Why is the Trinity never explained, described, or mentioned in all of Scripture?

[2PhiloVoid]

As the subject suggests, I want to ask about the Trinity. Given that the Trinity is never explained, described, or mentioned in the Bible then why do you believe in it?

Good question. I adhere to the Trinitarian doctrine because it's inferred by the meaning of certain statements which I see spread across the New Testament writings. That's really all there is to it. I'm confident that almost anyone who applies solid critical hermeneutics and exegesis will essentially see the inferences for the Trinity as well.

 

[Maori Aussie]

Given that the Trinity is never explained, described, or mentioned in the Bible then why do you believe in it?

At the baptism of Jesus, we have 1: Jesus, 2: the Holy Spirit descending as a dove, and 3: the Father speaking.
Three in one, all acting with one will.

 

[jacks]

For me the Trinity is one of the things I must take on faith. People more knowledgeable and scholars who have dedicated their lives to the studying the Bible say it's true, so I believe them. However, I must admit if I had just read the Bible without being told about the Trinity, it never would have occurred to me. The only thing that bothers me about it is that Christians are often ridiculed if they don't understand it and embrace it; or even told their not Christians if they question it.

 

[Swan7]

Thank you all for your thoughtful answers, but I didn't see the question fully addressed. While it's true that something does not need to be explicitly named in order for it to be described, but why is the Trinity never explained or described in the Bible? For example, God is never described as three, or three-in-one, nor does the Bible say God is the "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." With something as important who God is, why did they not mention who God is using the Trinitarian formula?

Why ask the question when it is written? Why don't you see for yourself what others have posted and search the scriptures yourself?
As Christians, we are encouraged to search for treasure in scripture, however I will magnify the importance of allowing God to be your guide through His Word.
Without Jesus, we can't hope to understand His own interpretations.

May you be blessed as you diligently search God's Word - Jesus Christ.

 

[Clare73]

Thank you all for your thoughtful answers, but I didn't see the question fully addressed. While it's true that something does not need to be explicitly named in order for it to be described, but why is the Trinity never explained or described in the Bible? For example, God is never described as three, or three-in-one, nor does the Bible say God is the "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." With something as important who God is, why did they not mention who God is using the Trinitarian formula?

Why in all of Scripture is it not stated that God is sovereign?

The question has been Biblically addressed. . .you just don't like the Biblical answer.

 

[DragonFox91]

One reason I don't hear often is b/c it seems every church that rejects the Trinity (but tries to keep all else the same) soon starts rejecting everything. If you can reject the Trinity & not fall into other errors, it doesn't seem possible. The Trinity is like a pre-req for good teaching. Rejecting the Trinity is the first step off a slope that rejects Jesus's literal miracles, Jesus's literal ascension, etc. They soon become a 'believe whatever you want' kind of a church & the church is to teach the truth (you can't believe whatever you want b/c there is a truth)

 

[timewerx]

I think there are various words and phrases Christians use that are not found in the bible, but that doesn't make them unbiblical. For instance, "Prayer meeting" is not in the bible, but the idea of believers meeting together for prayer is. Then, Christians often talk about "gospel outreach," another phrase that isn't in the bible, but the idea of reaching out with the gospel certainly is. It's the same with "Trinity." The word isn't in the bible, but the idea of the one God existing in 3 Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, certainly is.

I agree. I don't mind Christians saying about the Trinity or believing in it.

What I'm at odds with is requiring belief in it in order to be called a Christian because Jesus Himself did not require it nor it is explicitly stated with consistency. For example, Jesus saying "I and the Father are one" where we could be dealing with only two, instead of three.

Jesus did not even tell us to worship Him nor the Holy Spirit, not even His virgin mother but only the Father unless I missed anything in the Bible.

 

[Clare73]

I agree. I don't mind Christians saying about the Trinity or believing in it.

What I'm at odds with is requiring belief in it in order to be called a Christian because Jesus Himself did not require it nor it is explicitly stated with consistency. For example, Jesus saying "I and the Father are one" where we could be dealing with only two, instead of three.

Jesus did not even tell us to worship Him nor the Holy Spirit, not even His virgin mother but only the Father unless I missed anything in the Bible.

See Mt 28:19.

 

[Runningman]

Why in all of Scripture is it not stated that God is sovereign?

The question has been Biblically addressed. . .you just don't like the Biblical answer.

They explicitly called God the Sovereign Lord in in the below verse.

Acts 4
24When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

 

[Radagast]

What I'm at odds with is requiring belief in it in order to be called a Christian

It's the definition of Christian. Believing that Jesus is God is what makes us Christians.

 

[Clare73]

They explicitly called God the Sovereign Lord in in the below verse.

