A Scriptural Defense For the Trinity
DISCLAIMER: I am not the author of this text. I was given this article many years ago as a series of typed pages (yes, with an actual, old-school typewriter), entitled “A Scriptural Defence (sic) of the Trinity,” which does not include author or attribution. I have Googled some of the content in an attempt to find the source, but to no avail. If you know where this article comes from, please contact me and let me know so that I might give credit where credit is due.
I took the time to type this all out because I have found it to be one of the clearest and most concise summaries of the biblical origins of the doctrine of the Trinity. I hope you enjoy it.
This information is also available in "Jesus” Is Not the Answer to Every Sunday School Question, Book 2: Who is God?, as well as in a presentation I gave entitled “(Mis)Understanding the Trinity.”
A Scriptural Defence for the Trinity
When defending our doctrine to people of other beliefs, we must be very careful to define our terms. With so many different groups claiming to be Chrisian, we often find that a definition that we take for granted may mean something completely different to them than it does to us. When the term Trinity is used, many groups have a distorted idea of what we mean. What we really believe is:
TRINITY: Within the nature of the one God there are three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and these three share the same attributes. In simple, within God’s nature we can see three distinct persons, and these persons are, in effect, God.
We believe that there is only one trustworthy source of religious knowledge, the Bible (Isaiah 8:20), and that it is the only standard of belief, conduct, and religious experience (Matthew 22:29, 31). If, from the Bible, we can demonstrate:
That there really are three persons;
That these three persons are all called God or Jehovah;
That there is only one God; then
we can only come to one conclusion: The three persons are the one God.
Is There a Person Called the Father and is He Called God?
2 Peter 1:17 tells us two things:
There is a person called the Father and He is identified as God.
There is a person called the Son.
Is the Son Identified as Jehovah?
We believe the Bible teaches:
That He was prophesied to be God
That Christ claimed to be God
That Christ is worshipped; and
That He has the same attributes as God.
Christ was Prophesied to be God
In Isaiah 7:14 we read a prophecy concerning the coming of Christ which says, “she will call his name Immanuel.” We learn in the fulfillment of this prophecy (Matthew 1:22, 23) that Immanuel literally means, “God is with us.”
Another prophecy concerning Christ (Isaiah 9:6) calls Christ, “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Price of Peace.” The term “Mighty God” is in itself indicative of Jehovah (Isaiah 10:21), since not only is He the only God (Isaiah 43:10, 11), but the term “mighty” is applied to Him alone in relation to His deity (Jeremiah 32:18). There cannot be two Mighty Gods (Isaiah 45:22). Thus, we see from Scripture that the Christ who lived and dwelt among us was, in fact, prophesied to be God.
Christ Claimed to be God
In John 8:51-58 and John 10:30-38, we have two accounts where Jesus claimed to be God. In both cases the Jews lifted up stones to stone Christ. Hebrew law states only five cases in which stoning is legal, and bear in mind that the Jews were legalists. These cases were:
Having a familiar spirit (i.e. from the devil): Leviticus 20:27;
False prophets who led people to idolatry (worshipping of false gods): Deuteronomy 13:5-10;
Being a stubborn son (guilty of not obeying their father or mother): Deuteronomy 21:18-21;
Adultery or rape: Deuteronomy 22:21-24, Leviticus 24:10-23; and
Cursing or blasphemy (language by which God is defamed or slandered): Leviticus 24:10-23.
The Jews recognized that Christ was claiming Deity. The only legal ground the Jews had for stoning Christ (and actually they had none at all) was the fifth violation, namely blasphemy. Christ claimed to be equal with God (John 5:18).
We have a number of explanations. Either Christ was:
Deluded (mislead);
Hallucinating;
Insane;
Deliberately deceiving; or
He really was who He said He was.
He equated a persons’s attitude to Himself with the person’s attitude to God. He told people that:
In seeing Him, they were seeing God (John 14:9);
In knowing Him, they were knowing God (John 8:19);
In believing in Him, they were believing in God (John 12:44);
In receiving Him, they were receiving God (Mark 9:37);
In honoring Him, they were honoring God (John 5:23); and
In hating Him, they were hating God (John 15:23).
An instance where Christ claimed Deity is in reference to His resurrection. We are told that if you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9, 10). In John 2:19-22, Christ claimed that He would raise Himself from the dead. If Christ made this claim, it was because He truly was Deity.
Another way in which Christ claimed Deity was through His use of titles. In Revelation 1:2, there starts a description of Christ taken from Daniel, chapters 7 and 10. In Revelation 1:17, 18, Christ identifies Himself as the First and the Last. Conclusion: the First and the Last is a title of Christ, the First and the Last = Jesus Christ.
