The Trinity

The Trinity is one God existing in three Persons. Understand that this is not in any way suggesting three Gods. Remember when studying this subject that the word "Trinity" is not found in Scripture. It is a term used to describe the triune God—three coexistent, co-eternal Persons who are God. Of fundamental importance is that the concept represented by the word "Trinity" does exist in Scripture. The following is what God's Word says about the Trinity:

 

1. There is one God

2. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:5).

3. The Trinity consists of three Persons.

4. Genesis 1:1, 26; 3:22; 11:7; Isaiah 6:8, 48:16, 61:1; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). In Genesis 1:1, the Hebrew plural noun "Elohim" is used. In Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7, and Isaiah 6:8, the plural pronoun for "us" is used. The word "Elohim" and the pronoun "us" are plural forms, definitely referring in the Hebrew language to more than two. While this is not an explicit argument for the Trinity, it denotes the aspect of plurality in God. The Hebrew word for "God," "Elohim," allows for the Trinity.

5. In Isaiah 48:16 and 61:1, the Son refers to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Compare Isaiah 61:1 to Luke 4:14-19 to see that it is the Son speaking. Matthew 3:16-17 describes the event of Jesus' baptism. This passage shows God the Holy Spirit descending on God the Son while God the Father proclaims His pleasure in the Son. Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14 are other passages presenting three distinct Persons in the Trinity.

6. The members of the Trinity are distinguished one from another in various passages.

7. In the Old Testament, the "LORD" is distinguished from the "Lord" (Genesis 19:24; Hosea 1:4). The LORD has a Son (Psalm 2:7, 12; Proverbs 30:2-4). The Spirit is distinguished from the "LORD" (Numbers 27:18) and from "God" (Psalm 51:10-12). God the Son is distinguished from God the Father (Psalm 45:6-7; Hebrews 1:8-9). In the New Testament, Jesus speaks to the Father about sending a Helper, the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). It shows that Jesus did not consider Himself the Father or the Holy Spirit. Consider also the other instances when Jesus speaks to the Father. Was He talking to Himself? No. He said to another Person in the Trinity—the Father.

8. Each member of the Trinity is God.

9. The Father is God (John 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2). The Son is God (John 1:1, 14; Romans 9:5; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 5:20). The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16).

10. Subordination exists within the Trinity. Scripture shows that the Holy Spirit is subordinate to the Father and the Son, and the Son is subordinate to the Father.

11. It is an internal relationship, and the deity of any Person of the Trinity is not denied. Our finite minds cannot understand this concerning the infinite God. Concerning the Son, see Luke 22:42, John 5:36, John 20:21, and 1 John 4:14. Concerning the Holy Spirit, see John 14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7, and especially John 16:13-14.

12. The individual members of the Trinity have different tasks.

13. The Father is the ultimate source or cause of the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11); divine revelation (Revelation 1:1); salvation (John 3:16-17); and Jesus' human works (John 5:17; 14:10). The Father initiates all of these things.
     

The Son is the agent through whom the Father does the following works: the creation and maintenance of the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17); divine revelation (John 1:1, 16:12-15; Matthew 11:27; Revelation 1:1); and salvation (2 Corinthians 5:19; Matthew 1:21; John 4:42). The Father does all these things through the Son, who functions as His agent.

 

The Holy Spirit is the means by whom the Father does the following works: creation and maintenance of the universe (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30); divine revelation (John 16:12-15; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21); salvation (John 3:6; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:2); and Jesus' works (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38). Thus, the Father does all these things by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

There have been many attempts to develop illustrations of the Trinity. However, none of the famous illustrations are entirely accurate. The egg (or apple) fails in that the shell, white, and yolk are parts of the egg, not the egg in themselves, just as the skin, flesh, and seeds of the apple are parts of it, not the apple itself. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not parts of God; each is God. The water illustration is better, but the Trinity needs to be described adequately. Liquid, vapor, and ice are forms of water. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not forms of God; each of them is God. So, while these illustrations may give us a picture of the Trinity, the image could be more accurate. A finite illustration cannot fully describe an infinite God.

 

The doctrine of the Trinity has been a divisive issue throughout the entire history of the Christian church. While the core aspects of the Trinity are presented in God's Word, some side issues are not as explicitly clear. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God—but there is only one God. That is the biblical doctrine of the Trinity. Beyond that, the issues are debatable and non-essential to a certain extent. Rather than fully defining the Trinity with our finite human minds, we would be better served by focusing on God's greatness and infinitely higher nature. "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" (Romans 11:33-34).