Doctrine of Trinity
Doctrine of Trinity
Introduction:
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the
earth. The earth was without form and void and darkness was over the face of
the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. God
said let there be light and there was light (Gen 1: 1-3).
The first three verses of the scripture reveal the
existence of the sovereign, almighty, all-powerful and incomprehensible God who
is the creator of everything from nothing to something.
The full history of creation and so many things around
us are still a mystery or not understood obviously. The nature and personality
of God are understood to varying extents depending on the individuals and their
effort to know God personally, only because God had revealed Himself,
otherwise, it is impossible, as the logic is that the inferior being cannot
define the superior being without the influence of superior being. God revealed
Himself through many ways such as the creation, all the things that are seen
and unseen; situations that happen unexpectedly and beyond the knowledge or
understanding; the Word of God that is truth with consistency and values
applicable in life; and many other ways.
Though God revealed Himself in many ways, certain
concepts and truths could be explicable only with concrete modes of
communication that are definite, clear and common to all despite different
perceptions and the uniqueness of individuals. So, the best communication and
revelation from God is through the Word of God.
The first few lines of Genesis reveal the nature of
God along with the existence of God. The three Words that are notable to
understand the nature of God in these lines are God created, Spirit of God, and
God said. This is one of the foundations for the doctrine of the ‘Holy
Trinity’, though the word is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible.
1.0.Attributes of God:
The
knowledge about the characteristics or attributes of God is much essential for
the human beings as it solely explains the purpose of life by giving direction
to it. Knowing God is absolutely essential, as the solution for everything in
the world lies with the source of everything in the world. God revealed himself
not only through the Scripture, a best source but also through nature and
conscience. God is incomprehensible
though we could understand Him to some extent, as He had revealed us. The
attributes of God are composite and mutually dependent and it should not be segregated
and seen. Also it is logical that the attributes of God that are applicable to
anyone are God. And these attributes of God always applies to God the Father,
God the Son, and God the Spirit. Some of
the attributes are mentioned below.
|
Attributes |
God
the Father |
God
the Son |
God
the Spirit |
|
Creator |
Gen
1:1 |
John
1:1 |
Gen
1: 3 |
|
Lover
|
John
3: 16 |
Eph
3: 19 |
Rom
15: 30 |
|
Judge |
Eze
35: 11 |
2
Tim 4: 1 |
1
Corin 2: 15 |
|
Comforter |
Isaiah
66: 13 |
John
16: 22 |
Act
9: 31 |
|
Omnipotent |
1
Pet 1: 5 |
2
Pet 1: 16 |
Rom
15: 19 |
|
Omniscient |
Jer
17: 10 |
John
8: 14 |
1
Corin 2: 11 |
|
Omnipresent |
Jer
23: 24 |
John
1: 1, 2 |
Psalm
139: 7 |
|
Infinite
(Eternal) |
Isaiah
44: 6 |
Rev
22: 13 |
Heb
9: 14 |
|
Righteous |
Daniel
9: 4 |
1
John 2: 1 |
Psalm
51: 20 |
|
Holy |
Rev
15: 4 |
Act
3: 14 |
John
14: 26 |
2.0. Importance of the concept of trinity:
The concept of Trinity is important to understand the
definite nature of God.
It is essential to know the invisible qualities or
characteristics such as love, care, relationships and so on.
It is important to acknowledge the divinity of the
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
It is essential to know the guidance of the Spirit of
God and acknowledge the works of God through the Spirit of God.
3.0. The Supreme Only God- GOD IS ONE:
To be supreme and autonomous, a personality should be
self-existent without dependence and the personality should be all-powerful
with authority over everything. At a point in time, the existence of only one
supreme authorized personality is possible as there would be conflicts and
deviation because the way of working differs though the intention or purpose
may be common and genuine, which could lead to chaos and bias.
To exercise the supreme authority with the infinite
nature, God needs to be ONE.
Moses says to Israel people
that to them it was shown that they might know the LORD is God and there is no
other besides Him; Lord is God in heaven above and earth beneath and there is
no other (Deut 4: 35; 39).
Moses says to Israel people,”
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Deut 6:4).
