John
16:15, “All things that the Father
hath are mine: therefore said I, that
he shall take of mine, and
shall shew it unto you.”
THE BIBLICAL BASIS FOR THE “HOLY TRI-UNITY”i
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IN SUMMARY: THE USE OF THE WORD “TRINITY” has developed historically. That is, the expression is not used in the Scriptures. A human use of a word requires its human definition. This is not the same as Genesis 1:1’s use of the word “God” which is a word used by Heaven and requires Heaven’s definition. HISTORICAL ORIGIN. TERTULLIAN, a “Church Father”, (160–230 A.D.) was the first to use the term “Trinity.” Obviously then, the word is not in the Bible which writing was concluded at the end of the first century. The pattern for the “Trinity” idea, however, is revealed in Scripture. THE TRI-UNITY (meaning three in one). Merriam-Webster Dictionary (online): “trinity”= ‘1. if capitalized, means “the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons* in one Godhead according to Christian dogma.” 2. if not capitalized: “a group of three closely related persons* or things.”’ * THREE PERSONS. The Greek word for “person” (PROSOPONG4383) is only used to describe Jesus in 2 Corinthians 4:6, but is translated there as “face.”ii If the Son is a person, then what does that make God, the Father, and God, the Holy Spirit? GODHEAD. The Scripture’s term for the trinity would be “godhead” (Colossians 2:9) or deity theote¯s G2029, its Greek word being derived from o’ theos (G2316, the God).
BIBLICALLY EACH PERSON OF THE TRINITY (GODHEAD) IS REFERRED TO AS “GOD.” Examples: 1 Peter 1:2, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” Hebrews 1:8, “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Psa 45:6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.” 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.”
Hence, (1) FATHER (1 Peter 1:2), (2) SON (Hebrews 1:8), (3) HOLY SPIRIT (Acts 5:3–4) are a tri-unity deity. THREE DISTINCT PERSONS IN THE TRINITY The Hebrew language version of Genesis has “God” in its plural, i.e., “Gods”, creating the world followed by a specific action by God’s Spirit. But apparently the Jews want to withhold this knowledge of the plurality of the Creators to themselves except for the section of the creation of the plurality of man (Genesis 1). The plurality of man and woman is said to imitate the plurality of their Creators. “Let us make man in our image.” The resulted image is revealed as two persons whose purpose is to be united as husband and wife. Genesis 1:27: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God [Elohim, plural] created He him; male and female created he them.” Like their creator’s image, man would be a plural of one (2:24, Hebrew 'echad H259) but in the flesh. This should remind the marrieds of the seriousness of being united before God (Matthew 19:4; 19:5; Ephesians 5:28). Humans have an excellent pattern to imitate: the unity of our Creators. THERE ARE “THREE designated GODS” IN THE NEW TESTAMENT BUT THEY WORK TOGETHER AS ONE (Greek heisG1520) WHILE EXISTING SEPARATELY. Colossians 2:9, “For in him [Jesus] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” “Godhead” by definition includes “the very essence of God.” iii “The fulness of the God-head” was in Jesus before His incarnation (John 1:1, John 1:18; Philippians 2:6) and during His incarnation (John 1:14, John 1:18; 1 John 1:1-3). He was the Son of God who came in “the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). ALL THREE ARE REVEALED AS EXCLUSIVELY DIVINE. The three distinct persons are all called God, therefore the three persons must be a one unified DEITY. In Genesis 1, God is plural but creates SINGULARLY or “together” and therefore have the singular verb in the Hebrew. The Spirit appears to move separately. ALL THREE ARE SEPARATE GODS; NOWHERE DOES IT SAY THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE “NUMERICAL” GOD (rather, they are mentioned as being unified as “one,” e.g., John 17:22). JESUS’ AUTHORITY REPRESENTS THE AUTHORITY OF THE GODHEAD (TRINITY). When one uses the “in the name” of, or “by the authority” of Jesus, such a one is using the authority of all three. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of (authority of) the FATHER and of the SON, and of the HOLY SPIRIT.” (Matthew 28:19) The “name” (onoma) can be used as “authority” according to Strong’s Greek Dictionary. This passage incidentally has been accepted, by the way, as being in the original manuscript. Its disputed so called “short version” (without this authority phrase given) has been determined not to be the original.iv ALL THREE PERSONS ARE SEEN AND HEARD TOGETHER at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. When Jesus was baptized of John: “And the HOLY SPIRIT descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon HIM [JESUS], and a VOICE came from heaven, which said, Thou art MY SON; in THEE I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). THE WITNESS OF THE THREE DEITIES ARE MENTIONED AT THE SAME TIME to the Baptizer John (John 1:33). ALL THREE ARE REFERRED TO BY JESUS as working together. Jesus mentions three authorities to the apostles: “But when the COMFORTER is come, whom I will send unto you from the FATHER, even the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, which proceeds from the FATHER, HE shall testify of ME.” (John 15:26). The three are (1) “Comforter”, the Spirit of truth; (2) speaker: I, me, Jesus Himself, and (3) the Father, and source of authorities. THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, “Howbeit when He, the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, is come He will guide you into all truth; for HE shall speak not of HIMSELF: but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.” THE SPIRIT IS A SEPARATE ENTITY “He”. HE GUIDES; HE SPEAKS FOR ANOTHER; HE HEARS; HE SPEAKS; HE PROPHESIES. “He shall glorify ME: for He shall receive of MINE and show it unto you.” THEIR PROPERTY is CONNECTED TO BOTH FATHER and SON. “All things that the FATHER hath are mine: therefore said I, that HE shall take of MINE, and shall show it unto you” (John 16:13–15). BIBLE BENEDICTIONS speak of all three in the Godhead. “The grace of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the love of GOD, and the communion of the HOLY SPIRIT, be with you all. Amen” (2 Corinthians 13:14). “Now HE which stablisheth us with you in CHRIST, and hath anointed us, is GOD; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the SPIRIT in our hearts.” (1 Cor. 1:21–22)
THE TRINITY (GODHEAD) is revealed IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: At least 30 verses suggesting unity of the Trinity (probably the strongest case in the Bible) The FATHER and the WORD (SON) are together in fellowship from eternity. (John 1:1) The FATHER and the WORD (SON) both distinct persons, but both divine. (John 1:1) The FATHER created the World through the SON. (1:3) The FATHER sends the SON into the world (1:14:24) The SON becomes incarnate (1:14) The SON is equal to the FATHER (5:18) The SON is the great I AM. (8:58) SON AND FATHER ARE ONE: “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30).
