How can God be one God in three persons?

mmbattlestar said:

How can God be three persons yet still continue to be one God? Wouldn't that make God three separate Gods?

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It would only be three separate gods if "being" and "personhood" were identical and then Christians asserted that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were separate persons/beings.

I don't know exactly how the tri-unity of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit works

We see examples of God in the Old Testament being called God/YHWH, and then simultaneously refer to God/YHWH as someone else

Genesis 18:18-19
And YHWH said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of YHWH, to do justice and judgment; that YHWH may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

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Exodus 19:24
And YHWH said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto YHWH, lest he break forth upon them.

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There are definitely 3 "persons" or whatever you want to call them, speaking as God, and being called God/YHWH in the Law & Prophets

Even in the 10 Commandments, God says "I am YHWH" and then when he's giving the commandment regarding the Sabbath, he refers to God/YHWH as if he is someone else

Exodus 20:1-2
And God spake all these words, saying, I am YHWH thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

8-11
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of YHWH thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore YHWH blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

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Dkh587 said:

I don't know exactly how the tri-unity of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit works

We see examples of God in the Old Testament being called God/YHWH, and then simultaneously refer to God/YHWH as someone else

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Recommendation for anyone to check out Alan Segal's book, "Two Powers in Heaven.."

https://www.amazon.com/Two-Powers-H...23154816&sr=8-1&keywords=two+powers+in+heaven

Goes along with your comment and verses.

Yekcidmij said:

Recommendation for anyone to check out Alan Segal's book, "Two Powers in Heaven.."

https://www.amazon.com/Two-Powers-H...23154816&sr=8-1&keywords=two+powers+in+heaven

Goes along with your comment and verses.

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I've had my eye on that book for a while. Just hesitating on spending $40 for it.

mmbattlestar said:

God is three separate persons yet one God? It doesn't make any sense.

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It is a mystery and it's not really possible for us to fully wrap our heads around it, but that doesn't mean it makes no sense. Part of the problem is that you're confusing what something is with who something is.

A dog is a being, but it isn't a person. A man is a being, and he is a person. So you see that the number of beings something is and the number of persons it is aren't necessarily the same. And God is a being who is three persons.

Similarly, a rock has a physical nature, and it's not a person. A man has a human nature, which is both physical and spiritual, and he is a person. God has a divine nature, which is pure spirit, and He is three persons, one of whom has substantially united himself to human nature.

It's called faith--it is believing what the word of God says. It says there are 3--God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. You can read up all the different accounts by learned scholars that proclaim how this is possible. Truth is---NOBODY KNOWS! Nobody will know--maybe not even after the resurrection when we are face to face with them! There are angels in heaven who are called the covering cherubs, of which Lucifer once was. Their function is to use their wings to block the light of God from the angels. If even the angels can not look upon God fully and unprotected, will we ever? And without that visibility, can we ever truly figure this 3 in one thing? Is it our place to do so? Does it matter? I don't think so---the bible says it, then that is the way it is. The details of how this is possible is, when you come right down do it---are not given to us to know--which means, it is none of our business!!

mmbattlestar said:

I believe in the trinity but I don't quite understand how it works. How can God be three persons yet still continue to be one God? Wouldn't that make God three separate Gods? The frequently posted diagram sort of explains the trinity. Both the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all God but the Father is not the Son. Nor is the Holy Spirit the Father...etc But how is that possible? God is three separate persons yet one God? It doesn't make any sense. Can someone please explain to me how the Trinity works?

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I think of the Trinity as the following statement:

One God (the Father), One Lord (the Son) and One Holy Spirit. Three distinct hypostasis (and persons), and one substance (the "stuff" of God, like a material class such as metals, or matter in general for our whole world), three in persons, one in being God.

The best explanation of the separation of persons comes from St. Basil the Great:

"The distinction between “ousia” and “hypostasis” is the same as that between the general and the particular; as, for instance, between the animal and the particular man. Wherefore, in the case of the Godhead, we confess one essence or substance so as not to give a variant definition of existence, but we confess a particular hypostasis, in order that our conception of Father, Son and Holy Spirit may be without confusion and clear."

I make a clear distinction between the persons by only calling them by one singular title (God, Lord, or Spirit), but I acknowledge that they are of one "stuff" and can all be accurately called God (because of the substance). Hope this helps.

Ok keep this in mind. The doctrine concerning the Trinity was not in the original Christian Teaching. It is something that came in later. eg; if you look at the words that are translated as Godhead in our modern translations and then look at how those same words are translated in other passages you will quickly pick up the picture.

