The Trinity
By John G. Frazier III, Ph.D.The Doctrine of the Trinity
“The doctrine of the Trinity is the central doctrine concerning the nature of God in the Christian church . The Trinity is defined as one God existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.”
Essence and Distinctions: “The members of the Trinity are distinct yet one in essence, nature, power, action, and will. They are all co-eternal: the Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, and the Holy Spirit is uncreated; all three are eternal without beginning. They are also coequal: each is of the same substance, Deity; together they form the Godhead. The three persons cannot be separate from one another because they exist in God as one entity.
One essence defines what God is, while the three persons define who God is.”
“When we say: He who is the Father is not the Son, we refer to the distinction of persons; but when we say: the Father is that which the Son is, the Son that which the Father is, and the Holy Spirit that which the Father is and the Son is, this clearly refers to the nature or substance” of the Trinity.
Functions: “The functions applied to the persons of the Trinity are: ‘Paternity’ to the Father, ‘Filiation’ (Sonship) to the Son, and ‘Passive spiration’ or that which is ‘breathed out’ to the Holy Spirit. Also the New Testament tells us that it is the Father who begets, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son.”
The Operation of the Trinity: “The works of God are the common work of the three divine persons. Each divine person performs the common work according to his unique attributes. Everything the Trinity does is done by the Father, Son, and Spirit working in unity with one will. The three persons of the Trinity always work inseparably, for their work is always the work of the one God.”
“Thus the entire process of Creation and of Grace (Salvation) is viewed as a single shared action of the three divine persons, in which each person manifests the attributes unique to them in the Trinity, showing that everything comes ‘from the Father,’ ‘through the Son’ and ‘in the Holy Spirit.’”
Hierarchy in the Trinity: The operations of the Trinity suggest that there is a hierarchy of authority in the Trinity where the Father sends and directs the Son, and the Holy Spirit is sent by the Father and the Son. Jesus said that he could do nothing of himself except what he sees the Father doing (John 5:19). He says he speaks just what the Father teaches him to say (John 8:28). We are told the Father “leaves all judgment to his Son” (John 5:22) and has given him authority and glory (John 17:2,24). This sounds like the Father is in charge and the Son, in perfect love for the Father, agrees with and submits to the Father’s will and that the Holy Spirit agrees with and submits to the will of the Father and the Son.
Theologian B. B. Warfield noted the “principle of subordination” among the members of the Trinity as observed in the operation of the Trinity when Jesus was a man living on earth. However, he was hesitant to say that this principle describes the inmost life within God the Trinity in eternity. His view recognizes that we are limited in our knowledge of how the three Persons of the Godhead communicate and relate to each other. And it’s obvious that we mortals cannot possibly comprehend the depth of the inmost being of God. Dr. Warfield suggested that the subordination could be the result of a plan by the members of the Trinity to assign distinct functions to each for the salvation of mankind and might not reflect their core organization.
When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before he went to the cross to die for our sins, he prayed to His Father, “Not my will but Thine be done.” How can one member of the Trinity have a will that is different from another member of the Trinity? Well, as a man, Jesus did not want to suffer physical and emotional pain, and as God the Son he did not want to suffer separation from His Father while on the cross. So there was part of him that didn’t want his torture and death to happen. Yet very quickly, he submitted to the Father’s will and their will was ONE again, showing perfect unity. This event reveals the distinctness of the Persons of the Trinity while showing their perfect unity.
I am comforted by the fact that we do not need to know or understand everything about God. He has given us enough information to know him, trust him, love him, and obey him and that is all we need.
Two Natures: Jesus Christ had two natures, human and divine. “Thomas Aquinas explains that when the Son prayed to the Father, became a minor to the angels, became incarnate, and obeyed the Father, he did these things with regard to his human nature. But he nevertheless remained God. Thus while eternally one in being with the Father, he temporarily and voluntarily became subordinate to the Father in his incarnate ministry.”
(All above quotes and paraphrases are from the Wikipedia article on the Trinity.)
Geisler and Turek point out that some people have a problem with the New Testament passages where Jesus talks about being subordinate to the Father and being limited in his knowledge. These passages make Jesus seem not to have the attributes of omnipotence (having all power) and of omniscience (having all knowledge), which we would expect God to have. “The answer to both these objections to the Deity of Christ lies in a proper understanding of the Trinity.”1Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p. 350.
