What does the Bible teach about the Trinity?

Answer

The most challenging aspect of the Christian concept of the Trinity is that it is impossible to fully comprehend. The Trinity is a concept that surpasses human understanding and explanation. God’s infinite nature exceeds our capacity for complete comprehension. According to the Bible, the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all God, yet there is only one God. While we can grasp some aspects of the relationship between the Persons of the Trinity, ultimately, it remains beyond human comprehension. Nevertheless, this does not negate the truth of the Trinity or its biblical foundation.

The Trinity signifies one God existing in three Persons, not three separate Gods. It is essential to note that the term “Trinity” does not appear in the Bible but is used to describe the triune God—three coexistent, co-eternal Persons who are God. What matters is that the concept of the Trinity is present in Scripture. Here is what the Bible says about the Trinity:

1) There is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4;1 Corinthians 8:4;Galatians 3:20;1 Timothy 2:5).

2) The Trinity consists of three Persons (Genesis 1:1,26;3:22;11:7;Isaiah6:8, 48:16, 61:1; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). In Genesis 1:1, the Hebrew plural noun “Elohim” is used. In Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7, and Isaiah 6:8, the plural pronoun for “us” is used. The word “Elohim” and the pronoun “us” are plural forms, clearly referring in the Hebrew language to more than two. While this is not an explicit argument for the Trinity, it does indicate the aspect of plurality in God. The Hebrew word for “God,” “Elohim,” certainly allows for the Trinity.

In Isaiah 48:16 and 61:1, the Son is speaking while making reference to the Father and the Holy Spirit. A comparison of Isaiah 61:1 to Luke 4:14-19 reveals that it is the Son speaking. Matthew 3:16-17 describes the event of Jesus’ baptism. In this passage, God the Holy Spirit descends on God the Son while God the Father proclaims His pleasure in the Son. Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14 are other examples of passages that present three distinct Persons in the Trinity.

3) The members of the Trinity are distinguished from one another in various passages. In the Old Testament, “LORD” is distinguished from “Lord” (Genesis 19:24; Hosea 1:4). The LORD has a Son (Psalm 2:7,12; Proverbs 30:2-4). The Spirit is distinguished from the “LORD” «And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; », (Numbers 27:18) and from “God” (Psalm 51:10-12). God the Son is distinguished from God the Father (Psalm 45:6-7; Hebrews 1:8-9). In the New Testament, Jesus speaks to the Father about sending a Helper, the Holy Spirit John 14:16-17. This indicates that Jesus did not consider Himself to be the Father or the Holy Spirit. Consider also the other instances when Jesus speaks to the Father. Was He speaking to Himself? No. He spoke to another Person in the Trinity—the Father.

4) Each member of the Trinity is God. The Father is God John 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2. The Son is God John 1:1, 14; Romans 9:5; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 5:20. The Holy Spirit is God Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16.

5) There is subordination within the Trinity. Scripture shows that the Holy Spirit is subordinate to the Father and the Son, and the Son is subordinate to the Father. This is an internal relationship and does not deny the deity of any Person of the Trinity. This is simply something our finite minds cannot understand concerning the infinite God. Regarding the Son, see Luke 22:42, John 5:36, John 20:21, and 1 John 4:14. Concerning the Holy Spirit, refer to John 14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7, and especially John 16:13-14.

6) The individual members of the Trinity have different tasks. The Father is the ultimate source or cause of the universe 1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11; divine revelation «The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: », Revelation 1:1; salvation (John 3:16-17); and Jesus’ human works (John 5:17; John 14:10). The Father initiates all of these things.

The Son is the agent through whom the Father does the following works: the creation and maintenance of the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17); divine revelation (John 1:1, 16:12-15; Matthew 11:27; Revelation 1:1); and salvation (2 Corinthians 5:19; Matthew 1:21; John 4:42). The Father does all these things through the Son, who functions as His agent.

The Holy Spirit is the means by whom the Father does the following works: creation and maintenance of the universe (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30); divine revelation (John 16:12-15; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21); salvation (John 3:6; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:2); and Jesus’ works (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38). Thus, the Father does all these things by the power of the Holy Spirit.

There have been many attempts to develop illustrations of the Trinity. However, none of the popular illustrations are completely accurate. The egg (or apple) fails in that the shell, white, and yolk are parts of the egg, not the egg in themselves, just as the skin, flesh, and seeds of the apple.Regarding parts of it, not the apple itself. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not components of God; each of them is God. The water illustration is somewhat improved, but it still fails to adequately depict the Trinity. Liquid, vapor, and ice are states of water. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not states of God; each of them is God. Therefore, while these illustrations may provide us with a representation of the Trinity, the representation is not entirely accurate. An infinite God cannot be fully described by a finite illustration.

The doctrine of the Trinity has been a contentious issue throughout the entire history of the Christian church. While the fundamental aspects of the Trinity are clearly presented in God’s Word, some of the peripheral issues are not as explicitly clear. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God—but there is only one God. That is the biblical doctrine of the Trinity. Beyond that, the matters are, to a certain extent, debatable and non-essential. Instead of trying to completely define the Trinity with our limited human minds, we would be better off focusing on God’s greatness and His infinitely superior nature. “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” (Romans 11:33-34).

Below is the most suitable symbol for the Trinity we are aware of (click to expand):