Was the Trinity invented by the early Christian church?

Is the Trinity an invented doctrine? Many faiths argue that Trinitarianism is a blend of Greek Philosophy, novel theology, and Biblical proof-texting. Some Latter-day Saints even point to the Trinity as evidence of a Great Apostasy—a theological innovation of early Christianity. Does the Bible really teach the doctrine of the Trinity, or is it a creedal doctrine that has no basis in divine revelation?

While Christians and Latter-day Saints both affirm the Father, Son, and Spirit, we fundamentally disagree on their nature. What exactly does “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” really mean? Are we talking about one eternal God revealed in three persons, or three distinct gods united in purpose?

In this video, we examine the biblical basis for Trinitarianism. While it’s true that the word “Trinity” never appears in the Bible, Christians have used this word throughout history to summarize what God reveals about himself in Scripture.

The doctrine of Trinity can be summarized in these three points:

1) There is only one God.
2) The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.
3) The Father is NOT the Son, the Son is NOT the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is NOT the Father.

Christians are not trying to invent a new doctrine, but are simply receiving what God has revealed about Himself. These three points, revealed in Scripture, serve as guardrails that keep us from thinking wrongly about God.