Understanding the Trinity

[Benaiah468]

The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the central elements of Christian faith, which has emerged explicitly or implicitly from a variety of biblical texts. Already hinted at in the OT, it comes to full fruition in the NT.

Christianity, with its understanding of G-d as Three in One, enables diversity and unity. If G-d exists in three distinct ‘persons’ who all share the same essence, then it is possible for G-d's creation to exhibit amazing diversity and individuality while still holding together in a true unity.

The Trinity is important for relationships. We worship a G-d who is in constant and eternal relationship with Himself as Father, Son and Spirit. Community is a buzzword in Western culture, but only in a Christian framework are community and interpersonal fellowship seen as an expression of the eternal nature of G-d. Likewise, love can only be a Trinitarian G-d, an eternal attribute of G-d.

Without a plurality of ‘persons’ in the G-dhead, we would be forced to think that G-d created humans so that He would show love and know love, making love a created thing (and G-d a needy G-dhead). But with a biblical understanding of the Trinity, we can say that G-d did not create to be loved, but created from the overflow of perfect love that has always existed under the Father, Son and Holy Spirit living in perfect and mutual relationship and joy.

There is no ‘person’, human or G-dly, that exists in an absolute vacuum outside of all relationship.

The Trinity must be divinely revealed, not humanly constructed. It is so absurd from a human point of view that no one would have invented it. We do not consider the doctrine of the Trinity to be logical or illogical. We hold it to be true because G-d has revealed that He is so.

Matthew 1:20-21 ‘the Lord (the Father) ... the Holy Spirit ... Jesus’
Matthew 3:16-17 ‘Jesus ... the Spirit of G-d ... a voice from heaven (the Father)’
Matthew 12:18 ‘I ... My spirit ... on Him’
Matthew 22:42-43 ‘Christ ... the Spirit ... Lord (the Father)’

Mark 1:9-11 ‘Jesus ... the Spirit ... a voice from heaven ... My beloved Son’
Mark 12:35-36 ‘Christ ... the Holy Spirit ... the Lord (the Father)’

Luke 1:35 ‘The Holy Spirit ... the Most High ... the Son of G-d’
Luke 2:26-27 ‘the Holy Spirit ... Christ ... Jesus’
Luke 3:21-22 ‘Jesus ... the Holy Spirit ... a voice from heaven ... My beloved Son’
Luke 10:21 ‘Jesus ... the Spirit ... Father’
Luke 12:9-10 ‘G-d ... the Son ... the Holy Spirit’

John 3:5 ‘Jesus ... the Spirit ... G-d’
John 3:34,35 ‘G-d ... the Spirit ... the Father ... the Son’
John 4:24-25 ‘G-d ... one Spirit ... Messiah ... Christ’
John 14:16 .17:26 "the Comforter ... the Father ... in my name’
John 15:26 "the Comforter ... the Father ... from me’
John 20:21-22 ‘Jesus ... Father ... the Holy Spirit’

Acts 2:32-33 ‘Jesus ... G-d ... the Father ... the Holy Spirit’
Acts 2:38-39 ‘Jesus Christ ... the Holy Spirit ... G-d’
Acts 4:30-31 ‘Jesus ... the Holy Spirit ... G-d’
Acts 5:31-32 ‘G-d ... a Prince and Saviour ... the Holy Spirit’
Acts 7:55 ‘The Holy Spirit ... Jesus ... G-d’
Acts 8:14-16 ‘G-d ... the Holy Spirit ... Jesus’
Acts 10:38 ‘G-d ... Jesus ... the Holy Spirit’
Acts 10:46-48 ‘G-d ... the Holy Spirit ... the Lord’
Acts 11:16-17 ‘the Lord ... the Holy Spirit ... G-d ... the Lord Jesus Christ’
Acts 20:21-23 ‘G-d ... Jesus ... the Holy Spirit’

