinate to the Father?

   In a functional sense, yes. In an ontological sense, Christ is eternally equal to the Father.

   Did Christ have two wills?

   We have not studied this as yet, but in our view there were not two effective wills (if by this we mean, desires to do things).

   Did Christ had one nature, two natures, or two natures which must be treated as one nature?

   We have not studied this as yet.

   Does Christ still have the same nature as was the answer to the question above?

   Ditto.

   Was the doctrine of the trinity understood by the Jews?

   Yes, since they had the Wisdom background, in fact, they essentially understood it even before Jesus was born.

   Was the doctrine of the trinity was given prior to the Christian dispensation?

   Only as far as what was revealed in the Wisdom template.

   Was the doctrine of the trinity was part of the apostolic teaching?

   Yes.

   Is the doctrine of the trinity is a fundamental Christian doctrine without which men cannot be saved?

   We leave it for each person to wrestle with their own conscience on this matter and look carefully at how strict God was against the sin of idolatry.

   Is the doctrine of the trinity is expressed perfectly and in its entirety in the simple phrase 'one God in three persons' without qualification or amplification?

   It is if you have defined "God" and "persons" right.

   Is the doctrine of the trinity expressed perfectly and in its entirety in the simple phrase 'God is one'?

   No, because it does not say what God is one of.

   Does the doctrine of the trinity includes the filioque?

   From what we have seen so far do not think it makes a difference.

   Did the apostles teach the doctrine of the trinity?

   Didn't we ask this before?

   Was the salvic efficacy of the atonement predicated on the 'Divinity' of Christ?

   Yes.

   Did Christ die?

   Yes. There seems to be a trick question implied here. The body died. The intangible nature did not.

   What died on the cross - man or God?

   The man part died. The God part did not. But because of Semitic Totality (see here) it counts as God (one of His attributes, part of His identity) undergoing death.

   Where did Christ go when he died?

   Paradise.

   Could Christ be tempted to sin?

   Obviously, since the devil did try to tempt him, and of course nothing stopped anyone from walking up to him with beer and ciagrettes. The question may mean, "Did Christ ever feel like he wanted to sin?" In which case:

   Was it possible for Christ to sin?

   No.

   Is it necessary to believe in the trinity in order to be a true Christian?

   We leave it for each person to wrestle with their own conscience on this matter and look carefully at how strict God was against the sin of idolatry.

   And with that, we also leave these answers (and the links) to see if there will be any response to them.

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