Saturday, August 2, 2025

LOS ADVENTISTAS DEL SEPTIMO DÍA SON TRINITARIOS

 

Sí, los Adventistas del Séptimo Día son oficialmente trinitarios. Sin embargo, su doctrina trinitaria tiene algunas particularidades históricas e internas que vale la pena entender, sobre todo si comparamos su postura con lo que enseña la Biblia sin doctrinas humanas añadidas.

Aquí presento un análisis claro y directo:


1. ¿Qué creen oficialmente los adventistas sobre Dios?

Su credo oficial (tomado del documento Creencias Fundamentales de los Adventistas del Séptimo Día, 2005) dice:

“Hay un solo Dios: Padre, Hijo y Espíritu Santo, una unidad de tres Personas coeternas.”

Esto refleja la doctrina clásica de la Trinidad, similar a la de las iglesias protestantes tradicionales.

Creen que:

·         El Padre es Dios.

·         El Hijo (Jesucristo) es Dios, eterno, no creado.

·         El Espíritu Santo es Dios, una tercera persona divina, no una fuerza.


2. ¿Siempre creyeron eso? Historia interesante

Originalmente, los fundadores del adventismo, incluyendo a Ellen G. White, no eran trinitarios:

·         James White, esposo de Ellen, dijo en 1855:

“La doctrina de la Trinidad... es antibíblica.”

·         Durante los primeros 50 años, muchos adventistas eran unitarios o semiarrianos, es decir, creían que:

o        El Padre era el único Dios eterno,

o        Jesús era su Hijo literal, engendrado antes de la creación,

o        Y el Espíritu Santo era la presencia/poder de Dios, no una persona.

Fue recién en el siglo XX (años 1930-1980) que adoptaron plenamente la doctrina trinitaria, por influencia de teólogos protestantes más modernos.


3. Doctrina oficial actual (comparada con la Biblia)

Tema

Adventistas hoy

Biblia (visión familiar de Dios)

¿Dios es uno?

Sí, una unidad de tres personas

Sí, el Padre y Jesucristo son UNO, una Familia (Juan 17:3, 11)

¿Jesús es Dios?

Sí, coeterno con el Padre

Sí, como el Verbo o Vocero de Jehová y ahora como Hijo glorificado procedente del Padre

¿Espíritu Santo es persona?

Sí, una persona divina separada

No aparece como persona, sino como poder de Dios

¿Trinidad?

No se menciona ni se enseña como tal


Textos problemáticos para su doctrina

1.      Juan 17:3, 11, 20, 21 – Jesús dice que el Padre es el único Dios verdadero y que junto con Él, Jesucristo, son UNO y que espera que un día todos los que crean en él sean UNO [es decir, una Familia] junto con el Padre y Jesucristo.

2.      Hechos 2:33 – El Espíritu Santo es “lo recibido del Padre” y “derramado”, no alguien que actúe por sí mismo.

3.      1 Corintios 8:6 – “Para nosotros, sin embargo, sólo hay un Dios, el Padre... y un Señor, Jesucristo...”

4.      Mateo 28:19 – Usado como prueba trinitaria, pero varios estudiosos cuestionan su forma actual (en algunos manuscritos antiguos e incluso en testimonios patrísticos como Eusebio, aparece sin “en el nombre del Padre, Hijo y Espíritu Santo”).


¿Qué los motiva a mantener la Trinidad?

·         Aceptar el protestantismo histórico.

·         Alinear su teología con otras iglesias evangélicas.

·         Uso de ciertos textos de Ellen G. White que, al evolucionar con el tiempo, comenzaron a hablar más del Espíritu Santo como una persona, aunque no siempre de forma clara.


❗ Contradicciones y problemas internos

·         Algunos adventistas no están de acuerdo con la Trinidad, y defienden la enseñanza original.

·         Existen hoy movimientos "no trinitarios dentro del adventismo" que citan textos antiguos y primeros pioneros.


✅ ¿Qué parte se alinea con la Biblia?

Puntos que coinciden con la visión bíblica:

·         El Padre como fuente suprema.

·         La gloria y autoridad divina del Hijo.

