The Trinity

The Trinity

1 Timothy 3:16

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."

One of the hardest to understand and confusing doctrines in the bible is the doctrine of the Trinity. Although it is not specifically mentioned as the word "Trinity", it is implied throughout scripture. The word Trinity is a theological word that is used to describe the Godhead. The word Trinity is from the Latin word Trinitas which means a triad or number three. Just as the word bible is not specifically mentioned in the bible, it still exists. The Trinity is found from Genesis to Revelation and is implicit truth that is found throughout the scriptures. The word rapture is not directly stated in the bible but it is from the Latin word  rapio which means “to snatch away” from 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

The word Godhead is found in the scriptures three times: Acts 17:29, Romans 1:20 and Colossians 2:9. But there are many more references to the Godhead found throughout the bible.

In the bible there are two kinds of doctrines; explicit and implicit. Explicit doctrines come from explicit truths that are shown in verses and are fully revealed in the text. These truths are direct and leave no question about the meaning. Implicit doctrine comes from implicit truths that are implied through the text, though not specifically expressed. Although implicit truths leave no doubt as to the meaning of or the subject in question. Implicit doctrine is not formed by one verse, but by many verses independent of each other throughout the entire bible that clearly show the nature of the doctrine. As long as it doesn’t contradict explicit truth or doctrine, then it can be accepted as implicit truth. The Doctrine of the Trinity is implicit doctrine that fully explains the explicit doctrine of One God.

The teaching of the Trinity is not a new teaching, it has been around since the second century. The first recorded use of this Greek word in Christian theology (though not about the Divine Trinity) was by Theophilus of Antioch in about 170. He wrote:

    "In like manner also the three days which were before the luminaries, are types of the Trinity, of God, and His Word, and His wisdom. And the fourth is the type of man, who needs light, that so there may be God, the Word, wisdom, man."

Tertullian, a Latin theologian who wrote in the early 3rd century, is credited with using the words "Trinity", "person" and "substance" to explain that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are "one in essence—not one in Person".

About a century later, in 325, the First Council of Nicaea established the doctrine of the Trinity as orthodoxy and adopted the Nicene Creed, which described Christ as "God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father".

The Doctrine of the Trinity is an essential doctrine for Christians. And although it is essential, it is the greatest mystery in the scriptures. God has revealed to us who He is in the form of three distinct personages that form one God. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, in unity form the eternal Godhead. Although they are all three God and all three share the exact same characteristics, nature and attributes; they are each distinct in their roles. The name Godhead is referred to times throughout the bible and is the fullness of God which consists of the personages which serve different roles within the Godhead. Each person of the Godhead is able to work independently of each other in their roles, but do not exist or act independently apart from each other.

Each person of the Godhead has been active since creation and has remained active through the scriptures. Each has been active in God's dealings with man throughout man's history. In Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. The Hebrew word for God is plural intensive in this sentence but implies a singular meaning, as in one consisting of more than one. The scriptures never refer to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as separate gods.

In Genesis 1:2 we also see that the Spirit of God was active in the role of creation. " And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Further in Genesis 1 in verse 26 "And God said , Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:" God is still in the plural form as before and is speaking as plural.

Throughout the OT we can see the Trinity as God is active in peoples lives.  Genesis 11:7-8 "Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city."

Isaiah 48:16-17 "Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me. Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go."

Isaiah 44:24 "Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself."

Throughout the new testament the Triune God is even more established through the words of Jesus and through the New Testament writers.

John 1:1, 14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made“. And in John 1:14 “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 bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me."

1 John 4:1-3 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."

Matt 3:16-17, 28:19
Luke 1:35
John 3:6-16; 14:16-17,23-26
Acts 2:32-33, 5:29-32
1Cor 12:4-7
2Cor 1:21-22
Eph 1:1-14, 4:4-6
1Thes 1:2-5
1Peter 1:2
Jude 20-21

It is possible to come to an understanding of the teaching of the Trinity if we accept the word of God as truth, although we may never understand completely the complexities of the Triune Godhead. Our understanding can only come through an acceptance of the scriptures and what is written. Many things God has left as a mystery for us. Many things we believe and know to be true we will never be able to comprehend fully, because we have enough trouble understanding the things in this world.