Gaining a Glimpse into the Triune Godhead

The actual term “the Trinity” is not found in Scripture, but the truths implied in a trinitarian understanding of God are clearly set out. The OT hints at a plurality of persons in the Godhead. The NT affirms that the Son and the Holy Spirit are divine.

Introduction

The word Trinity does not appear in the Bible. However, the doctrine is based on several emphatic assertions that are found throughout the biblical writings:

There is only one God (Deut 6:4; Isa 43:10; 46:9; Rom 3:30; 1 Cor 8:4; Jas 2:19).

The one whom Jesus called “Father”, the incarnate Son, and the Holy Spirit all possess the necessary attributes of this God.

These three are not identical; they interact with one another and their identities are constituted with respect to one another. They act distinctly but in concert with one another.

Relationships Between the Three Persons.

There is only one God — Deut 6:4

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 — Gen 1:26

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

The angel of the Lord — Gen 16:11-13

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 emphasized:

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 — Jn 10:30

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 Sam 23:2-3

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 — Rom 8:26-27

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 — Matt 11:27

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

The Father loves the Son — Jn 3:35

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

The Father shares his divine life with the Son — Col 2:9

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

The Father delegates his authority to the Son — Jn 5:27

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 — Jn 14:10-11

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 NASB95

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he 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 — Matt 10:20

See also 1 Co 2:10–11

The Spirit’s unique relationship with the Son — Jn 1:33

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

Equality in the Trinity

The Son and the Holy Spirit are equal to God the Father in eternity, nature and status. Within the Trinity the Father is head, first among equals; the Son and the Holy Spirit do the Father’s will, glorifying him and making him known; and the Holy Spirit glorifies and makes known the Son.

The Son is equal with the Father — Jn 5:18

See also Jn 5:23; Jn 8:16; Jn 14:9; Jn 17:10; Php 2:6; Col 2:9

Ro 1:7 The equality of the Son and the Father is often implied in the opening greetings of the NT letters.

See also 1 Co 1:3; Ga 1:3; Eph 1:2; 1 Th 1:1; 1 Ti 1:2; Phm 3; 2 Pe 1:2

Re 5:13 Doxologies are addressed to the Father and the Son equally or just to the Son.

See also Ro 9:5; Heb 13:21; 2 Pe 3:18; Re 7:10

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son — 2 Cor 13:14

See also Mt 28:19; 1 Pe 1:2; Re 1:4–5

The obedience of the Son to the Father

The Son submits to the Father in his incarnation — Phil 2:6-7

See also Mt 24:36; Jn 4:34; Jn 6:38; Jn 14:28; Jn 14:31; Ro 5:19; Heb 5:8; Heb 10:5–7; Ps 40:6–8

The Father is Jesus Christ’s “head” — 1 Cor 11:3

See also 1 Co 3:23; 1 Co 8:6; 1 Co 15:27–28

Equality and mutuality as the three persons glorify one another

The Son glorifies the Father — Rom 16:27

See also Jn 14:13; Eph 1:5–6; Eph 3:21; Php 2:11; Col 3:17; 1 Pe 4:11; Jud 25

The Father and the Son glorify one another — Jn 17:1

In John’s Gospel, the “glory” of Jesus Christ is seen above all in the cross.

See also Jn 8:54; Jn 13:31–32; Jn 17:4–5; Jn 17:24; Ac 3:13

The Spirit glorifies the Father and the Son — Jn 16:13-15

See also Jn 14:26; Jn 15:26; Eph 1:13–14

The Mission of the Trinity

All three persons of the Trinity co-operate in God’s work of salvation. For this purpose, the Father sends the Son and the Holy Spirit to redeem his people on earth and to live in and among them.

The Son and the Holy Spirit do God’s work on earth

In the OT, the Lord alone is Savior — Is 43:11

See also Ps 19:14; Ps 78:35; Is 43:3; Is 49:26; Is 60:16; Je 14:8; Ho 13:4

In the NT, the Son is the Savior — Matt 1:21

See also Lk 2:11; Jn 4:42; Ga 3:13; Ga 4:5; Tt 2:13; Tt 3:6

In the OT, the Lord lives among his people — Ex 29:45

See also Ps 135:21; Is 57:15; Eze 43:7; Joe 3:17; Zec 2:10–11

In the NT, the Spirit lives in the church — 1 Cor 3:16

See also Jn 14:17; Ro 8:9; Ro 8:11; 2 Ti 1:14

Father and Son in the mission of Jesus Christ

The Father sends the Son — Gal 4:4

See also Mt 10:40; Mk 12:6; Jn 3:16–17; Jn 7:28; Jn 8:42; 1 Jn 4:9

The Son reveals the Father — Jn 8:38

See also Jn 1:18; Jn 15:15; Jn 17:6; Jn 17:26; Col 1:15; Heb 1:3

The Son does the Father’s work — Jn 5:19

See also Jn 4:34; Jn 5:17; Jn 9:3–4; Jn 10:37; Jn 14:10

The Son speaks the Father’s words — Jn 12:49 - 50

See also Jn 3:34; Jn 8:28; Jn 14:24; Jn 17:8

The Father testifies to the Son — Jn 5:37

Jn 5:37 This refers to God’s testimony to his Son in the OT Scriptures.

