The Nature of God- Unity and Trinity

7/30/2019 The Nature of God- Unity and Trinity

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Title: TH102: The Nature of God: Unity and Trinity

Submitted by: Bobby Long

Student ID: 1737-805Date: Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Introduction:The topic of a Wednesday night class I taught over several sessions was the doctrines of

the cults, and how to effectively witness to them. The two cults of interest were the

Mormons and Jehovahs Witness. During these sessions, we discussed the doctrines of

these particular cults, the differences with historical Christianity and how to effectively

present the gospel in an effective manner.

One of the main issues both cults have with Orthodox Christianity is their doctrine of the

Trinity. The Jehovahs Witness deny the Trinity and the deity of Christ. The Mormons

believe in a vast amount of gods of which they themselves have aspirations. The

doctrine of the Triune nature of God is a foundational teaching of the Christian faith;

three distinct persons; One God. Dr. Walter Martin states that,

The Doctrine of the Trinity teaches that within the unity of the one Godhead

there are three separate persons who are coequal in power, nature, and eternity.This doctrine is derived from the clear teaching of Scripture, and is not a man-

made doctrine as some (such as the Jehovah's Witnesses) have claimed.1

This paper will deal with the fact that God is the ONLY God and how the nature,

essence, and substance of God is revealed to man via God the Father, God the Son, and

God the Holy Spirit. Each person of the trinity exhibits attributes divinity, yet is distinct

in scripture. It is impossible for man to fully understand the triune nature of an eternal

God. We can see glimpses of this reality in natural creation, in types and shadow of

events in scripture, and in the composition of our own person.

One might ask, Why is this so important? The answer to this lies at that heart of the

majority of the cults and many of the world religions; the denial of Jesus as deity and a

denial of the true nature of God. One thing is true, if you have the right Jesus, you will

be right for all eternity, if you have the wrong Jesus, you will be wrong for all eternity.

To deny the deity and nature of Christ is to commit eternal suicide.


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1. The Unity of God

One of the main doctrinal aspects of the book of Isaiah is that the Jehovah God is One

and besides Him there is no other. In a time when pagan lands worshipped many gods

made with their own hands, Isaiah says,

10 YOU are my witnesses, is the utterance of Jehovah, even my servant whom

I have chosen, in order that YOU may know and have faith in me, and that YOU

may understand that I am the same One. Before me there was no God formed, andafter me there continued to be none. Isaiah 43:10 KJV

All through out Isaiah, a constant theme concerning the one true God is that there never

has been any other God but Him. 5 I am Jehovah, and there is no one else. With the

exception of me there is no God. Isaiah. 45:5a KJV.

In Isaiah 45:22, Jehovah God indicates that because He is God, salvation of mankind

rests in no other than God. 22 Turn to me and be saved, all YOU [at the] ends of the

earth; for I am God, and there is no one else. Isaiah 45:22 KJV. Salvation from what

would be the logical question that comes next. If salvation from the wrath of God can

only be accomplished by God Himself, then when New Testament writers attribute

salvation to Jesus, they were rightly assessing the salvation attribute of God to Jesus, and

in so, calling Jesus God.

One of the most important verses that a Jew would remember and recite throughout their

life was Deut 6:4: "Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one [Echad]!" The

word used here is Echad or 'echad. This word indicates unification. Mark quotes

this verse; And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments [is], Hear, O

Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: Mark 12:29 KJV. In Greek, the word used for

one is heis meaning a union, or unification. The reason this becomes most interesting

when discussing the unity of the Godhead is that there is a term in Hebrew that would fit

more appropriately if God wanted to be viewed as one and not a plurality unified as one

having the same essence, substance, and attributes. This word would be yachid which

means an absolute numeric one. Yachid is widely know to never be used in reference to

God.


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Echad is used in Genesis 2:24 when God said, Therefore shall a man leave his father and

his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. KJV indicating

that the two distinct people would be unified. The New Testament parallel is Matthew

19:5 which states, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and

shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? The Greek word is mia

which is the feminine form of Heis again indicating union. If marriage were a

mathematical equation, it would look like this; (1 + 1 = 1)

This unity within plurality can be seen quite clearly when scriptures states, Go therefore

and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the

Son and the Holy Spirit." Matt. 28:19 ESV In this scripture we have the name

indicating the unification of the three distinct persons of the Trinity; namely the Father,

the Son, and the Holy Spirit; each equal in nature, essence, and substance.

