I just learned the other day that the Visigoths and most Germans who originally converted to Christianity converted as Arians which means they didn't believe in the holy trinity. They believed Jesus came from God but wasn't God.
Truthfully, this is what I've always believed about Christianity also but I never knew the term was Arian or that it was a fairly popular belief until the Catholic Church forced everyone to convert to the Holy Trinity belief system.
Before the coming of God in Flesh, God seemed to have taken on two distinctions. One being the figurehead, the Creator, and the other being akin to his avatar which dictates the laws regarding Heaven and Earth. This is the "Spirit" of God, as is referenced in Genesis and is the Christ. The Spirit of God was always with God and is God.. I suppose in the same way the body is with the soul and mind, hence man's likeness of Him.