What does the Bible teach about the Trinity?
The most difficult thing about the Christian concept of the Trinity is that there is no way to adequately explain it. The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. God is infinitely greater than we are, therefore we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. The Bible also teaches that there is only one God. Though we can understand some facts about the relationship of the different persons of the Trinity to one another, ultimately, it is incomprehensible to the human mind. However, this does not mean it is not true or not based on the teachings of the Bible.
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 3 coexistent, co-eternal persons that make up God. Understand that this is NOT in any way suggesting 3 Gods. The Trinity is 1 God made up of 3 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 "3 coexistent, co-eternal persons making up 1 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. So don't get hung up on the term "Trinity" itself. 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, you 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 (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 3 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, 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 is where 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: 1) the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11)) divine revelation (Revelation 1:1) salvation (John 3:16-17) 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: 1) 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) 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: 1) 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) Jesus' works (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38). Thus the Father does all these things by the power of the Holy Spirit.
None of the popular illustrations are completely accurate descriptions of the Trinity. The egg (or apple) fails in that the shell, white, and yolk are parts of the egg, not the egg in themselves. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not parts of God, each of them is God. The water illustration is somewhat better but still fails to adequately describe the Trinity. 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 picture is not entirely accurate. An infinite God cannot be fully described by a finite illustration. Instead of focusing on the Trinity, try to focus on the fact of God's greatness and infinitely higher nature than our own. "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)
Below is the best symbol for the Trinity we are aware of:
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 3 coexistent, co-eternal persons that make up God. Understand that this is NOT in any way suggesting 3 Gods. The Trinity is 1 God made up of 3 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 "3 coexistent, co-eternal persons making up 1 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. So don't get hung up on the term "Trinity" itself. 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, you 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 (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 3 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, 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 is where 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: 1) the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11)) divine revelation (Revelation 1:1) salvation (John 3:16-17) 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: 1) 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) 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: 1) 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) Jesus' works (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38). Thus the Father does all these things by the power of the Holy Spirit.
None of the popular illustrations are completely accurate descriptions of the Trinity. The egg (or apple) fails in that the shell, white, and yolk are parts of the egg, not the egg in themselves. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not parts of God, each of them is God. The water illustration is somewhat better but still fails to adequately describe the Trinity. 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 picture is not entirely accurate. An infinite God cannot be fully described by a finite illustration. Instead of focusing on the Trinity, try to focus on the fact of God's greatness and infinitely higher nature than our own. "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)
Below is the best symbol for the Trinity we are aware of:
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16 comments:
Interseting that geometrically speaking a triangle is one fo the strongest forms
An equal sided traingle fits perfectly into a circle, hence the Father Son & Holy spirit fit perfectly into the concept of God/we are all one.
That is essence is my take on this and I commend you for your well researched, considered and written response
Love & Light
Walter
Are you saying that you believe in the trinity, the same way that the Catholics do?
Wildcat, I believe in the trinity the same way as all of the “confessed christians in Jesus Christ” do.
When He died who raised him from the dead?
Wildcat, Jesus was more than a man. Although he was 100-percent human, he is also 100% God, the Creator of the universe. He is all-powerful. Although evil men killed his physical body, he easily had the power to restore life to his body again.
It is natural to inquire about the details of an event so important to us.
But one thing the Bible is not shy in speaking about is the answer to the question “Who raised Jesus from the dead?” Perhaps the most pointed answer was given by Peter in his Pentecost sermon, just weeks after the resurrection: “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it” (Acts 2:24). The answer is that “God raised him up.”
The obvious follow-up question is “Who, within the Trinity, raised Jesus from the grave?” Here, things become interesting, because the biblical answer is “Yes.” That is, at different places, the Bible ascribes the raising of Jesus to each of the three members of the Trinity: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This is in keeping with the power he claimed to Martha at the tomb of Lazarus: “I am the resurrection and the life” (Jn. 11:25). Jesus said in John 10:17-18, “I lay down my life that I may take it up again… I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” Hebrews 7:16 says that Jesus lives for ever because he possesses “the power of an indestructible life.” The point is that being the ever-living divine Son, the Alpha and Omega, death could not hold Jesus, and therefore death cannot hold those who belong to Jesus in faith.