“While Jesus shares in the one divine nature, he also has a distinct human nature.”2Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p. 350. So “When Jesus was conceived (as a baby), he did not cease being God. He simply added a human nature.”3Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p. 351.
“Since Jesus has two natures, whenever you ask a question about him, you really have to ask two questions. For example, did Jesus know the time of his second coming? As God, yes; as man, no. Did Jesus know all things? As God, yes; as man, no. Did Jesus get hungry? As God, no; as man, yes. Did Jesus get tired? As God, no; as man, yes.”4Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p. 351-352.
When Jesus said, “the Father is greater than I,” he meant that he was functioning in a subordinate role. But at the same time, he and the Father were equal in essence. “When Jesus added humanity, he voluntarily subordinated himself to the Father and accepted the limitations inherent with (his) humanity. But Jesus never lost his divine nature or ceased being God.”5Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p. 352.
The Trinity is not Illogical: Geisler and Turek continue: “The Trinity is not illogical or against reason. Saying that there is one God and three Gods would be illogical. But saying that there is One God who has three persons is not illogical. It may be beyond reason, but it is not against reason.
We Cannot Comprehend an Infinite God: “That doesn’t mean the Trinity can be completely understood. After all, no finite being can completely comprehend an infinite God.”6Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p. 352. However we can understand many things about God because he has revealed himself to us through nature, conscience, the Bible, and the Person of Christ. And, he has given us the intelligence to do so. So, while we may learn many wonderful things about God, we must be humble and realize our understanding of God is limited.
“So rather than attempting to fully define the Trinity with our finite human minds, we would be better served by focusing on God’s greatness and His infinitely higher nature. ‘Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out. Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?’”7Got Questions.org. What does the Bible teach about the Trinity? Romans 11:33-34. NIV.
The Trinity is Also Beyond Imagination: C. S. Lewis writes, “On the Divine level you still find personalities; but up there (in heaven) you find them combined in new ways which we, who do not live on that level, cannot imagine. You find a Being who is three Persons while remaining One Being. Of course, we cannot fully conceive a Being like that…but we can get a sort of faint notion of it. And when we do, we are then, for the first time in our lives, getting some positive idea, however faint, of something super-personal – something more than a (human) person. It is something we could never have guessed, and yet, once we have been told, one almost feels one ought to have been able to guess it because it fits so well with all the things we know already.”8Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1980, p. 162. Yes! We couldn’t conceive of the Trinity, but when we hear about it, it seems right! Why? Well, because if God is in heaven, and yet he is everywhere, and yet again he came as a man to earth, the Trinity explains that and nothing else does.
The Trinity is Taught in the Bible: The word ‘Trinity” was first used by one of the early church fathers in the late second century to describe the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. While this term is not found in the Bible, the concept it represents is found in both the Old and New Testaments.
The Trinity in the Old Testament
Here are some examples. Genesis 1:1 reads. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” NIV. In this verse, the word used for “God” (Elohim) is plural and the verb for “created” is singular. This suggests that God the Creator is a plurality while being One, which is in perfect agreement with the Trinity.
The use of plural pronouns referring to God is another indicator of the Trinity. In Genesis 1:26 we read, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image.’” NIV. Genesis 3:22 says, “And the Lord God said, ‘The man has now become one of us, knowing good and evil.’” NIV Isaiah 6:8 reads, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘whom shall I send? And who will go for us.’” NIV. The use of plural pronouns makes sense only if God is a plurality in One.
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Each member of the Trinity is mentioned in the Old Testament. Here are some references to the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:2 reads, “the Spirit of God was hovering over the water” NIV, indicating that the Spirit of God was involved in creation. In Numbers 11:24-29, God’s Spirit came on elders of Israel who prophesied to the congregation.
In Judges 3:10 the Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel who then became a judge (leader) of Israel. In Judges 6:34 the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, whom God used to deliver Israel from the Midianites. In Judges 11:29 the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah and helped him defeat the Ammonites. In Judges 13:25 the Spirit of the Lord moved in Sampson who delivered Israel from the Philistines.
