What Does The Bible Say About The Trinity?

By Michael, on December 8th, 2009

What does the Bible say about the Trinity? The truth is that the word "Trinity" is not in the Bible, but the concept of the Trinity most definitely is. So just what is "the Trinity"? The Trinity is one God existing in three Persons. That is the essence of the Trinity. God the Father is God, God the Son (Jesus) is God, and God the Holy Spirit is God - and yet there is only one God. Advocates of other religions who don't believe in the Trinity will immediately object at this point and say that this is impossible. But the truth is that God is so much greater than us and so far beyond our understanding that it is not for us to say what is or is not possible for God. As we shall see, the Scriptures very clearly tell us that the Father is God, that Jesus is God and that the Holy Spirit is God - and yet that God is one God. Some have tried to compare the Trinity to water. You see, water can be a gas, a liquid or a solid - and yet it is still water. That metaphor is quite imperfect, but it can be helpful to an extent. The reality is that no metaphor is going to be fully able to describe God. But God has revealed Himself in His Word, and when we turn to the Scriptures we find all of the answers that we need.

So what does the Bible say about the Trinity?

Well, a good point to start is to take a look at the Scriptures that tell us that God is one God....

Deuteronomy 6:4

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

1 Corinthians 8:4

So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.

Galatians 3:20

A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.

As you can see, the Bible is very clear that God is one. There is simply no getting around that point.

But the Scriptures also speak of God using the word "Elohim" (a term for God that has a plural connotation) to describe Himself, and of using the term "us" instead of "me" when referring to Himself.

In fact, the word "Elohim" is used in the very first verse in the Bible....

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The word Elohim is also used later in Genesis chapter 1, and in that verse we also see God using the word "us" when referring to actions that He was taking....

Genesis 1:26

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

The following are some more examples of God using the word "us" to refer to Himself....

Genesis 3:22

And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”

Genesis 11:7

Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

Isaiah 6:8

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

While these Old Testament references do not explicitly mention the Trinity, they do line right up with what the New Testament says about God.

So what does the New Testament say about God?

Well, there are quite a few verses where we see all three members of the Trinity mentioned in the same verse. Some examples are below....

Matthew 3:16–17

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 28:19

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

2 Corinthians 13:14

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

1 Peter 1:2

who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

In the New Testament, God is clearly identified as one God - and yet the New Testament clearly identifies God the Father as God, God the Son (Jesus) as God and God the Holy Spirit as God.

In Hebrews 1:8–9, we see Jesus called God and yet a distinction is made between Him and God the Father....

But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."

In John 14:16–17, we see Jesus make a distinction between Himself, the Father and the Holy Spirit....

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 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.

So what we see in the New Testament is a clear message that there is only one God, but also a clear message that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are distinct entities.

But the core of this discussion always comes back to the deity of Christ. This is one of the main objections that members of other religions have when it comes to Christianity.

So was Jesus actually God?

In John 1:1 it says this about Jesus....

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

So yes, the Bible does say that Jesus is God.

But this is such an extensive subject that we will cover it in a sequel to this article which will be entitled "What Does The Bible Say About The Deity Of Christ". If you are wondering if Jesus really is God, then you will definitely not want to miss that one.

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Ben Harris

Thanks for this really helped =]
Glen Bradley (36)

RE The Trinity:
It is said that us mere humans can’t understand this conept of a single existance in 3 persons. Let us not forget God made us in his image and he did indeed give us brains far greater in capability than is required to siimpy gather food, survive & procreate. After all a house fly can manage all that !

So let us try harder ! We can start by removing the lable “persons” from the concept it is missleading.

We can say God can be experienced by us humans in 3 ways. We can understand this if we think about (EMR) electro-magnetic radiation.

This radiation is produced & travells in wave form. Like a line of joined up M’s the gaps between the top of the wave crests defines it’s wave length & closness of the crests defines it’s frequency. (all good so far)

The frequency & wave length defines how we humans experience and therfore interact with the radiation. When the radiation is of a short wavelenght (ultra violet) we experience it as heat. When the wavelength legthens (as it does in space over time) we experience it as visible white light (we see it). When it lengthens further it becomes radio waves and we here it.

So EMR is a single entity but we can experience it in at least 3 ways. We consider Sound-heat-Light as 3 distict things. They are not ! they are the same thing experienced in 3 ways.

Our skin, ears end eyes are designed to detect the presence of radiaton. Our eyes, see it, our ears hear it & our skin feels it. It is however the same thing!

The nut shell!
It is a singular experienced as a trinity !

Job Done !!!!!!!!
- kilsia
  
  Wow that was an amazing way 2 put it. Gods glory is so immense that our finite minds will never be capable to fully grasp the concept but you’re explanation definitely helped! May God bless u and continue to use you!
roia tsza

I am truely fond of this reading and the comments that have been left accordingly. Although I must say that I agree and disagree in the case that, I being Christian, have no trouble at all comprehending the existance of more than 3 “entities” as I shall cal lthem, for lack of a better term. As mentioned, we are created ain the image of God. We ourselves have three parts as well-our bodies, our souls, and our spirits. Drawing parallel to God, our bodies are the human interpreations of God the Son, our souls being that of God the Father, and our spirits in the same consistancy of the Holy Spirit.

