Fundisho la Utatu halikujulikana kwa Mitume na makanisa ya kwanza ya karne ya 1 na 2. Neno utatu halipatikani katika Neno la Mungu. Lakini kufikia karne ya 3 Kanisa la Kikristo lilikuwa likipanda mamlaka, mateso ya kipagani yalikuwa yamekoma, na wapagani wengi wakatafuta kuingia kanisani, wakiwa wamebeba imani zao za kipagani za miungu mingi.
The doctrine of the Trinity was unknown to the Apostles and the early churches of the 1st and 2nd centuries. The word trinity is not found in God’s Word. But by the 3rd century the Christian Church was rising to power, pagan persecutions had ceased, and many pagans sought entrance into the church, carrying with them their heathen beliefs of many gods.
Kutoka kwa Bible Study Monthly la Uingereza tumetoa dokezo lifuatalo la kihistoria kuhusu Utatu:
From the Bible Study Monthly of England we have extracted the following historical note on the Trinity:
“Kwa miaka mingi wapagani walikuwa wamefahamu itikadi za utatu za Mashariki, imani ambazo zilipata usemi wao wenye nguvu katika theolojia ngumu ya Uhindu na Ubrahman. Ni kwa heshima ya miungu watatu wakuu wa Brahman, Shiva, Vishnu, na Brahma, kwamba wimbo wa mapema sana wa utatu ulitungwa. Karibu miaka mia moja kabla ya Kristo, Kalidasa, mmoja wa washairi wakuu wa Kihindi, aliandika:
“For many years pagans had been familiar with the trinitarian beliefs of the East, beliefs which found their strongest expression in the complicated theology of Hinduism and Brahmanism. It is in honor of the three chief Brahman deities, Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, that a very early hymn to the trinity was composed. Nearly a hundred years before Christ, Kalidasa, one of the greatest of Indian poets, wrote:
'Katika Nafsi hizo tatu Mungu mmoja alionyeshwa
Kila kwanza mahali, kila mwisho - sio peke yake;
Ya Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, kila mmoja anaweza kuwa
Ya kwanza, ya pili, ya tatu, kati ya hao Watatu waliobarikiwa.'
‘In those three Persons the one God was shown
Each first in place, each last – not one alone;
Of Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, each may be
First, second, third, among the blessed Three.’
Kufanana kwa maneno hayo na fundisho la baadaye la utatu kama inavyofafanuliwa katika Imani ya Athanasian ni dhahiri. Ilikuwa katika karne ya 4 BK, karibu miaka 500 baada ya Kalidasa kuandika wimbo wake, ambapo mabishano yaliyokuwa yakikusanya nguvu katika kanisa yalifikia mwisho.”
The similarity of those words to the later doctrine of the trinity as defined in the Athanasian Creed is obvious. It was in the 4th century AD, nearly 500 years after Kalidasa wrote his hymn, that the controversy which had been gathering force in the church came to a head.”
Wakati huu kanisa lilitunga fundisho kwamba ndani ya Mungu mmoja wa kweli kweli kuna nafsi tatu. Hivyo usemi ulikuja kwamba kuna “nafsi tatu za Uungu.” Waamini Utatu wametumia fasili mbalimbali ili Utatu ueleweke. Ufafanuzi mmoja kama huo ni kwamba Mungu Baba, Mungu Mwana, na Mungu Roho Mtakatifu wote ni sawa na wa milele pamoja kama Mungu mmoja wa kweli. Ingawa hata Waumini Utatu wanakubali kuwa ni vigumu kuelewa, bado inasalia kuwa imani ya msingi ya makanisa mengi ya Kikristo ya siku hizi.
At this time the church formulated a doctrine that within the one true God there are actually three persons. Thus the expression came about that there are “three persons of the Godhead.” Trinitarians have used various definitions in order to have the Trinity understood. One such definition is that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are each co-equal and co-eternal as the one true God. Though even Trinitarians admit it is difficult to comprehend, it still remains the very foundation belief of the majority of present-day Christian churches.
Arius, katika takriban 318 BK, alianza kuleta pingamizi kwa mafundisho ya Utatu. Alikuwa na jukumu la kuanzisha ugomvi ambao bado upo hadi leo. Tena akinukuu kutoka kwa chanzo hapo juu: "Arius alikuwa mzee. Athanasius, kijana aliyebobea katika falsafa na fasihi, na kwa uwezo na nguvu zake, aliongoza Baraza kuamua kwa kuunga mkono dai lake kwamba fundisho la Utatu litangazwe kuwa fundisho la Kanisa. Maaskofu wawili tu, Thomas wa Marmarica na Secundus wa Ptolemais, waliunga mkono Arius. Arius, akiwa ameshindwa hivyo, alifukuzwa na kufukuzwa, na vitabu vyake viliamriwa kuteketezwa. Hata hivyo, sehemu kubwa ya Jumuiya ya Wakristo ilikataa, mwanzoni, kukubali fundisho hilo. Karne kadhaa zilipita kabla ya Utatu kuthibitishwa kwa uthabiti kuwa fundisho la Kikristo linalokubalika kwa ujumla.”
Arius, in approximately 318 AD, began to raise objections to the Trinity teaching. He was responsible for starting a controversy that still exists today. Again quoting from the above source: “Arius was an old man. Athanasius, a younger man well versed in philosophy and literature, and with his ability and energy, led the Council to decide in favor of his demand that the doctrine of the Trinity be declared the teaching of the Church. Only two bishops, Thomas of Marmarica and Secundus of Ptolemais, supported Arius. Arius, being thus defeated, was excommunicated and banished, and his books ordered to be burnt. Even so, a considerable portion of Christendom refused, at first, to accept the doctrine. Several centuries elapsed before the Trinity was firmly established as a generally accepted Christian doctrine.”
Kwa zaidi ya karne 12 hapakuwa na somo la Maandiko. Wakati huo tafsiri zote za Maandiko zilitengenezwa na mafundisho na kanuni za imani za Maaskofu wa Mitume ambao walielekeza imani za Kanisa. Siku hizi ziliitwa Enzi za Giza kwa vile nuru ya Injili ilikuwa karibu kuzimwa, Neno la Mungu likiwa halipatikani kwa mwanadamu wa kawaida, bali limehifadhiwa tu kwa ajili ya makasisi.
For over 12 centuries there was practically no study of Scriptures. During that time all Scriptural interpretations were formulated by the teaching and creeds of the Apostolic Bishops who directed the beliefs of the Church. These days were called the Dark Ages since the Gospel light was almost quenched, God’s Word not being available to the common man, but reserved only for the clergy.
Tungependa kukuonyesha zaidi ya maandiko 60 yanayopinga fundisho la Utatu. Maandiko yanatuhimiza ‘tuhakikishe mambo yote na kushikamana sana na lililo jema. Tunatumai kuwa utakubali changamoto.
We would like to point out to you more than 60 texts that challenge the Trinity doctrine. The Scriptures admonish us to “prove all things and hold fast to that which is good.” We hope that you accept the challenge.
Ikiwa ungependa zaidi juu ya mada hii, andika kwa kijitabu chetu cha bure juu ya mada hii. Tuma ombi lako kwa:
If you would like more on this topic, write for our free booklet on this topic. Send your request to:
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Kusoma Biblia - Mwongozo
Studying The Bible - A Guide