THE TRI-UNITY OF GOD

READINGS (from Ptr Trd’s notes on Theism)

INTRODUCTION. The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the most important teachings about
God. Careless handling of this doctrine may bring Christianity into a polytheistic belief or the
deity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit might be jeopardized. This is fundamental because it
talks about who God is and what God is. There are certain things that one should bear in mind in
the study of this doctrine as safety precautions:

The basic truth that God is incomprehensible.

The term Trinity is not in the Bible but the teaching it embodies is there.
The doctrine must be examined exegetically rather than logically.
The Trinity has no perfect analogy in this world.
The doctrine of Trinity is true even if it cannot be fully explained.

DEFINITION AND EXPLANATION. Trinity can be defined as, “God eternally exists as three
persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God.” The
word “trinity” could not be found in the Bible but its idea is contained in many portions. The
word “trinity’ means “tri-unity” or “three-in-oneness.” It is used to summarize the teaching of
the Scriptures that there are three persons yet one God.

I. THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY IS PROGRESSIVELY REVEALED IN THE

SCRIPTURE

1. Partial Revelation in the Old Testament

Trinity is not explicitly found in the Old Testament but several passages clearly imply more than
one person in the Godhead.
Genesis 1:26- God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” To whom do the
words “us” and “our” pertain to?
It is not just plurals of majesty, a speech a king would use. Example, “We are pleased to grant
your request.” But no instance in the Bible that a king used such plurals of majesty statement.
It could not be angels because nowhere in the Scripture teaches that they are co-creators of God.
Man was not told to be created in the image of the angels but in the image of God. Instead, it is
clear in the Bible that the Lord Jesus Christ was a direct participant in creation and so with the
Holy Spirit.

Other passages of the same nature include Genesis 3:22; 11:7; and Isaiah 6:8. Note that in the
passage of Isaiah there is the combination of singular and plural in the same sentence in the
passage.
There are passages where one person is called “God” or “the Lord” and is distinguished from
another person who is also said to be God.
Psalm 45:6-7, two separate persons are called “God” (Heb. Elohim). In the New Testament,
Hebrews quotes this passage and applied it to Christ (Heb. 1:8).

Psalm 110:1, David’s statement here tells of two persons, LORD (HWHY) and Lord (adonai)
and Jesus affirmed this to be two persons in Matthew 22:41-46. Who is David’s Lord but God
who was asked by the LORD to sit at His right hand which could only be God also. The
Pharisees understood this as a messianic passage.

Isaiah 63:10 says that the people “grieved His Holy Spirit” which is distinct from God Himself.
The Holy Spirit was grieved indicating that He is a person not just the power of God. Isaiah 61:1
also shows distinction of the Spirit of the LORD God from “the LORD.”

Malachi 3:1-2, the one speaking (“the LORD of hosts”) distinguishes himself from the “Lord
whom you seek” suggesting two persons, both of whom can be called “Lord.”

Hosea 1:7, the Lord speaking, and says of the house of Judah, “I will deliver them by the LORD
their God,” again shows that the Lord is different from the LORD God.

Isaiah 48:16, here the Spirit of the Lord, like the servant of the Lord, has been sent by the Lord
GOD on a particular mission. “Me” and “his Spirit” show that these are distinct persons. This
verse clearly shows the presence of the three persons, the Lord GOD, me (Jesus Christ), and the
Spirit.

The passages about “the angel of the LORD” suggests that there is plurality in the persons in
God.

“The angel of the LORD” is called “God” or “the LORD” (Gen. 16:13; Ex. 3:2-6; 23:20-22
(note: “my name is in him” in v. 21); Num 22:35, 38; Judges 2:1-2; 6:11, 14

Proverbs 8:22-31 while the chapter talks about the personification of wisdom, verses 30-31 talks
about wisdom performing in creation. This probably talks of the Son of God before He
incarnated. The disputed verses 22-25 was inappropriately rendered in some translations. If Jesus
is the wisdom here, how come He was said to be “created at the beginning of his work” (v. 22).
The word “create” here is not the common “bara” but “quinah” which occurs 84 times in the Old
Testament and almost always means “to get, acquire.” NASB translates it well as, “The Lord
possessed me at the beginning of his way.” (Compare the use in Gen. 39:1; Ex. 21:2; Prov. 4:5,
7; 23:23; Ecc. 2:7; Isaiah 1:3). This clearly shows the Son in the work of creation.

2. More Complete Revelation of the Trinity in the New Testament.

There are several passages where all the three persons of the Trinity are named together.
Matthew 3:16-17, in the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove and the voice of
the Father was heard from heaven.
Matthew 28:19, the baptismal formula mentioned the three persons which are distinct from each
other.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 the terms “God” (theos), “Lord” (kurios), and Spirit were mentioned in
relation to Christian service. See also Eph. 4:4-6.
2 Corinthians 13:14, the Trinitarian concept was clear here, the three persons being distinct from
each other.
1 Peter 1:1, 2 which mentioned also the three persons and the same with Jude 20-21.