2. The Trinity of God

The word, Trinity is not found anywhere in scripture. One can find no single text that

outlines doctrine of the trinity. However, there are many doctrines or basic truths that

scripture does not set out to prove, but the Biblical text declares emphatically. For

example, the bible does not set out to prove that God exists; it declares that God exists.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1KJV. The truth of

the trinity is another such example. The Bible doesnt set out to prove the trinity, but

declares it to be so.

Mans philosophy can some times be to deny that which he cannot understand. Applied

to the Trinity, man will refuse to believe or deny that which he cannot understand. To the

folly of his own intellect, man will damn his eternal soul in order to esteem his own

ability to understand God. One can refuse to believe in gravity and even jump out of a

plane in defense of his honest and sincere belief. He can reject the existence of gravity

all the way down, but the sudden stop will make a believer out of him. As it is with God,

man can see the workmanship of God, the evidence of God, the truth and workings of

God and still reject Him, but when the sudden stop of life happens, man will bow.


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The word was first used by Theophilus in about 170 AD. This is probably the same

Theophilus that Luke addressed both his letters to meaning the Book of Luke and the

Book of Acts. Tertullian also used this phrase to express this truth of scripture.2

It was

the Athenasian Creed that set the doctrine to paper. In an effort to refute and extinguish

the heretical teaching of Arianism, Nestorianism and other false teachers and teachings of

the fourth century, Athenasius wrote this creed. The following is an excerpt from the

great writing. Note that the word Catholic is an indication of the universal and invisible

true church and has no relation to the Roman Catholic Church.

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold theCatholic* Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled,

without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic* Faith is this, that

we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. Neither confounding the

Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, anotherof the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the

Son and of the Holy Ghost is all One, the Glory Equal, the Majesty Co-Eternal.Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father

Uncreate, the Son Uncreate, and the Holy Ghost Uncreate. The Father

Incomprehensible, the Son Incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost

Incomprehensible. The Father Eternal, the Son Eternal, and the Holy GhostEtneral and yet they are not Three Eternals but One Eternal. As also there are not

Three Uncreated, nor Three Incomprehensibles, but One Uncreated, and One

Uncomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and theHoly Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not Three Almighties but One Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they arenot Three Gods, but One God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and

the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not Three Lords but One Lord. For, like as we are

compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to beGod and Lord, so are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say, there be Three

Gods or Three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten.

The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The HolyGhost is of the Father, and of the Son neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but

proceeding.

So there is One Father, not Three Fathers; one Son, not Three Sons; One Holy

Ghost, not Three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore or after Other,

None is greater or less than Another, but the whole Three Persons are Co-eternaltogether, and Co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity is Trinity,

and the Trinity is Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, must

thus think of the Trinity.3


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John Piper states that,

The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as

three distinct Persons--the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Stated differently, God is

one in essence and three in person. These definitions express three crucial truths:(1) The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, (2) each Person is fully

God, (3) there is only one God.4

With the understanding of what Trinitarian doctrine is and where it came from, we can go

on to the more important issue of what Holy Scripture says about the subject. One of the

earlier premises of this paper is that the Word of God declares the doctrine of the Trinity

stating is as a given. It is in essence a presupposition to the writer that this fact is so.

As stated in other papers, we can quote theologians until we run out of breath. We can

hear those in opposition to the doctrine of the Trinity or for that matter any doctrine,

quote from those who have just as many letters out beside their name. One thing

remains unchanged and unwavering and that is the truth of scripture.

2a. Intimations in the Old Testament

There are many instances in the Old Testament that point to God as One God yet revealed

in three distinct persons. We will look at several in this section. In the first chapter of

Genesis we see the spirit of God moving upon the face of the waters. Later in verse 26 of

chapter one, we find our first grammatical anomaly.

And 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 fowl of the air, and over the

cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the

earth. Gen. 1:26 KJV

The word used for God is elohiym. This is the plural form of elowahh5

used with

the singular verb, make. Which on the outset, would seem like noun/verb confusion

but it is quite clear what the meaning is. It is saying that there was a plurality of persons

who is the One God of creation who made man in the image of God. In this verse, the

creation of mankind is attributed to a plurality within the unity of God. The Spirit of God

is also attributed to the creation of another man named Job. In Job, we read, The Spirit

of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Job 33:4 KJV.

