THE TRINITY: ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS
The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the great fundamental doctrines of Christianity. Human reason
alone cannot fathom the Trinity, nor can logic explain it fully. The doctrine of the Trinity asserts that
one God exists indivisibly and eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is three persons in one
essence. The divine nature subsists in three distinctions—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 2 All three
Persons possess the divine attributes, yet the essence of God is undivided. The Persons do not exist
or act independently of one another.
One of the great criticisms of the doctrine of the Trinity is that the word is not found in the Bible.
Further, there is no uncontested, clear statement of the Trinity in one particular passage in the Bible.
Nevertheless, the biblical evidence strongly supports the doctrine.
While there is no clear statement of the Trinity in the OT, there is some evidence of it. The OT allows
for and implies the existence of the Trinity.
1. Suggestions of plurality in the Godhead
Gen 1:1 God (Elohim) is a plural noun.
Gen 1:26 “Let us make man in our image.”
The Hebrew word for "Let us make" that is used in this verse means more than 2,
which tells us that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were all
present when the world was created. Together, they made Adam and Eve—the first
man and woman—in the image of God.
2. Suggestions of three persons
Isa 48:16 “The Lord God, and his Spirit hath sent me”
Isa 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.”
New Testament proof of the Tri-Unity of God
1. Texts mentioning the three Persons
Luke 1:32-35 Persons named: the Lord God, Son of the Most High, the Holy Spirit
Matt 28:19 Baptism formula “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit”
Matt 3:13-17 At the baptism of Christ, the Son was in the water, the Father’s voice was
heard from heaven, and the Spirit appeared in the form of a dove.
When Jesus was about 30 years old he began traveling around with His disciples
and teaching people about the kingdom of God. At that same time, His cousin
John the Baptist was in the desert, telling people to repent of their sins because
God's kingdom was near. People came to John to be baptized. He told them some
exciting news: a special person was coming! John told the people, "After me will
come one who is more powerful than l, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry."
Jesus did not have to be forgiven for sins because He never committed even 1 sin.
But by being baptized, He showed His obedience to the Father and set an example
that believers should follow. All three Persons of the Trinity were involved in
Jesus' baptism.
This is 1 of the places in Scripture where all three persons of the Trinity are
mentioned together.
God the Father
As the first person of the Trinity, God the Father, shows His fatherly relationship toward both
believers and non-believers through Creation and His common goodness to all the world. The
Scriptures say that God the Father causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on
the just and the unjust. He provides for the animals and the fields, for the people of His Kingdom and
even the people who oppose Him. (Matthew 5:45, 6:25-33, 7:9- 11; Luke 6:35; Hebrews 12).
As a perfect Father, He has assured us of our place in His love by giving us the Holy Spirit as a
guarantee of our inheritance as His children. With all the joy and security of beloved children, we
have free access to God the Father through faith (Ephesians 3:12).
God the Son
Jesus Christ is the second person of the Godhead. Many Scriptures are confirming that Jesus is God,
"God the Son."
In Matthew Jesus is called Emmanuel, meaning "God with us" (Matt 1:23).
"Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God" (Phil 2:6,).
He is God come to earth. "Before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:58).
Jesus is the express image of the Father: "... He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how
sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?" (John 14:9)
It is through Jesus that we gain access to the Father:
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by
me" (John 14:6).
The names of those who have received Him are written in His book in Heaven.
"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life
of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev 13:8)
