What does the Bible teach about the Trinity?
Keep in mind when studying this subject that the word "Trinity" is not used in Scripture. This is a term that is used to attempt to describe the triune God, the fact that there are three coexistent, co-eternal persons that make up God. Understand that this is NOT in any way suggesting three Gods. The Trinity is one God made up of three persons. There is nothing wrong with using the term "Trinity" even though the word is not found in the Bible. It is shorter to say the word "Trinity" than to say "three coexistent, co-eternal persons making up one God." If this presents a problem to you, consider this: the word grandfather is not used in the Bible either. Yet, we know there were grandfathers in the Bible. Abraham was the grandfather of Jacob. What should be of real importance is that the concept that is represented by the word "Trinity" does exist in Scripture. With the introduction out of the way, Bible verses will be given in discussion of the Trinity.
1) There is one God:
Deuteronomy 6:4;
1 Corinthians 8:4;
Galatians 3:20;
1 Timothy 2:5.
2) The Trinity consists of three Persons:
Genesis 1:1;
1:26;
3:22;
11:7;
Isaiah 6:8;
48:16;
61:1;
Matthew 3:16-17;
Matt 28:19;
2 Corinthians 13:14. In the passages in the Old Testament, a knowledge of Hebrew is helpful. In
Genesis 1:1, the plural noun "Elohim" is used. In
Genesis 1:26;
3:22;
11:7 and
Isaiah 6:8, the plural pronoun for "us" is used. That "Elohim" and "us" refer to more than two is without question. In English, we only have two forms, singular and plural. In Hebrew, you have three forms: singular, dual, and plural. Dual is for two ONLY. In Hebrew, the dual form is used for things that come in pairs like eyes, ears, and hands. The word "Elohim" and the pronoun "us" are plural forms—definitely more than two—and must be referring to three or more, in this case Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
In
Isaiah 48:16 and
61:1, the Son is speaking while making reference 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. Seen in this is 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 examples of three distinct persons in the Trinity.
3) The members of the Trinity are distinguished one from another in various passages: In the Old Testament, "LORD" is distinguished from "Lord" (
Genesis 19:24;
Hosea 1:4). The LORD has a Son (
Psalm 2:7,
12;
Proverbs 30:2-4). 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
John 14:16-17, Jesus speaks to the Father about sending a Helper, the Holy Spirit. This shows that Jesus did not consider Himself to be the Father or the Holy Spirit. Consider also all of the other times in the Gospels where Jesus speaks to the Father. Was He speaking to Himself? No. He spoke to another person in the Trinity—the Father.
4) Each member of the Trinity is God: 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. (The One who indwells is the Holy Spirit -
Romans 8:9;
John 14:16-17;
Acts 2:1-4).
5) The subordination 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. This is an internal relationship and does not deny the deity of any person of the Trinity. This is simply an area which our finite minds cannot understand concerning the infinite God. Concerning the Son see:
Luke 22:42;
John 5:36;
John 20:21;
1 John 4:14. Concerning the Holy Spirit see:
John 14:16;
14:26;
15:26;
16:7 and especially
John 16:13-14.
6) The tasks of the individual members of the Trinity: 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;
Matthew 11:27;
John 16:12-15;
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.
As is, referenced above, the main issue, with this subject, falls solely on having true faith in what God tells us.[Father God we do not understand but without doubt we shall accept you and your word where is, as is.] Unfortunately as humans many of us insist on insisting that the Bible says "more or less" than it actually does.
It is ok for us not to fully understand it, but it is not ok for us to attempt to change the meaning. [In most cases, simply to benefit our own selfish desires.] But we are to fully accept God at His Word.
LET GO & LET GOD!
