Triadic Patterns In The New Testament

Please turn in your Bibles to Romans 5:1.

Throughout the New Testament, there are triadic patterns meaning that God acts towards the believer in a three-fold manner.

These triadic patterns make clear that the Godhead is composed of the three co-infinite, co-equal, and co-eternal persons who work in concert to bless those sinners who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior.

There are no doctrinal explanations or comments by the writers of the New Testament with regards to these triadic patterns and how they fit into the received teaching of monotheism.

In every case where these patterns occur, the writer assumes that the reader will know what he means without giving an explanation.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (NASB95)

In describing the benefits of being justified through faith in Jesus Christ, Paul reminds the Roman believers that since the church age believer has been justified by faith, they have peace with God referring to the Father and this was through the Lord Jesus Christ.

He teaches that it is through the Son that the believer has as a permanent possession access to this gracious benefit, i.e. a relationship with the Father, in which they forever stand.

The apostle mentions the Holy Spirit as the instrumental agency which the Father employs to pour out His love for the believer into the heart of the believer.

1 Corinthians 2:1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. (NASB95)

In these verses, Paul points out to the Corinthian church that he came to them proclaiming the gospel and was determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ crucified.

He tells them that his words were proclaimed in the power of the Spirit so that their faith would not rest on men but on the power which comes from God the Father.

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. (NASB95)

Here in this verse, we have a clear triadic pattern. Paul closes 2 Corinthians by expressing his Spirit inspired desire that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of the Father and fellowship of the Holy Spirit be present among them.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (NASB95)

In Galatians 4:4, he instructs the Galatian church that God the Father sent His Son, born of a woman and under the Mosaic Law.

The purpose of this was to redeem those condemned by the Law so that those who trust in His Son might be adopted by the Father into His family.

He tells them that because they are sons, God the Father has sent forth the Spirit who proceeds from His Son into their hearts, crying “Abba! Father!”

Ephesians 2:18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. (NASB95)

The apostle instructs the Ephesians that through Jesus Christ they have access by means of the Spirit to the Father.

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. (NASB95)

Paul exhorts the Ephesians to unity by reminding them that there is one Sprit, one Lord and Father.

In other words, God is a unity of three persons and so as members of their family, they should be united through obedience.

Philippians 3:3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. (NASB95)

Paul presents a triadic pattern in this verse by teaching the Philippians that they worship by means of the Spirit who originates form the Father and they glory in Christ Jesus, putting no confidence in the flesh.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, 4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; 5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. (NASB95)

Here Paul informs the Thessalonian church that he gives thanks to the Father for them always.

He constantly bears in mind their work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of God the Father, knowing the Father electing them.

He tells them that he did present the gospel to them by the power of the Holy Spirit with full conviction.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. (NASB95)

Paul encourages the Thessalonian church that he and his entourage should always give thanks to the Father for them who he describes are the objects of the Lord Jesus Christ’s love.

He says that the reason why he should give thanks for them is that the Father has elected them from eternity past for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

1 Timothy 3:14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; 15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. (NASB95)

In 1 Timothy 3:14, the apostle Paul informs Timothy that he gave him instructions that are contained in chapters two and three even though he was confident he would soon visit him.

Then, in verse 15, he describes the Ephesian Christian community as “God the Father’s household.”

This means that they are the Father’s family with a specific identity and with those in authority as well as each member having a responsibility to conduct themselves according to the Father’s will.

He emphasizes with the Ephesian Christian community that in contrast to the legalistic and lifeless religiosity of the Judaizers whose false teaching has infected their community, their worship of God is a living relationship and fellowship with the Triune God.

Titus 3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. (NASB95)

Paul teaches that when the Father’s love for sinful mankind appeared through the incarnation, death and resurrection of the incarnate Son of God, the Father saved them according to His mercy by regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit who the Father poured out on the believer richly through Jesus Christ, the Savior.

Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (NASB95)

In this text, the writer tells his readers that the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God the Father, cleanses their conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. (NASB95)

Peter teaches his readers that they are chosen according to the foreknowledge of the Father by the sanctifying work of the Spirit to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood.

1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. (NASB95)

The apostle John teaches his readers that the Christian can have confidence in the presence of the Father because of obedience to His commandments which results in doing the things which are pleasing in His judgment.

He then reminds them that they are to believe in the Father’s Son, Jesus Christ and love one another.

The one who obeys His commandments has fellowship with the Father and by obedience the Christian knows this by the Spirit whom the Father has given them.

Jude 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. (NASB95)

Here Jude exhorts Christians to pray by the Holy Spirit and keep themselves in the Father’s love, waiting for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood. (NASB95)

In his introduction, John greets the seven churches in Asia by extending grace and peace to them from God the Father and from the Spirit and from Jesus Christ.

In all these texts God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are brought together, in the most incidental manner, as co-sources of all the saving blessings which come to believers in Christ.”14

David MacLeod cites F. H. Chase who notes that the writers of the New Testament “speak without hesitation or misgiving. They assume that their friends to whom they write will at once understand their words about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”[1]

The most prominent pattern that appears in the texts noted above and which was developed by the early church fathers is the pattern “from the Father through the Son, by the Holy Spirit.”

This pattern is from the perspective of the Trinity.

From the perspective of the Christian, the pattern with regards to their conversion, and subsequent Christian way of life and prayer as well as worship is “by the Holy Spirit through the Son to the Father” as we saw clearly in Ephesians 2:18.

However, 2 Corinthians 13:14 presents a slightly different pattern, in that it has the Son, followed by the Father and then the Spirit.

In 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 and Ephesians 4:4-6, we have the Spirit followed by the Son and then the Father.

In Revelation 1:4-5, John uses the pattern of the Father followed by the Spirit and then the Son.

14 Warfield, “The Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity,” 159.

[1] Bishop F. H. Chase, JTS 6 (1904–5): 510, quoted by Wainwright, The Trinity in the New Testament, 247.