In I Samuel 10:10 the Spirit of God came on Saul, who prophesied. In Samuel 16:13 the prophet Samuel anointed David to be king and the Spirit of the Lord “came upon David in power.” In II Samuel 23:2 David said, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue,” NIV, referencing the Spirit’s work in leading chosen men to write down the very words of God to create the Bible.
In Nehemiah 9 there is a beautiful prayer in which it is recounted that God, in his great compassion, was present with Israel in the wilderness and that his “Good Spirit” instructed, guided, protected, and provided for them.
In Job 33:4 we read, “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life,” NIV, showing that the Spirit participates in creating each human life.
In Psalm 51:11 where David is confessing his sins to God, he prays that God will not take his Holy Spirit from him. In Psalm 106:32,33 it says, “they angered the Lord (Jehovah), and trouble came to Moses because of them; for they rebelled against the Spirit of God.” NIV. That is, when they rebelled against and angered Jehovah-God, they were also rebelling against and angering the Holy Spirit because he is a member of the Trinity. In Psalm 139:7 the psalmist asks, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I go from your presence?” NIV. This verse lets us know that God is present with us by his Spirit wherever we go. Psalm 143:10 reads, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; May your good Spirit lead me on level ground” NIV, showing that God’s Spirit teaches and leads us.
Isaiah 11:2 reads, “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him.” NIV. And the “him” is the Messiah, the Son of God. Thus we have both the Spirit and the Son mentioned in this passage. Isaiah 32:15 speaks of “the Spirit” being poured out on us from on high (heaven).
In Zechariah 4:6 we read, “This is the word of the Lord (God)…Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.” NIV. Here, God is going to accomplish something that no man can do by his Spirit.
In these passages, we see the Spirit of God active in creation, human leadership, deliverance from enemy nations, prophecy, providing strength to Israel’s leaders, inspiration of the words of Scripture, instruction – guidance – protection – and provision to his people, giving the breath of life to each person born, convicting people of their sin, responding in anger to disobedience, being present with each believer, teaching and leading believers, ministering to the Son (Messiah) as a man, being poured out on those who believe, and accomplishing mighty works which man by his strength cannot do. Here in the Old Testament we see the Spirit of God distinct from the Father-Creator God and distinct from the Son-Messiah God and yet fully God, a picture of God consistent with the Trinity of the New Testament.
God the Son in the Old Testament
Also we find references to God the Son in the Old Testament. In Psalm 2:7 we read, “He said to me, ‘You are my Son, today I have become your Father.’” NIV. Here, God the Father is speaking to God the Son. Psalm 45:2 reads, “God (the Father) has blessed you forever.” NIV. Then verse 6 says, “Your throne, O God (the Son) will last forever and ever.” NIV. Here also the Father speaks to the Son. In Psalm 110:1 we read, “The Lord (the Father) says to my Lord (the Son): ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’” NIV.
Isaiah 48:16 reads, “And now the Sovereign Lord (the Father) has sent me (the Son), with his Spirit (the Spirit).” NIV. All three members of the Trinity are mentioned here! In Isaiah 53, which foretells Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins, we read in verse 6, “the Lord (the Father) has laid on him (the Son) the iniquity of us all.” NIV. In verse 10 we see, “Yet it was the Lord’s (the Father’s) will to crush him (the Son)…the Lord (the Father) makes his (the Son’s) life a guilt offering.” NIV. These and other verses in this chapter refer both to the Father and the Son.
God the Father in the Old Testament
Finally we provide references to God the Father in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 32:6 reads, “Is this the way you repay the Lord…? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?” NIV. In Psalm 89:26 we read, “He (David) will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the rock, my Savior.’” NIV. Isaiah 63:15,16 reads, “Look down from heaven and see from your lofty throne, holy and glorious… But you are our Father…you Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from old is your name.” NIV. Isaiah 64:8 reads, “Yet O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the works of your hand,” NIV. God is named as Father in all of these Old Testament verses.
These passages show us that all three Persons of the Trinity are found in the Old Testament, consistent with the teaching of the Trinity in the New Testament.
