Trinity - The "Three in One" and "One in Three" Godhead
61The Holy Trinity
All glory, honor and praise be to God alone!
The word 'Trinity' is not found anywhere in the Bible. However, we find classic references to God's manifestation in all the three forms, even simultaneously in many places.
For instance, take the scene of John baptizing our Lord Jesus Christ - and there was the Son - Jesus standing in the water, the Holy Spirit descending upon Him "in bodily form" like a dove, and there was the voice of the Heavenly Father thundering over, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased" (Luke 3:22).
It doesn't make real sense if you say that there are not three Persons here, but One calling Himself, "You are My beloved Son Jesus," and empowering Himself with Himself - the Holy Spirit.
In another context, however, the Lord Jesus Christ says, "I and My Father are one" (John 10:30). And another verse states, "The Lord is the Spirit;" (2 Cor.3:17). Now there are these 'wise' and 'other'wise people who have wonderful reasoning tendency, saying, if a=b and b=c, then a=c - thus Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one and the same.
To make the idea clear, I would like to take the example of a company that is owned by a father and two sons, who together form the 'management' without any demarcation between their powers. In many of such organisations, you wouldn't know when which owner would drop into the office to look into the affairs of the organisation. Though each one may behave differently from the other, yet one would not contradict the other - and they are one. And an Indian worker will call them all by one name - 'sahib'. Whichever 'sahib' has given whatever order, it is just meant to be obeyed. One may be too compassionate and sacrificial moving among the workers like a friend, the other very orderly or strict and elderly, and the other one may sit beside each worker to understand their problems and help them any time of the day.
Bible scholars, for the sake of simplicity of understanding have adopted the 'Trinity' as a symbol for God. They characterise God the Father as our zealous God, i.e., "God For Us" (Jeremiah 7:23); God the Son as Immanuel, i.e., "God With Us" (Matthew 1:23); and God the indwelling Holy Spirit as the Paraclete (in Greek, means Helper) and "God In Us" (John 14:17).
The Bible teaches all through saying, "God is one" (Mark 12:29). Yet, the plurality in the Godhead can be found right in Genesis (Gen.1:1,2,26) and repeated in many places (e.g., Isaiah 6:8). This may seem confusing. To simplify a complicated subject, let us remember that there is no other God worthy of worship mentioned in the Bible, and for our convenience, we call this Godhead "Trinity".
My friends, I encourage you to study the Bible more deeply to understand God and His nature. The Word of God cannot be understood by just idle talk or arguments (they lead only to divisions, confusion and dogmatic controversies), but the richness in it and the precious revelations hidden in it are worth a lifetime of digging and analysis.
Thanks to 'lilmissbubbles' for asking such a thought-provoking question.
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Hi yes2truth, thanks for the comment.
There is so much more we need to learn about God that our lifetime would not be enough to thoroughly understand Him - after all, He is from eternity to eternity and we have but less than a century to study.
The questions that you have asked are highly debatable subjects that have given rise to so many divisions within the Church and everyone holds a reference to claim their revelation as the ultimate truth (just as you have quoted Paul here). However, the simple truth of the Gospel is that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. That is enough to know for salvation of all mankind and that is the purpose of the Church.
The question was on Trinity, and I hope what I have presented is the common understanding of the Trinity in theological terms - in simple terms for the lay person to understand. Now, every symbol has contradictions and the above one also has its own.
Knowledge is power. Now, friend, use that power of the double-edged Sword to slay the devil, not to divide the congregation. My best wishes for your effective ministry to win souls for His kingdom.
I am, your 'co-worker'
in the Lord's vineyard.
Hello Joerose,
Yes, and I am using that Power in order to show you the error of your ways and there is nothing debatable in what I have said. The Truth is not up for debate. Only the tenets of the trinity based Christian Religion get debated.
The Lord through Paul charged The Church i.e. those called out to be likeminded or to be in total agreement. How can I be in total agreement with someone who adheres to a false understanding of the Holy Scriptures i.e. the 3rd century AD Tertullian invented trinity?
I will appreciate an answer to my first question as to why Paul greeted the churches in the names of The Father and The Son, but not The Holy Spirit?
Thanking you in advance.
Hi friend,
The concept of 'Trinity' might have been invented by Tertullian, but you cannot prove it altogether false because we find our Lord Jesus Christ commanding His disciples to be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
Paul greets the people with grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, love of God (the Father) and the communion of the Holy Spirit in 2 Corinthians 13:14. Lord Jesus Christ, in His sermon to the Samaritan woman, clearly states, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).
Paul also writes the following verses rhymingly, same Spirit, same Lord and same God in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6:
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
Paul refers to the Spirit of the Son and Spirit of Jesus Christ in many places in his writings as also he refers to the Spirit of God similarly. "Be filled with the Holy Spirit" was an exhortation not only of Paul, but also from our Lord Jesus Christ. Also please read John 3:6-9:
6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
8 "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
He who is born of the Spirit is a son of God.