One of the Ten Commandments is
that you shall have no other gods before the Lord the God. (Exo 20:3).
David sang, for who is God,
but the LORD, and who is a rock, except our God. (2Sam 22:32).
Hezekiah Prayed O LORD our
God, save us from Assyrians' hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know
that He alone are the Lord. (Isa 37: 20).
Isaiah prophesized to Israel
that before Him no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Him. (Isa 43:
10).
The LORD, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer the LORD of hosts said that He is the first and He is the last
and besides Him there is no god (Isa 44: 6-8; 45:5, 14, 21, 22; 46:9).
Malachi prophesized to Israel
rhetorically that they all have one Father and one God who created all (Mal 2:
10).
Jesus said to the Jews who
accused that how can they believe, when they receive glory from one another and
do not seek the glory that comes from the only God (John 5: 44).
Paul writes to Romans that God
is of Gentiles also since God is one, who will justify the circumcised by faith
and the uncircumcised through faith (Romans 3: 29, 30).
Paul concludes his letter to
Romans by saying that to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus
Christ. Amen (Rom 16: 27).
Paul writes to Corinthians
that there is no God but one, for although there may be so-called gods in
heaven or on earth-as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for the
believers there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom
all exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through
whom all exist (1Cor 8: 4-6).
Paul writes to Galatians that an
Intermediary implies more than one, but God is one (Gal 3: 20).
Paul writes to Ephesians that one
God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Eph 4: 6).
Paul writes to Timothy that to
the king of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory
forever and ever. Amen (1 Tim 1:17).
Paul also writes to Timothy
that there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus (1 Tim 2:5).
James writes to the believers
that they believe that God is one and they do well, Even the demons believe and
shudder (James 2: 19).
Jude concludes His letter that
to the only God, our savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty,
dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen (Jude 1:
25).
4.0. The Self-sufficient Three Gods- GOD IS THREE
To be Intellectual and emotional, along with being
sovereign, a personality should be self-sufficient with a perfect relationship
and all-knowing with reason over everything. A personality cannot exist alone
for knowing and sharing the knowledge and feelings, because only when another
personality exists can it be possible to express the thoughts and emotions
practically and genuinely. There should be more than one personality who exists
in perfect unity for self-sufficiency, and the only scripture that illustrates
the existence of the three Gods in perfect unity in One Godhead is Bible.
To be self-sufficient throughout eternity, God is
THREE.
Paul writes to Corinthians
that God has revealed to them through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches
everything, even the depths of God, because who knows a person’s thoughts
except the spirit of that person, which is in him; So also no one comprehends the
thoughts of God except the Spirit of God (1Cor 2: 10,11).
The Psalmist writes that the
Lord says to his Lord to sit at His right hand until He makes his enemies his
footstool (Psalms 100:1). Jesus quoted the same verse to Pharisees asking whose
son is the Christ (Matt 22: 41-46).
Jesus said that whoever speaks
a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the
Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come
(Matt 12: 32).
Jesus read the prophecy of
Isaiah that the Spirit of the Lord is upon Him, because He had anointed Him to
proclaim good news to the poor and He has sent Him to proclaim liberty to the
captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty to those who are
oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4: 18-19).
John 1:1 says that in the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Paul writes to Philippians to
look unto interests of others which is their mind in Christ Jesus, who though
was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the
likeness of men (Phil 2: 4-7).
Paul writes to Romans that if
anyone confesses with the mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in heart that
God raised Him from the dead, the person will be saved… For everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10: 9, 13).
Jesus tells the disciples to
go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt 28: 19).
Peter told Ananias why Satan had
filled his heart to lie to the Holy Spirit…. he had not lied to man but to God
(Act 5:3, 4).
Paul concludes his second
letter to Corinthians by greeting that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and
the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with them all (2 Cor
13: 14).
Peter writes that for no
prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they
were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).
God said, “Let us make man in
our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the
sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the
earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Gen 1:26).
God said, “Behold the man has
become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand
and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” (Gen 3:22)
God said,” Come let us go down
and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s
speech” (Gen 11:7).