The Trinity in the New Testament
At The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry: At the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry there is a dramatic display of the Trinity at his baptism. The baptism account reads, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan (river) to be baptized by John (the Baptist). But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” Matthew 3:13-17. NIV.
In this passage, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descends from heaven and lights on Jesus the Son, and the voice of God the Father speaks audibly from heaven affirming that Jesus is his Son. In that moment, the Trinity is seen and heard and revealed!
At The End of Jesus’ Ministry: At the end of Jesus’ ministry and after his resurrection, Jesus meets with his disciples in Galilee. He comes to them and says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20. NIV.
Here Jesus claims to have “all authority in heaven and earth” which only God can have. Then he affirms the Trinity and ties this teaching to making disciples and their baptism (public commitment into the faith). This tells us that new disciples of Christ are placing their faith in and pledging their obedience to the Trinity! Their belief is in the Father in heaven to whom they may pray, the Son who became a man and purchased their forgiveness on the cross and rose from the dead, and the Holy Spirit by whom Christ is with them always to teach, assist, guide, and sustain them in all their circumstances. Also we see that Jesus’ promise to be with his own disciples transfers beyond them to all disciples throughout the ages.
The Words of Jesus: We see the Trinity in other passages in the New Testament as well. In John 14:16 Jesus says, “I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.” NIV. In Luke 14:18 Jesus says, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me…,” showing his teaching of the Trinity.
The Words of Paul: In I Corinthians 12:4 we read, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” NIV. In II Thessalonians 2:13 it says, “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” And note Paul’s benediction: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” II Corinthians 13:14 NIV. We see the Trinity in each of these verses.
The Words of Peter: In I Peter 1:1-2 Peter says, “To God’s elect…who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ….,” referring to all three members of the Trinity.
Each Member of the Trinity is Referred to as God in the New Testament.
The Father: In John 6:27 Jesus says, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man (Jesus) will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” NIV.
The Son. In the gospel of John we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1. NIV. Then in verse 14 we read, “The Word became flesh (human, a man) and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14. NIV. The Word refers to Jesus Christ, who “is God.” Paul echoes this when he writes, “Christ, who is God over all, forever praised, Amen.” Romans 9:5. NIV. The apostle John also speaks of the Deity of Christ. He writes, “Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” I John 5:20. NIV. (For more information about the Deity of Christ, please see the article “Why Christians Believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ” on this website.)
The Holy Spirit. In Acts 5:3,4 we read, “You have lied to the Holy Spirit…You have not lied to men but to God.”
These references show that Jesus, Peter, John, and Paul all believed and taught the Trinity. There was complete agreement and understanding among Jesus and his disciples that the Trinitarian nature of God was true. And this understanding has continued in the church to this day.
Why We Believe God is a Trinity
We believe God is a Trinity because the Trinity is found in the Bible. As we have seen, the Trinity is revealed in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, the concept is not as fully developed as it is in the New testament, but it is certainly there. In the New Testament, the concept is well developed and stated clearly by Jesus and his disciples.
The way we know there is a Trinity is because God reveals it to us in his Word, the Bible. Without this revelation, we would not know this. We can learn certain things about God from the created order. Psalm 19:1-4 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the works of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world.” NIV.
This passage tells us that the heavenly display we see at night and the vast sky we see in daytime are speaking to us about the God who created them. They tell us about his “glory,” his vast intelligence, incredible power, sovereign control, wisdom, benevolence, splendor, and majesty. And they tell us about “the works of his hands” which reveal that God made things that work, have a purpose, are useful, and display his genius. What it doesn’t tell us is about God’s Trinitarian nature. To know that we need God’s special revelation found in the Bible.
Why We Believe the Bible: This may raise another question for the reader. Why do we believe the teachings of the Bible to be true, and therefore the teaching of the Trinity to be true? We have very good reasons, as presented below.
Historical Analysis: How do you establish the trustworthiness of documents which were written 2,000 years ago? To establish the veracity of ancient texts, historians analyze historical records employing reasonable criteria which help determine the accuracy of these records.
