Is God One What and Three Who’s?
We ask the question “What is God?“ because trinitarian scholars like Robert Bowman and others tell us that God is “One What and three “Who’s”. To us, describing the God of Israel as “One What“ seems like a strangely and cold and impersonal way to talk about Him. Now we can’t help but wonder about the meaning of “One What“. Does this odd language reveal anything Biblical or true about God? If God is a divine “What” should we speak of divinity as “It” rather than Him? When we say “What is God“ are we asking a question or making a statement? I hope all this is clear, but if not, just watch the classic Abbott and Costello routine called “Who’s on First” and you will see that the logic of the Trinity is comedy of the highest order.
The Holy What of Israel?
Trinitarian thinking is like being in a house of mirrors at a carnival sideshow. Mirrors and words can both distort reality and make things look other than they really are. Should we dispense with the idea that God is The Holy One of Israel and say instead that God is The Holy What of Israel? If God really is a Holy What should we even use the word “what” in normal conversation anymore since it no longer means what it used to mean? Trinitarian theology can sure get confusing. Thank goodness we have theologians, scholars and comedians to help us find our way!
One What and Three Who’s Made Clear
What follows is a dialogue between a very scholarly trinitarian theologian and a new disciple of Jesus Christ. Please try to keep in mind that “What” is the essence or substance of God and the “Whos” are the three divine persons posited by trinitarian dogma. Those who espouse the trinity are very emphatic that you must believe in their theory of God if you want to be a true Christian. This is a bit surprising in light of the fact that no one (at least so far) has ever been able to explain exactly what the difference is between the one “What” and the three “Whos” that mysteriously make up one God. Let’s listen in on their conversation.
Theologian: Do you have any questions?
Disciple: Just one. Can you tell me about God?
Theologian: Of course. God is one What and three Who’s.
Disciple: One What?
Theologian: Yes! That’s right. God is one What.
Disciple: Hey! Wait a minute! What are you talking about?
Theologian: That’s right. I’m talking about God. That’s Who.
Disciple: What do you mean?
Theologian: That’s right! Now you’ve got It!
Disciple: Got What?
Theologian: Yes! You’ve got the One What that is Three Who’s.
Disciple: So if I just want to know Who God is What is the most important thing?
Theologian: I couldn’t have said it any better! It sounds to me like now you really know What’s What. Just remember God is one What and three Who’s.
Disciple: I don’t think this is helping. Nothing you’ve said sounds like anything I’ve read in the Bible!
Theologian: Yes, I know this can sound like gobbledygook but it is absolutely essential that you believe it even if you don’t understand it. I think you just have a bad attitude.
Disciple: One thing I know for sure is that Jesus sure never talked like you do! To tell you the truth I don’t think you actually understand much about God at all!
THE END
Copyright 2022 by Bob Shutes