Romans 1:1 .3:4 ‘G-d ... His Son, Jesus Christ ... the Spirit’
Romans 5:5-6 ‘G-d ... the Holy Spirit ... Christ’
Romans 8:2-3 ‘the Spirit ... Jesus ... G-d ... His own Son’
Romans 8:8-9 ‘G-d ... the Spirit ... the Spirit of Christ’
Romans 8:16-17 ‘the Spirit ... G-d ... Christ’
Romans 14:17-18 ‘the Holy Spirit ... Christ ... G-d’
Romans 15:12-13 ‘Root of Jesse (Jesus) ... G-d ... Holy Spirit’
Romans 15:16 ‘Jesus ... G-d ... the Holy Spirit’
Romans 15:30 ‘The Lord Jesus Christ ... the Spirit ... G-d’

1 Corinthians 6:10-11 ‘G-d ... the Lord Jesus ... the Spirit’
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 ‘Spirit ... Lord ... G-d’
1 Corinthians 7:39-40 ‘the Lord Jesus ... the Spirit ... G-d’
1 Corinthians 8:2 ‘the Lord Jesus ... the Spirit ... G-d’

2 Corinthians 3:3-4 ‘the Spirit ... Christ ... G-d’
2 Corinthians 13:14 ‘Jesus ... G-d ... the Holy Spirit’
2 Corinthians 5:5-6 ‘G-d ... the Spirit ... the Lord (Jesus)’

Galathians 4:6-7 ‘G-d ... the Spirit ... Son ... Father ... G-d ... Christ’

Eph 2:18 ‘through Him (Jesus) ... Spirit ... the Father’
Eph 2:21-22 ‘the Lord ... G-d ... the Spirit’
Eph 3:14, 16 ‘the Father ... Jesus Christ ... His Spirit’
Eph 4:4-6 ‘Spirit ... Lord (Jesus) ... G-d and Father’
Eph 5:18-20 ‘Spirit ... Lord (Jesus) ... G-d ... Father’

Colossians 1:6-8 ‘G-d ... Christ ... Spirit’

1 Thessalonians 4:6-8 ‘Lord (Jesus) ... G-d ... Holy Spirit’
1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 ‘G-d ... Father ... Christ ... Jesus ... Spirit’

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 ‘G-d ... Lord ... G-d ... Spirit ... Lord Jesus Christ’

Titus 3:4-6 ‘G-d ... Holy Spirit ... Jesus Christ’

Hebrews 2:3-4 ‘Lord (Jesus) ... G-d ... Holy Spirit’
Hebrews 3:4, 6-7 ‘G-d ... Christ ... Holy Spirit’
Hebrews 6:4-6 ‘Holy Spirit ... G-d ... Son’
Hebrews 9:14 ‘Christ ... Spirit ... G-d’
Hebrews 10:29-31 ‘Son of G-d ... Spirit ... Lord ... G-d’

1 Peter 1:2 ‘G-d the Father ... Spirit ... Jesus Christ’
1 Peter 3:18 ‘Christ ... G-d ... Spirit’
1 Peter 4:14 ‘Christ ... Spirit ... G-d’

2 Peter 1:21 ‘G-d ... Holy Spirit ... Lord (Jesus)’
2 Peter 2:1 ‘G-d ... Holy Spirit ... Lord (Jesus)’

1 John 4:2 ‘Spirit ... Jesus ... G-d’
1 John 4:13-14 ‘Spirit ... Father ... Son ... Saviour’
1 John 5:7 ‘Father ... Word ... Holy Spirit’

Jude 20:21 ‘The Holy Spirit ... G-d ... Lord ... Jesus Christ’

Revelation 1:9-10 ‘Jesus Christ ... G-d ... Jesus Christ ... Spirit’
Revelation 3:5-7 ‘Father ... Spirit ... He has the key of David (Jesus)’
Revelation 14:12-13 ‘G-d ... Jesus ... Lord ... Spirit’
Revelation 21:9-10 ‘Lamb ... Spirit ... G-d’
Revelation 22:16-18 ‘the descendants of David (Jesus) ... Spirit ... G-d’

 

[Benaiah468]

The Bible states that created things provide a clearly visible representation of the power and divine nature of the Creator.