·         La necesidad del Espíritu en la vida del creyente.

Puntos que no coinciden con el texto bíblico:

·         La definición del Espíritu como tercera persona divina.

·         La doctrina de tres personas eternas e iguales, que no se encuentra claramente en ningún pasaje bíblico.

·         La idea de que hay una unidad ontológica o esencia divina compartida, un concepto más filosófico que bíblico.


里 CONCLUSIÓN

Los Adventistas del Séptimo Día sí son trinitarios oficialmente, pero su historia doctrinal muestra que al principio no lo eran, y que la doctrina de la Trinidad fue una adopción posterior.

Si nos guiamos exclusivamente por la Biblia, su posición actual:

·         Acierta en partes, especialmente al rechazar la unicidad modalista y al reconocer a Jesús como divino.

·         Falla en otras, al forzar una tercera persona divina que la Biblia nunca presenta claramente como tal.

Friday, August 1, 2025

Divine Affiliation in Christ

 

Doctrinal Article: Divine Affiliation in Christ


������ Introduction

One of the most powerful and transformative aspects of the gospel is that we are not only forgiven by God, but also made his children. This relationship is established through what the New Testament calls “huiothesia ,” a Greek term that has traditionally been translated as “adoption” but whose original meaning reveals a much deeper meaning.

This article examines each key NT passage where this term appears, offering alternative translations, a Greek glossary, doctrinal commentary, and contextually enhanced versions.


������ Greek Glossary

Term

Strong

Meaning

Etymology

huiothesia

G5206

placement as a child

from huios (G5207) = son, and tithēmi (G5087) = to place

huios

G5207

son

descendant, mature son or heir

tithēmi

G5087

place, set, establish

action of placing in a defined position

proorizō

G4309

to predestine, to determine in advance

pro = before, horizō = to set limits

Abba

dad

Aramaic/Hebrew word used by children to affectionately refer to their father (such as “daddy” or “dad”)


������ Verse-by-verse commentary

Ephesians 1:4–5

“[4] Just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him, [5] in love, having predestined us to sonship through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will.”

Comment: - God chose us before creation to be part of his family, not as adopted strangers, but as planned children.


John 1:12–13

“[12] But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name: [13] Who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Comment: - Birth as children of God is spiritual, not natural. It is a direct work of God, not the result of human lineage.


Romans 8:15

“[15] For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you were begotten as sons by the Spirit, and so we cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’”

Commentary: - Divine filiation is not a cold legal act, but a transformative experience that allows us to cry out to God with intimate confidence.


Romans 8:19–23

“[19] For the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. [20] For the creation was subjected to futility… [23] and not only so, but we ourselves also… groan within ourselves as we wait eagerly for our birth as sons , the redemption of our bodies.”

Comment: We are sons now, but we have not yet been manifested in glory. This bodily manifestation is the climax of our sonship.


Romans 9:3–4

“[3] For I could wish that I myself were accursed… for the sake of my brothers… [4] who are Israelites, to whom belongs the sonship, the glory, the covenants…”

Comment: - Israel was given the position of son from ancient times, but that relationship was a shadow of the full sonship in Christ.


Galatians 4:5–6

“[5] That he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might be born as sons (or: in order that we might receive the endowment as sons). [6] And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”

Comment: - The Spirit not only makes us children, but also gives us awareness of our filial identity.


1 Peter 1:23

“[23] Being begotten again, not of corruptible seed (we were first begotten of corruptible seed, that is, human seed or spermatozoon), but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever.”

Commentary: - This passage reinforces the idea of a new spiritual generation. We are no longer born of human will, but of the Spirit, through the incorruptible seed that is the Word of God. - This new birth is the foundation of our true divine sonship.


������ Comparison: “Roman legal adoption” vs. “Spiritual placement as children”

Adoption (Roman law)

Huiothesia (NT)

Formal legal procedure

Spiritual and eternal act

Incorporation of a stranger

Recognition of previously known children

Based on need or inheritance

Based on love and divine will

Emphasizes family change

Emphasizes full filial identity


������ Conclusion

Huiothesia should not be limited to the Roman idea of adoption. In the New Testament context, it is a glorious, loving, and spiritual placement as sons and daughters of the Most High God. It is the fulfillment of an eternal purpose, a present reality through the Spirit, and a future manifestation in the redemption of the body.