Isaiah prophesied that he
heard of the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall He send, and who will go for
us?” (Isaiah 6:8).
When Jesus was baptized,
immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him,
and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him,
and behold a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved son with whom I am
well pleased (Matt 3: 17).
Jesus said that for God so
loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world
to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him
(Matt 3: 16, 17).
Jesus told Thomas, “I am the
way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me.” (John 14:6).
The Angel answered Mary that
the Holy Spirit will come upon her, and the power of the Most High will
overshadow her, therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of
God (Luke 1: 35).
5.0. Unity of Father, Son and Spirit- GOD IS THREE IN
ONE
5.1. Complementing One another- God the Father, God
the Son and God the Spirit were existing in perfect unity while creating the
entire universe.
In the beginning, God created the
heavens and earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over
the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the
waters (Gen 1:1, 2).
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word as God. He was in the beginning with
God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made
that was made (John 1: 1-3)
5.2. Comprehending One another - God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit could
not be comprehended by anyone but they comprehend each other.
God told Moses, “I AM WHO I
AM”. (Ex 3: 14)
Jesus told Jews, “Truly,
truly, I say to you before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8: 58-59)
Paul writes to Corinthians
that No one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God (1 Corin
2: 11).
5.3.
Coeternal with One another- God the
Father, God the Son and God the Spirit doesn’t have the beginning and the end.
The Psalmist writes that
before the mountains were brought forth, or ever He had formed the earth and
the world, from everlasting to everlasting, He is God (Psalms 90:2).
John writes about Jesus that
He is the Alpha and the Omega, which is proclaimed by Himself, who is and who
was and who is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1: 8).
The Author of Hebrews writes
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself without blemish to God, purify the conscience from dead works to serve
the living God (Hebrews 9: 14).
5.4. Congruent with One
another- God the
Father, God the Son and God the Spirit have a perfect harmony and agreement of
opinions.
Jesus told Jews
that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit
is spirit (John 3: 6).
Jesus told
Jews that He told them, and they did not believe. The works that He does in His
father’s name bear witness about him, but He does not believe because He is not
among His sheep. His sheep hear His voice, and they follow Him. He gives them
eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of
His hand. His father who had given them to Him, is greater than all, and no one
is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. He and the Father are one
(John 10: 25-30).
Jesus told
Thomas that He is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the
Father except through Him. If they had known Him, He would have known His
Father also and from then on they do know Him and have seen Him (John 14: 6,
7).
Jesus told Philip
to believe Him that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him, or else
believe on account of the works themselves (John 14: 11).
Jesus told His
Disciples that When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide them into all the
truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He
will speak, and He will declare to them the things that are to come. He will
glorify Him, for He will take what is His and declare it to them. All that the Father
has is His, therefore He said that he would take what is His and declare it to
Him (John 16: 13-15).
To exercise the supreme authority and be
self-sufficient, God must be THREE IN ONE.
6.0. NAMES/ TITLES OF GOD:
The different names or titles of God complement the
nature of God and functionality of God as three in One.
6.1. Names/Titles for God (in general) in the Bible:
6.1.1. Singular Name:
I AM WHO I AM (Exo 3: 14)
God replied to Moses while he asked his name, “I AM
WHO I AM”. And the Lord also told Moses to say to the people of Israel that ‘I
AM’ has sent him.
The unique name and the name that is considered to be
most sacred is Yahweh (in Hebrew) and Jehovah (in English). Yahweh (LORD (יהוה) is used
along with Elohim in Gen 2:4: These are the generations of the heavens and the
earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and
the heavens.
6.1.2. Plural Name:
Adonai (אדני (Lord)) is a respectable plural form that
indicates the majesty of God (1 Kings 3:10).
The Plural name for God is ‘Elohim (אלהים(God))’ (Gen
1:1, Gen. 2:3; 9:26; 24:3; Ex. 3:15-18; 4:4; 2; Sam. 7:22, 25; etc.)
Two
words for “ONE” or “UNITY” are used in Hebrew
Yachid (יָחִיד) means Singular unity
Echad (אחד) means Plural unity
Yachid
is used in Gen 22: 2: He said, “Take your son, your only (Yachid) son Isaac”
Echad
is used in Deut 6:4: Here O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one (Echad).
