The Trinity Series: Triadic Patterns In The New Testament

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, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (NIV)

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 so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. (NIV)

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 3:14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. (NIV)

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 set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” (NIV)

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 access to the Father by one Spirit. (NIV)

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 you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (NIV)

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 it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— (NIV)

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 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. (NIV)

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 ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. (NIV)

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 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. (NIV)

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 and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. (NIV)

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.

1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. (NIV)

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.

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.”

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