As believers, we are not simply accepted: we are begotten and established as true children .


“See what kind of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 John 3:1)


La Filiación Divina en Cristo

La Filiación Divina en Cristo


������ Introducción

Uno de los aspectos más poderosos y transformadores del evangelio es que no solo somos perdonados por Dios, sino que también somos hechos hijos suyos. Esta relación se establece a través de lo que el Nuevo Testamento llama “huiothesía”, término griego que ha sido traducido tradicionalmente como “adopción” pero cuyo significado original revela una profundidad mucho mayor.

Este artículo examina cada pasaje clave del NT donde aparece este término, ofreciendo traducciones alternativas, glosario griego, comentarios doctrinales y versiones enriquecidas por el contexto.


������ Glosario Griego

Término

Strong

Significado

Etimología

huiothesía

G5206

colocación como hijo

de huios (G5207) = hijo, y tithēmi (G5087) = colocar

huios

G5207

hijo

descendiente, hijo maduro o heredero

tithēmi

G5087

colocar, poner, establecer

acción de ubicar en una posición definida

proorizō

G4309

predestinar, determinar de antemano

pro = antes, horizō = fijar límites

Abba

papá

palabra aramea/hebreo usada por los niños para referirse cariñosamente a su padre (como “papito” o “papá”)


������ Comentario verso por verso

Efesios 1:4–5

“[4] Según nos escogió en él antes de la fundación del mundo, para que fuésemos santos y sin mancha delante de él, [5] en amor habiéndonos predestinado para ser establecidos como hijos por medio de Jesucristo, según el beneplácito de su voluntad.”

Comentario: - Dios nos eligió desde antes de la creación para ser parte de su familia, no como extraños adoptados, sino como hijos planeados.


Juan 1:12–13

“[12] Mas a todos los que le recibieron, a los que creen en su nombre, les dio potestad de ser hechos hijos de Dios; [13] los cuales no son engendrados de sangre, ni de voluntad de carne, ni de voluntad de varón, sino de Dios.”

Comentario: - El nacimiento como hijos de Dios es espiritual, no natural. Es una obra directa de Dios, no resultado de linaje humano.


Romanos 8:15

“[15] Pues no habéis recibido el espíritu de esclavitud para estar otra vez en temor, sino que habéis sido engendrados como hijos por el Espíritu, por lo cual clamamos: ¡¡Abba, Padre!”

Comentario: - La filiación divina no es un acto legal frío, sino una experiencia transformadora que nos permite clamar a Dios con confianza íntima.


Romanos 8:19–23

“[19] Porque el anhelo ardiente de la creación es el aguardar la manifestación de los hijos de Dios. [20] Porque la creación fue sujetada a vanidad… [23] y no solo ella, sino que también nosotros mismos… gemimos dentro de nosotros mismos, esperando el nacimiento como hijos, la redención de nuestro cuerpo.”

Comentario: - Somos hijos ahora, pero aún no hemos sido manifestados en gloria. Esa manifestación corporal es el clímax de nuestra filiación.


Romanos 9:3–4

“[3] Porque deseara yo mismo ser anatema… por amor a mis hermanos… [4] que son israelitas, a los cuales corresponde la colocación como hijos, la gloria, los pactos…”

Comentario: - A Israel le fue conferida una posición de hijo desde antiguo, pero esa relación era una sombra de la filiación plena en Cristo.


Gálatas 4:5–6

“[5] Para que redimiese a los que estaban bajo la ley, para que fuéramos engendrados como hijos (o: a fin de que recibiésemos la investidura como hijos). [6] Y por cuanto sois hijos, Dios envió a vuestros corazones el Espíritu de su Hijo, el cual clama: ¡¡Abba, Padre!”

Comentario: - El Espíritu no solo nos convierte en hijos, sino que nos da conciencia de nuestra identidad filial.