This particular passage states that the Spirit of God made him. To some this would seem


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to be a contradiction, but to those who see God as a plurality of persons with the unity of

One God, it is not disturbing at all; as a matter of fact it could be expected. This same

noun/verb tense usage comes in Genesis 2:33 and Genesis 11:7.

A very interesting grammar usage can also be found in Ecclesiastes which says,

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor

the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; Ecc. 12:1 The

source text of this passage indicates that Creator is in the plural. This is evident and

shows up in the Youngs Literal Translation as, Remember also thy Creators in days of

thy youth, While that the evil days come not, Nor the years have arrived, that thou sayest,

`I have no pleasure in them. Ecc. 12:1 YLT6

This can also be seen in Isaiah 54:5 which says, For thy Maker [is] thine husband; the

LORD of hosts [is] his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the

whole earth shall he be called. KJV. Jamieson, Fausset, and Browns commentary on

this verse states, That God was Israel's "Maker," both as individuals and as the

theocratic kingdom, is the pledge of assurance that He will be her Redeemer ( Isa 43:1-3

). Hebrew, "makers . . . husbands"; plural for singular, to denote excellency.7

Next we will move a striking scene in which Isaiah describes the throne room of God. In

Isaiah 6:3 we have the Seraphims crying holy, holy, holy is the Lord of host. Then later

in the same chapter we read, Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I

send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here [am] I; send me. Isa. 6:8. The first

thing that would catch our attention is the Lord is speaking asking a question to for a

plurality of persons; who will go for us? The passages get more interesting in that in

John 12:41 we have John indicating that this is talking of Jesus as indicated from the

prior 6 verses. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

John 12:41 KJV. Paul, however, in Acts 28:25 says that Isaiah spoke on behalf of theHoly Spirit. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul

had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

Acts 28:25.


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In Numbers, we have a benediction that is still used in churches today. It says;

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and

be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee

peace. Numbers 6:24-26.

Compare this to the benediction that Paul gave to the Corinthians in the second letter and

we read, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of

the Holy Ghost, [be] with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14. Here we see Paul

drawing a parallel between the one true God of Numbers 6 and the distinct persons of the

Trinity.

The next example is found in Isaiah 9:6. This is a beautiful passage that predicts the birth

of Jesus Christ. It reads;

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall beupon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty

God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isa. 9:6

In this passage we have titles for the coming incarnate Christ which encompasses the

Triune Godhead. Couselor is indicative of the Holy Spirit whom is referred to as the

counselor, helper, and comforter. The Everlasting Father is a strange name to give a

baby. The only way that the child can be both born to us, and given by the Father is if

they are the same. Christ is the Everlasting Father who is the image of the eternal Father

in nature, character, and essence.


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The last reference that will be drawn out for attention is the most striking to me

personally. In Psalm 2, we have a discourse or conversation between the persons of the

Trinity.

1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the

earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and

against His Anointed, saying, 3 "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And castaway Their cords from us."

4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. 5

Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deepdispleasure: 6 "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion."

7 "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I

have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Yourinheritance, And the ends of the earth forYour possession. 9 You shall break

them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'"

10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11

Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be

angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessedare all those who put their trust in Him. Psalm 2

In verse 1, we have the Son asking a question. The Holy Spirit answers in verses 2 and 3.

The Son replies to the Holy Spirit in verse 4 6 and the Father declares His decree in

verses 7- 9. Lastly, the Holy Spirit responds with a plea to serve God and worship the

Son.

2b. The teaching of the New Testament

Some have said, and this writer also believes, that the New Testament is concealed in the

Old Testament and the Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament. There is

nothing in the Old Testament that is not revealed in the New Testament. Therefore, it

should not be surprising to find the New Testament writers confirming the doctrine of the

Trinity under the influence of Holy Spirit. C.H. Spurgeon has this to say about the

importance of the Trinity to the Gospel;

A gospel without belief in the living and true GodTrinity in Unity, and Unity

in Trinityis a rope of sand. As well hope to make a pyramid stand upon its apexas to make a substantial gospel when the real and personal Deity of the Father, the

Son, and the Holy Ghost is left as a moot or disputed point. 505.2198


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There are many illusions to the Trinity in the New Testament. Some we have already

reviewed as they were discussed with the Old Testament writings. Others, we will look

at in this section. Many of these illusions are uses also to bring a Jehovahs Witness to

the realization and understand of the truth of the Trinity and the deity of Christ.