Again, let me make it very clear that I am not advocating for the concept of trinity - but I would want you to understand that just as you are convinced about the duality of God, those who claim the concept of trinity are not altogether wrong - same with those who claim the unity of God.
The basic problem with the modern church is that they refuse to agree with one another and do not agree with Ephesians 4:4-6...
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
The divisions arose even within the early church once it collided with the different cultures and traditions outside of Jerusalem, for which we have many references in the Bible (1 Cor.1:12, Gal.2:7,14, Acts 15:39,40). But in all the divisions, if we remember that we are one body in Christ, then you would follow the Word of God and not entangled in dogmas and unnecessary doctrines - and your focus would be just the salvation of the world through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ - nothing more, nothing less.
May I call your attention to the phrase "false understanding of the Holy Scriptures" - what Holy Scriptures are you referring to? Is it the Bible in your hands or some other scriptures that were not printed in the present format, in all their limitations, were available to Tertullian? I wish we not be bothered about the false understandings of various Scriptures available and believed to be discovered everyday - but believe the Word of God given in our hands, and trust the Holy Spirit to lead us into all Truth!
Friend, I wish not to discuss and debate on the differences within the church any further - but wish to work towards the need of the hour - salvation of the world through Christ. And I hope, you too would join me to lead people into the kingdom of God and not engage in civil war within the kingdom.
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:60)
good one there joerose. i am a great fan of the Holy Ghost and He has inpired me to write a book which answers a lot of the questions that bothers us all expecially me. having followed your little debate, i am clear that your answers are in line--may the Holy Ghost continue to be with you as our mission in reality as men and women on this planet earth is to teach, remind and encourage one another.no more, no less; no fights, no arguments--let the dead bury their own dead indeed. thanks for the inspiration.
Thank you for a well written article.
BJC
I believe the trinity theory is very limiting and purely a denominational teaching - not biblical. While you can point out verses that appear to support a three-in-one, there are plenty that don't support it. Those in favor of the three-in-one fall back then on the 'mysteries' of god as being the answer - that we can't know everything.
In John 17, we, as Christians are included.
In verse 21 Yahshua states 'That they all may be one, as Thou, Father art one in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us. . .'
In verse 23 He further states, 'I in them, and Thou in Me. . .'
That puts us into the "godhead," if such a thing exists.
Earlier in John, in Chapter 10, the Jews are mad at Yahshua for what they called, 'makest Thyself God'.
Yahshua responds with their own writings which proclaim - Ye are gods.
John 10:35 'If He called them gods. . .'
The trinity-theory conviently leaves man out of the equation while the truth in the Word puts us smack dab in it. We are as much a part of it as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
1 John 4:13 'Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit.'
There's so much proof that God (Spirit) conceived Jesus (by His Spirit) through the virgin, Mary. Just that fact alone shows the Holy Spirit and God are one in the same. It also proves Jesus is the son of that Spirit, God and is called the Son of God. Son is another word for "image of", in that when we see Jesus, we are seeing the express image of God, for God is Spirit. AMEN.
If someone were to study the most-used name for God in the Old Testament, it is Elohiym (plural of the Supreme Diety) and the name of Jesus in the New Testament, Iesous (meaning three)! The word "one" is that of husband and wife being one flesh! They are no longer two, but one ~ same thing.
Jesus proves He is God in the flesh (Immanuel) over and over again the Bible. God is our Savior in the OT; Jesus is the Savior in the NT. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are said to make intercession for us (they are one in the same, as they are God).
When people accused Jesus of doing works of the devil, the unforgivable sin is stated ~ "to call the Holy Spirit unclean". It doesn't say to call Jesus unclean, for He was the Spirit of God in the flesh with us.
When we ask Jesus into our hearts, it's the Spirit that enters, is it not? AMEN!!
So, so much proof. I have hubs as well on the identity of Jesus Christ (Who Do You Say That I AM?) and the Trinity (God is One: The Trinity Explained) that involves in-depth Bible study to show these things are truth. AMEN!!!
Keep on preaching the truth, brother!!
The bottom line is Ask God if in doubt or if there is confusion. We believe that God can speak don't we?
I do injoy the debate though as long as our opinions are respected. Not that our opinions are important. What is important is that we believe what God wants us to believe and adjust our opinions according to his Holy word.
yes2truth says:
5 months ago
If God is one can you explain why The Son sits at The Father's right hand in heaven? Two beings not one being.
If the Godhead is three can you explain why Paul greets all the church congregations in the name of The Father and The Son but never mentions the Holy Spirit in those greetings.
Was Paul snubbing The Holy Spirit?
If the Holy Spirit is a separate entity or being from The Father and The Son why is 'he' ignored by Paul in those greetings?
Can you also explain why blaspheming against the Holy Spirit carries a heavier penalty than blaspheming against The Father and/or The Son?
Does this Truth not prove that the Holy Spirit is different from The Father and The Son, whereas your blasphemous symbol above shows them all as equal?