6.2. Names/Titles for God the Father in the Bible:
Vinedresser
(John 15:1)
Ancient
of Days (Dan 7: 13)
Abba
(Mark 14:36)
Alpha
and the Omega (Rev 1:8)
Holy
One (2 Kings 19: 32)
King
of all the earth (Psalms 47:7)
Love
(1 John 4:8)
6.3. Names/Titles for God the Son in the Bible:
Son of
Man (Dan 7: 13; Matt 9:6; Mark 8:31; Luke 6:22; John 9:35)
Bread
(John 6: 35)
Light
(John 8: 12)
Door
(John 10: 7)
Good
Shepherd (John 10: 11)
Resurrection
and Life (John 11: 25)
Way
and Truth (John 14: 6)
True
Vine (John 15: 1)
Son of
God (John 5: 25; 10: 36; 1 John 5:20)
Lord
(Rom 5: 1)
Word
of God (John 1:1)
Lamb
of God (John 1:29)
King
of kings, and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 4: 10)
Head
of the Church (Ephesians 5: 23)
Master
(Matt 23:8)
King
of the Jews (John 19: 2-3)
High
Priest (Hebrews 3:1)
Prophet
(Matt 21: 11)
Teacher
(John 3:2)
Immanuel
(Isaiah 7: 14)
Advocate
(1 John 2:1)
Mediator
(Heb 9:15)
Judge
(Acts 10:42)
Chief Cornerstone
(Eph 2:20)
Anointed
One (Messiah) (John 1:42)
Bridegroom
(Mark 2:9)
Deliverer
(Romans 11:26)
6.4. Names/Titles for God the Holy Spirit in the Bible:
Comforter
(John 4:16)
Helper
(John 14:16)
Holy
Ghost (Matthew 1:18)
Spirit
of Truth (John 15:26)
Spirit
of Christ (Romans 8: 9)
Spirit
of Adoption (Romans 8:15)
Spirit
of Grace (Hebrews 10:29)
Spirit
of Life (Romans 8:2)
Spirit
of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17)
7.0. Jesus- God or Man:
The personality of Christ is never divided and the two
natures in the one person are never baffled. He was, is and will be the same
divine person before and after the incarnation. The names and attributes of
Christ are for different purposes and expressions which never defy His two
natures (Col 2:9; John 1: 14).
7.1. Human Nature of Jesus by purpose and submission:
Jesus was born of the Woman through the Spirit of God
and had all the attributes of human beings. There are many claims by people and
Jesus Himself that He is the son of man. Jesus objected even to be called as
Good (Matt 19: 17).
Isaiah prophesizes
that the Lord Himself will give him a sign and behold the virgin shall conceive
and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14; Matt 1:23).
Isaiah
prophesized that for the people a child is born, to them a son is given and the
government shall be upon his shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9: 6).
Jesus told to
a man why did he call him good and said that no one is good except God alone
(Mark 10: 18; Luke 18:19).
John writes
that no one has ever seen God, the only God, who is at the Father’s side, He
had made Him known (John 1: 18).
The Author of
Hebrews writes that since then they have a great high priest who had passed
through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let them hold fast their
confession. For they do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with
their weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as they are,
yet without sin (John 4: 14, 15).
Paul writes
to Timothy that there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and
men, the man Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all, which the
testimony is given at the proper time (1 Tim 2: 5, 6).
Jesus who
though was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be
grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in
the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by
becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Phil 2: 6-8).
7.2. Divine Nature of Jesus in His Source:
Jesus existed before His life on earth, during His
life on earth and after His life on earth. He fulfills all the attributes to be
God. There are claims by many people and Jesus Himself that He is equivalent
with God.
Jesus said
that before Abraham was, He is, by saying ‘I am’ (John 8: 58).
Jesus claimed
himself equal with God (John 5: 17, 18).
Of the Son
God says, O God your throne is forever and ever (Heb 1: 8).
The Disciples
in the boat worshipped Jesus saying that truly He is the Son of God (Matt 14:
33).