Acts 4
24When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

The Greek word there is translated "Master" in 1 Tim 6:1, 2, Tit 2:9, 1 Pe 2:6 and is used of Christ in Ac 4:24, Lk 2:29.

 

[stevevw]

As the subject suggests, I want to ask about the Trinity. Given that the Trinity is never explained, described, or mentioned in the Bible then why do you believe in it?

Sometimes you don't have to explicitly state it for it to be true or understood as being the case. We know there was God the Son as He was among us. We know there is God the Father because there was God the Son and a Son has a Father. But also that the Father is Yahweh the God of Abraham and Jesus referred to the Father and prayed to Him.

Then we have clear evidence in scripture of a third entity within the God head who had all authority, the same as the Father and Son. He is referred to as a Him and the Helper who is sent after Christ assends to heaven.

John 14:16
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

John 16:7
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

In fact these verses are talking about the trinity of God. It is Christ the Son who is speaking and referring to the Father and Holy spirit in these verses ie

I (Son) will ask the Father (Father),and he will give you another Helper (Holy Spirit).

Christ qualifies they all have the same authority and are the same or have the same source.

This is also telling us how they work together the same and as one. Christ is explaining His mission on earth is finished for the time and He is going back to the Father and then announces the Holy Spirit as doing the same as what He was doing. A continuation and taking over so to speak.

Also the Holy spirit is not Christs ghost spirit of some sort because Gods spirit is mentioned in Genesis and other places ie

Genesis 1:1-2
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

 

[Dave G.]

The trinity is not headlined or titled in the bible , by the way, neither is the title Bible but that's what we read. But the trinity is active all through the bible. The various parts /persons that make up the name God are there and active. To which there are three, thus trinity.

 

[Sam91]

As the subject suggests, I want to ask about the Trinity. Given that the Trinity is never explained, described, or mentioned in the Bible then why do you believe in it?

It is. John 1 speaks about Jesus and the Father. John 14 about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 

[Hawkins]

I think that mostly it's because a sheep to be sacrificed must be clean without spot. The name of God the Son must not be subject to human insults before His first coming.

 

[Clare73]

This is not in the original Scripture.

Au contraire. . .

Jesus bracketed them together as the name (singular--not "names," plural) of God in Mt 28:19,
Paul uses all three interchangeably in 1 Co 12:4-6,
they are linked in prayer for divine blessing in 2 Co 13:14, and
linked in pronouncement of divine blessing in Rev 1:4-5

For those with eyes to see, Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the triune name of the three persons in the one God.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Thank you all for your thoughtful answers, but I didn't see the question fully addressed. While it's true that something does not need to be explicitly named in order for it to be described, but why is the Trinity never explained or described in the Bible? For example, God is never described as three, or three-in-one, nor does the Bible say God is the "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." With something as important who God is, why did they not mention who God is using the Trinitarian formula?

It is in the Bible, it is both talked about, and symbolically described. Note there are plenty of passage that describe this relationship, I just have not got the time or memory to recall them all.

Jesus as God

Col 1:17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Col 2:9-10 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Jesus with the Father but still God

Joh 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

2Jn 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

1Jn 2:23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.


Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Mat 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Rev 5:6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

The Seven Spirits of God, is the Holy Spirit. See:

Zec 4:10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth." .... these are described as Zec 4:14 .... the Lord of the whole earth."

 

[Postvieww]

As the subject suggests, I want to ask about the Trinity. Given that the Trinity is never explained, described, or mentioned in the Bible then why do you believe in it?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:

Matthew 3:16 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. All three are referred to in the above passage. No explanation needed.

 

[Canuckster]

The Book of Enoch (for those that believe its validity) also reveals God as Three: The Head of Days, The Chosen One and the Lord of Spirits. This is interesting because it shows that God has always been the same (Three), only His constitution (for my lack of finding a better word) has changed with the conception of Christ as the first born Son (formerly The Chosen One). This new constitution resulting from the conception of the Son enabled more sons to be born/joined into the Three, God extending Himself as a Family, which was not possible before Christ.

 

[Henrye]

As the subject suggests, I want to ask about the Trinity. Given that the Trinity is never explained, described, or mentioned in the Bible then why do you believe in it?

Actually the Bible mentions the trinity. The Holy Spirit is mentioned in various parts of the Bible as God. God the father is mentioned in various parts of the Bible. Jesus, of course, is God as mentioned in various parts of the Bible including John 1.

The Bible also teaches that there is only one God. For example, Deuteronomy 6:4 and 1 Corinthians 8:4 among others. So the Bible teaches 3 Gods that are one God (God in three persons).

What the Bible does not teach us is the mechanism. This information is God’s purview. We, as humans, attempt to explain the unexplainable and fail. The way I see it there is an infinite difference between an infinite being and a finite being. It’s called faith because we trust in God.