The first passage supporting the Trinity can be found in John 1:1. John sets outthe genealogy of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 KJV. Vincent

Cheung states that, The expression, "In the beginning was the Word," teaches thepre-existence of Christ.

Then, the expression, "The Word was with God," implies an intimate relationshipbetween Christ and God, without identifying the two. After that, the expression,

"The Word was God," shows us that although Christ is not identical to "God" (the

Father), he is equal to the Father, and this is consistent with the doctrine of theTrinity.

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John 1:14 goes on to explain that the Word that was with God from the beginning, from

whom everything came to be, was Christ.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

KJV

In the proclamation of Gabriel to Mary in Luke 1:35 when she was told that the Holy

Spirit of God will overshadow her and the son she will bear will be the Son of God.

Matthew 1:23 says they will call His name Emanuel or God with us. In this instance,

we have God the Father overshadowing Mary by the Holy Spirit, and conceiving in her,

the Son.

The next account is at the baptism of Jesus by John. In this account we have Jesus the

Son being baptized, the Father stating his approval, and the Holy Spirit descending on

Jesus, coming upon Him, in power for ministry. Luke states,

And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and avoice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well

pleased. Luke 3:22 KJV


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In the upper room, Jesus is speaking to His disciples and says,

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with youforever -- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees

him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you"

John 14:16-17 KJV.

Here we have Jesus asking the Father to send the Spirit. As stated before, one of the titles

given to the Jesus was Counselor; here the Holy Spirit is call counselor. This is a

wonderful passage declaring that the Spirit of God will relate to the believer in a way that

was not seen in the Old Testament. He will indwell them and tabernacle in them, never

to leave them.

The last example of the Trinity declared is from the words of Jesus in the great

commissioning when, in Matthew 28:18-20, he commands the disciples to go into the

entire world and preach the gospel, baptizing them that believe, in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Notice that there is ONE name, but three persons.

This next section will deal with the individual recognition of each person of the Godhead.

It will be my intent to further solidify the doctrine of the Trinity by identifying and aspect

outlined in scripture, then identifying each person of the Trinity as having that quality,

trait, or characteristic.

First and foremost, each person is called God. For scripture is clear that there is only one

God who by their very nature IS God and all others are false gods. In these following

passages the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. In Philippians,

Paul sends salutations from the Father explicitly stating Him as God: [2] Grace [be]

unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.

Phillipians1:2 KJV.


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The book of John notes a discourse that Jesus had with the Pharisees where Jesus stated

to them that He and the Father are one: I and [My] Father are one." John 10:30 KJV.

The Jehovahs Witness explain this verse to indicate that Jesus was not saying that he

was God, but that He was one is union of like purpose with God. This is easily overcome

because the Jews in verse 36, then picked up stones to kill him; not because of good

works but because Jesus made himself to be God. The Jehovahs witness can sometimes

become agitated when they realize that they are taking the side of the Pharisees.

Not only is the Father called God and the Son is called God, but the Holy Spirit is also

called God. In the book of Acts, Peter plainly states in verse 3 that Ananias lied to the

Holy Ghost. Then, immediately after that in verse 4, he states that he did not lie to men

but to God.

Holy Spirit: [3] 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? [4] 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 untomen, but unto God. Acts 5:3-4 KJV

Omniscience is an attribute assigned only to deity. In the following passages we find

that each person of the Trinity is attributed with the ability to know everything. The

disciple that Jesus loved plainly states that the Father knows all thing as he states, [20]

For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.1 John

3:20 KJV.

In John chapter 16, when it was declared to Jesus that He knows all things, Jesus did not

rebuke Him. [30] Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that

any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. John

16:30 KJV. This brings up an interesting aspect of the Son. Jesus states that while in

bodily form, that there was at least one thing that Jesus didnt know and that was the day

and the hour of the second coming. One must ask if this negates Jesus deity because he

didnt know all things? The answer is no. Christ willingly denied himself that aspect of

his deity in order to fully identify with mankind. This in no way detracts from Christs


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ability to know everything and doesnt negate that fact, in heaven, Christ knows all

things.

Scripture also reveals that Holy Spirit knows everything that God knows. As the third

person of the Trinity, Holy Spirit is not an it, nor is He the invisible force of God, but is

a person with characteristics of a person. We find in scripture that He can be lied to and

grieved. We find that He teaches, convicts, testifies, and can speak. In 1 Corinthians,

Paul says that the Holy Spirit also knows the deep things that only God can know.

