Notes compiled by Marty Zide and Steve McAtee
The doctrine of the Trinity goes beyond our ability to completely comprehend it. However, we can understand some things about it as we summarize the Bible’s teaching on the subject
The Bible’s Teaching on the Trinity:
God is revealed in three persons
Each person is fully God
There is only one God
God is revealed in three persons
The Father is not the Son or the Holy Spirit, the Son is not the Father or the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is not the Father or the Son. All three are distinct persons, yet one. These distinctions are seen in a number of Bible passages.
John 1:1-2 -In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
John 14:26 -But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
1 John 2:1 -My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus the Messiah the righteous.
Luke 4:14 -And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district.
John 16:7 -But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
Acts 10:38 -You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Each person is fully God
The Scriptures clearly teach that each person of the Triune Godhead is fully God. Each possessing all of the attributes and qualities that manifest their Deity
God the Father
It’s clearly taught in the Bible that there is a person who is called the Father, who is God.
John 6:27 -Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.
Rom. 1:7 -to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Messiah.
1 Cor. 8:4,6 -...there is no God but one. Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus the Messiah, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
God the Son
It’s clearly taught in the Bible that there is a person who is called the Son, who is God.
John 1:1-2, 14 -In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Heb. 1:8 -But of the Son He says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.
John 20:27-28 -Then He said to Thomas, reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing. Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God!
Rom. 9:3-5 -For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Messiah for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, ...whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Messiah according to the flesh, who is overall, God blessed forever. Amen.
Titus 2:13 -looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Jesus.
Is. 9:6 -For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Col. 2:8-9 -See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Messiah. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.
God the Holy Spirit
It’s clearly taught in the Bible that there is a person who is called the Holy Spirit, who is God.
Acts 5:3-4 -But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.
1 Cor. 2:10-11 -For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
Coming Next –There Is One God.