But in Isaiah 44:6, Jehovah God personally identifies Himself as the First and the Last. Either there are two Firsts and two Lasts (logically impossible), or the same Person is talking. Jesus Christ and Jehovah are the same God.
Christ Is Worshipped as God
The Scriptures tell us that Jehovah is a jealous God who demands “exacting and exclusive devotion,” (Deuteronomy 6:13-15; Exodus 34:14). Christ Himself said, “It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to Him alone you must render sacred service” (Luke 4:8 NWT).
We take our definition of worship directly from the Scriptures
WORSHIP: The act of paying divine honors to God, acknowledging that He is worthy to receive the glory and the honor and the power. (Revelation 4:10, 11)
To worship any other as God, whether angel, man or man-made image is idolatry. In Colossians 2:18 we are warned not to worship angels. In Revelation 19:10, an angel (cf. Revelation 18:1) refuses worship from John; and in Revelation 22:8, 9, an angel refuses John’s worship a second time, saying, “Do not do that…worship God.”
Furthermore, Romans 1:23 explains that fools “exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man.” Obviously, we are not to worship man either. In Acts 10:25, 26, Peter refuses worship; and in Acts 14:11-15, Paul and Barnabus refuse worship.
Yet, from the very beginning of His ministry Christ allows Himself to be worshipped. This is clear and unmistakable evidence of His claim to be God.
He is worshipped as God:
By Angels. God commanded the angels to worship Christ (Hebrews 1:6). In Nehemiah 9:6, we learn that the hosts of heaven worship Jehovah. In angels worship Christ, it is simply because He is God.
By Men. After Christ’s resurrection He appeared to His disciples. After proving his identity to Thomas (John 20:26-28), Thomas said to Christ, “my Lord and my God.” Christ accepted being called God; He accepted worship. If Christ is not God, He would have refused worship here, but He removes all doubt in the next verse by saying, “Because you have seen me have you believed? Happy are those who do not see and yet believe” (John 8:29 NWT). As a man, Christ was made lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:9); and if an angel refused worship, and Christ accepted it, the obvious conclusion is that our Lord was indeed Jehovah the Son, worthy of worship because He was and is true Deity.
Through Prayer. Surely prayer is to be made only to God. In Acts 7:59, we have an instance where Stephen prayed directly to Christ, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” If Christ is not God, then Stephen is guilty of praying to a creature.
By Service. In 2 Kings 17:35, Jehovah tells us that we must not bow down to other gods or serve them. Yet in Colossians 3:24 and 1 Corinthians 7:22, Paul tells us that Christians should be servants of Christ.
Christ Has the Same Attributes as God
From the very beginning of His ministry, Christ proved His claim to Deity by doing things only God can do. Christ showed His Deity:
In knowing the thoughts and intents of men (Matthew 9:4, 12:25; Luke 6:8, 9:47)
In forgiving sins (Mark 2:5-7; Luke 7:48, 49)
In seeing event s while being far removed (John 1:48-50)
In healing people (Matthew 8:2-4, 5-13, 14-17, 9:20-22, 12:9-13; Mark 2:3-12, 7:32-37; Luke 17:11-19, 22:47-51; John 5:1-9, 9:11, and etc.)
In raising the dead (Matthew 9:18-26; Luke 7:11-15; John 11:1-44)
In controlling nature and its elements (Matthew 14:22, 23; Mark 4:35-41; John 2:1-11, 6:1-14).
Jesus’ life was full of demonstrations of His Deity which verify His claim to be God. The whole Bible was written for this purpose, as John says, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this Book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31 NIV).
Is There a Third Person and Can Such a Person Be Identified as Jehovah?
First, is the Spirit called Jehovah? In the first Church at Jerusalem, Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold some property and brought only part of the monty to the apostles, claiming it was the full price. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land?” He explained in the next verse: “You have not lied to men, but to God” (Acts 5:3, 4). Peter leaves no doubt about the matter. The Holy Spirit is God.
More proof—In Exodus 17:2, in the desert, the Jews put the Lord Jehovah to the test. But in Hebrews 3:9, the Holy Spirit claims, “your forefathers made a test of me.” The Holy Spirit speaks as if He were Jehovah God because He is God.
Some groups claim that the Holy Spirit is just “the power of God” or just “God at work,” not a separate personality. But the Bible clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit and power are separate in Acts 10:38 and 1 Thessalonians 1:5, 6; as is He separate from wisdom (Acts 6:3), and faith (Acts 6:5, 11:24). Also, the Scriptures tell us that He works using His own power (Luke 4:14; Romans 15:13) and authority (Acts 20:28).