1 Pedro 1:23

“[23] Siendo reengendrados, no de simiente corruptible (la primera vez fuimos engendrados por simiente corruptible, simiente humana o espermatozoide), sino de incorruptible, por la palabra de Dios que vive y permanece para siempre.”

Comentario: - Este pasaje refuerza la idea de una nueva generación espiritual. Ya no nacemos de voluntad humana, sino del Espíritu, mediante la semilla incorruptible que es la Palabra de Dios. - Este nuevo nacimiento es el fundamento de nuestra verdadera filiación divina.


������ Comparación: “Adopción legal romana” vs “Colocación espiritual como hijos”

Adopción (legal romana)

Huiothesía (NT)

Procedimiento legal formal

Acto espiritual y eterno

Incorporación de un extraño

Reconocimiento de hijos preconocidos

Basado en necesidad o herencia

Basado en amor y voluntad divina

Enfatiza cambio de familia

Enfatiza identidad filial plena


������ Conclusión

La “huiothesía” no debe limitarse a la idea romana de adopción. En el contexto neotestamentario, es una colocación gloriosa, amorosa y espiritual como hijos e hijas del Dios Altísimo. Es el cumplimiento de un propósito eterno, una realidad presente por el Espíritu y una manifestación futura en la redención del cuerpo.

Como creyentes, no somos simplemente aceptados: somos engendrados y establecidos como hijos verdaderos.


“Mirad cuál amor nos ha dado el Padre, para que seamos llamados hijos de Dios; y lo somos.” (1 Juan 3:1)


 

God as Family — The Father, the Son, and the Children by "Adoption" as Sons

 

 God as Family: The Father, the Son, and the Children by Adoption

Introduction

One of the most profound revelations of the New Testament is that God is not a single, solitary person, but a divine family in formation, headed by the Father, and in which Jesus Christ, the Son, occupies a central place as the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:29). This doctrine is not a late invention of Christianity, but has firm roots in the Hebrew Scriptures and is fully developed in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

 

1. God as Family from the beginning

Already in the Old Testament we find glimpses of a divine duality:

 Proverbs 30:4

“What is his name, and his son’s name, if you know?”

This is not mere poetry: it is a theological question that implies that God has a Son since ancient times.

 Daniel 7:13–14

“...one like a son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days…”

Here are two divine beings interacting: one as the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) and the other as the Ancient of Days (the Father).

 

2. The Word: the Spokesman who has spoken from the beginning

 Juan 1:1–3, 14

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... and the Word became flesh...”

Christ is identified as the Word (Logos), that is, the Spokesman of God, the one who spoke with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and the prophets.

 Juan 5:37

“You have never heard his voice, nor have you seen his form.”

If this is true, then the God who spoke in the Old Testament was not the Father directly, but the Son, acting as the visible and audible Spokesperson for the invisible Father.

 Juan 1:18

“No one has ever seen God; the only Son... he has made him known.”

 

3. The baptism of Jesus: three people?

In Matthew 3:16–17 we read:

“And Jesus, after he was baptized... saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him.
And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Some use this as proof of a trinity, but upon closer examination we see:

·          The “ Spirit of God ” descends like ( ὡσεὶ ) a dove: the Greek verbal form (V-PPM/P-ANS) indicates an impersonal and symbolic action, not a person.

·          The “ voice from heaven ” does not imply that the Father spoke directly, but rather that it was a sound manifestation sent from heaven, as the Word did many times in the Old Testament.

·          According to John 5:37, the Father's voice has never been heard directly.

In short, Jesus did not speak to himself, nor was the Father seen or heard literally. He was a multiple manifestation of the Word and the Spirit of God.

 

4. Jesus came to reveal the Father

Christ explicitly states that his primary mission was to reveal the Father, who was unknown even to Israel:

 Mateo 11:27

“No one knows the Father except the Son, and no one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

 Juan 14:6–7

“No one comes to the Father except through me... from now on you know him and have seen him.”

 

5. The Father and the Son are distinct but united

On many occasions we see Jesus praying, talking and submitting to the Father, as a different being:

 Juan 17:5

“Glorify me with you, with the glory I had with you before the world began.”

