What is the Trinity?

You might ask yourself, “When God talks during the creation and the Fall of Man, he is talking to others.  Aren’t they other gods he is talking about?”  That is where you need to get an understanding of the Trinity, especially if you are a new Christian. 

            The word Trinity does not show up anywhere in the Bible.  However, many believers use this term to describe three Gods in one, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Actually, the Trinity is God existing as three unique individuals.  They are different from each other.  For example the Father is not the same as the Son.  And the Son is not the same as the Holy Spirit. They are unique from each other but identical as well, since each is divine, is love and has a will. Each is self-existent and unchangeable. 

            Some people may say that God is one individual who revealed himself in different forms throughout Biblical history.  For example, to some such as Abraham he revealed himself as the Father and to others such as the disciples he revealed himself as the Son.  However, the Father revealed himself to the son as Matthew 3:16-17 states, "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:  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (KJV).  All three were present at the same time” KJV).

            Other ways to explain the Trinity to a new Christian is to direct him to various Bible verses in the New Testament.

Matthew 28:18

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (KJV).

            God states that Jesus is his son.  Jesus is all-powerful since he has the same miraculous powers that God has.  God is everywhere and Jesus is also omnipresent.  Jesus acknowledged that he had unlimited powers.  Since the creator-the Father-has these powers and is everywhere and omnipresence, this shows that Jesus is like God. 

John 3:34-35 "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand"(KJV).

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (KJV).

            The above two verses show that the Father, Son, and Spirit are equal in their divine attributes. However, each plays a different role to mankind and therefore, each relates to man in a different way.  The Trinity is made up three individuals who make up one God who function in different and perfect ways.  

Acts 2:32-33"This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear" (KJV)

Acts 2:38-39-"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (KJV).

Acts 10:36-38-"The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)   That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;  How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him" (KJV).

            When Jesus returned back to Heaven, something had to be left for humans so they would continue to believe.  The Holy Spirit, which was first received by the Son, was promised by the Father.  The Holy Spirit is a mediator-first used by Father and Son, now between men and the Father.  It is the Holy Spirit who calls us to repent and be baptized, to confess that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, and to receive God’s eternal gift of salvation.  It is the Holy Spirit who calls on us to spread the gospel to other throughout the world, calling sinners to salvation.

2 Corinthians 13:14-The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen" (KJV).

            Is the doctrine of the Trinity revealed in the Old Testament?  No, because the Old Testament mostly emphasizes that the God of Israel is one God who is unique and uncreated, the only true God.  The Israelites were easily tempted by their non-believing neighbors and were easily led to worship false Gods.  This was a big sin in God's eyes and therefore it needed to be stressed that he was the only God.  However, we do see glimpses in the Old Testament of the Trinity.  For example, many Bible verses say "Let Us," as if God is in conference with others.  There are many other verses that show "an angel of the Lord" appearing, for example, to Abraham, that indicate the God is not alone with his dealings with mankind.

            It is important to see the Trinity as a loving community.  All three are involved in God's overall plan for salvation.  As Ephesians 1:4 states, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love" (KJV), God had already chosen his people before he created this world.  Before he created the world, God had already appointed his son Jesus Christ to be the sacrifice so that we humans could have eternal life.

           

Isaiah 48:16 Come near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his spirit, hath sent me (KJV).

            This is a prophecy of Jesus Christ coming to earth to be our Savior.  God is asking who he should send to the earth.  Then he answers the question himself by saying that he would go.  These verses come from the Old Testament and mention God as being made up of more than one individual.  The trinity concept is also supported in the New Testament.

Ephesians 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 (KJV).

            Even Jesus, in his own words, according to John 15:26, states “But when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of truth, which proceeded from the father, he shall testify of me” (KJV).

Deuteronomy 6:4   “Hear O Israel:  The Lord our God is one God” (KJV).

Reference:

The Holy Bible King James Version.