Is the "trinity" a Scriptural concept?
ANSWER:
"Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the FATHER and of the SON and of the SET-APART SPIRIT." (Matthew 28:19) Indeed we believe in the Father, Son, and Spirit.
The problem with the "trinity" is that it suggests three different beings. Christianity has made an all-out effort to convince its adherents that "the God of the Old Testament" is very different from "the Jesus of the New Testament". Along with this doctrine is a "Holy Ghost" or "Holy Spirit", who is supposedly another "person", and who came forth in his full power near the beginning of the "New Testament era". The very terminology "Old Testament" and "New Testament" is a part of this whole theology, and is an attempt to make it look as though a large portion of the Scriptures have passed away or are no longer relavent.
Do we believe in the Father? Yes. The Son? Yes. The Spirit? Yes. But, in reality, the Father, Son, and Spirit are not three different entities. Notice in Matthew 28:19 that we are to be baptized in the NAME (singular) of the Father, Son, and Spirit. Yahweh and Yahshua are One,, and the Ruach HaKodesh (set-apart Spirit), is the Spirit and power of this One Elohim. Yahshua (Yahweh our Salvation) came to speak Yahweh's Words, not to do away with them. "When ye have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall ye know that I AM HE, and that I do nothing of Myself, but AS MY FATHER HATH TAUGHT ME, I SPEAK THESE THINGS. And He that sent Me is with Me; the Father hath not left Me alone, for I DO ALWAYS THOSE THINGS THAT PLEASE HIM." (John 8:28-29) "Think not that I am come to destroy the Law and the Prophets. I AM NOT COME TO DESTROY, but to VERIFY AND BRING TO PASS. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, ONE JOT OR ONE TITTLE SHALL IN NO WISE PASS FROM THE LAW till all things be brought into being. Whosoever therefore shall break one of the least of these commandments and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Yahweh. But WHOSOEVER SHALL DO AND TEACH THEM, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Yahweh." (Matthew 5:17-19) This is exactly opposite of what Christianity tells us. Christianity tells us that we are "self-righteous" if we try to keep the commands. One gentleman, upon seeing the fringes, remarked, "Well, I guess God wouldn't condemn you for doing that." The truth of the matter is that Yahweh indeed does not condemn His people for seeking to obey Him. Rather, HE BLESSES THEM. "And all these blessings shall come on thee and overtake thee, IF THOU SHALT HEARKEN UNTO THE VOICE OF YAHWEH THY ELOHIM." (Deuteronomy 28:2) And so does Yahshua, for He is a part of Yahweh. "I and My Father are One." (John 10:30)
As Yahshua has always been, and is a part of Yahweh's being, the Spirit too has always existed, and been active, alive, and well.
In the very first book of the Scriptures, Genesis 1:2, we read, "And the Spirit of Elohim moved upon the face of the Waters." Later in the chapter Elohim says to His Son, "Let us make man in our Image, after our likeness" (Genesis 1:26). "So Elohim created man in His own Image, in the Image of Elohim created He him..." (Genesis 1:27) "In the Image of Elohim" encompasses both the Father and the Son, different aspects of one Elohim working through the power of His Mighty Spirit.
David, speaking to Yahweh, said, "Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy SET-APART SPIRIT from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy SALVATION (Hebrew # 3468; 'yesha'), and uphold me with Thy free SPIRIT." (Psalm 51:11-12) Once again we see the fulness of Elohim - Father, Son, and Spirit - as a composite unity.