However the Father , Son and Holy spirit do operate in unity like a circle of three which gave rise to the doctrine in later years .

Now lets use some logical deduction here with out going too deep. God the Father has a body and he sits on a throne. Now how is he going to have a body unless he actually creates it in the first place and how will he have a throne unless he first builds it. Where was God before he created his own body ? Logical deduction is that God Proper has to be the Holy Spirit and God the Father is that which he created so as to provide a means for his creation to interact with him. A point of focus etc.

Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. A separate personality from God but of the same family. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That gives him political oversite over Gods Kingdom. God retains spiritual oversite of his own creation.

mmbattlestar said:

I believe in the trinity but I don't quite understand how it works. How can God be three persons yet still continue to be one God? Wouldn't that make God three separate Gods? The frequently posted diagram sort of explains the trinity. Both the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all God but the Father is not the Son. Nor is the Holy Spirit the Father...etc But how is that possible? God is three separate persons yet one God? It doesn't make any sense. Can someone please explain to me how the Trinity works?

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I grew up reading comicbooks when I was a kid, so this was not hard for me to imagine the Trinity or the Godhead. Think of it as they are all three distinctly different persons and yet they are all connected together as one God. Sort of like this:



Granted, this is not in any way what God looks like exactly (obviously), but you can see that they are all three distinctly different persons (in shape) and yet they are all connected together as one.


Scripture also implies that each person of the Godhead can also have the capacity to dwell within one another, as well (And yet also keep their individuality like their mind and possibly their form (if they desire it) intact). For Jesus says I am in the Father and the Father is in me (John 14:11).

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are all the same one God.

In the time of Isaiah, God the Father said that in the future, a child, a son would be born with the title of Mighty God. Through this, God the Father Jehovah was letting us know that He would come in the role of the Son to this earth.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace … The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.


In Jesus everythings were created :
Col 1:15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.…

You drink H20 as water
You use Ice as chiller
You need vapor for rain

The same H20 for different purposes


May Jesus bless you all HalleluYAH

mmbattlestar said:

I believe in the trinity but I don't quite understand how it works. How can God be three persons yet still continue to be one God? Wouldn't that make God three separate Gods? The frequently posted diagram sort of explains the trinity. Both the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all God but the Father is not the Son. Nor is the Holy Spirit the Father...etc But how is that possible? God is three separate persons yet one God? It doesn't make any sense. Can someone please explain to me how the Trinity works?

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There are two wrong extremes people have made involving the Trinity.

#1. Modalism
(Which is a belief generally held by United Pentecostals).

This says that there is no distinctive persons within the Godhead. That God the Father just puts on a mask and pretends to be the Son; Others believe it says all three persons are smashed together whereby the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost do not have any kind of distinctiveness anymore. But the Bible makes it clear that the Father sent the Son to die for our sins (And it was not the Son sending the Father) (1 John 4:14). The Bible makes it clear that one cannot be forgiven if they speak a word against the Holy Spirit but yet, this is not the case if one speaks a word against the Son, though (Matthew 12:32).

#2. Tritheism
(Which is a belief generally held by Mormons).

This says that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate and distinct gods. This is polytheism or the worship of more than one God. But the Bible makes it clear that the Lord our God is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4).

mmbattlestar said:

I believe in the trinity but I don't quite understand how it works. How can God be three persons yet still continue to be one God? Wouldn't that make God three separate Gods? The frequently posted diagram sort of explains the trinity. Both the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all God but the Father is not the Son. Nor is the Holy Spirit the Father...etc But how is that possible? God is three separate persons yet one God? It doesn't make any sense. Can someone please explain to me how the Trinity works?

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Also, Siamese twins is an example of two people (or minds) and yet they have one body. Granted, I am not saying God is like Siamese twins in any way; For one, God is three persons and not two. However, my point is that examples like these should give us a rough idea of how God can be one and yet also three.

Atoms are singular and yet they are made up of three distinct things.

mmbattlestar said:

I believe in the trinity but I don't quite understand how it works. How can God be three persons yet still continue to be one God? Wouldn't that make God three separate Gods? The frequently posted diagram sort of explains the trinity. Both the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all God but the Father is not the Son. Nor is the Holy Spirit the Father...etc But how is that possible? God is three separate persons yet one God? It doesn't make any sense. Can someone please explain to me how the Trinity works?

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The Trinity:

The Bible teaches that there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4) (1 Timothy 2:5) (Isaiah 45:5).

Yet, the Bible also teaches that there are distinctions within the Godhead or that there is a plural nature to God.