This ends up providing a useful lesson in Trinitarian theology, namely, that in the work of any member of the Trinity, the other two members are always intimately involved. Everything the Trinity does is done by all of the Trinity. Surely, in the case of the resurrection of Christ, the great preponderance of references speaks of God the Father as the leading actor. But the Son and the Spirit were also responsible in the resurrection, just as all three divine Persons are actively involved in our spiritual rebirth and on-going sanctification, which is our first resurrection, just as they will together conspire to ensure our second and final resurrection on the great day to come. To all Three be glory.
When Jesus was on earth who did He pray to?
Wildcat, the same question could be asked about Jesus eating, sleeping, crying and hurting. Jesus was fully God when He dwelt on earth. But, He was also fully man. One of His main purposes was to teach mankind how to live a godly life. The best way for Him to do that was to become one of us and to model a godly life for us to emulate.
As a man, Jesus needed to pray. When He was praying he was not praying to Himself, but to God the Father.
Also, why do we need to label the three?
Does this label "Trinity" make Them more acceptable to us? …… and as you rightly say is NOT found in the Bible!
You are right in stating there is no one verse that explicitly defines the Trinity. However, in order to consistently interpret the Bible, the Trinity is the only logical solution. The concept is found in the Bible and we use a non-biblical word to describe it.
Some critics of the Trinity doctrine claim that since the word "trinity" is not found in the Bible, it isn't true. Furthermore, some assert that if God wanted us to believe in the Trinity He would have stated the doctrine clearly.
First of all, it is illogical to claim that since the word "Trinity" is not found in the Bible that its concept is not taught therein. This kind of objection usually demonstrates a prejudice against the teaching of the Trinity. Instead, the person should look to God's word to see if it is taught or not.
Second, there are many biblical concepts that people believe in that don't have a specific word describing them used in the Bible. For example, the word "bible" is not found in the Bible, but we use it anyway to describe the Bible. Likewise, the words "omniscience," which means "all knowing," "omnipotence," which means "all powerful," and "omnipresence," which means "present everywhere," are words not found in the Bible either, but we use them to describe the attributes of God. We don't have to see a specific word in the Bible in order for the concept it describes to be true.
So, to say that the Trinity isn't true because the word isn't in the Bible is an invalid argument.
Wildcat: The concept of trinity has it's roots in PAGAN religion
Those who oppose the Trinity have assertions that the Trinity is false, from Satan, and comes from paganism. However, if one is willing to see what the Bible teaches than these assertions will be seen to be inaccurate and mistaken.
Is the Trinity false?
The word false has various meanings: "not genuine, not real, incorrect, deceptive", these are just some of them. To say the Trinity is false is to say a few things.
1. To say the Trinity is false is to say the Bible does not teach the doctrine.
2. To say the Trinity is false is to say God has limitations.
3. To say the Trinity is false is to say I know more than what the inspired writers wrote concerning the identification of God.
In response to these claims we must be open minded, seeking the Bible for spiritual guidance, and adjusting our thinking to Biblical thinking even if we do not understand things completely. The Bible clearly teaches that there is one God and there are no others. (Isaiah 43:10) The Bible clearly teaches that all other so called god/gods are not true or genuine. (1 Corinthians 8:5, Galatians 4:8) The Bible clearly teaches that the Father is God, Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. (Galatians 1:1, John 1:1-3&14, Hebrews 10:15-18) Some say, "God can not be three persons and still be the one God", but that is not the case in our every day normal lives. The Bible teaches there is one Church, one body of Christ, but within this one Church there are many members (persons) and we have no problems with that. The Bible teaches that the man and the woman would be "one flesh" in Genesis 2:24 and we have no problems with that. The word for "one" in Genesis 2:24 is the Hebrew word "echad" which means a compound unity. However, there are those who try to use Deuteronomy 6:4 against the Trinity, but they need to examine that passage more. Deuteronomy 6:4 actually shows the unity of God being one in nature not in number. If Moses wanted people to believe that God is only one in person than he would of used the Hebrew word "yachid" which means literally one.
Normal things in our lives are three in one and we have no problems with them. Things like water being gas, solid, and liquid yet all one substance. Things like a piece of fruit: "Fruits vary widely in physical appearance, but their basic structure is the same. The ripened ovary wall that forms the fruit is composed of three layers, which can be thick or thin, dry or moist, fused or separate. The outermost layer is called the exocarp; the middle layer is the mesocarp; and the inner layer, the endocarp. These three regions together are called the pericarp. A peach that has been cut in half clearly reveals these layers: the soft, fuzzy skin is the exocarp, the juicy, meaty part of the peach is the mesocarp, and the pit, which encases the seed, is the endocarp." If things that are created can be three in one, than why do people insist the Almighty cannot?