[10] But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searchethall things, yea, the deep things of God. [11] For what man knoweth the things of a

man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth

no man, but the Spirit of God.1 Corinthians 2:10-11 KJV

Omnipresence is another attribute assigned only to deity. In the following passages we

find that each person of the Trinity is attributed with the ability to be everywhere. In 1

Kings we read that the heavens cannot contain God. [27] But will God indeed dwell on

the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less

this house that I have builded? 1 Kings 8:27 KJV.

Jesus, at the time of His commissioning his disciples to go into the entire world, states

that He will be with them even until the end of the world. Here again, we have an

instance in which Jesus denied himself the ability to be all places and all times while in

an earthly body and for the purpose of identifying with mankind. This has no bearing on

the fact that Jesus cant, its the fact that Jesus willingly didnt.

[20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:

and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew28:20 KJV


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The Psalmist so eloquently declares this truth of omnipresence concerning the Holy Spirit

when he writes,

[7] Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

[8] If I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold,

thou [art there]. [9] [If] I take the wings of the morning, [and] dwell in theuttermost parts of the sea; [10] Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right

hand shall hold me. Psalm 139: 7-10

Creation is the ability to bring something in existence from nothing. As this is being

written, a pause is in order to reflect on the utter magnificence of these 66 books penned

by over 40 authors over several thousand years. As inspired scripture, these books are in

total accord and harmony. The gospel of Jesus Christ is truly written in the volume of the

book, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little. In the following passages we find

that each person of the Trinity is attributed with creation.

Several passages in Isaiah indicate that God created all things. In verse 8 of Isaiah 64, we

read, 8] But now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter;

and we all [are] the work of thy hand. Isaiah 64:8 KJV. However, in John chapter 1, we

find that as John was laying out the genealogy of Christ from the before the beginning of

time, we read that all things were made by Christ and without Him, nothing was made:

[3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was

made. John 1:3 KJV

Possibly the oldest book in the Bible declares that the Spirit of God is the maker of the

writer. In the book of Job, we find, [4] The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath

of the Almighty hath given me life. Job 33:4 KJV


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The last example we will look at is the fact that scripture declares that all three persons of

the Godhead were responsible for the resurrection of Jesus. In the following passages we

see each person being attributed with the resurrection. Paul, in his letter to the

Thessalonians, states that God the Father raised Jesus from the dead: [10] And to wait

for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us

from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 KJV.

Jesus is recorded in the book of John as saying that he, himself, is responsible for raising

his own body from the grave. [17] Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay

down my life, that I might take it again. John 10:17 KJV. Earlier in the book of John

in chapter 2, we find the words of Jesus again stating that He would raise His body from

the grave after being in the earth for three days. Jesus answered and said unto them,

Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. John 2:19

Paul, who was same writer that told the Thessalonians that the Father raised Jesus from

the dead, is the same one that tells the Romans that the Holy Spirit is the one that raised

Jesus from the dead.

[11] But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he

that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his

Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:11

3. Observations and Deductions Based on the Study of the Trinity

3a. The doctrines non-confliction with the unity of God

There is no conflict of a Triune God and the unity of God. As a matter of fact, if there

were no Son, then there would be no one God. This would be true of any of the

Godhead. They are inseparable, equal in power and glory, and of substance. The

Godhead is not three gods as Tritheism would have one believe, nor are they one God

manifesting in three different roles or modes as modalism would teach. Neither are they

one God acting as the Father as the Unitarians (Aryanism) believe.


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Charles Hodges states that,

The summation of the above facts is expressed in the proposition, The one

divine. Being subsists in three persons, Father, Son, and Spirit. This proposition

adds nothing to the facts themselves; for the facts are, (1.) That there is one divineBeing. (2.) The Father, Son, and Spirit are divine. (3.) The Father, Son, and Spirit

are, in the sense just stated, distinct persons. (4.) Attributes being inseparablefrom substance, the Scriptures, in saying that the Father, Son, and Spirit possess

the same attributes, say they are the same in substance; and, if the same insubstance, they are equal in power and glory.

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From the onset of this paper, it was stated that the Bible pre-supposes some facts; one

being that there is one true God and another would be the trinity or tri-unity as some

would say. It should not bother or upset us to find the nature of incomprehensible and

sometimes unexplainable. After all, if we could wrap our minds around the true nature of

God, we ourselves would be god.

b. Eternal distinctions

3c. Three are equal

The three persons of the Godhead are equal in nature, power, substance, and essence.

