The Trinity

The Trinity. The very mention of that phrase evokes great emotion among a broad spectrum of people. For Christians who believe in the Trinity, it brings joy and excitement, for the awesome (literally full of awe) way in which God chose to reveal Himself to His creation as one God in three persons. For non-Christians it is the contradictory way in which Christians worship three gods while claiming to worship only one. For Christians who do not believe in the concept of a Triune God the Trinity wells up anger at the distortion of scripture since the Counsel of Nicea in 325 A.D. For others, many of whom having grown up in “church” and claim Christianity the word Trinity is but a word. Many Christians believe in the concept of the Trinity, but do not know why, and are often led astray by false religions claiming to have the proper explanation. Either way, the doctrine of the Trinity is perhaps one of the most important doctrines of the Christian faith. Truth is not relative, so one stance on the Trinity inevitably must be correct, and that is scripture’s. Let us clear up some misconceptions, combat a little false teaching, and delve into what scripture says about the Lord God Almighty, Christ Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Before delving any further we should adequately define the word Trinity. Easton’s Bible dictionary defines the Trinity thus:

A word not found in Scripture, but used to express the doctrine of the unity of God as subsisting in three distinct Persons.
1. That God is one, and that there is but one God
2. That the Father is a distinct divine Person distinct from the Son and the Holy Spirit.
3. That Jesus Christ was truly God, and yet was a Person distinct from the Father and the Holy Spirit.
4. That the Holy Spirit is also a distinct divine Person.

There are a few common objections to the Trinity. Perhaps the most popular among Christians is Pentecostal Oneness theology. Oneness theology stems from the early church heresy of Modalism, made popular by Sabellius. Oneness theology teaches that there is one God, and that He manifested Himself in different modes at different times in history, the Father first, then the Son, then the Holy Spirit. Another belief among Christians is that Jesus is God, so to speak, but He is a lesser God than the Father, and that they are two distinctly different beings. Other objections come from the idea that the Trinity teaches three gods, and therefore is polytheistic. Yet more objection stems from Mormon and Jehovah’s Witness teaching. Both teach that Jesus was a creation, like any other Creation. Mormons believe Jesus to have presented the Father with a plan of salvation greater than the plan Satan presented, and thus died for sin (though good works are still necessary in order for complete atonement). However Mormons believe the Father and Son to be completely distinct. Jehovah’s Witness theology teaches that Jesus was the first creation of God and merely a perfect man, not God in flesh.

The only way to properly deal with this issue is to examine the Truth of scripture and determine what the Bible says about the doctrine of the Trinity. Perhaps 1 John 5:7 will provide a strong starting point for this study, “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” Let us delve into each of these who bear witness in Heaven: the Father, the Word (the Son), and the Holy Spirit, individually and uncover the Truth to be found.

In 1 John 5:7 the “Father” appears first as one of the three that bear witness in Heaven. There is little question as to the idea that the Father is in fact Almighty God. Some verses to back this idea include:

1. “He shall cry to Me, ‘You are my Father,
My God, and the rock of my salvation.’”-Psalm 89:26. This verse is part of Old Testament Messianic prophecy
2. “They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, In a straight way in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.”-Jeremiah 31:9. God declares Himself to be the Father of Israel.
3. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”-Matthew 5:16
4. “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father”-Ephesians 2:18
5. Speaking of the Father scripture says, “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”-John 1:18

In the Old Testament there are several instances mentioned where if one saw the Father he would die instantly. Even Moses was not allowed to see the fullness of God’s glory in the account of the Exodus. When the high priest would make sacrifices in what was called the Holy of Holies, where they would encounter a portion of God’s glory but not the fullness of it, ropes would be tied around the waist of the priest, and bells on his shoes. This was in the case that he might enter into the Holy of Holies with un-confessed sin, for if he did then he would die and the bells would stop ringing; therefore, those holding the rope would know to drag the corpse out.

There is little doubt that the Father is in fact God. Questions are raised as to whether or not Jesus is God, and if He is then how He and the Father could exist as God simultaneously. Why would He pray to the Father if He was already God? Hopefully by examining scripture these objections can sufficiently be answered.

Jesus speaks about the Trinity/Godhead:

1. John 10:29-30 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”
2. John 17:5 “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
3. John 17:11 “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me that they may be one as We are.”

In John10 and John 17 Jesus declares that He and the Father are in fact One. Think of it perhaps like a human, if you will for a moment. A human has a mind, a body, and a soul. Each of these must exist in order for the others to exist. Each part has its own distinct function, but each is equally human. Your mind is no less “you” than your body, or your soul. Think in this sense as how the Father and the Son are One, yet in the context of these verses existing in two very distinct places.

