The Holy Trinity
The Holy Trinity is a fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith that is supported by Scripture, and its importance must be defended against those who seek to undermine it.
Ian Paisley emphasizes the importance of defending key biblical texts like I John 5:7, which serves as a proof text for the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. He highlights the controversy surrounding the removal of this verse in the NIV translation and the attacks faced by scholars like Dr. Edward Hills for defending it. Additionally, Paisley points out the significance of John 1:14 and 18 as proof texts for the eternal sonship of Christ, contrasting the Authorized Version with the NIV's alterations that impact the understanding of the Trinity.
Text
I John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one." [Westminster Confession of Faith puts this as a proof text of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity] in Chapter two paragraph III.
The NIV removes verse seven out of their Bible and then subdivides verse eight into verse seven and eight in order to keep the same number of verses in the chapter. According to the NIV translators, those who drew up the great historic confession of the Churches of the Reformation were deceived when they used this text as proof of the Holy Trinity.
Dr. Edward Hills, 1912-1981, Presbyterian minister and graduate of Yale University with degrees from Westminster Seminary, Columbia Seminary and Harvard University and a defender of the King James Version, was attacked for defending this great Trinitarian proof text.
Ed Hills was treated shamefully. He was ridiculed, blacklisted among fellow scholars (many of whom were unworthy to unlatch the thongs of his sandals). He counted some of his old professors as friends, but William Hendriksen wrote him a sharp letter taking him to task for defending I John 5:7 calling it the nadir, the lowest point in textual criticism.
- Letter from Jay Green, March 15, 1995
The Westminster Confession of Faith gives John 1:14 and 18 as proof texts of the doctrine that Christ is the eternally begotten Son of God.
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth"
(John 1:14. Authorized Version).
"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him"
(John 1:18 Authorized Version).
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14 NIV).
"No-one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only" (John 1:18 NIV).
The NIV drops "the only begotten Son" completely from these verses.
This puts them into great difficulty and undermines the revelation of the mystery of the Trinity by calling Christ, in verse 18, "the One and only God". What then of the Father and the Holy Ghost?
They certainly err, not knowing the Scriptures.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to the Holy Trinity
- A. Definition and importance of the doctrine
- B. Westminster Confession of Faith and its proof texts
- II. The Trinity in Scripture
- A. I John 5:7 as a proof text
- B. John 1:14 and 18 as proof texts
- III. The NIV's handling of the Trinity
- A. Removal of I John 5:7
- B. Subdivision of John 1:14 and 18
- C. Implications for the doctrine of the Trinity
- IV. The importance of defending the Trinity
- A. The example of Dr. Edward Hills
- B. The consequences of undermining the Trinity
Key Quotes
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one.” — Ian Paisley
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” — Ian Paisley
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” — Ian Paisley
Application Points
- We must be careful not to undermine the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, as it is essential to our understanding of God's nature.
- We must be willing to defend the authority of Scripture, even if it means going against the prevailing views of our time.
- We must seek to understand and affirm the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, as it is a fundamental aspect of our faith.