THE TRINITY OF PERSONS IN THE GODHEAD

(THE TRINITY IS NOT PAGAN OR CATHOLIC)

God is one God revealed in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The word “Trinity” is not in the Bible, but the doctrine is there.

It is a doctrine plainly taught in the Bible and we are to believe it by faith. This does not mean we
will have perfect understanding of the msyteries of God, but we will accept what the Bible says
and not fight against it by twisting certain scriptures out of context. That is something a lost
person does.

There are three verses in which the Trinity is plainly declared:

Matthew 28:19:

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"

2 Corinthians 13:14:

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost,
be with you all. Amen."

and 1 John 5:7:

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and
these three are one."

(There will be a future teaching on the manuscript evidence supporting 1 John 5:7)

Webster’s 1828 dictionary defined the Trinity as:

“the union of three persons (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) in one Godhead, so that all
the three are one God as to substance, but three persons as to individuality.”
The Philadelphia Confession of Faith (1742) stated:

“In this Divine and Infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word (or Son), and
Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the
essence undivided; the Father is of none neither begotten, nor proceeding; the Son is eternally
begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son, all infinite,
without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but
distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the
Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and our comfortable dependence on
him.”

The trinity is part of the profession of faith that has been held by most Baptist and Protestant
Christians throughout history. The Catholics also believe it, but that does not make it Catholic.
Catholics believe Jesus died on a cross and rose from the dead, does that make those truths null
and void?

The doctrine of the trinity has always been considered a foundational doctrine of the faith and
anyone who denied this truth was considered a lost heretic such as the Socinians and Sabellians.
Cults like the Jehovah's Witnesses deny the trinity and Muslims mock the trinity by saying we
believe in three gods like paganism.

(We will refute common attacks and proof texts used by heretics in future teachings)

The popular hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy” is a hymn of praise to the Trinitarian God. It proclaims,
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! Merciful and Mighty! God in Three Persons, blessed
Trinity!”

The doctrine of the Trinity teaches the following two truths:

(1) There is one God

Deut. 6:4; "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:"

1 Cor. 8:4: "As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto
idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one."

(2) This God is a unity of Persons in one Godhead (The term Godhead is used three times in the
KJV)

Acts 17:29: "Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the
Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device."

Rom. 1:20: " For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are
without excuse:"

Col. 2:9: "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all recognized as God.

The Father is God

John. 6:27: "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto
everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed."

The Son is God

Heb. 1:8: "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of
righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."

(Also Tit. 2:13; Jn. 20:28). (There will be separate studies on the deity of Christ, His pre-existence,
eternal generation, eternal sonship, etc.)

The Spirit is God

Acts. 5:1-4: "[1] But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

[2] And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and
laid it at the apostles' feet.

[3] But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep
back part of the price of the land?

[4] Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own
power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto
God." (Lied to the Holy Ghost, lied to God)

Yet the Father, Son, and Spirit are described as distinct Persons

John. 14:16-17: Jesus said, "[16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

[17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither
knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
“Each person of this Divine Being is God, and each of them is all that God is. Each one of these
persons is entirely God, but the three persons are not in any sense three Gods. Not one of them
can be God without the other two. The Father cannot be God without the Son and the Spirit. The
Son cannot be God without the Father and the Spirit. The Spirit cannot be God without the
Father and the Son. Each is God only as each is in the one Being of the Godhead. As this
Godhead cannot be divided, there cannot be three Gods. As this indivisible Being constitutes
One God and no one of the persons can take any degree of Being from the other, then, the
Three, being in and of the one substance, constitute one indivisible Being, or God. Therefore,
God is a Triunity of Being in One Godhead. He is three Persons in a unity of Being” (I.M.
Haldeman, The Trinity).

The evidence for the doctrine of the Trinity:

(1) The Trinity is seen before creation.

The Son was with the Father in glory

John 17:5: "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had
with thee before the world was."

John 1:1-3: "[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him; and without
him was not any thing made that was made."

(2) The Trinity is seen in creation.

The Bible teaches that the three members of the Godhead acted in Creation.

Gen. 1:1-3: "[1] In the beginning God(the Father) created the heaven and the earth.

[2] And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And
the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

[3] And God said(The Word-the Son), Let there be light: and there was light."

The Father created

Acts. 17:24: "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven
and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
The Spirit created

Job 26:13: "By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked
serpent."

The Son created

Eph. 3:9: "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the
beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:"

Col. 1:13-17: "[13] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son: [14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the
forgiveness of sins: [15] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
[16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were
created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

(3) The Trinity is seen in Genesis 11:6-8, where God is spoken of in the plural and in the singular
at the same time.

"[6] And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they
begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. [7]
Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one
another's speech. [8] So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the
earth: and they left off to build the city."

(4) The Trinity is seen in Psalm 45:6-7.

"[6] Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. [7]
Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee
with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."

According to Hebrews 1:8-9, God the Father is speaking in Psalm 45, and He is referring to the
Son as God.

"[8] But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of
righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. [9] Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated
iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy
fellows."
Sometimes people ask, “If Jesus Himself was God, why did He address the Father as God?”

The answer is that Jesus addressed the Father as God for the same reason that the Father
addressed the Son as God--because they are both God!

In Psalm 45, the Father is declaring His delight in the Son. He is stating His intention to place the
Son over the eternal kingdom of God (Ps. 45:4-6). He describes the Son’s joy and pleasure in that
kingdom (Ps. 45:7-8). He describes the church at Christ’s right hand clothed in gold (Ps. 45:9-11).
He describes the nations bringing gifts (Ps. 45:12). He describes the governors that Christ will
appoint to rule over His kingdom (Ps. 45:16). He describes Christ as the object of eternal praise
(Ps. 45:13).