The SON shares glory with the FATHER. (17:5) “before the world was” The SON is the Way [TO THE FATHER] and the Truth and the Life.(14:6) John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Knowing the SON is knowing the FATHER. (14:7) Seeing the SON is seeing the FATHER. (14:9) The SON is in the FATHER and the FATHER in in the SON. (14:10) The SON’S words are the FATHERS words. (14:10) To hate the SON is to hate the FATHER. (15:23) He who loves the SON is loved by the FATHER.(14:21) The SON brings glory to the FATHER.(14:13) The SON prays to the FATHER for the coming of the SPIRIT. (14:16, 17) The SPIRIT is another COUNSELOR like the SON. The SON goes away in order to send the SPIRIT. (16:7) The SON returns to the FATHER. (16:28) The SON will send the SPIRIT from the FATHER. (15:26) The FATHER sends the SPIRIT. (14:16) The FATHER sends the SPIRIT in the SON’S name. (14:26) The SPIRIT of TRUTH guides us into all truth. (16:13) The SPIRIT’S ministry is a continuation of that of the SON. (16:13–14) The SPIRIT brings glory to the SON. (16:14) The SPIRIT bears witness to the SON. (15:26) All that belongs to the FATHER is the SON’S. (16:15) The FATHER and The SON are ONE. (10:30) The FATHER’s power. John 10:29 “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all [men, v.28]; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. “
THE LINKING OF THE TRINITY (GODHEAD) IN THE REDEMPTIVE WORK OF MANKIND 1 PETER 1:1,2:: “Peter, an apostle of JESUS CHRIST, Elect according to the foreknowledge GOD the FATHER, through the sanctification of the SPIRIT, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of JESUS CHRIST.” ROMANS 15:16,30:: 16 “That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” 30 “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;” 1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-6: “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” “And there are differences of administrations*, but the same Lord.” [diadonos, services, ministrations.] “And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.” Here the Spirit is referred to as “God.” 2 CORINTHIANS 1:21–22: “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” 2 CORINTHIANS 3:3: “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us*, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” *prophets GALATIANS 4:6: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,” EPHESIANS 2:8: “For by grace are ye saved through (Greek, THE) faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” EPHESIANS 4:4-6: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (clearly numerical)
WHEN THE OBVIOUS MEANING IS THE NUMBERAL “ONE” & IDENTIFYING THE MEMBERS OF THE GODHEAD. Sometimes the “one” in both the Greek and the English refer to the individual members of the deity. This especially indicates each member’s relationship to the Godhead.
1 CORINTHIANS 8:4-6, “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. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 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.” (Notice that by the Lord Jesus "are all things").
1 TIMOTHY 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
JAMES 2:19, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
EPHESIANS
4:4-6,
Why does the Ephesians 4 text use all three, "mia" and "heis" and hen in the same context?
GOD, JESUS, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT are referred to as our unified Godhead. 2 THESSALONIANS 2:13–14, “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.“ REVELATION 1:4–6. “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from HIM which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” ACTS 2:33,38, “Therefore [JESUS] 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. 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” JUDE 20–21, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” --GAYLON WEST edited by Janie Ward and Mary West i Passages list adapted from a list by Steven S. Sorrell. https://www.quora.com/I-commonly-see-people-say-3-persons-but one-God-What-verse-in-the-Bible-does-it-say-3-persons. The oneness is a phenomenon that we can understand and share. True deity is UNITED. ii KJV “Person”, G4383, only translated 5 times as “person”: Matthew 22:16 (2), Mark 12:14, Luke 20:21, 2 Corinthians 2:10, Galatians 2:6 iii Robertson’s Word Pictures. Colossians 2:9. iv https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/12794/was-the-text-of-matthew-2819-changed |