Let us examine the scriptures that attest to Jesus being God:

1. “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”-Colossians 2:9. This verse leaves little question as to whether or not Jesus is fully God. See 2:6 for context.
2. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”-Colossians 1:15-19.
a. “Invisible God” in this context is the Father. It has been discussed that the Father cannot be seen, but Christ is the very image of the Father. Christ is the exact representation of the Father. When one sees Christ He sees God.
b. Christ is the firstborn over all creation. This is not to say that He is the first creation, but “firstborn” applies to the Jewish custom of inheritance. The firstborn is the recipient of the greatest inheritance and blessing from the father of the household. If ever the child born first is not allotted the greater inheritance, then the recipient of the inheritance is considered the firstborn. Christ is the recipient of the inheritance, having preeminence over all things.
c. By Him and for Him all things were created. That leaves little room for doubt that He had an instrumental God-size role in the creation. See Genesis 1:26.
3. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”-John 1:1-5. See Revelation 19:11-14 for Biblical evidence that Jesus is called the Word of God. This is another passage that leaves little doubt as to Scripture’s take on the concept of Jesus being God.
4. The Son is seen throughout the Old Testament. There was a great deal of prophecy about the coming Messiah/Son of God, but He also makes pre-incarnate appearances as the Angel of the LORD, Commander of the LORD’s Army, and various other forms.
a. “Then the Angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.
22 Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the LORD. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord GOD! For I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face.” –Judges 6:21-22
i. Notice Gideon cried, “Alas Lord God!” This is common practice when the Angel of the LORD appears in scripture. He is the only Angel anywhere in scripture who allows worship, and the only Angel ever called “Lord God.” A future blog/article will delve deeper into the case that the Angel of the Lord and other Old Testament figures of that nature are actually appearances of the pre-incarnate Messiah.
ii. Do remember that the Father cannot be seen according to scripture, yet the Angel of the LORD is worshipped as God. The person of the Trinity that can be seen is the Son.
b. Here is a list of a few other Old Testament passages dealing with the Angel of the LORD and other pre-incarnate Christ figures:
i. *Zechariah 2:8-13*
ii. Genesis 14:17-24 (see Hebrews 7 for further details)
iii. Genesis 16
iv. Genesis 32:24-32
v. Daniel 3
5. Hebrews 1:5-13 finds the Father actually refereeing to the Son as God.
a. “But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “ Let all the angels of God worship Him.””-Hebrews 1:6. This is a quote from Psalm 97:7 in which the Father calls on the angels to worship the Son.
b. “But to the Son He says:
“ Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.””-Hebrews 1:8-9. The Father says to the Son “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…” That speaks for itself.
6. “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.”-Jeremiah 17:10. The LORD is the one who searches the heart.
i. “I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”-Revelation 2:23. Jesus declares in His Revelation to John that He is the one who searches the minds and hearts. A clear indication that Christ is in fact God as the Father is God.
7. One of the more common objections to Jesus as God is that Jesus is recorded in scripture as praying to the Father. Oneness theology dismisses this idea by saying that the Son is praying to His own deity (in other words, He is praying to Himself). This is illogical, and ignores the fact that the Father is also seen throughout the Gospels (the Transfiguration, Christ’s Baptism, and so on). Jesus praying to His Father is part of His humanness. It is an act of submission. Is He therefore less than equal with God because of this act of submission? No, submission does not automatically cause one to be less than the one he is submitting to. Consider marriage:
a. “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.”-Ephesians 5:22-23. The wife is not less than her husband because she is to be submissive to him. She is simply playing a specific role in marriage. The husband, who is the spiritual-leader of the household, would not be able to lead if not for the role of a submissive wife. If both led then there would be no direction. But if he had no one to lead, then his leadership would be useless. Both roles are vital for a marriage to function properly; therefore, both members are of equal importance.
b. As with marriage, Christ role of submissiveness to the Father is of equal importance to the Father. Each “person” in the Godhead serves a role of equal importance, and therefore each is equally God.

Now let us examine to the scriptures that attest to the Holy Spirit (considered the third person in the Godhead) as God:

1. “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”-John 15:26. Jesus announces the arrival of the Helper, who is the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit is eternal, and did dwell in certain humans before the time of Christ, but He did not permanently dwell in any one person until after the crucifixion and resurrection.
2. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit”-Matthew 1:18. How else could the Holy Spirit conceive the Son of God without in fact being God Himself?
3. “But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”-Acts 5:3-4. By lying to the Holy Spirit Ananias did not lie to men, but to God.
4. “The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”-Job 33:4. The Holy Spirit is seen in this verse as Creator of life.
5. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”-Hebrews 9:14. The Holy Spirit is said to be eternal.
6. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”-Ephesians 4:30. The Holy Spirit seals our salvation.
7. “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us”-Romans 5:5. The Holy Spirit has access to the heart and access to God’s love to be able to pour out the love of God on our hearts.

Conclusion: The most logical picture for the Trinity I have come across is evident within a human being. A human is made up of a mind, body, and a soul. Neither entity can exist outside of the other two, but each has a specific role in making a human a human. Neither entity is more important than the other two, but each is entirely human. Our God exists much in this way, in part so that He could reveal Himself to us in a way that we could understand.