New Testament Documents Satisfy All Relevant Criteria: The New Testament story of Jesus Christ’s life was written by a substantial number of witnesses of varied backgrounds and personalities whose writings agree with each other. These disciples cited historical facts verified by other sources, suffered and died for their faith, wrote embarrassing details about their lives, and wrote simply and directly as truth tellers. They wrote within a few years of the events they recorded while others who witnessed the same events were still alive. Document analysis shows that the New Testament documents have been preserved and are essentially the same as when first written. Moreover, archaeology and numerous secular sources confirm the basic story of Jesus Christ in the Gospels.
So, if the New Testament was written by truth tellers who carefully and accurately wrote about what they heard, saw, and experienced when they were with Jesus Christ for three years as his disciples, and if their writings were faithfully preserved, it is reasonable to conclude that the passages pertaining to Trinity correctly describe what Jesus actually taught about the nature of the Godhead.
The Bible is the Word of God: The Bible is not only accurately written and well preserved; it also shows evidence of being the Word of God in both the New and Old Testaments. Evidence for Divine Authorship includes: the Preservation of the Bible over the centuries, the Unity of its message written by about 40 authors over a period of 1,600 years, hundreds of fulfilled Prophecies, the highest standard of Morality in the world, and its documented Miracles. (For more information on this subject, see “Why Christians Believe the Bible” on this website.)
If the Bible is indeed the Word of the Living God, authored by God Himself through men, and if it teaches the Trinity, this is a good and sufficient reason to believe that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity in the Bible then, is God describing himself to be exactly who he is in terms we can’t fully understand, and yet in terms which make sense to us for faith and living the Christian life.
The Church Creeds
Hugh Ross writes, “The early church fathers, recognizing the importance of nipping heresies and cults (false, unbiblical teachings) in the bud (eliminating false teachings early on), took painstaking care to explain in what sense God is plural and in what sense singular. They accomplished this task by convening councils to write creeds. Because few people of their time had access to education, even to basic literacy, these scholars labored to prepare accurate, brief, and easy-to-memorize statements of the faith. The most famous of such creeds expounding the doctrines of Christianity is the Nicene Creed, penned in the fourth century A. D. The following excerpt focuses on the Trinity:
“I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
“And I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God; begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father. By whom all things are made….
“And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. Who together with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified.
“The Nicene Creed, while declaring there is but one God, specifically assigns deity to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each is declared to be the Creator. Their oneness is explained in terms of their being ‘one substance.’”9Ross, Hugh. Beyond the Cosmos. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1999, p. 97-98.
In 1530, German Lutheran theologians produced the Augsburg Confession which affirmed the Nicene Creed and stated: “There is one divine essence…which is God, eternal, incorporeal, indivisible, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness, the maker and preserver of all things, visible and invisible. Yet there are three persons, of the same essence and power, who are also co-eternal: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”10Ross, Hugh. Beyond the Cosmos. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1999, p. 99.
Later, from 1643 to 1648, English theologians wrote the Westminster Confession which declares: “In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.”11Ross, Hugh. Beyond the Cosmos. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1999, p. 99-100.
Hugh Ross comments that the Augsburg Confession clarifies that “each member of the Trinity exists…on his own,” and the Westminster Confession “declares the unity of the Godhead with full recognition of the three personal distinctions.”12Ross, Hugh. Beyond the Cosmos. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1999, p. 100. Dr. Ross adds that cults, without exception, deny the doctrine of the Trinity” by misunderstanding the nature of the plurality and the unity of the Godhead.
Thus, we see that the Bible teaches and the church creeds affirm the trinitarian nature of God.
The Blessings of a Trinitarian God
Love, companionship, and Unity: Because there are three persons in the Trinity, there is the opportunity for love and companionship. The three persons have always existed eternally in relationship. “The Father has always infinitely loved the Son, The Son has always infinitely loved the Father. The Holy Spirit has always infinitely loved the Father and the Son.”13Mc Dowell, Josh and McDowell, Sean. The Unshakable Truth. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2010, p. 317. Thus they are one in will and one in action because they always agree. “It is this infinite love in perfect relationship that produces a oneness beyond our comprehension.”14Mc Dowell, Josh and McDowell, Sean. The Unshakable Truth. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2010, p. 318.