See also Jn 5:32; Jn 8:18; 1 Jn 5:9

The sending of the Holy Spirit

The Father gives the Spirit — Lk 11:13

See also Ac 5:32; 2 Co 5:5; Ga 3:5; Eph 1:17; 1 Jn 4:13

The Son gives the Spirit — Jn 16:7

See also Mt 3:11; Jn 1:33; Jn 20:22

The Father sends the Spirit through Jesus Christ — Jn 14:16-17

The varied terminology about who sends the Spirit reflects the close co-operation between and the shared activity of the three persons.

See also Jn 14:26; Jn 15:26; Ac 2:33

The three persons share the work of salvation

The incarnation — Lk 1:35

Jesus Christ’s baptism — Matt 3:16-17

Jesus Christ’s ministry — Acts 10:38

See also Lk 10:21; Jn 3:34

The work of redemption — 1 Pet 1:2

See also 2 Co 1:21–22; Ga 4:4–6; Eph 1:3–14; Eph 2:18; 2 Th 2:13–14; Tt 3:4–6

Commissioning the disciples — Jn 20:21-22

See also Ac 1:7–8

Jesus Christ’s exaltation — Acts 7:55

See also Ac 5:31–32

Proclaiming the gospel — Acts 2:38-39

Building the church — Eph 2:22

See also 1 Co 12:4–6.

The Unity of the Godhead

The three persons of the Trinity are united in one Godhead

All three are interrelated — Rom 8:9-11

The interchange between the persons of the Trinity reflects their unity in terms of activity.

See also Jn 14:23; 2 Co 13:14; Eph 2:18; 1 Pe 1:2

The Son is one with the Father — Jn 10:30

See also Mt 10:40; Mk 9:37; Lk 10:16; Jn 8:16; Jn 14:9

The Spirit is one with God — 2 Sam 23:2-3

See also Ps 51:11; 1 Co 3:16

The three persons are one in character

All three are eternal

The Father — Ro 16:26

The Son — Is 9:6

The Spirit — Heb 9:14

All three are all-knowing

The Father — Is 40:13–14

The Son — Jn 2:24–25; Jn 21:17

The Spirit — 1 Co 2:10–11

All three are holy

The Father — Jn 17:11

The Son — Mk 1:24; Ac 3:14

The Spirit — Jn 14:26; Ro 1:4

All three are called Lord and God

The Father — Mt 11:25; Ac 3:22; 1 Co 8:6

The Son — Jn 1:1; Jn 20:28; Ac 10:36; 2 Pe 1:1, Heb 1:8

The Spirit — Ac 5:3–4; 2 Co 3:17–18

All three are glorious

The Father — Ac 7:2; Eph 1:17

The Son — Jn 1:14; Jn 12:41

The Spirit — 2 Co 3:8; 2 Co 3:18; 1 Pe 4:14

The three persons share in the same work

In creation — Gen 1:1-3

See also Ps 33:6; Ps 104:30; Jn 1:3–4; Col 1:16

In Jesus Christ’s ministry — Jn 3:34

See also Ac 10:38

In salvation — 1 Pet 1:2

See also 2 Co 1:21–22; Tt 3:4–6

In indwelling the church — Eph 2:22

The Spirit indwells believers — 1 Co 3:16; 1 Co 6:19

The Son indwells believers — Ga 2:20; Eph 3:17

In directing the church’s mission — Acts 16:6-10

The Father directs mission — Ac 14:27; Ga 1:1

The Son directs mission — Mt 28:18–20; Ac 1:7–8

The Spirit directs mission — Ac 13:2; Ac 13:4

God’s characteristics are consistent

His love and justice are in unity — Ex 34:6-7

See also 2 Sa 7:14–15; Ps 103:6–8; Ro 3:25–26

His wrath and mercy are in unity — Joel 2:11-13

See also Jn 3:16–18 It is particularly in the cross of Jesus Christ that the perfect balance between God’s wrath and justice and his love and mercy are seen; Ro 2:4; Ro 2:7–8

Practical Implications of the Trinity

See Ephesians 1:3-14...

The Trinity is working to help us live for God’s glory!

God the Father created and initiated the plan of redemption that equips the believer to live a holy life for the praise of His glory.

In Christ, the Father unites all things under the one head for the purpose of living to the praise of His glory.

The Holy Spirit works in and with individual believers, guaranteeing the work God initiated and that Christ secured for the praise of God’s glory.

The Trinity worked in unity to plan, provide, and protect the plan of redemption.

The Trinity works in unity IN the believer.

God has an agenda for every believer, from the point of salvation until they reach glory they are to live a lifestyle that exemplifies the follower of Jesus.

The Trinity Provides Unity for Believers

Believers now have unity with God and others — Eph 2:11-20.

Everything changes for the believer relationally.

Jesus provides peace and unity between neighbors (horizontally) and between God and believers (vertically).