DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9552#0233
TO THE CHRISTIAN PUBLIC
203
. of Isaiah ? Following this mode of argument, the
:repetitions of the term "Eli, Eli." or "My God, my
God," by Jesus in his human nature, in Matthew, ch.
xxvii. ver. 46, equally establishes the duality of the God-
head. So also the holy name of the Supreme Deity
being composed of four letters, in the Hebrew, T\\T\\
in Greek, Ofos ; in Latin,, Deus; in Arabic, Jil) ; and
in Sunscrit, an, clearly denotes the quadrality of the
Godhead!! But these and all similar modes of argument
that have been resorted to, are worthy of notice only
as they serve to exhibit the extraordinary force of pre-
judice and superstition.
The most extraordinary circumstance is, that some
should quote in support of the Trinity the following
sentence: "For there are three that bear record in
heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and
these three are one," representing it as the 7th verse,
ch. v. of the first epistle of John. This is supposed
to have been at first composed as a paraphrase upon what
stands as ver. 8 of the same chapter, (" and there are
three that bear witness In earth, the Spirit, and the water,,
and the blood ; and these three agree in one,") and met
with approbation. It was, however, for a length of time,
known only in oral circulation ; but was afterwards placed
in the margin of some editions, and at last introduced in-
to the next, most probably in the fifteenth century, as an
original verse. From that time it has been the common
practice to insert this verse amongst those which are col-
lected in support of the Trinitarian doctrine. It may have
served in this way to confirm and strengthen prejudice,,
though few biblical critics ever, attached the smallest
value to it either way. This interpretation is so modern,
203
. of Isaiah ? Following this mode of argument, the
:repetitions of the term "Eli, Eli." or "My God, my
God," by Jesus in his human nature, in Matthew, ch.
xxvii. ver. 46, equally establishes the duality of the God-
head. So also the holy name of the Supreme Deity
being composed of four letters, in the Hebrew, T\\T\\
in Greek, Ofos ; in Latin,, Deus; in Arabic, Jil) ; and
in Sunscrit, an, clearly denotes the quadrality of the
Godhead!! But these and all similar modes of argument
that have been resorted to, are worthy of notice only
as they serve to exhibit the extraordinary force of pre-
judice and superstition.
The most extraordinary circumstance is, that some
should quote in support of the Trinity the following
sentence: "For there are three that bear record in
heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and
these three are one," representing it as the 7th verse,
ch. v. of the first epistle of John. This is supposed
to have been at first composed as a paraphrase upon what
stands as ver. 8 of the same chapter, (" and there are
three that bear witness In earth, the Spirit, and the water,,
and the blood ; and these three agree in one,") and met
with approbation. It was, however, for a length of time,
known only in oral circulation ; but was afterwards placed
in the margin of some editions, and at last introduced in-
to the next, most probably in the fifteenth century, as an
original verse. From that time it has been the common
practice to insert this verse amongst those which are col-
lected in support of the Trinitarian doctrine. It may have
served in this way to confirm and strengthen prejudice,,
though few biblical critics ever, attached the smallest
value to it either way. This interpretation is so modern,