Meaning, Purpose, Hope, and Joy: We are made in the image of God. As such we are designed to be in love relationships with God and with others. Our model for love is God. God is love, and we learn from him what love is. The presence of love gives our lives hope and meaning and purpose. We can love and be loved because God made us that way. And we know that we are important and of great value because of God’s great love for us. The Trinity then, makes love possible for us and gives our lives eternal meaning and joy.
Our Knowledge of God is Enlarged: Also, the Trinity makes our relationship with God more complete and accessible. The Father, the Creator of heaven and earth who rules over all gives us a sense of security. He is in control of all things and we can trust him to take care of our lives. Jesus came to earth and became one of us. He experienced life as a man. He knows and understands us fully, both from a heavenly and an earthly perspective. The Holy Spirit was sent to dwell in us as believers. This brings God close to us. We know his Presence every minute of every day. He leads, instructs, encourages, protects, corrects, and purifies us. We trust in all three persons of the Trinity: the Father who is Almighty God, Jesus the Son who is our Savior and Redeemer, and the indwelling Holy Spirit who never leaves or forsakes us. The Trinity makes God more real and more accessible.
We Learn Respect and Obedience: The apparent hierarchy of authority within the Trinity wherein the Father sends and directs the Son, and the Son and Father sends the Holy Spirit teaches us, by example, to respect and observe God-appointed authorities in society. Thus we are to respect and obey parents and other legitimate authority figures in our lives. Our culture often does not like this because people want to do as they please. We ourselves may not like this because we want to run our lives our way apart from God’s authority.
We Learn to Submit in Love: Yet Jesus demonstrated that submitting to the Father in love was the perfect way to function in a relationship. Love created unity and peace and contentment. Conversely, rebellion creates division, unrest, and never satisfies. From this we learn that God’s way of relating to authority, as demonstrated by the Trinity, works best. Also, the love relationships within the Trinity teach us that when we are relating to equals (family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances), there are times when it is appropriate to submit to them as well for the sake of love.
Summary
The Trinity is the central doctrine of the Christian church about the nature of God. It is defined as one God existing in three persons: God the Father; God the Son; and God the Holy Spirit. The members of the Trinity are distinct persons, yet one in essence, nature, power, will, and action. They act as one; they will as one; they feel as one. The acts of creation and salvation are seen as shared actions of the three persons of the Trinity.
There appears to be a hierarchy of authority and operation within the Trinity. The Father eternally begets the Son and the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son.
We do not know if this arrangement was made for the salvation of mankind only or if it represents the core organization of the operation of the Trinity in eternity.
Jesus Christ had two natures, human and divine. As a man, he was subordinate to the Father while retaining his Deity.
The Trinity is beyond our comprehension and beyond our imagination. Yet, when we learn about the Trinity, it seems right to us. We must humbly recognize that we cannot fully comprehend or understand the true, eternal, infinite God of the Bible with our finite minds.
Both the Old and the New Testaments teach the Trinity. While the concept is not as fully developed in the Old Testament, it is clearly there. In the New Testament, the concept is well developed and stated clearly by Jesus and his disciples.
We are confident the Trinity is true because it is taught in the Bible. We believe the Bible is true, and therefore the Trinity is true, because the Bible accurately reports the words and deeds of Jesus, and because it shows compelling evidence that it is the Word of God.
The early creeds of the church expound, in clear language, the doctrine of the Trinity. These creeds were used to communicate the truths of God in easy-to-memorize language to inform Christians and to keep them from doctrinal error.
The Trinity allows for love and companionship because there are three persons who relate to each other in perfect love and unity. We, who are made in the image of God, are designed for love and relationships. We learn from God what love is. This makes our lives meaningful and tells us we are of great value. Thus the Trinity makes love possible for us and gives our lives significance and joy.
Additionally the Trinity makes our relationship with God more complete. We feel secure that God in heaven has everything under control. We love and trust our Savior who became one of us and died for our sins. We welcome the Holy Spirit who dwells in us and never leaves or forsakes us.
Moreover, we learn from the Trinity to respectfully submit to legitimate authority figures in our lives, and to submit to equals when appropriate for the sake of love.
We thank Almighty God for his mercy and kindness and for revealing himself to us as a Trinity so that we can trust him, give our lives to him, love and adore him, and follow and commune with him in this life and in the heavenly realm for all eternity. Hallelujah!