Trinity, relationships between the persons (2)

There is only one God

Deuteronomy 6:4 NRSV

Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.

See also Is 43:10–11; Is 44:8; 1 Ti 1:17; 1 Ti 2:5; Jas 2:19

OT indications of plurality in the Godhead

God refers to himself in the plural

Genesis 1:26 NRSV

Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

See also Ge 3:22; Ge 11:7; Is 6:8

The angel of the Lord

Ge 16:11–13 The “angel of the Lord” is identified with, yet distinct from, God.

See also Ge 18:1–33; Ex 3:2–6; Jdg 13:3–22

The word of God

The “word of the Lord” or “wisdom of God” is personified and identified with, yet distinct from, God:

Ps 33:4; Pr 8:22–31

The Spirit of God

The Spirit of God is God’s personal agent:

Ge 1:2; Ne 9:20; Job 33:4; Is 40:13

The Messiah

The Messiah’s divine nature is emphasised:

Ps 110:1; Is 9:6; Je 23:5–6

Interchangeable expressions

Word, Spirit (or breath) and Lord are used interchangeably for God:

Ps 33:6; Is 48:16; Is 61:1

NT trinitarian references

Mt 28:19 The unity of the three persons is reflected in the singular name.

See also 2 Co 13:14; Eph 4:4–6; Re 1:4–5

The unity of the three persons

The Son is fully united with the Father

John 10:30 NRSV

The Father and I are one.”

See also Mk 9:37; Lk 10:16; Jn 10:38; Jn 12:44–45; Jn 13:20; Jn 14:7; Jn 14:9–11; Jn 15:23

The Spirit is identified with God

2 Samuel 23:2–3 NRSV

The spirit of the Lord speaks through me, his word is upon my tongue. The God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: One who rules over people justly, ruling in the fear of God,

See also Ps 51:11; Mt 28:19; 1 Co 3:16

The three persons are distinct from one another

Jesus Christ addresses the Father directly

Mt 11:25–26; Mt 26:39; Mt 26:42; Mt 27:46; Lk 23:46; Jn 11:41–42; Jn 17:1

The Father speaks to the Son from heaven

Mt 3:17; Mt 17:5; Jn 12:27–28

The Spirit speaks to the Father on behalf of believers

Romans 8:26–27 NRSV

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Other examples of the difference between the persons

Mt 12:32; Mt 24:36; Jn 7:39; Jn 16:7; 1 Ti 2:5; 1 Jn 2:1

The relationship between the Father and the Son

Jesus Christ is God’s unique Son

Jn 1:14 The Greek word for “One and Only”, traditionally rendered “only begotten”, is actually used to signify “the only one of its kind”; “unique”.

See also Jn 1:18; Jn 3:16; Jn 3:18; Ac 13:33; Heb 1:5; Ps 2:7; 1 Jn 4:9

The relationship of Father and Son is unique

Matthew 11:27 NRSV

All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

See also Jn 6:46; Jn 7:28–29; Jn 8:55; Jn 10:15; Jn 17:25

The Father loves the Son

John 3:35 NRSV

The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.

See also Jn 5:20; Jn 10:17; Jn 15:9; Jn 17:24

The Father shares his divine life with the Son

Colossians 2:9 NRSV

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

See also Jn 5:26; Jn 6:57; Col 1:19

The Father delegates his authority to the Son

John 5:27 NRSV

and he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

See also Mt 28:18; Jn 3:35; Jn 5:21–22; Jn 16:15; Re 2:26–27

Father and Son indwell each other

John 14:10–11 NRSV

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.

See also Jn 10:38; Jn 14:20; Jn 17:21–23

The relationship between the Holy Spirit and the other two persons

The Spirit is “the Spirit of God” and “the Spirit of Christ”

Romans 8:9 NRSV

But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

“the Spirit of God”:

Ps 106:33; 1 Co 2:14; Php 3:3; 1 Jn 4:2

“the Spirit of Christ”:

Ac 16:7; Ga 4:6; Php 1:19; 1 Pe 1:11

The Spirit’s unique relationship with God

Matthew 10:20 NRSV

for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

See also 1 Co 2:10–11

The Spirit’s unique relationship with the Son

John 1:33 NRSV

I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

See also Is 61:1; Jn 14:16–17; Jn 14:26; Ac 10:38