this is the continuation to the first part
"the 11,000 pronoun --- the fact that in the old testament discribes himself in a singular way "I" tell us that God is is one in being and not a trinity, therefore he is one in person and example given is : Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
who formed you from the womb:“I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens,
who spread out the earth by myself, isa 44 :24"
although this is not the exact argument to the fulll extent given by anthony buzzard -- but it seves the same same purpose. this is from another unitarian of sorts by the name of bob sabin in 1985 -89 .. but the main thought is identical in nature
lets make a quick examination of what is said
the fact that in the old testament discribes himself in a singular way "I" tell us God is is one in being and not a trinity, therefore he is one in person
what this states is practially correct -- even for the trintarian beleif of GOD existing as 3 eternal personsthen we have this assertion "therefore he is one in person" this remains an unproven assumption on the unitarians part
what the "I" could refer too is all three persons or two persons in an authoritive declaration for man to know him by -- now this could be classed as an assumption except i have biblical data to back my argument
before the biblical argument -- i have a couple point to add
the person who gives such arguments as "the fact that in the old testament discribes himself in a singular way "I" tell us that God is is one in being and not a trinity, therefore he is one in person" are not dealing with the arguments from trinitarians -- like in the debate james and michael gives several good arguments based on passages which discribe 2 or 3 persons .. as being God ... john 1 :1 -3, 14... 5 :19 -30, and 12 also consider philippians 2 :6 -11 colosians 1 and 2 hebrews 1 :1 -5 and 1 corinthians 8 :6 and others like john 14 - 16
i have 2 examples of 2 persons from the old testament and 1 of all three ---
1 --- isa 44 :1 -6
2 -- isah 59 :12 -21
3 -- zechariah 2 :8 -12
these texts demonstrate a plurality of persons in the one being .. and i feel these texts wil be skipped by unitarian in this kind of debate
now to deal with the passage is isa 44 :24
while trinitarians are fully able to utilise and fully appreciate passages such as these which talk of the 1 God as to his being .. unitarrians are not able to deal with those other passages which describe God in another light -- plurality / multi personal
and isaiah 44 is a great place to head since it has been given in defence of one person God
But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen!
Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you:
Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams.
This one will say, ‘I am the Lord's,’ another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord's,’and name himself by the name of Israel.”
Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.isa 44 :1 -6
first of all---- before we move onto the major points in this passage this is one thing i need make a mention of is that all though this translates the phrase "Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb" .. this is possly a correct rendering but it is interesting that in a few other translation i have checked that it emphesis' a a slight difference " This is the word of the LORD your Maker who formed you from the womb; He will help you" -- this words it differently .. and i feel the reason is plain as day .. the word is a person
also that there are 3 distinct persons .. the word of the lord, the spirit of the lord and the lord himself all one God
secondly --- in verse 6 we have a distinction ... Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts --- here God is discribed as 2 person the king and the redeemer ... the king of israel the first, and the redeemer the second -- if anything can be made clear .. God is both the king and redeemer .. yet there 2 persons in veiw
the term "lord of host" is often associated with the great God by the prophets .. like prophet and king david .. in samuel 17 :45 -50 and here the second person is called this title
thirdly --- not only do unitarians of the crisitan faith feel this kind of argumentation is sufficient in proving thier individual case, muslims do as well and it doesn't disprove the trinitarian case or our theology -- as it glorifies the tri personal God by lifting this truth to new heights when the bible is considered in its fullest
