Brother Mike Ministries

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This page reveals the doctrine of the Trinity and gives biblical support for the doctrine.

© Copyright 2010-2013

God is a Trinity  
The Trinity defined and Biblical support for the doctrine 
By Brother Mike 


Holy Scripture reveals God to be a trinity. That is, the one and only God is revealed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Spirit is God, but there is only one God. To put it another way, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all the same one God, but they are also three distinct persons. An excellent summary explanation of the doctrine of the Trinity can be found in what has been termed the Athanasian Creed, which originated from the early Christian controversies surrounding the nature of God in the 3rd to 7th centuries. It reads as such: 

". . . But this is the universal faith, that we worship one God in trinity, and trinity in unity; neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance, for the person of the Father is one; of the Son, another; of the Holy Spirit, another. But the divinity of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is one, the glory equal, and the majesty equal. Such as is the Father, such also is the Son, and such the Holy Spirit. The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, and the Holy Spirit is uncreated. The Father is infinite, the Son is infinite, and the Holy Spirit is infinite. The father is eternal, the Son is eternal, and the Holy Spirit is eternal. And yet there are not three eternal Beings, but one eternal Being. As also there are not three uncreated Beings, nor three infinite Beings, but one uncreated and one infinite Being. In like Manner, the father is omnipotent, the Son is omnipotent, and the Holy Spirit is omnipotent. And yet, there are not three omnipotent Beings, but one omnipotent Being. Thus the Father is God, the Son, God, and the Holy Spirit, God. And yet there are not three Gods, but one God only. The Father is Lord, the Son, Lord, and the Holy Spirit, Lord. And yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord only. For as we are compelled by Christian truth to confess each person distinctively to be both God and Lord, we are prohibited by the Universal religion to say that there are three God's, or three Lords. The Father is made by none, nor created, nor begotten. The Son is from the Father alone, not made, not created, but begotten. The Holy Spirit is not created by the Father and the Son, nor begotten, but proceeds. Therefore, there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. And in this Trinity there is nothing prior or posterior, nothing greater or less, but all three persons are coeternal, and coequal to themselves. So that through all, as was said above, both unity in trinity, and trinity in unity is to be adored . . ." 


Scriptural Support for God being a Trinity 

The scriptural support for God being a Trinity comes from a compilation of scripture and concepts. It comes not from one clear scriptural statement alone, but from a correlation of various passages and concepts scattered throughout Holy writ. It is by fitting together these various pieces of the puzzle throughout Holy Writ by which the doctrine of the Trinity is clearly revealed. The doctrine of the Trinity can be said to consist of each of the following points: 

1. God is one; that is, there is only one true God.
2. God is a plurality; that is, God consists of more than one person
3. The Father is God 
4. The Son, or Jesus, is God
5. The Holy Spirit is God 
6. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all distinct persons 

If each of these points can be shown to be taught in Holy Scripture, then the doctrine of the Trinity is validated. Let's look at each point of interest one at a time in order to see that they are each clearly taught in scripture. This being the case, we can know that the doctrine of the Trinity is true. 


1. There is only One True God 

There are a multitude of scriptures which teach that there is only one God.

From the Old Testament: 

De 4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.  

De 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else

De 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD

De 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. 

2Sa 22:32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? 

Ps 18:31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? 

1Ki 8:60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else

2Ki 19:19 Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only

Isa 37:20 Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only

Isa 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me

Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God

Isa 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any

Isa 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 

Isa 45:6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else

Isa 45:14 Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God

Isa 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else

Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else

Isa 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me 


From the New Testament

Joh 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?   

Ro 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 

Ro 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. 

Ro 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. 

1Co 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 

Ga 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one

Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 

1Ti 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 

Jude 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. 


2. God, although One, is a Plurality
 

Beginning with the very first book of the Bible, Genesis, we discover that God is a plurality. We read in Genesis 1, 

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  

The word "God" is actually in the plural form "Gods" (transliterated Elohim) in the Hebrew language of this verse. So from the very beginning, the Creator God Himself is letting us know that His very nature is a plurality. Indeed, if it weren't for the great many scriptures which say that God is a singular, One, we might translate Genesis 1:1 with the word "Gods" instead of "God."  

The plurality of God is also seen in the Holy Scriptures when the Lord speaks of Himself in the plural as seen in Genesis 1:26 and 3:22, 

"And God said, Let us make man in our image . . ."  

"And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:" 

That the Lord speaks of "us" as being the creator of man clearly necessitates that God be more than just one person. We can't say by this just how many persons are in God, but what we do see in this is that God must be more than just one person.  


3. The Father is God 

To anyone who has read even very small portions of the New Testament, it is quite obvious that the Father being referred to in the Bible is the one and only God Himself. Such scriptures as the following make this quite clear: 

2Co 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 

1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 


There are also Old Testament passages that equate God as being the Father. Here are but a few: 

Ps 68:5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. 

Ps 89:2 6 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. 

Ps 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 

Isa 63:16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting. 

Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. 

Mal 2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? 


