Common Verses
The following are biblical answers to the objections of Unitarians against the doctrine of the Trinity:
1 Timothy 2:5
In this text, Paul is talking about Soteriology.The text does not deny ontological equality of Jesus with the one God, the Father ( cf: 1 Corinthians 8:6). In fact, Galatians 1:1 (also written by Paul) equates Jesus and the Father as NOT being a "man." Hence, it is out of context to interpret 1 Timothy 2:5 as teaching Unitarianism.
John 17:3
The context of this text is merely saying that Father is the 'only true God' only in terms of authority because the Son is functionally subordinate to the Father by being the Son ( John 17:2) and the Son is onto-logically equal with the Father in terms of nature by being the only begotten of the Father ( John 1:1,14,18,5:28;Philippians 2:6,Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 1:3).It becomes clear that when interpreted in context, John 17:3 is not teaching Unitarianism.
Mark 13:32
Jesus does not know the day and the hour because He won't access his divine mind unless the Father permits him. This is merely functional subordination. Jesus has the innate ability to know but he does not have authority to know it. Jesus himself clearly said in Acts 1:7 that his Father alone has the authority concerning the days and times. Mark 13:32 does not deny ontological equality of Jesus with the Father. It merely points to the other side of reality that Jesus is functionally subordinate to the Father.
Philippians 2:6
The Apostle Paul did not say straightforwardly verbatim that "Jesus is God" because He did not want to present the Godhood of Christ in the Modalistic sense, that is, that Jesus is the Father. Rather, he wanted to present the Godhood of Christ in the Trinitarian sense, that is, Jesus is not the Father but rather, he is of same nature with the Father.
In Philippians 2:6-7, it is clear that Jesus has dual form.
Jesus is ‘God in form.’ ~ Philippians 2:6
Jesus is ‘servant in form.’ ~ Philippians 2:7
English Dictionaries define “form” as “essence” (nature) not just “outward appearance."
In Biblical Greek, MORPHE means “form” ( nature, outward appearance). It’s dual meaning is used in the Bible. MORPHE as “nature” is used for about 5 times in the NT ( Phil. 2:6, Romans 12:2, Phil. 3:10 and 21,Gal. 4:19 ) and as “outward appearance” in both the OT (Daniel 3:19 ) and the NT ( 2 Timothy 3:5 ).
1 Timothy 2:5
In this text, Paul is talking about Soteriology.The text does not deny ontological equality of Jesus with the one God, the Father ( cf: 1 Corinthians 8:6). In fact, Galatians 1:1 (also written by Paul) equates Jesus and the Father as NOT being a "man." Hence, it is out of context to interpret 1 Timothy 2:5 as teaching Unitarianism.
John 17:3
The context of this text is merely saying that Father is the 'only true God' only in terms of authority because the Son is functionally subordinate to the Father by being the Son ( John 17:2) and the Son is onto-logically equal with the Father in terms of nature by being the only begotten of the Father ( John 1:1,14,18,5:28;Philippians 2:6,Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 1:3).It becomes clear that when interpreted in context, John 17:3 is not teaching Unitarianism.
Mark 13:32
Jesus does not know the day and the hour because He won't access his divine mind unless the Father permits him. This is merely functional subordination. Jesus has the innate ability to know but he does not have authority to know it. Jesus himself clearly said in Acts 1:7 that his Father alone has the authority concerning the days and times. Mark 13:32 does not deny ontological equality of Jesus with the Father. It merely points to the other side of reality that Jesus is functionally subordinate to the Father.
Philippians 2:6
The Apostle Paul did not say straightforwardly verbatim that "Jesus is God" because He did not want to present the Godhood of Christ in the Modalistic sense, that is, that Jesus is the Father. Rather, he wanted to present the Godhood of Christ in the Trinitarian sense, that is, Jesus is not the Father but rather, he is of same nature with the Father.
In Philippians 2:6-7, it is clear that Jesus has dual form.
Jesus is ‘God in form.’ ~ Philippians 2:6
Jesus is ‘servant in form.’ ~ Philippians 2:7
English Dictionaries define “form” as “essence” (nature) not just “outward appearance."
In Biblical Greek, MORPHE means “form” ( nature, outward appearance). It’s dual meaning is used in the Bible. MORPHE as “nature” is used for about 5 times in the NT ( Phil. 2:6, Romans 12:2, Phil. 3:10 and 21,Gal. 4:19 ) and as “outward appearance” in both the OT (Daniel 3:19 ) and the NT ( 2 Timothy 3:5 ).