- The word "Trinity" does not appear in the Bible
- The word "Trinity" was first used by Tertullian
- The doctrine of the Trinity is commonly expressed as: "One God, three Persons"
- The doctrine is formally defined in the Nicene Creed, which declares Jesus to be: "God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father."
- Past and present Christian faiths who do not believe in the Trinity include:
- Arianism
- Some Radical Reformers, such as Michael Servetus
- Jehovah's Witnesses
- Mormonism
- Unitarianism
- Reasons given for rejecting the doctrine of the Trinity include:
- It is not mentioned in the Bible
- It does not make philosophical sense
- It is not compatible with monotheism
- It is not necessary in order to explain the "specialness" of Jesus
- Reasons given for believing in the Trinity include:
- It is taught indirectly in various statements in the Bible
- It explains the divinity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit while affirming monotheism
- It would not be expected that the nature of God would make sense to human minds
- The early ecumenical councils (primarily Nicea) are authoritative