Quote:
MalachiII
where did they go astray? I can tell you, when they had to use extra biblical ideas to explain a doctrine that is not taught in the Hebrew Bible nor GT.

Any doctrine that says that G-d died refutes itself.


I think:
Extra biblical ideas (like tripple godheads, incarnation: gods transforming into man and vice-versa, dying/ressurecting gods) are not simply used to explain a doctrine, they are redefined, recycled, sanctified and christianized (so for example 25th of december, Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, the feast of the dying and ressurecting sungod Mythras (and other sungods), could be transformed into the birthday of Christ, who is, as the other gods were, the light/sun of the world).

Pope Benedictus XVI says in His new Book 'Jesus of Nazaret': "The myths also have waited for Him. What they looked for became reality in Him" (ch.8, under c, my translation).

Its all about the search of man for God, the desire of the soul :the union of God and man.
Gentiles do not have to become Jews; God opened the door of His Kingdom for them, and of course this brings some problems to overcome.

Quote:
Rebecca
Jesus speaks very clearly about the role of the Holy Spirit (John 14 and 16). \0/
And I concur with Aad; even though English is not his first language, he is far more eloquent than I.
The early church fathers (Clement, et al) conveyed truths regarding the Father, Son and Holy Spirit which are quite recognizable to us today.

Sophie
Tertullian (early 3rd century CE) cointed the term trinitas but there is no
proof that he used the term to speak of the modern concept of the trinity.
Read what he wrote -- he says G-d wasn't always "the Father" -- in other words he doesn't support the modern concept of the trinity.


Thanks for your compliment, Rebecca.
Speaking of the early church fathers, including Terullian: have you ever seen a movie made in the 70s? It is often boring, hilarious, or maybe embarrassing. Now we are talking about the first centuries; so we recognize a lot, but I also feel estranged.
Sophie, Tertullian was a priest and defender of the faith (later he became a montanist, and again later he 'went his own way'); he is part of the development towards the formulation of the doctrine of the Trinity; he has credit in this process.

The Trinity-concept tries to clarify the nature of God: but ultimately God is a mystery, and cannot be known/understood to the full. Even today the discussion of the Trinity is not finished, never was. The Latin Church and the Eastern Church still have not worked out their difference of opinion/doctrine: did the H Spirit come forth from the Father, or from the Father and the Son both?

Honestly, It is not my main problem, right now............

Pure religion.... is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction; (James 1)

Aad