The universe is both ‘unity’ (one) and ‘verse’ (other). And while something can be understood of the three different manifestations of reality (space, matter, time), they cannot be separated from the unity.

The Trinity is seen not only in creation, but also in man

What is man... Ps 8:1-6

Man is triune; a being of spirit, soul and body.

The apostle Paul likened the believer to G-d's temple; cf. 1 Cor 3:16 .6:19, which was divided into three parts: the Holy of Holies, the Holy Place and the outer court, so that they again bear an astonishing resemblance to the spirit, soul and body of man.

The design and pattern of all creation, both physical and spiritual, reveal the nature of the Creator. Creation is so imbued with G-d's triune image that the spirit of G-d realises that

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 G-dhead; so that they are without excuse: Romans 1:20 KJV

All creation bears the design of its Creator.

 

[Benaiah468]

The doctrine of the Trinity states

A: There is one G-d.
B. The Father is G-d, the Son is G-d, the Holy Spirit is G-d.
C. The three are different.

The mystery of it is beyond our understanding, however, the eternal G-d has left some examples in creation that reflect His nature.

One of these is the human family.

If one replaces G-d, Father, Son and Holy Spirit with human, man, woman and child, it is evident that the family functions in the same way.

The following can be said about a family

1. there is only one species HOMO-SAPIENS (only one human nature - man); Gen 1:27 .2,8 .5,1 .6,7; Gen 4:32

2. man is human - HOMO SAPIENS (has human nature)
3. woman is human - HOMO SAPIENS (has human nature)
4. child is human - HOMO SAPIENS (has human nature)

5. man is not woman
6. woman is not child
7. child is not man

8. man is head of woman; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:23
9. woman comes from man; 1 Corinthians 11:8
10. child comes from man and woman

11. man and woman are one (one body); Gen 2:24; Mt 19:5; Mk 10:8; 1 Cor 6:16; Eph 5:31
12. both ‘persons’ are to be honoured; Eph. 6:2

All sentences are true.

Conclusion:

Man is a ‘person’
Woman is a ‘person’
Child is a ‘person’

Man, woman and child(ren) form a family.

From this it follows:

Father is a ‘person’
Son is a ‘person’
Holy Spirit is a ‘person’

Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one and form a unity; Mt:28:19; 1 Cor:12:4-6; 2 Cor:13:13; Eph 4:4-6; Hbr 9:14; 1 Pe.1:2

13. father is head of the son; John 14:28; 1 Cor 11:3
14. son comes from father; John 6:57 .17:5
15. the Holy Spirit comes from the Father and the Son; John 15:26 .16:13-15 .20:22; Acts 16:6-7; Ro 8:9; Phil 1:19; Mt 10:20; Gal 4:6; 1 Pe 1:10-11

16. Father and Son are one (one Spirit); John 10:30 .12:45 .14:7-10; 1 Corinthians 12:11; Ephesians 4:4
17. both ‘persons’ are to be honoured; John 5:23; Rev 5:13

 

[Benaiah468]

The apostle Thomas confessed:

My Lord and my G-d! John 20:28

He was thus the first of the disciples to recognize the divine nature of Christ.

It took centuries for Christianity to explicitly formulate its belief in the Lord Jesus as being of the same essence as G-d, the Father. But one thing was a pivotal point on the path to finding the truth from the beginning:

The resurrection of Jesus. Without it, our faith would be null and void. Thomas questioned it. It is worth taking a close look at it.

Belief in the triune G-d is a core part of the Christian faith. It does not abolish monotheism. A G-d in three "persons" who permeate each other and are one; cf. John 10:30, are one G-d, not three. At the same time, the doctrine of Christ, the Son of G-d and Son of Man, and the doctrine of salvation depend on belief in the Trinity.

Only because He was G-d's son could He redeem the world.

Christ is G-d from G-d, light from light, true G-d from true G-d

as the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople formulated after long discussions, and not with Hellenistic, that is, with terms of Greek philosophy, but with biblical terms.