They are in other terms, hypostasesly related if such a term exists. Hypostases is the

plural form of hypostasis which means, the substance or essential nature of an

individual11 Taking this definition, we can see that Jesus as God, the Father as God, and

the Holy Spirit as God, is not harmed at all within the definition of or reality of one true

God. The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit are all of the same essence and of the

same underlying substance that, in itself, defines deity.


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In an ancient diagram, we see how those of old

tried to explain the Trinity. They understood

that the Father was distinct from the Son and the

Spirit and this distinction carried to each person

of the Trinity.

It can also be seen that they realized that the

Father, the Son, and the Spirit was inseparable,

co-eternal, interdependent, and absolutely united.

As we look at scripture, we see that the Son is in submission to the Father, and the Spirit

is in submission and testifies to the Son. One must understand that submission does not

indicate in-equality. The three are equal in power, glory, and worthy of worship. There

is also a hierarchy involved within the Trinity. This hierarchy does not devalue the

supreme deification or the co-equality of any person of the Trinity. This can be seen in

the example of marriage. A man leaves his mother and clings to his wife and they

become one flesh with the man being the head of his household and the wife being in

submission to him as that head with the husband in submission to Christ. Each are

individual people with equal importance and made of the same substance with the same

purpose.

3d. Practical value

The Trinity is the basis of many of the functions of our society and the world around us.

We find a Trinity in our family, in our church, and in the elements of our world. In our

families, we see the individuals within the family structure, each equal in what makes

them human, yet each in submission. In our churches, we see that the congregation

submits to the leadership, and the leadership to Christ. Even our elements are solid,

liquid, and gas.


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The existence of the Trinity tells us that God desires communion and it has always been

His plan to reveal Himself to His highest creation and to fellowship with humanity.

Without the Son, there could be no redemption. Without the Holy Spirit, there could be

no empowerment for ministry or conviction of sin. The Triune nature of God makes

salvation possible and proves that 1 John 4:8 is true and God is love. Only God could

stand in propitiation for our sin. However, God is spirit and could not pay for mans sin

as a spirit, therefore, mans only hope was that God add humanity to His deity and

become man, born of women; both God and man. Jesus was the perfect likeness of God

in human flesh making him eligible to take our sin upon Himself, on our behalf.

Without the Trinity, it would have been impossible for God to ultimately reveal Himself

to us. Jesus said that I and the Father are to know Him was to know the Father. The

Holy Spirit testifies that the gospel is true and Jesus is who He said He is. Without the

Holy Spirit, there would be no seal or surety that we are Gods own. God reveals

Himself through His Word and one of the Holy Spirits main mandates is to reveal the

truth of Scripture.

In summary, it is the Trinity that prevents us from separating the redeeming act of love

from the Father and the Spirit. Without the Trinity, the Father would seem distant and

unapproachable. When we realize that our eternity rests on the actions of our judicial

advocate in Christ, and the Judge and defense council has the same desires, we should be

overly joyous. Christopher Hall in writing for Christianity Today put it well as he quotes

from Gregory of Nazianzus:

"I cannot think of the One without immediately being surrounded by the radiance

of the Three; nor can I discern the Three without at once being carried back to the

One. When I think of any One of the Three I think of him as a whole, and myvision is filled, and the greater part of what I conceive escapes me. I cannot grasp

the greatness of that One so as to attribute a greater greatness to others. When I

contemplate the Three together, I see but one luminary, and cannot divide ormeasure out the undivided light."

12


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To embrace one is to embrace all three. On the flip side of the coin, to over emphasis one

is to exalt one above the other. This can lead to misunderstandings of scripture and

actions that do more harm than good doctrinally, theologically, and practically.

1 Extracted from, http://www.waltermartin.com/articles.html#doctrine on 1/5/09.

2 Extracted from http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/trinity.html on 1/5/09.

3 Extracted from http://www.apostle.org/pages/athenasian_creed.htm on 1/5/09

4 Extracted from

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/2006/1442_What_is_the_doctrine_of_the_T

rinity/ on 1/5/09. By John Piper. Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org.

5 Extracted from http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H433&t=KJV on

1/5/09.6 Extracted from http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Ecc&c=12&v=1&t=KJV#vrsn/1 on 1/5/09.