Is the Trinity from Satan?
This statement comes from various groups which oppose the doctrine of the Trinity. One of the groups which oppose the Trinity are the Jehovah's Witnesses, and the Jehovah's Witnesses teach that "the Trinity is a lie from Satan", and go to great lengths to prove their views. Either the Trinity came from God or Satan, but what criteria do we examine to determine the truth? The answer to that question is by going to the Scriptures and adjusting our thinking to the Word of God, even if we don't understand.
As stated before the Trinity is Biblical and can be logically understood. Simply put the Trinity is confirmed in the Scriptures proving there is one God from eternity who has been revealed in three distinct personages. (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) Therefore those who say "the Trinity is a lie from Satan" are going against the Scriptures and they have been deceived. We need to get rid of our stinky thinking and get Biblically thinking.
Is the Trinity pagan? Is the Trinity from paganism?
This assertion comes from Jehovah's Witnesses and others who oppose the Trinity, and they teach that the 4th Century Christian Church fell away and incorporated false doctrines. There were Religions before Christianity that taught deities in three's, but none of them taught what Christians taught concerning the Trinity. Those pagan Religions taught many gods and some of them had three gods in which they served, but that is not what Christians believe nor what they are teaching concerning the Scriptures.
The Bible is clear that the Father, the Son, (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit are all distinct from one another, and that there is only one God. Therefore the Bible proves that the Trinity is not pagan, however there are those who will not believe no matter what!
You have certainly done a lot of research, thank you!
How would you explain Colossians 1:15?
First, let's size up the problem. If we include direct statements about Jesus' divinity, divine activities that Jesus performed, divine attributes that Jesus has, divine titles that Jesus is said to have, and the worship given to Him (which Jesus never rejected), we have (at least) over two hundred statements about Jesus' divinity found in the New Testament. In Colossians 1:15 we have one verse that on the surface seems to teach that Jesus was the "first thing" that God created. Just on the basis of courtroom evidence, I would suspect that I must not have correctly understood what Paul means in Colossians 1:15.
That, in fact, is the case. First of all, note that it says "first born," not "first thing." It's not even about being created, but something about "first born." Jesus is the "first born" - a good Jewish and Roman term speaking of inheritance rights. The firstborn son had certain privileges and rights in the Biblical world. Jesus Christ has these same rights in relation to all creation - priority, preeminence, and sovereignty (see verses 16-18). So the idea is more that Jesus is the first born over all creation, rather than the first thing of all creation. (The genitive case used here can have that sense. It's called a Genitive of Place or Position.) The emphasis is not on Jesus being created or even being born, but on Jesus having the position of the first born son. The same thought occurs in Hebrews 1:1-2: "God appointed Him heir of all things, through Whom He also made the worlds."
You might also want to note that the phrase that precedes "first born" is a phrase about Jesus' divinity: "He is the image of the invisible God" - an idea repeated in Hebrews 1:3: "the exact representation of God's nature." How can an angel - any angel, even Michael - be the exact representation of God? If an angel can be an exact image of God, then that God is way too small. Certainly not the God we read about in the Bible who is "Holy, Holy, Holy," "the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see." (Isaiah 6:1-5; 46:9; 1 Timothy 6:16). Jesus came to earth to represent His Father: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father?' Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?" (John 14:9-10). The divine Son shows us the invisible divine Father who we never can or will see, because Jesus "and the Father are one" (John 10:30).
Also, what about John 14:28 where Jesus says "the Father is greater than I"
The Bible teaches that the three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) are equal in essence (that is, their divine nature), but subordinate to one another in their persons: the Son submitting to the Father (just as in any good family) and the Holy Spirit submitting to both the Father and the Son. This explains why some verses teach (as you pointed out) that the Father is greater than the Son (John 14:28), yet also teach that they are equal in nature (John 10:30; Philippians 2:5-6) and worship (Matthew 2:11; Luke 24:52; Hebrews 1:6).
Thank you, what church is it that you belong to?
I must say, you seem very well trained.
My church believes the Bible to be the only inerrant Word of God. It is our only authoritative rule for faith and practice.
No, I am not very well trained. I am only a vessel through which God do His work.
All the praise go to our Lord, Jesus Christ!
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