Groups that don’t accept the Trinity
A range of groups, both ancient and modern, reject the doctrine of the Trinity (i.e., that God is one
Being in three co-equal, co-eternal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
Here’s a breakdown by category:
🏛️ Historically Non-Trinitarian Groups
These appeared in the early centuries of Christianity and were considered heretical by the orthodox church:
| Group |
Period |
Core Belief |
| Arians |
4th century |
Believed Jesus was the first created being of God, not equal or co-eternal with Him. |
| Modalists (Sabellians) |
3rd century |
Believed Father, Son, and Spirit are modes or roles of one God, not distinct persons. |
| Ebionites |
1st–2nd century |
Jewish Christians who saw Jesus as a human prophet, not divine. |
| Adoptionists |
2nd century onward |
Believed Jesus was a man “adopted” by God at baptism or resurrection. |
🙏 Modern Non-Trinitarian Denominations
These groups exist today and explicitly reject Trinitarian theology:
| Group |
Core Belief Summary |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses |
Believe Jehovah (the Father) alone is Almighty God. Jesus is His first creation (the archangel Michael), and the
Holy Spirit is God’s impersonal active force. |
| Christadelphians |
Believe Jesus is the Son of God but not preexistent or coequal with God; the Holy Spirit is God’s power, not a
person. |
| Unitarian Universalists |
Believe in the unity of God (one person only); Jesus was a moral teacher, not divine. |
| Oneness Pentecostals (e.g. United Pentecostal Church International) |
Believe Jesus is the one God who manifests Himself as Father, Son, and Spirit — not three persons. |
| Iglesia ni Cristo (Philippines) |
Teach that Jesus is a man empowered by God, not divine; deny personal existence of the Holy Spirit. |
| The Church of God (Abrahamic Faith) |
Non-Trinitarian; similar to Christadelphians in Christology. |
| The Way International |
Teaches that Jesus is the Son of God but not God Himself. |
| Biblestudents / Dawn Bible Students |
Offshoots of early Watchtower movement; reject the Trinity, affirming the Father as supreme and Jesus as His created
Son. |
| Latter-day Saints (Mormons) |
Believe the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate divine beings united in purpose, not one substance. |
⚖️ Summary View
| View |
Jesus |
Holy Spirit |
God’s Nature |
| Trinitarian (mainstream Christianity) |
Fully God, coeternal with the Father |
Fully God, coequal |
One essence, three persons |
| Arian / JW / Christadelphian |
Created divine being / exalted man |
Power or force of God |
One person, the Father |
| Modalist / Oneness Pentecostal |
God Himself in human form |
Another manifestation of God |
One person who appears in different modes |
| Unitarian / Socinian |
Human teacher, not divine |
Power or influence |
One person, the Father |
Next is a detailed overview of the main biblical arguments used by non-Trinitarian groups (e.g.,
Jehovah’s Witnesses, Unitarians, Christadelphians, Oneness Pentecostals, etc.) and the corresponding Trinitarian
responses.
We’ll organize it by key doctrinal points:
1. Is Jesus God?
🔹 Non-Trinitarian Arguments
| Passage |
Claim |
Explanation |
| John 14:28 – “The Father is greater than I.” |
Jesus is subordinate to the Father. |
They interpret this to mean Jesus cannot be equal with God if He calls the Father “greater.” |
| Mark 13:32 – “No one knows the day or hour… not even the Son.” |
Jesus lacks divine omniscience. |
Therefore, He cannot be fully God. |
| John 17:3 – “The only true God” refers to the Father. |
Jesus distinguishes Himself from the “only true God.” |
Used to show that Jesus and the Father are separate beings. |
| Colossians 1:15 – “the firstborn of all creation.” |
“Firstborn” = first created. |
Jesus was the first creature made by God. |
| John 20:17 – “I ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” |
Jesus acknowledges the Father as His God. |
Therefore, Jesus worships God and cannot be God Himself. |
🔹 Trinitarian Responses
| Response |
Explanation |
| “Greater” refers to position, not nature. |
In John 14:28, Jesus speaks as the incarnate Son in submission to the Father, not as denying equality of divine
nature. |
| Temporary human limitations. |
In Mark 13:32, the Son voluntarily limits His knowledge in His humanity (Phil. 2:6–8). |
| John 17:3 is relational, not ontological. |
Jesus calls the Father the “only true God” in distinction to idols, yet elsewhere John affirms Jesus as God
(John 1:1; 20:28; 1 John 5:20). |
| “Firstborn” = preeminent heir. |
In biblical usage (Psa 89:27; Exo 4:22), “firstborn” means rank or status, not time of creation. |
| “My God” expresses His humanity. |
After the incarnation, Jesus can call the Father “God” because He took on true human nature (Heb. 2:14). |
2️. Is the Holy Spirit a Person or a Force?