(5) The Trinity is seen in Proverbs 30:4.

"Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists?
who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what
is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?" - Proverbs 30:4

This verse teaches that the Creator God has a Son.

(6) The Trinity is seen in Isaiah 48:16.

"Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the
time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me."

Here the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, is speaking and refers to God the Father and the Holy
Spirit.

Compare John. 18:20: "Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the
synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said
nothing."

(7) The Trinity is seen in Jesus’ birth

Luke. 1:35: "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,
and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall
be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."

There we see the Son being conceived by the Holy Spirit and the Father. The incarnation is the
mystery of the Trinity. It is described in Philippians 2:5-8.
"[5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took
upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in
fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the
cross."

The eternal Son of God, who was in the form of God and equal with God, was made in the
likeness of man, but without sin. In the incarnation, He laid aside His glory. He was God but He
made himself of no reputation and was in the form of a servant.

(8) The Trinity is seen at Jesus’ baptism

Mat. 3:16-17: "[16] And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:
and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove,
and lighting upon him: [17] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom
I am well pleased."

At this dramatic event we see the Son being baptized, the Holy Spirit descending upon Him in
the form of a dove, and the Father speaking from heaven. The Father was pleased with the Son
in every way.

(9) The Trinity is seen in Jesus’ atonement

Heb. 9:14: "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

The Son offered Himself to the Father by the Spirit.

The offering was made by the Son who was holy and perfectly acceptable to the Father. It was
the Son’s free will offering. He delighted to do God’s will (He. 10:5-7).

The offering was made to the Father, because it is Jehovah God’s law that man has broken and
His holy Person that man has offended.

The offering was made by the eternal Spirit. This refers to the fact that Christ was anointed by
and empowered by the Spirit so that His entire life was under the Spirit’s influence and control.

“...it was the most trying time of his own life; it was the period when there would be the most
strong temptation to abandon his work; and, as the redemption of the whole world was
dependent on that act, it is reasonable to suppose that the richest heavenly grace would be
there imparted to him, and that he would then be eminently under the influence of that Spirit
which was granted not ‘by measure unto him’ (Jn. 3:34)” (Barnes).
(10) The Trinity is seen in Jesus’ resurrection.

The Bible teaches that Christ was raised

by God the Father

Acts. 2:24: "Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not
possible that he should be holden of it."

by the Spirit

1 Pet. 3:18: "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might
bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:"

and by Himself

John 2:19-21: "[19] Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I
will raise it up. [20] Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt
thou rear it up in three days? [21] But he spake of the temple of his body."

(11) The Trinity is seen in the baptismal formula

Mat. 28:19: " Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"

Observe that believers are to be baptized in the name of, singular, not in the names of, plural.
God is one and He is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

(12) The Trinity is seen in 2 Corinthians 13:14.

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost,
be with you all. Amen."

(13) The Trinity is seen in prayer.

We are taught to pray to the Father through the enablement of the Spirit by the name of Jesus
Christ, because it is Jesus and His atonement that has given us access to God.

See

Mat. 6:9: "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy
name."

Rom. 1:8: "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of
throughout the whole world."

Rom. 8:26: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should
pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot
be uttered."

We are never taught to pray to the Holy Spirit. (Like they do in the charismatic movement)

(14) The Trinity is seen in the Holy Spirit’s Personality.

Some Bible passages speak of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of God or the Spirit of Christ. By this,
some conclude that the Holy Spirit is only an indistinct part of the Father and Son, something like
man’s spirit is of man. This is not the Bible’s teaching, though.

The Holy Spirit is one with the Father and Son, yet He is also a distinct member of the Trinity (Mt.
28:19; 2 Co. 13:14; 1 Jn. 5:7; Ep. 2:18; 4:4-6).

Eph. 2:18: "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."

The Spirit is called the Lord in 2 Co. 3:17: "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of
the Lord is, there is liberty."

The Holy Spirit is described as a person (“He,” Jn. 14:17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15).

John 15:26: "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even
the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:"

The Holy Spirit has a will (Acts 13:2; 15:28; 1 Co. 12:11).

Acts 13:2: "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me
Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them."

1 Corinthians 12:11: "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every
man severally as he will."

The Holy Spirit has feelings (Ep. 4:30). The Holy Spirit has a mind (Ro. 8:26-27). The Holy Spirit
regenerates (Jm. 3:5), comforts and teaches (Jn. 14:26), testifies (Jn. 15:26), convicts (Jn. 16:8-
11), guides into truth (Jn. 16:13), speaks (Ac. 13:2; Rev. 2:7), directs (Ac. 16:6-7), intercedes (Ro.
8:26), sanctifies (1 Pet. 1:2), bestows gifts (1 Co. 12:4-6). He can be tempted (Acts 5:9), lied to
(Acts 5:3), grieved (Ep. 4:30), resisted (Ac. 7:51), insulted (He. 10:29), blasphemed (Mt. 12:31).

The Holy Spirit is not merely a power or influence

Acts 10:38: " How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who
went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."

The Holy Spirit is not merely the spirit of God as man’s spirit is the spirit of man

1 Co. 2:11-16: "[11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is
in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have
received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the
things that are freely given to us of God. [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words
which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things
with spiritual. [14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.[15] But
he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. [16] For who hath
known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."

If verse 11 stood alone, it could mean that the Spirit is merely the spirit of God as man’s spirit is
the spirit of man, but the rest of the passage makes it clear that the Spirit of God is a Person in
His own right. He is a teacher (v. 13).

(These notes were typed out, organized, and edited by me. The raw material for these notes
comes from the Way of Life Encyclopedia by David Cloud - wayoflife.org)