From "Should you Believe in the Trinity"
The Catholic Encyclopedia also comments: "In Scripture there is as yet no single term by which the Three Divine Persons are denoted together. The word [tri'as] (of which the Latin trinitas is a translation) is first found in Theophilus of Antioch about A. D. 180. . . . Shortly afterwards it appears in its Latin form of trinitas in Tertullian ." However, this is no proof in itself that Tertullian taught the Trinity.
Look what the Watchtower left out to deceive you! (notice the ellipse: ". . .") "The word [tri'as] (of which the Latin trinitas is a translation) is first found in Theophilus of Antioch about A. D. 180.He speaks of "the Trinity of God [the Father], His Word and His Wisdom" ("Ad. Autol.", 11, 15, P. G., VI, 1078). The term may, of course, have been in use before his time. Shortly afterwards it appears in its Latin form of trinitas in Tertullian. "
Need a photo copy of this Catholic Encyclopedia page.
The Catholic work Trinitas-A Theological Encyclopedia of the Holy Trinity , for example, notes that some of Tertullian's words were later used by others to describe the Trinity. Then it cautions: " But hasty conclusions cannot be drawn from usage, for he does not apply the words to Trinitarian theology ."
Once again Look at what the Watchtower left out. "The great African fashioned the Latin language of the Trinity, and many of his words and phrases remained permanently in use: the words Trinitas and persona, the formulas 'one substance in three persons,' 'God from God, light from Light .' He uses the word substantia 400 times, as he uses consubstantialis and consubstantivus, but hasty conclusions cannot be drawn from usage, for he does not apply the words to Trinitarian theology "
Need photo copy of this Theological Encyclopedia.
My Jw co-worker after a 1-1/2 years of telling him the the early christians are misrepresented in "Should you believe in the Trinity" told me today that he is thinking about writing the Watchtower on the lack of references for the early christians. It was a very interesting discussion. He however felt very confident that Tertullian did not believe in the trinity and quoted the above refences. I did not realize until tonight that he was quoting the booklet itself. Hence why I would love to show actual copies of their quoting practices.
On an interesting note he asked me if they do have deceptive quoting why have they not been found out. I told him that they have been found out, only he is not allowed to ever see or hear any evidence of it. "Your summer convention told you not to look at websites or listen to things that I am saying, so how could you ever find out if your organization has been found out or not?"