Apologetics - Islam and the Trinity
A few weeks ago, I discovered a post by an Islamic apologist against the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. Interestingly, this Islamic apologist took the same tactics that many Christians take against the Catholic doctrine on Purgatory: the word doesn't appear anywhere in the Bible and "conflict" between verses.
Yes, the word "Trinity" does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Neither, do the words "Bible", "incarnation", "purgatory", "sinner's prayer", nor many other common Christian terms. This is because, while some doctrines are explicit (only water may be used for baptism), others are implicit. The fact that a specific term does not appear does not negate the presence or truth of a particular doctrine.
Secondly, the arguement was made that the baptismal instructions of the Great Commission inMatthew 28:19 conflicted with the baptismal instructions in Acts 2:38. The fact that there was only one verse, in apparent conflict, showing an alleged Trinitarian baptism and the fact that several other verses on baptism did not mention the Trinity, seemed to the Islamic apologist to be strong proof against the doctrine of the Trinity. I pointed out that the doctrine of the Trinity is found throughout the Bible. Starting in Genesis 1:26, the Bible states God as saying; "Let US make man." Note the plural.
Finally, the Islamic apologist made his weakest arguement. It was an impossibility for God to be three persons. I responded with Jerome's famous explanation of the Trinity. One bottle of water may be poured into three glasses. Each glass is distinct and separate, yet the same water. The three glasses of water can then be poured back into the one bottle and the three distinct waters then become one. As this physical property is common among all liquids, gases, and powders on earth, why would this ability be impossible to God? The Islamic apologist agreed that this was indeed a strong arguement and that he had no immediate reply to Jerome's explanation. (BTW, Jerome used wine instead of water in his classic example. I use water as bottled water is now common worldwide.)
In summary, the Islamic apologist's arguement was a classic example of Matthew 22:29. The Islamic apologist did not understand the scriptures nor the power of God.
Yes, the word "Trinity" does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Neither, do the words "Bible", "incarnation", "purgatory", "sinner's prayer", nor many other common Christian terms. This is because, while some doctrines are explicit (only water may be used for baptism), others are implicit. The fact that a specific term does not appear does not negate the presence or truth of a particular doctrine.
Secondly, the arguement was made that the baptismal instructions of the Great Commission inMatthew 28:19 conflicted with the baptismal instructions in Acts 2:38. The fact that there was only one verse, in apparent conflict, showing an alleged Trinitarian baptism and the fact that several other verses on baptism did not mention the Trinity, seemed to the Islamic apologist to be strong proof against the doctrine of the Trinity. I pointed out that the doctrine of the Trinity is found throughout the Bible. Starting in Genesis 1:26, the Bible states God as saying; "Let US make man." Note the plural.
Finally, the Islamic apologist made his weakest arguement. It was an impossibility for God to be three persons. I responded with Jerome's famous explanation of the Trinity. One bottle of water may be poured into three glasses. Each glass is distinct and separate, yet the same water. The three glasses of water can then be poured back into the one bottle and the three distinct waters then become one. As this physical property is common among all liquids, gases, and powders on earth, why would this ability be impossible to God? The Islamic apologist agreed that this was indeed a strong arguement and that he had no immediate reply to Jerome's explanation. (BTW, Jerome used wine instead of water in his classic example. I use water as bottled water is now common worldwide.)
In summary, the Islamic apologist's arguement was a classic example of Matthew 22:29. The Islamic apologist did not understand the scriptures nor the power of God.
Labels: Apologetics, Baptism, Bible, Early_Church, Islam
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