4. Jesus is God 

The scriptural support for the deity of Christ (Jesus being God) is overwhelming and can be seen in the scriptures from many different vantage points. The following are just a few of the supporting scriptures: 

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son [Jesus] , and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us]

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given [Jesus] : and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 

Joh 1:1,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . And the Word was made flesh [Jesus] , and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am

Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one

Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 

Joh 20:26-28 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God

Col 1:16, 2: 9 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him . . . For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ

Re 1:8 I [Jesus] am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. 


5. The Holy Spirit is God 

When it comes to the Holy Spirit, there is less available scriptural information, but there is plenty enough to recognize that the Holy Spirit is God. The following, once again, is just a small fraction of all the biblical information which reveals the Holy Spirit to be God. 

2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 

* Word interchanges between "God" and "Holy Spirit" gives support for them being one in the same; God is the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is God. 

Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God

The idea here is that Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit which was the same as lying to God. This makes the most sense only if the Holy Spirit is seen as being God.

Another word interchange is seen in the comparison of 1Cor. 3:16-17 with 1Cor. 6:19: 

1Co 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 

In the first verse, the believers are called the temple of God. In the latter verse, the believers are said to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. We can't help come to the conclusion that God and the Holy Spirit are one in the same. 

* The Holy Spirit is said to have the same attributes that are attributed to God alone. This gives support for the Holy Spirit being one and the same as God Himself. 

Eternality:  
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  

Omnipresent (all present):  
Ps. 139:7  Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there

Omniscient (all knowing): 
1Cor. 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 
11
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 

Omnipotent (all powerful): 
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Ps 104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. 

Holiness: 
Mt. 12: 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in
this world, neither in the world to come. 

Savior: 
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 
13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise . . . 

Creator
Ge 1:2-3 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, let there be light: and there was light. 

Ps. 104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. 

Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Resurrects the Dead
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 

The Holy Spirit is a Person
Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said [the Spirit speaks] unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 

1Cor. 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will [the Spirit wills] .

1Cor. 2: 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God [the Spirit knows things]

Although I have only listed but a few scriptures to show that the Holy Spirit is not just some spiritual force as is taught by the Jehovah's Witnesses, but He is a person, there is a book full more of scriptures that could be used to show this to be true. Indeed, if we were to look at all the biblical evidence, there could be no question as to the Holy Spirit being a person. 

Now the list of attributes and works which the Holy Spirit shares with God is much longer than this list, but what has been listed should be sufficient for the purpose to recognize the incredible oneness which the Holy Spirit and God share; so much so that the Holy Spirit must be considered to be God.   


6. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all distinct persons 

So far it has been shown that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all one in the same. But it is also important to recognize their complete distinction from one another; otherwise, one might think that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are simply three different modes of operation of the same God (known as modalism in Church history) in which case, they would not be three distinct individual persons. As we shall see, scriptures clearly reveal the complete distinction between all three of the Trinity's persons. They are not only all the same God, but they are also and at the same time three completely different persons. Now if you have problems understanding how that can be, you are not alone. Theologians have attempted to understand the doctrine of the Trinity for hundreds and hundreds of years, and they have never been able to completely understand. Nevertheless, because it is taught in Holy Scripture, we know it is true. Just because the finite cannot fully comprehend the infinite does not mean it is not true. It simply means there are limitations for the finite in being able to fully comprehend the infinite. Humankind has enough difficulty just understanding the things in the finite realm, so why should it be expected for them to be able to fully understand the realm of the infinite? It should not! The nature of God is just too great to fully be comprehended. 

Now let's look at several scriptures which reveal all three persons of the Trinity to be completely distinct from one another: 

Luke 3:21  Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 
22
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven [the Father's voice] , which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. 

John 15:26   But when the Comforter [the Holy Spirit] is come, whom I [Jesus] will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 

Mt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

Notice that all three persons of the Trinity are spoken of as separate and distinct in the above passages. 

* Jesus is distinct from the Father:  

John 3:17 For God [the Father] sent not his Son [Jesus] into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

Eph. 1:17 For God [the Father] sent not his Son [Jesus] into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

1John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God [the Father], but that he loved us, and sent his Son [Jesus] to be the propitiation for our sins. 

(also see John 5:22-23, 31-32; 8:16-17; 11: 41-42; 12:28; 14:31; 17:1-26; Ro. 1:7; 1Cor. 1:3; 15:24-28; 2Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3; 4:4; Eph. 6:23; Phil. 1:2; and many other scriptures). 

* Jesus is distinct from the Holy Spirit:   

John 14:16 And I [Jesus] will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter [the Holy Spirit], that he may abide with you for ever; 

John 16:7   Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I [Jesus] go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter [the Holy Spirit] will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 

* The Father is distinct from Holy Spirit: 

Mt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

John 14:16 And I [Jesus] will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter [the Holy Spirit], that he may abide with you for ever; 

John 15:26   But when the Comforter [the Holy Spirit] is come, whom I [Jesus] will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:  


Conclusion: 

It has been shown that there is only one God, and yet that God consists of more than one person. It has also been shown that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are each one and the same God; nevertheless, they each remain separate and distinct persons. Just how this can be is a mystery which is incomprehensible to our finite minds. But one thing seems certain: the Holy Scriptures clearly support and prove the doctrine of the Trinity. God is One Lord, but He is in three persons, namely the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.   

 

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