 Juan 11:41–42

“Father, I thank you for having heard me...”

These are not metaphors: they are real interactions between two divine beings, within a family structure.

 

6. The purpose: to form a divine Family

God's plan was always to create a spiritual family in his image. Through Jesus Christ, we too are called children of God:

 Juan 1:12

“But as many as received him... to them he gave the right to become children of God…”

 Romans 8:14–17

“...you are children; and if children, then heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”

 Hebrews 2:10–12

“...bring many sons to glory... is not ashamed to call them brothers.”

 

7. The family has a name and a heritage

 Ephesians 3:14–15

“...the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.”

God's family is not allegorical: it has a Father, a Son, an inheritance, a purpose, and we are part of it by adoption, through the Spirit of God.

 

Conclusion

The Bible gradually reveals that God is not an eternal solitude, but an expanding divine family. The Father is the head of that family, the Son is the firstborn, and we are children by adoption if we remain in the faith.

This truth was kept secret for centuries and only fully revealed by Jesus Christ, the eternal Word, who came to show us the Father and invite us to be part of His family forever.

Problem with the word "adoption"

The Greek term υἱοθεσία (huiothesía, Strong's G5206). Let's analyze it in detail to determine if there is a more accurate or faithful alternative to “adoption,” especially in the biblical context of being made children of God.

 Etymology of G5206 – υἱοθεσία (huiothesía)

 Composition of the term:

·          son (huios, G5207): hijo

·          τίθημι (tithēmi, G5087): to place, to set, to establish

Therefore, it literally means:

“placement as a son” or “establishment as a son”.

 Traditional translation: “adoption”

·          In Roman law, adoption was a legal process by which a child was incorporated into a new family and received full inheritance rights.

·          This image was adopted by many Spanish Bible translations (such as Reina-Valera) and by the Western Christian tradition.

❗Problem with the word "adoption"

Although “adoption” works culturally, it does not communicate the full richness and spiritual intent of the Greek term:

1.       It is not just a legal change, but a spiritual transformation.

2.       The word “adoption” can give the idea of an external, legal and non-organic bond, when in reality the believer is born of God by the Spirit (Jn 3:5-6).

3.       The NT presents this placement as sons not as an external inclusion, but as a destiny planned before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:5).

More faithful alternatives to Greek (huiothesía)

Here are some options closer to the deeper meaning:

Proposed alternative

Advantage

Description

Placement as a child

Literal

Exact and faithful translation, although not very idiomatic.

Designation as a son

Conceptual

Indicates intention, divine choice

Subsidiary establishment

Formal and spiritual

Expresses God's intentional action to make us children

Investiture as a son

Rich in symbolism

It can be used in eschatological contexts (Romans 8:23)

Recognition as a son

Relational

It emphasizes divine acceptance, not just the legal act

Admission to affiliation

Doctrinal

Suitable for theological expositions

 

 Concrete biblical applications

1. Romans 8:15

“…you have received the Spirit of sonship, by which we cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’”

 Here, the believer's intimate, experiential relationship with God is emphasized. The word "adoption" sounds cold and legalistic. A choice like "son placement" or "establishment" may be more faithful to the Greek and spiritual experience.

 

2. Romans 8:23

“…waiting for the placement as sons, the redemption of our body.”

 Here the term looks toward the future, as an act of final manifestation of those who are already children of the Spirit. “Adoption” sounds like a beginning; “filial manifestation” or “consecration as children” would be more eschatological alternatives.

 

3. Galatians 4:5

“…so that we might receive the placement as children.”

 Here, the context is redemption from the law and the transition to a full family relationship with God. Alternatives such as "entering into sonship" or "recognition as sons" can help better express the idea.

 

✅ Conclusion

The translation “adoption” is not incorrect, but it is limited and culturally charged. Since the Greek term υἱοθεσία (huiothesía) did not exist in the Old Testament and appears only in NT Christian contexts, we can rightly look for a richer and more faithful word.

 The best possible translation depending on the context would be:

 

"placement as a son" or "establishment as a son", and depending on the approach, "investiture""designation", or "entry into sonship".