THE
DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY
Since the doctrine of the Trinity consists
of truths that are clearly and explicitly stated in Scripture, references to it
can be found in both the Old Testament, and in Jewish literature written prior
to the time of Christ. Nevertheless, during the fourth century Christians
adopted a terminology that made it easier to express certain facts about God
without contradicting what the Bible says elsewhere. For example, even though
the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, if we referred
to them as three Gods, we would contradict the Bible passages that say there is
only one God. Therefore, in order to avoid confusion, while making it clear
that only one God exists, we refer to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost as three
persons rather than three Gods. Furthermore, when we refer to them as
"persons," all we really mean is that they have the attributes of a
personal being (they love, care, plan, think, speak, etc.). Thus, we refer to
the Holy Spirit as a person because the Bible tells us that He has a
"mind" (Romans
THERE
IS ONLY ONE GOD
Deuteronomy 6:4, Hear O Israel, The Lord our God is
one Lord. (Mark
Mark 12:32, There is one God;
and there is none other but He.
1Timothy 2:5, For there is
one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
James 2:19, You believe that
there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
1Corinthians 8:6, 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.
Isaiah 43:10-11, I am He: before me there was no God
formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am Jehovah; and beside me
there is no Savior.
Deuteronomy
Isaiah 44:6, Thus says
Jehovah the king of
THE
FATHER IS GOD
Deuteronomy 32:6, Do you thus repay Jehovah, O foolish
people and unwise? is not He your Father who has
bought you? has He not made you, and established you?
Isaiah 64:8, Jehovah, you are our Father; we are the
clay, and you are our potter; and we all are the work of your hand.
Isaiah 63:16, You are our
Father though Abraham is ignorant of us, and
1Thessalonians
THE
SON IS GOD
Matthew 1:23, Behold a virgin shall be with child, and
shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being
interpreted is, God with us. (Isaiah 7:14)
Isaiah 9:6, For unto us a
child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His
shoulders: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God,
The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Psalm 2:7,12, The Lord hath
said unto me, You art my Son; this day have I begotten you ... Blessed are all
they that put their trust in Him.
Hebrews 1:8, But unto the Son He says, Your throne, O
God , is for ever and ever.
Isaiah 49:26, I Jehovah am
your Savior and your Redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob.
Isaiah 54:5, For your maker
is your husband; the Lord of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer the holy one
of
John 20:28, And Thomas
answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God.
[See also,
1Timothy 1:1, 1Timothy 2:3, and 1Timothy
THE
HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD
Acts 5:3-4, But Peter said, Ananias,
why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy
Ghost ... You have not lied to men, but to God.
Job 33:4, The Spirit of God has made me, and the
breath of the Almighty has given me life.
Matthew 12:31-32, Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost
shall not be forgiven unto men ... whosoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him.
Isaiah 61:1, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me;
because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek.
THE
HOLY SPIRIT IS PERSONAL (NOT A FORCE)
Acts 13:2, As they ministered
to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for
the work whereunto I have called them.
Acts 5:9, Then Peter said unto her, How is it that you
have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?
Ephesians
1Corinthians
EACH
PERSON IS DISTINCT FROM THE OTHER TWO
Matthew 3:16-17, And Jesus when He was baptized, went
up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened to 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.
John 14:16-17, 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.
John 14:26, But the comforter,
which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach
you all things.
YET
THERE IS ONE GOD, NOT THREE GODS
Mark 12:32, There is one God;
and there is none other but He.
[See all of the
Bible passages in the first section which tell us that there is only one God.]
THE
THREE ARE ONE
Matthew 28:19, Go ye,
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name (singular) of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
1John 5:7, For there are
three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and
these three are one. (these tri are une.)
[See, 2Corinthians
JESUS
CHRIST IS TRUE GOD, JEHOVAH INCARNATE
Isaiah 49:26, I Jehovah am
your Savior and your Redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob.
[See all of the
passages in section three that tell us that Jesus is true God.]
JESUS
IS ALSO TRUE MAN, THE SERVANT OF JEHOVAH
1Timothy 2:5, For there is
one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 42:1, Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my
elect, in whom my soul delights. (Matthew 12:18)
CONCLUSION
The
Bible tells us that God teaches doctrine "line upon line, line upon line;
here a little, and there a little" (Isaiah 28:9-10), and the
doctrine of the Trinity gives us a clear example of how that is done. While I
could add many other passages, the point I am trying to make is that those who
are truly orthodox allow the actual words of Scripture to be their doctrine,
and so teach nothing that is not taught in God's Word.
Gary Ray Branscome