🔹 Non-Trinitarian Arguments
| Passage |
Claim |
Explanation |
| Acts 2:2–4 |
Holy Spirit described as “wind” and “fire.” |
Symbolic language implies an impersonal power. |
| Psalm 51:11 – “Take not your Holy Spirit from me.” |
Spirit is something possessed or transferred. |
Suggests a divine power rather than a distinct person. |
| Luke 1:35 – “The power of the Most High will overshadow you.” |
Identifies Spirit with God’s power. |
Not another person distinct from God. |
🔹 Trinitarian Responses
| Response |
Explanation |
| Personhood shown by actions. |
The Spirit speaks (Acts 13:2), teaches (John 14:26), wills (1 Cor. 12:11), and can
be grieved (Eph. 4:30). These imply personhood. |
| Distinction in speech. |
In John 14–16, Jesus says the Spirit “will come” and “will testify” — clearly distinguishing Him from Father and
Son. |
| “Power” imagery doesn’t exclude personality. |
Metaphors (wind, fire, oil) describe the Spirit’s activity, not His essence. |
3️. How Can God Be “One”?
🔹 Non-Trinitarian Arguments
| Passage |
Claim |
Explanation |
| Deuteronomy 6:4 – “The LORD is one.” |
God is one single person. |
This is the foundation for rejecting any multiplicity in God. |
| Isaiah 44:6 – “There is no God besides me.” |
God cannot be three if He says He alone is God. |
Used to exclude any co-equal “persons.” |
🔹 Trinitarian Responses
| Response |
Explanation |
| Hebrew echad (“one”) can mean a compound unity. |
Same word used in “one flesh” (Gen. 2:24) or “one cluster of grapes.” Thus, oneness doesn’t mean
absolute singularity. |
| Scripture shows plurality within the one God. |
Examples: Gen 1:26 (“Let us make man”), Gen 19:24 (YHWH rains fire from YHWH in heaven), Ps 110:1 (“The
LORD said to my Lord”), Isa 48:16 (“The Lord GOD … and His Spirit have sent Me”). |
| NT expands the Shema. |
1 Cor 8:6 applies “Lord” to Jesus and “God” to the Father, showing unity within distinction. |
4. Key Texts Supporting the Trinity
| Passage |
Trinitarian Teaching |
| Matthew 28:19 – “In the name (singular) of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” |
Three named persons share one divine “name.” |
| John 1:1 – “The Word was God.” |
The Son shares the divine nature while distinct from “the God” (the Father). |
| John 10:30 – “I and the Father are one.” |
Oneness of essence, not merely agreement. |
| 2 Corinthians 13:14 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of
the Holy Spirit…” |
Early Trinitarian blessing formula. |
| Philippians 2:6–11 “existed in the form of God… every knee shall bow and every tongue confess…” |
Jesus exists “in the form of God,” yet humbles Himself and is later exalted to divine glory. |
🧭 Summary Table
| Issue |
Non-Trinitarian View |
Trinitarian Response |
| Jesus’ Deity |
Denied; Jesus is created or only human. |
Affirmed; same divine nature as the Father. |
| Holy Spirit’s Nature |
Impersonal power. |
Distinct divine Person. |
| God’s Oneness |
One person only. |
One divine essence, three co-eternal Persons. |
| Scripture Support |
Focus on verses showing Jesus’ humanity/submission. |
Emphasizes texts showing His divine identity and unity with the Father. |