Jesus told His
Disciples that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him (Matt
28: 18).
Thomas
addressed Jesus as His Lord and His God (John 20: 28).
Paul mentions
to Romans that Christ is lord over all (Rom 9: 5).
8.0. Historical Significance of the Doctrine of the Trinity:
The Doctrine of Trinity has evolved over centuries
from the 1st century, though some individuals/ groups believe in it,
the explanations and teachings associated with that is not quite satisfactory
and reasonable. Also, some explanations are contradictory to the scripture in
some respects.
The remarkable incorporation of the Doctrine of
Trinity is through the Council of Nicaea (AD 325) and Council of Constantinople
(AD 381), and later through the Athanasian creed.
There were various explanations and teachings
throughout history trying to explain the Trinity and because of that various
teachings and divisions exist.
The Doctrine of the Trinity differentiates
Christianity from other religions with many similarities such as Islam,
Judaism, etc. And also, differentiates different sects within Christianity.
There are some groups like Jehovah's Witnesses, Only Jesus, etc. that don’t
believe in the Doctrine of the Trinity by valuing or devaluing one or more
personalities in the Godhead than others, denying the God status of one or two
personalities in the Godhead, or looking at everyone as same.
9.0. Implication of Trinity to Man:
Christ is the begotten son of God, being the likeness
of God. Believing Jesus helps us to receive forgiveness and reconciliation
through the grace of God. Also, we receive the Holy Spirit who is in us,
guiding us and guarding us in Truth and wisdom.
But to all
who did receive Jesus, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become
children of God, who were born, not of blood not of the will of the flesh nor
of the will of man, but of God (John 1: 12,13).
Because
believers are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into their hearts crying
Aba, Father and so they are no longer slave, but a son, and if a son, then an
heir through God (Gal 4: 6-7).
For believers
did not receive the Spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but they had
received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom they cry Abba Father (Rom 8
15).
John writes
to believers to see what kind of love the Father has given to them, that they
should be called children of God, and so he is. The reason why the world does
not know them is that it did not know Him and they are God’s children then (1
John 3: 1, 2).
10.0. Misconceptions of the Trinity:
The
misconception of the concept of ‘Trinity’ could affect the salvation of a
person and personal experience of the work of the Spirit of God. Also, the
wrong understanding of the Trinity could affect the lifestyle and it alters
many associated thoughts that are derived from the Trinity or have its base in
connection with the Trinity somehow. Some of the common misconceptions of the Trinity
are:
·
God
is Three and not One
·
God
is One and not Three
·
The
Bible defines and explains the Trinity explicitly.
·
The
Bible doesn’t teach about the Trinity at all in any way.
·
Trinity
cannot be understood and rationalized by common people, only scholars can attempt
it.
·
Trinity
is according to the laws of logic and natural comparisons are possible.
·
Trinity
is illogical and irrational.
·
God
cannot be three persons and one person at the same time.
·
Trinity
is introduced by the Church/ Groups/ Individuals.
·
Trinity
is not crucial, it is sufficient to believe in God / Jesus and follow what is
right.
· Only the New Testament and specific author (s) express about the Trinity.
Conclusion:
God is beyond Time and Space, so it is very difficult
to comprehend the nature of God with our finite minds and thoughts. But still,
God had revealed Himself and given us our thoughts and feelings through which
we could reason out to an extent and we could also experience to an extent to
have a reasonable faith. Trinity explains the sole nature of God based on the
inferences from the scriptures, and helps us not to compromise the foundational
beliefs that are associated with it, thereby helping us to avoid a lot of
misconceptions and contradictions.
As Paul writes to Corinthians in 2 Cor 13: 14,
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of
God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
For Further Learning
1. Systematic Theology by Dr.Norman Geisler, Volume Two (Creation and God).
2. The Knowledge of the Holy, by A W Tozer
3. The Joyful Christian by C.S Lewis
4. The Character of God, by R. C. Sproul
5. The Trinity: Evidence and Issues by Robert Morey
6. https://realfaith.com/what-christians-believe/history-doctrine-trinity/
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