7 Extracted from

http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?AuthorID=7&contentID=2620&commInfo

=6&topic=Isaiah on 1/5/09.

8 Spurgeon, C.H., Extracted from http://www.spurgeon.us/mind_and_heart/quotes/t2.htm#trinity on 1/7/09.

9 Cheung. Vincent., Ultimate Questions. 2004 Edition. (Published by Reformation Ministries International.)

Copy write 2002, 2004. PO Box 15662, Boston, MA 02215, USA. Chapter 4. pg. 34

10 Hodge, Charles (1797-1878)., Systematic Theology Volume 1. (Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics

Ethereal Library created 2005-06-20) Chapter 6., Pg. 338

11 Extracted from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypostasis on 1/8/09.

12 Hall, Christopher. Christianity Today. April 28, 1997. Vol. 41., No. 5. Extracted from

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1997/april28/7t5026.html?start=5#related on 1/8/09.


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QUESTIONS:

1) According to Dr. Walter Martin, what is the Trinity?

The Doctrine of the Trinity teaches that within the unity of the one Godhead there are three separate

persons who are coequal in power, nature, and eternity.

2) What aspect of the Trinity do the Jehovahs Witness deny?The Jehovahs Witness deny the deity of Jesus and the doctrine of the Trinity all together. They are in all

essence Arianistic in their belief.

3) What does Deut. 6:4 declare and what does it have to do with the Trinity?It says, Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one [Echad]!" This reveals that the Lord God is

one God thereby negating that there are three separate supreme gods.

4) Why is the deity of Christ so crucial?Because only a perfect sacrifice would be acceptable for the sin of mankind. God had to become man and

did so in the incarnation of Jesus Christ who was from the beginning and has no beginning of days or end

of days.

5) What is the difference between Yachid and Echad?Yachid means only one or solitary and is never used in reference to God. Echad means unified and is

always used in reference to God as to point to a diversity within unity.

6) What is the significance of Genesis 1:26 as it relates to the Trinity?In Genesis 1:26, we find God saying, Let us make man in our image. You have a plural noun and a

singular verb. In essence, you have a consistent grammatical error.

7) Who made Job according to Job 33:4?The Spirit of God made Job.

8) What so unique and often overlooked concerning Psalm 2?If diagramed out, one will see a conversation between the three persons of the Trinity.

9) Why is the word persons used to describe the diversity of the Trinity?Persons is used because each can talk, move, convict, can be grieved, can teach, are loving, and are

caring just as persons are.

10) Summarize what Spurgeon had to say on the Trinity?A gospel without the Trinity is like a rope of sand.


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11) What does Matthew 28:18-20 have to do with Trinitarian belief?Matthew 28 is the great commission where Jesus instructs his disciples to baptize in the name of the Father

and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; one name three persons.

12) What are two ways in which each person exhibit attributes of deity?All have the ability of Omnipresence and Omniscience.

13) Where in scripture can the Holy Spirit be identified as God?In the Book of Acts 5:3-4. Peter declares that Aninias lied to the Holy Ghost, then the next verse Peter

reiterated that fact and said he lied to God, thus signifying that the Holy Spirit was God.

14) Where in Scripture is Jesus declared to be God?In John 1:1 when John was giving the genealogy of Jesus, he states that in the beginning was the Word and

the Word was God and the Word was with God. Properly translated, this means What the Word Was God

Was. Later John states that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus is the Word of God and

what the Word IS God IS.

15) What are two acts that all three persons of the Godhead take credit for?a. Resurrecting Jesusb. Creation

16) What term is used to describe the relationship that Jesus and the Holy Spirit have with theFather and via versa?

Hypostases relationship meaning that the underlying essence is the same.

17) From the ancient diagram, what two facts of the Trinity are evident?One, that they seen them as all being God, and two they recognized that the distinctness of each.

18) How can the Trinity be seen in the Biblical church structure today?The congregation submits the leadership and direction of the Pastors as the Pastors submit to the guiding

and headship of Christ.

19) What are two practical observations of the Trinity?Without the Trinity, it would be impossible for mankind to have salvation from the wrath of God. Also, the

Trinity discourages the separation of the God and the sacrifice of Christ making God personal and real

while at the same time holy and seated on the throne.

20) What can be a pitfall to the trying to understand the Trinity?First, one can never fully understand the Trinity and second, people will sometimes unknowingly over

emphasis one person of the Trinity over the other which is unbiblical.

The Nature of God- Unity and Trinity

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