Here are a couple of quick points:

#1. The word Elohim (אֱלֹהִ֔ים) is both a singular and a plural noun.
#2. God refers to Himself in plural form (Genesis 1:26) (Genesis 3:22) (Genesis 11:7) (Isaiah 6:8).
#3. Plurality of God in New Testament (Matthew 28:19) (2 Corinthians 13:14) (John 14:16-20).
#4. Introductions to both the Son & Holy Spirit (Daniel 7:9,10,13,14) (John 14:16)
#5. Different persons of Godhead appear at one time (Luke 3:21-22)
#6. Distinctions of Wills (Luke 22:42).
#7. Conversations Between the Godhead (Psalm 2:1-12) (Psalm 45:6-7) (Psalm 110:1) (Matthew 11:27) (John 17:24).


The Trinity is told to us in one verse.

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7).

Romans 1:20 says,
"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:"

Meaning, even nature itself declares the Godhead (or the Trinity).

Atoms = Nucleus, Protons, Electrons.
Water Molecules = Hydrogen Atom, Hydrogen Atom, Oxygen Atom.
Man Made in God's Image = Physical Body, Spirit Body, Soul.

Although the word "Trinity" is not found within the Scriptures, the word "Godhead" is used instead (Acts of the Apostles 17:29) (Romans 1:20) (Colossians 2:9).

thecolorsblend said:

I am somebody's son.

I am somebody else's brother.

I am somebody else's boyfriend.

None of those identities impede the rest. I am all three of them.

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Yes, but Jesus was the son of the Father, and both were God. Unless you happen to be your own boyfriend, the analogy doesn't work. Please tell me you're not your own boyfriend, for pity's sake.

You're not, are you?

mmbattlestar said:

I believe in the trinity but I don't quite understand how it works. How can God be three persons yet still continue to be one God? Wouldn't that make God three separate Gods? The frequently posted diagram sort of explains the trinity. Both the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all God but the Father is not the Son. Nor is the Holy Spirit the Father...etc But how is that possible? God is three separate persons yet one God? It doesn't make any sense. Can someone please explain to me how the Trinity works?

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I doubt if anyone really understands it. I tend to think of it as a perfect union, God the father, his Spirit and Jesus are perfectly united - for example although it’s clear from the scriptures that The Father knows things Jesus doesn’t, or didn’t, there is a perfect trust between them. The Holy Spirit is able to fully express the will of God and in some way has his own role as a counsellor and guide. Who can get their head around it? God is knowable and unknowable - he is beyond our capacity to understand but makes himself known to the extent we can handle it -
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/isa.55.8.esv

mmbattlestar said:

I believe in the trinity but I don't quite understand how it works. How can God be three persons yet still continue to be one God? Wouldn't that make God three separate Gods?

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God has relationship with himself as part of his nature. You can't express love for someone if you are the only one, it take others to express love to.

ViaCrucis said:

We use the language of being begotten to describe the relationship of the Father and the Son, that the Son is begotten of the Father. Which is to say, the Son has His Source and Origin in the Father, the Son has His Being from the Father--He is therefore God of God.

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From what I understand, the Greek word monogenēs means pertaining to being the only one of its kind or class, to be unique and special. It does not mean the Son has His source and origin in the Father or has His Being from the Father.

The omnipresence of God is about as mind boggling as the doctrine of the Trinity. The concept of eternity is another mind blower, everything we know with our natural senses has a beginning and end, not so with God. None can compare. Language itself, while adequate so far as it goes in many ways, can only take us so far in understanding. There is only one God, He has revealed Himself as three persons in the Scriptures, I believe the Scriptures, and we cannot know any more than He chooses to reveal. Be still and know that He is God.

Mark 12:29-30 is a very important scripture on this subject to me. So many people in the church say they love Jesus or love the Father, but the greatest commandment as shown in Mark clearly shows "The Lord our God is one Lord" and commands us to love that one Lord. I now use the name Lord when praying to God in the trinity, Father for the Father, Jesus for Jesus and Holy Spirit for the Holy Spirit.

God is omniscient and omnipresent. If He was not one then there would be 3 all powerful Godds that could be at conflict with each other, we would be like the Greeks, Romans, etc have a multitude of Gods. What I find helps my understanding of God being one is a comparison with ourselves. We are flesh, soul and spirit. A big difference for us though is that these are in conflict with each other. The flesh is born into the sinful nature and the needs to be overcome by the spirit once we are saved. I often find the soul is somewhere in between being strongly connected to both.

It is also important to understand that we dont necessarily need to understand, just to accept in faith that God is Father, Son and holy Spirit.