Decepto-Meter

Deceptive Quote: Self-Quoting: Unitarian

No need to misrepresent the opinions of one of their own! But it is deceptive to mention that a misquote is from a Trinitarian but not tell you when they are quoting from a fellow Arian. To quote a Unitarian theologian, as an authority to prove the pagan origin of Trinity, is about as trustworthy and believable as quoting the a Catholic Bishop to prove that Peter was the first Pope!

"Summing up the historical evidence, Alvan Lamson says in The Church of the First Three Centuries: "The modern popular doctrine of the Trinity . . . derives no support from the language of Justin [Martyr]: and this observation may be extended to all the ante-Nicene Fathers; that is, to all Christian writers for three centuries after the birth of Christ. It is true, they speak of the Father, Son, and . . . holy Spirit, but not as co-equal, not as one numerical essence, not as Three in One, in any sense now admitted by Trinitarians. The very reverse is the fact." Thus, the testimony of the Bible and of history makes clear that the Trinity was unknown throughout Biblical times and for several centuries thereafter." (The Church of the First Three Centuries, Alvan Lamson, 1869 edition, p 56-57, published by the British and Foreign Unitarian Association; as quoted in Should you believe the Trinity?, Watchtower publication)

Our comment

The watchtower gives the false impression that Lamson is saying that the Ante-Nicene Fathers didn't teach trinity. The key phrase at the beginning of the quote is "The modern popular doctrine of the Trinity ... derives no support ... from Justin..." Well Trinitarians actually agree! The developed 12th century "Athanasius creed" version of trinity doctrine is not found in scripture, but that is not the issue. What is important is that Justin and all most of the Ante-Nicene Fathers clearly taught that Jesus was uncreated God and the Holy Spirit was a person, being the third person in the trinity. This is taught both in scripture and the Ante-Nicene Fathers!

Another quote from Lamson's book

"The doctrine of the Trinity was of gradual and comparatively late formation; . . . it had its origin in a source entirely foreign from that of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures; . . . it grew up, and was ingrafted on Christianity, through the hands of the Platonizing Fathers." (The Church of the First Three Centuries, 1860 edition, p. 34. Ed., published by the British and Foreign Unitarian Association, As quoted in, Should you believe the Trinity?, Watchtower publication)

Our comment

1. Alvan Lamson was a top leader and theologian in the a Unitarian type church! We ask how objective is it to use a Unitarian as proof that trinity is pagan origin? This is an example of self quoting! Unitarians quote the Watchtower and the watchtower quotes the Unitarians.
2. For Arians (Jehovah's Witnesses, Christadelphians & United Pentecostal Church International: UPCI) to quote a Unitarian theologian, Alvan Lamson as an authority to prove the pagan origin of Trinity, is about as trustworthy and believable as quoting the a Catholic Bishop to prove that Peter was the first Pope!
3. The Church of the First Three Centuries, written in the mid 1800's is a rare, obscure and out of print book that most libraries don't even have!

Deception Exposed:

The Watchtower is guilty of a kind of self-quoting, while leading you to believe that he is a trinitarian! JW's don't want you to know that the greatest historical authority they use to summarize all the historical data in their book "Should you believe the Trinity", is an anti-trinitarian! Their book says, "Summing up the historical evidence, Alvan Lamson says in The Church of the First Three Centuries". Since they can't find any Trinitarians to say that Trinity was "ingrafted on Christianity, through the hands of the Platonizing Fathers" they must turn to Anti-Trinitarians or atheists who trash not only Trinity, but the whole of Christianity as of pagan origin!