II. THREE STATEMENTS THAT SUMMARIZE THE BIBLICAL TEACHING

While the word “Trinity” could not be found in the Bible, it fundamental teachings are found in
its many passages. Its basic teachings can be summarized in three statements:

God in three persons.

Each person is fully God.
There is one God.

1. GOD IN THREE PERSONS

In this statement is emphasized that each person is distinct from one another. The Father is
neither the Son nor the Holy Spirit and the Son is not also the Holy Spirit. This distinction is very
evident in many passages of the Scripture.

The Distinction of the Father and the Son

John 1:1-2 - The “Word” here being the Son is distinct from God which is the Father.
John 17:24 – The Lord Jesus Christ here was talking with the Father.
1 John 2:1; Hebrews 7:25 – Christ being the advocate and intercessor to the Father shows that
the two are distinct from each other.

The Distinction of the Father and the Holy Spirit

John 14:26 – Jesus talking of the Father sending the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:27 – The Holy Spirit interceded to the Father.

The Distinction of the Son and the Holy Spirit

Matthew 28:19 – The distinction of the three persons here is clearly stated.
John 16:7 – Jesus will send the Holy Spirit.

The Question on the Personality of the Holy Spirit

To the question if the Holy Spirit is really a distinct person or just a “power” or “force” of God,
there are a lot of passages that affirm the Sprit’s personality.There are several passages that put
the Holy Spirit in a coordinate relationship with the Father and the Son. (Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor.
12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Pet. 1:2)
The use of masculine pronoun he (ekeinos) for the Holy Spirit. (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-14).
“Spirit” (pnema) is a neuter noun in Greek which normally takes “it” (ekeino) as its pronoun.
Personal activities are ascribed to the Holy Spirit.
He comforts. (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7)
He teaches. (John 14:26)
He bears witness. (John 15:26; Rom. 8:16)
He intercedes or prays. (Rom. 8:26-27)
He searches the depths of God. (1 Cor. 2:10, 11)
He gives gifts to believers. (1 Cor. 12:11)
He forbids or allows certain activities. (Acts 16:6-7)
He speaks. (Acts 8:29; 13:2, and many time in both the New and Old Testaments)
He evaluates and approves a wise course of action. (Acts 15:28)
He can be grieved. (Eph. 4:30)

2. EACH PERSON IS FULLY GOD

Equally important truth is the fact that the three persons are said to be fully God by the Scripture.
The deity is in no way divided among the three or that some persons are greater in deity than the
others.
God the Father is clearly God. This truth is seldom questioned in many discussions unless one is
an atheist or one is a believer of an impersonal God. From the very first verse, the Scripture
proclaims the Father is God.

The Son is fully God. This is one truth that some are questioning but seeing the pages of the
Scripture, there are many passages that tell of this particular truth:
John 1:1-4 – This clearly teaches that the “Word” who is Jesus Christ is God.
John 20:28 – The statement of Thomas declaring Jesus as Lord and God was accepted by the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:8 – Talks of the Father calling the Son as God which was quoted from Psalm.
Titus 2:13 – Refers to the great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Romans 9:5 – Mentions to the Jews Jesus who is God over all.
2 Peter 1:1 – Has “the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 9:6 – Called the child (Jesus Christ) as the ‘Mighty God.’
Isaiah 40:3 cf. Matt. 3:3 – Preparing the way for the LORD (YHWH) was used to refer to Jesus
Christ.
Col. 2:9 – The fullness of deity dwells in Jesus Christ bodily.

The Holy Spirit is fully God.

Trinitarian passages such as Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2;
Jude 20-21 tell of the Holy Spirit place along with the Father and the Son.
He has clearly been equated with God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor. 3:16; Rom. 8:9).
He has been ascribed of divine attributes and works like being omniscient in 1 Cor. 2:10-11 and
being the regenerator in John 3:5-7 cf. 1 John 3:9, and His part in creation in Gen. 1:2 and others.
3. THERE IS ONE GOD
The truth that there is only one God means that Trinitarianism is not polytheism. The Bible
contains many verses that tell of this truth.

Old Testament Passages

Deut. 6:4-5 – The LORD is one.
Exodus 15:11 – God is unique and there is no one like Him.
1 Kings 8:60 – There is no other God.
Isaiah 45:5-6; 21-22; cf. 44:6-8 – There is no other God besides the LORD.

New Testament Passages

I Tim. 2:5 - There is one God and one mediator between God and man…
Rom. 3:30 – God is one.
1 Cor. 8:6 – There is one God…
James 2:19 – That even the demons believe that God is one.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF THE DOCTRINE OF TRINITY

1. We must avoid analogical and illustrational explanation of Trinity.
2. We must cultivate Trinitarian stress in preaching and worship.
3. We must be conscious of the Trinitarian work and presence in our prayer.
4. We must acknowledge and praise the Trinity for our salvation.
5. We must worship the Triune God in Spirit and in Truth.

Sources:
Berkhof, L. Summary of Christian Doctrines
Grudem, W. Systematic Theology
Espinosa, N. Lectures in Theism (audio)
Erickson, M. Christian Theology
Storms, S. Trinitarian Debate