Page 643 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

TREASON - TRINITY

(Ju. 9:23; 2 Ki. 9:23; Is. 21:2; Je. 3:7-11, 20; 5:11; Modesty.]
12:1, 6; 9:2; Zep. 3:4; Mal. 2:10-16). TRINITY. The Bible’s teaching that God is one God
TREASON. The offense of attempting to overthrow revealed in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son,
the government of the state to which the offender owes and the Holy Spirit. The word “Trinity” is not in the
allegiance, or of betraying the state into the hands of a Bible, but the doctrine is there. There are three verses in
foreign power; in monarchies, the killing of the king, or which the Trinity is plainly declared: Matthew 28:29; 2
an attempt to take his life (Webster) (1 Ki. 16:20; 2 Ki. Corinthians 13:14; and 1 John 5:7. Webster’s 1828
11:14; 2 Ch. 23:13). [See Ahithophel, Judas.] dictionary defined the Trinity as “the union of three
TREATISE. Discourse (Ac. 1:1). persons (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) in one
TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. The Godhead, so that all the three are one God as to
tree in the Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve were substance, but three persons as to individuality.” The
forbidden to eat from (Ge. 2:9, 17). The tree of the Philadelphia Confession of Faith (1742) stated: “In this
knowledge of good and evil no longer exists on earth. Divine and Infinite Being there are three subsistences,
The fruit was not an apple or a type of fruit that we the Father, the Word (or Son), and Holy Spirit, of one
know today. [See Adam, Sin.] substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole
TRESPASS. To go beyond the boundaries; to deviate divine essence, yet the essence undivided; the Father is
of none neither begotten, nor proceeding; the Son is
from the truth; to violate the rights of another (Ge. eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit
50:17; Ex. 22:9; Le. 5:6, 7; Mt. 18:5). To trespass on proceeding from the Father and the Son, all infinite,
someone’s property means to go beyond the legal without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to
bounds of their property line. To trespass against God is be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by
to go beyond the legal bounds of His law. [See several peculiar relative properties and personal
Offerings, Sin.] relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation
TRESPASS OFFERING. [See Offerings.] of all our communion with God, and our comfortable
TRIAL. Examination by a test; suffering that puts dependence on him.” This is the profession of faith that
strength, patience or faith to the test; afflictions or is held by most Christians. The popular hymn “Holy,
temptations that exercise and prove the graces or Holy, Holy” is a hymn of praise to the Trinitarian God. It
virtues of men (Webster); a time of suffering during proclaims, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!
which one’s faith in God is tested (2 Co. 8:2; He. 11:36; Merciful and Mighty! God in Three Persons, blessed
1 Pe. 1:7; 4:12). [See Affliction, Believe, Endure, Entice, Trinity!”
Healing, Hope, Overcome, Patience, Perseverance, The doctrine of the Trinity involves the following
Suffering, Temptation, Tribulation.] truths: (1) There is one God (Deut. 6:4; 1 Co. 8:4). (2)
TRIBULATION. (1) Severe affliction; distresses of This God is a unity of Persons in one Godhead (Acts
life; trouble and suffering (Mt. 13:21; Ro. 8:35). The 17:29; Ro. 1:20; Col. 2:9). The Father, Son, and Holy
Latin root tribulo means to thrash, to beat (Webster). Spirit are all recognized as God. The Father is God (Jn.
[See Suffering.] (2) The Great Tribulation which will 6:27). The Son is God (He. 1:8; Tit. 2:13; Jn. 20:28).
come upon the world just prior to Christ’s return (Mt. The Spirit is God (Ac. 5:1-4). Yet the Father, Son, and
24:21-31). [See Believe, Daniel, Endure, Great Spirit are described as distinct Persons (Jn. 14:16-17).
Tribulation, Hope, Overcome, Perseverance, Prophecy, “Each person of this Divine Being is God, and each of
Suffering, Trial.] them is all that God is. Each one of these persons is
TRIBUTE. Custom; tax; fine (Ge. 49:15; De. 20:11; entirely God, but the three persons are not in any sense
Jos. 16:10; Ju. 1:28, 30, 33, 35; Es. 10:1; Pr. 12:24). three Gods. Not one of them can be God without the
God levied tributes from His people in O.T. times (Nu. other two. The Father cannot be God without the Son
31:28, 37, 41; De. 16:10). The tithe can be called a and the Spirit. The Son cannot be God without the
tribute. The Bible plainly instructs the Christian to pay Father and the Spirit. The Spirit cannot be God without
the taxes charged by civil government (Mt. 17:24-25; the Father and the Son. Each is God only as each is in
22:17, 19; Lk. 20:22; 23:2; Ro. 13:6-7). [See the one Being of the Godhead. As this Godhead cannot
Government, Publican, Tithe.] be divided, there cannot be three Gods. As this
TRIM. (1) To cut; set in order (2 Sa. 19:24; Mt. indivisible Being constitutes One God and no one of the
25:7). (2) To prepare oneself for a certain purpose (Je. persons can take any degree of Being from the other,
2:33). In this passage God is rebuking Israel for then, the Three, being in and of the one substance,
prostituting against Him by “alluding to the practice of constitute one indivisible Being, or God. Therefore, God
lewd women who strive to recommend themselves by is a Triunity of Being in One Godhead. He is three
their ogling looks and gay dress” (Matthew Henry). [See

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 643