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V. THE TRIUNITY
OF GOD A. Introduction 1. The
Trinity is one of the most fundamental doctrines in historical orthodox
Christianity. We study the Trinity because we desire to accurately understand
the nature of God. In addition, the Trinity is intricately related to other
fundamental doctrines (deity of Christ, person and work of the Holy Spirit,
etc.). In addition, the doctrine of the Trinity (Trinitarianism - one God in
three Persons) distinguishes itself from all other Unitarian (one God in one
Person) religions such as Judaism and Islam, as well as cults and heresies. 2. It is interesting that in the study of
the doctrine of the Trinity, the word, “Trinity” is never found in the Bible.
That being the case however, the truths of the Trinity are clearly revealed
in the Scriptures. 3. The Trinity is understood by logically
deducting propositional truths from Scripture regarding the essence of God
and the Persons of God. When properly understood, the Trinity is not a
contradiction because Christianity is not maintaining that there is one God
while at the same time three Gods. But, in the sense of God’s essence He is
one, and in the sense of His Persons there are three. 4. The members of the Godhead are mentioned
in the Old Testament but in somewhat of a shadowed sense. It is not until the
New Testament that we are given the fuller revelation regarding the Trinity
and the three distinct persons and their roles. 5. In order to prevent misunderstanding with
the term Trinity, some have suggested the use of Triunity. B. Definitions of
The Triunity of God 1. One
God in three Persons. 2. One God in three Persons, each being
deity, and not contradictory nor inferior to the other. 3. How many persons are there in the
Godhead? A. There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in
power and glory. (Westminster
Shorter Confession 6) 4. We believe in one Triune God, eternally
existing in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--identical in nature,
co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Grace Bible Church) 5. Within one essence of the Godhead we have
to distinguish three “persons” who are neither three gods on the one side,
not three parts or modes on the other, but coequally and coeternally God. (Bromily, Geoffrey, Baker’s Dictionary
of Theology, p. 532-33). 6. There is one only and true God, but in
the unity of the Godhead there are three coeternal and coequal Persons, in
the same substance but distinct in subsistence. (Warfield, ISBE). C. Oneness of the
Triunity (God is One - unity) 1. The
belief that God is one has been held by Judaism since its inception.
Judaism’s monotheism (one-God) distinguished itself from all other
poly-theistic (many-gods) religions. 2. God has revealed Himself and instructed
Israel that He is one God. In fact, Israel’s creed was the great Shema, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” (Dt 6:4). a) However,
even in the Hebrew word, “one” there is an allusion to the Trinity. b) “One” (echad) can be used for a
unity of one. For example, it is used in Ge 2:24 for “they shall become ‘one’
flesh.” Husband and wife become a unity of “one” flesh. 3. We
see there is one Creator God in Ge 1:1 and Is 45:18. The name Elohim is used in
both passages. a) However,
Elohim is in its plural form. Some claim that it is plural in the sense of
“plural majesty” of attributes. b) Others see an allusion to the Trinity,
especially in light of the fact that in Ge 1:26, Elohim says, “Let us make man
in our image.” Who is the “us” and “our?” It cannot be angels because they
were not created in the image of God and they are creatures not Creator. Ge
1:26 is the first allusion to the Godhead (Trinity) who is one in essence but
is three in persons. 4. Monotheism’s
great claim was that there are no other gods besides God (Dt 4:35; 1Ki 8:60;
Is 45:5) therefore maintaining that God is one. 5. The New Testament reiterates the same
monotheistic theme. a) In
1Co 8:4, Paul makes reference to the Old Testament teaching that God is one.
Yet in vs. six, Paul supports the Trinity mentioning Jesus Christ as Creator. b) Other NT passages clearly state that God
is one (Ro 3:29-30; 1Ti 1:17, 2:5; Jm 2:19). D. Distinction of
the Triunity (Three Distinct Persons) 1. It
is also clear from Scripture that there are three distinct persons in the
Godhead. Even in the OT, there is ample evidence of such distinction. a) As
was already mentioned, Gen 1:26 speaks of a plurality of persons. b) The Angel of the LORD (preincarnate
Christ) is identified as God (Gen 16:13; 22:15-16; 31:11-13), but also is a
distinct person (Zech 1:12-13). c) The LORD speaks to His distinct Son (Psa
2:7; Psa 45:6 cp. Heb 1:8). d) The Spirit of God was involved in creation
(Gen 1:2) in addition to Elohim (Gen 1:1). A greater distinction is realized
in NT (Ac 5:3-4; 13:2; He 3:7). 2. The
NT gives an even greater revelation regarding the distinctions of the three
members of the Godhead. a) The
designation of the first person of the Godhead is God the Father. He is the
eternal Father of Christ and heavenly Father of believers (1Co 15:24; Ep 4:6;
1Pe 1:2; 2Pe 1:17 cf. Mt 6:9; Gal 1:4; Php 4:20) b) The designation of the second person of
the Godhead is God the Son. He is the eternal Son of God and Savior of
believers (Mat 16:16; 26:61-64; Joh 3:16; 20:31; Rom 1:4; Heb 1:8; 4:14 cf.
Ti 1:4; 2:13; 2Pe 1:1). c) The
designation of the third person of the Godhead is God the Holy Spirit. He is
the eternal Spirit of God and indweller of believers (Joh 14:16; 15:26;
16:12-15; 1Co 2:10-14 cf. 1Co 3:16; Gal 4:6; Ep 1:13). E. Illustrations
of the Triunity of God 1. Human
analogies inadequately portray the mystery of the Triunity of God (Sun, H20,
egg, etc.) though at times can be helpful. 2. However, the following illustration of
simple propositions attempt to show the Godhead as one, yet showing each
Person as God and also distinct.
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Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516 |
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