Oneness believers, who have done a small amount of study, should not have much trouble answering the questions of a trinitarian concerning the Godhead. However, if we are going to do more than just answer questions, then we must know what questions to present to them as well. Here are a few questions that might help a trinitarian to realize that the doctrine he has been taught may be flawed.
1. Who draws men by His power? Father or Son?
(John 6:44)
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
(John 12:32)
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
If the Father and the Son are two distinct persons of the triune Godhead, which one of them is the one responsible for drawing men near? Which person has the drawing power of the Spirit?
Jesus draws men near once He is lifted up from the earth? Jesus, after being lifted up from the earth, returned to the realm of the Spirit, therefore He is once again acting as the Father, drawing men near.
2. Who resurrected Christ from the dead? Father or Son?
(Galatians 1:1)
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
(]ohn 2:19)
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Jesus told the people that if they destroy the temple, that in three days He would raise it. He was speaking about His body. We know that God raised Jesus from the dead, because the bible says so. So who performed the act of raising Jesus from the dead? Did the Father do it, or did Jesus do it?
3. Who is the Ancient of Days? Father or Son?
(Revelation 1:14-18)
His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as aflame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
(Daniel 7:9)
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
In the book of Daniel we see the Ancient of Days. We know this is God. Jesus had not been born yet, yet when Jesus is described by John the revelator, He is described with the same description as the man in Daniel. He is said to be alive forevermore. Is Jesus this Ancient of Days or is the Father?
4. Who is the Almighty?
(Revelation 1:7-8)
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
(Genesis 17:1)
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
There is only one Almighty God. The Father makes the claim to be the Almighty, yet Jesus also makes that claim. Which one is right? Are there two Almighties?
5. Who is the “I AM?”
(Exodus 3:14)
And God said unto Moses, I am that I am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I am hath sent me unto you.
(John 8:58)
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
We all know the story of Moses and the burning bush. We know that God told Moses to tell Pharaoh that I AM sent him to free the Israelites. Jesus, however, in the New Testament makes the claim that before Abraham was, I AM. He uses the Jehovahistic "I AM' when talking about His own person. Which one is the true I AM? Are there two I AM's?
6. Who is the First and the Last?
(Isaiah 44:6)
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
(Revelation 22:13)
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
To the prophet Isaiah, the Father made the statement that He is the First and the Last. Jesus makes the same statement in the New Testament. How many firsts and Lasts are there? There can only be one. Who is it?
7. Who is the Holy One?
(Isaiah 43:15)
I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. (Acts 3:14)
But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
The bible calls God the Holy One. Not the Holy Three, the Holy One. Who is this Holy One; the Father or the Son?
8. Who is the rock?
(Psalm 18:31)
For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
(1 Corinthians 10:4)
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Thank God for the Rock of our salvation. Is the Rock, the Father or is it Jesus? Both are described as such.
9. Who is the Husband?
(Jeremiah 31:32)
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
(2 Corinthians 11:2)
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
The church is the bride. How many husbands does she have? The Father is said to be the husband, yet we are said to be the bride of Christ. Whose bride are we?
10. Who is the Master?
(Malachi 1:6)
A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith theLORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
(Matthew 23:8)
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren
The bible is clear that we cannot serve two masters. Who is your Master? Is it the Father or the Son? Can this be harmonized somehow?
11. Who is the Shepherd?
(Isaiah 40:11)
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
(John 10:16)
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
We are the sheep of God's fold. Who is our shepherd?
12. Who is the Savior?
(Isaiah 45:21)
Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour, there is none beside me.
(Acts 4:12)
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
God told Isaiah that He was our only Savior, yet Jesus comes along and saves us. Did the Father mistake His words? Did Jesus step out of the will of God? Who is our Savior?
13. Who is the Redeemer?
(Isaiah 41:14)
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
(Luke 1:68)
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
Much the same as the previous question; we only have one redeemer. Who is it? Is the Father the Redeemer like He said, or is Jesus the true Redeemer?
14. Who is the Lord of Lords?
(Deuteronomy 10:17)
For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
(Revelation 19:16)
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING of kings, and lord of lords.
We are not watching a contest of brawn. Only one can be the Lord of Lords. Is it the Father or His Son?
15. Who is the Creator?
(Isaiah 44:24)
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
(John 1:3)
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
The Father repeatedly tells Isaiah that He created everything by himself. John, however, states that Jesus created everything. Was John in some doctrinal error? Did Jesus create or not? How many creators are there?
---Next Week: More Questions for the Trinitarians---