What are some proofs of the Trinity?
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Introduction:
Introduction:
The most difficult thing about the Christian concept of the Trinity is that there is no way to perfectly and completely understand 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. That is likely the reason that it has been one of the most divisive issues in the history of the church. While the Trinity is a core theological issue to orthodoxy, there are some aspects to trinitarianism that allow for disagreement and shouldn't divide.
The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. That is the core doctrine
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. But, this does not mean the Trinity is not true or that it is not based on the teachings of the Bible.
The Trinity is one God existing in three Persons. Understand that this is not in any way suggesting three Gods.
Keep in mind when studying this subject that the word “Trinity” is not found in Scripture. This is a term that is used to attempt to describe the triune God—three coexistent, co-eternal Persons who are God. Of real importance is that the concept represented by the word “Trinity” does exist in Scripture.
So, have your Bibles on the ready because we are going to look at a lot of scripture to flush out this doctrine tonight.
1) There is one God.
1) There is one God.
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
2) The Trinity consists of three Persons
2) The Trinity consists of three Persons
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
In Genesis 1:1, the Hebrew plural noun "Elohim" is used
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—
7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
In Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7 and Isaiah 6:8, the plural pronoun for “us” is used.
The word "Elohim" and the pronoun “us” are plural forms, definitely referring in the Hebrew language to more than two.
This isn't a direct argument for the Trinity, it does show the aspect of plurality in God. The Hebrew word for "God," "Elohim," definitely allows for the Trinity.
16 “Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord God and His Spirit Have sent Me.”
1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
In Isaiah 48:16 and 61:1, the Son is speaking while making reference to the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Let’s look into the New Testament and compare it to Isaiah 61:1 and you will see the “Son” talking referring to the Father.
14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. 15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
This describes for us the seen at the baptism of Jesus. God the Holy Spirit is seen descending as a dove. The Father is speaking from Heaven proclaiming please for His son. And obviously Jesus (the Son) is present as well.
Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14 are examples of three distinct Persons in the Trinity.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
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 many places in the Bible.
3) The members of the Trinity are distinguished one from another in many places in the Bible.
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). The 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, Jesus speaks to the Father about sending a Helper, the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). This shows that Jesus did not consider Himself to be the Father or the Holy Spirit.
How about every time 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.
4) Each member of the Trinity is God.
A.) The Father is God
27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
B.)The Son is God
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
C.) The Holy Spirit is God.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
5) There is subordination within the Trinity.
5) There is subordination within the Trinity.
The Bible demonstrates 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.
A.) Concerning the Son see
42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
B.) Concerning the Holy Spirit
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
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 things that I said to you.
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
7 Nevertheless 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 depart, I will send Him to you.
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
6) The individual members of the Trinity have different tasks.
6) The individual members of the Trinity have different tasks.
A.)The Father is the ultimate source or cause of the universe, divine revelation, salvation, and Jesus human works.
1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11; Revelation 1:1; John 3:16-17; John 5:17; 14:10).
The Father initiates all of these things.
B.) The Son is the agent through whom the Father did the creation and maintenance of the universe; divine revelation; salvation.
1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:1, 16:12-15; Matthew 11:27; Revelation 1:1; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Matthew 1:21; John 4:42
The Father does all these things through the Son, who functions as His agent.
C.)The Holy Spirit is the means by whom the Father does the following works: creation and maintenance of the universe; divine revelation, salvation, and Jesus works.
Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30; John 16:12-15; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21;John 3:6; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:2; Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38).
The Father does all these things by the power of the Holy Spirit.