Second, we believe that the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit has a personality of His own, separate from Christ and God [the Father]. The things that separate a person from a thing or a force are intellect, emotion, and will. The Bible teaches that He has all three.
| Intellect | Emotion | Will |
|---|---|---|
|
Speaks: Acts 13:2; Mark 13:11; Acts 1:16, 21:11; Hebrews 3:7
Hears: John 16:13 Teaches: John 14:26; Luke 12:12; Hebrews 9:8; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Acts 1:2 Counsels: John 14:15-17 Knows the future: Acts 21:11 May be lied to: Acts 5:3 Prays for us: Romans 8:26 |
May be grieved: Ephesians 4:30
Loves: Romans 15:30 |
Has His own will: 1 Corinthians 12:11
Appoints: Acts 20:28 Can be resisted: Acts 7:51 Sends men: Acts 13:4 |
Under “Intellect",” the Holy Spirit also acts as a witness: Acgts 5:32, 20:28; Hebrews 10:13; 1 John 5:6.
Only a personality can do what the Holy Spirit does. The Bible clearly speaks of the Holy Spirit as a person, not as a force.
Is There Only One God?
Many Bible verses state that there is only one God:
Isaiah 43:10, 11: “Before me there was no God formed, and after there continued to be none” (NWT).
Isaiah 44:6: “I am the first and I am the last, and besides me there is no God” (NWT).
Isaiah 45:5, 6: “I am Jehovah, and there is no one else” (NWT).
1 Corinthians 8:4: “There is no God but one” (NWT). Also, 2 Samuel 7:22; 1 Chronicles 17:20; Isaiah 45:18, 21-23; Mark 12:32; Isaiah 46:9; 1 Timothy 2:5.
The Bible clearly teaches: that there really are three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit); that these three persons are all called God or Jehovah; and that there is only one God. We can only come to one conclusion, the three persons are the one true God.
The term “person” only approximately represents the truth. This word, more nearly than any other single word, expresses the conception which the Scriptures give us of the relation bedtween the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The essence of the Godhead belongs equally to each of the persons; the persons of the Godhead have a numerical unity (not 1 plus 1 plus 1 equal 3, but 1 times 1 times 1 times 1 equal 1) of nature or essence. The Father is not God as such; for God is not only Father, but also Son and Holy Spirit. The Son is not God as such; for God is not only Son, but also Father and Holy Spirit, and so on.
If we could understand God completely, then we would be equal with God. So the fact that we can’t completely understand the Trinity does not make it untrue, but supports the fact that we don’t understand the nature of God completely. Too often, cultists err in their doctrines because they try to make every doctrine completely humanly comprehensible. We must never forget that God has declared, “…my thoughts are not your thought s, neither are your ways my ways…As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8, 9). The Bible does not ask us to thoroughly comprehend all that it reveals. It only asks us to believe what it has revealed.
The Historical Background on the Trinity
The Doctrine of the Trinity
Many groups will state that the Doctrine of the Trinity did not start until the Council of Nicaea, in A.D. 325. This is partially true; the word “Trinity” was never used in the Scriptures, and until A.D. 325, the word “Trinity” was not commonly used in the Church. It was at the Council of Nicaea that the word “Trinity” was adopted to explain, what is clearly taught in the Scriptures, the nature of God. That, in short, “within the nature of the one God, [with] three distinct and separate personalities, each of which is equal in power, and is the one God.”
The claims which these groups hold to, that the Doctrine of the Trinity is unbiblical and must be from Satan, is not new—it was presented in the early Church by several different groups. Two leaders of these groups were Sabellius of Ptolemais and Arius of Alexandria. Both of these men rejected the Trinity as we know it—Sabellianism in A.D. 250 and Arianism in A.D. 325—both denied the equality of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These two men, along with several other men, who believed such heresies, were excommunicated from the Church. Many later realized their errors and accepted the Doctrine as it is rightly taught in the Scriptures.
The Doctrine of the Trinity, as many groups today claim, was not started in the third century. The teaching of this Doctrine goes way back through the History of the Church. Praxeas in A.D. 160-180 taught “God was revealed in three faces or semblances, according to the dispensation of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.” Irnaeus, Bishop of Lyons, in A.D. 177 to about A.D. 190, not only taught that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were equal, but put a strong emphasis on the Deity of Jesus Christ our Lord. These are only two people that taught the Doctrine of the Trinity; there are others.
In conclusion, we see that the Doctrine of the Trinity did not start in the 3rd century and we know through the Scriptures that this is not a teaching from Satan. There is much more evidence on the Trinity that we have not presented to you, but what we have presented to you we hope will help in your understanding of what the Scripture says about the Trinity, and that it may help you to present it to others.