Just something to ponder.
Tonight I pray, asking God blessings upon your lives.
ROGERS OWONDA

We should avoid understanding God’s word mechanically.We should instead pray so much for how our perception should take us.
In the matter of trinity, many folk are about to arived at the denying point to our lord jesus Christ,should that happen in our mind, then that would be the best pleasing moment to LUCIFER who ispire folks with confusition.
Many religionist teaches those kind of SATANIC doctrine,and we should notice 2 2Timo 4:-5,as we have already arived at the time that Paul pridicted sice, then we should now take care.
Thank,
Roowonda Uganda
Abel B

I noticed a couple of people or so here who tried to redefine the Trinity. The Doctrine of the Trinity is already defined. It is an established central doctrine of the Christian faith. It doesn’t need to be redefined. Just because you can’t grasp it doesn’t mean you have to try to change it, or try to explain it in a way that is more understandable. Both explanation attempts by your readers fell way short. Stick to the teaching which is found in this excellent article. The Trinity is a mystery, our words can only explain something of the Trinity, but God is the One who can reveal Himself more profoundly as the Trinity. Some of the greatest minds in the history of the Christian Church, Church fahers, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas could not fully grasp the Trinity, but they believed it. One day St. Augustine was sitting at a beach contemplating the Trinity; a little boy came to him and said, “you will count all the grains of sand before you will ever fully understand The Trinity. Some say that little boy was an angel. God is too big for us to fully grasp with our finite minds. I’ve heard the analogy of family. A family is One, but it consists of several persons. God has been described as a family, a community, a communion of persons and in many other ways. I like this analogy because it makes sense that God modeled the human family after who He is! The family is supposed to be a unity of persons who love one another, a reflection or image of God. After all, we are made in His image. Amen! Great article! Let’s stick to the truths in the article.
JesTus

Is man not MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT ? Why is it so difficult for people to understand the trinity ! The Father is the mind, Jesus is the body, And so what do you think that makes the Holy Spirit thats right the spirit WE were created in that image… Now repent of your sins and seek forgiveness for my Judgement is on you all !! THE KING HAS COME TO CLAIM HIS KINGDOM
mujuni baitani

i think that God is one but he has being appearing in human life in different forms and it is shown in the bible.
marilou peters

The meaning of three is COMPLETE. We as born again believers are body, soul, and spirit. We are complete in him[Col.2:9,10]as Christ Jesus made this available again since the beginning.The Mystery is not the trinity, although it is a mysterious thing,but the Mystery which God ordained before the world unto our glory is: Which NONE of the princes of this world knew:for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.[1Cor 2:8[full 1 Cor 2:7-16; Col 1:27,28]
In 1 John 3:8 says, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the DEVIL SINNETH from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” FOR THIS PURPOSE Jesus was manifested[Luke 1:35]that he might destroy the works of the devil. We are awaiting the finish.
franklin rossman

Eph.4:4 there is one body,and one Spirit,even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;5 one lord ,one faith,one baptism,6.One God and father of all,who is above all,through all,and in you all. 1 TIM.3:16 and without controversy great is the mistery of godliness:God was manifest in the flesh,justified in the Spirit(Holy Ghost),seen of angles,preached unto the Gentiles,belived on in the world,received up into glory. amen…God bless. bro.frank
thebestofall007

the word “trinity” is indeed not in the bible, but the word “godhead” is in three, and only three places in the bible (IF you are reading a King James bible and not some “modern” corrupt translation like the NIV), and that is where we get our word trinity. Hope this clears up any misunderstandings.
- K
  
  The King James Bible came 1580 years after the death of Christ. The doctrine was established 1200 years before the Authorized Version. Your argument is built falsely. The latin vulgate would have similar though incomplete portions that would indicate this as well as the Ancient Greek Version
  
  So in the line and scheme of things your translation itself is a “Modern’ corrupt translation”
MAC

Its beyond my comprehension that God can be God and Holy Spirit and a Man. There is not a singly statement in Holy Bible which mentions this, i mean no ambiguous statement confirming it. Besides if you say God was a man, i.e. Jesus, how come Jesus died ? means God can die ?
- Admin
  
  John 1:1
  
  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
  
  John 1:14
  
  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jarupong

For the longest time, I’ve ask myself again & again and tried to find the answers about who/what the Holy Spirit really is.

Today I came to this conclusion:

The Holy Spirit is God.

The Trinity consist of Three in One.
God The Father, God The Son and God The Holy Spirit.

Like the article said, for us to FULLY completely understand everything is quiet impossible.

“But the truth is that God is so much greater than us and so far beyond our understanding that it is not for us to say what is or is not possible for God.”

In the end, this article was really helpful and adds to what I’ve already learn.

-Sigh-

How great is our God? Just ever so Awesome. ^_^
cassandra

Mark 16:16
He who beleives and is Baptised will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned,(17 )and these signs will follow those who believe in My Name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents and if they drink anythings deadly, it will by no means hurt them they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover .
Act 2:38-39
Amenn!
cassandra

Ephesians 4:5
One Lord, one baptism, one God and father of all, who is above all, and through all and in you,
HALLEUYA! .
His name was Jesus!
Acts 2:3839,
And peter said to them, repent, and let everyone of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remissions of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. That day 3000 souls were added to them they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship in the breaking of bread and in prayers.

The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved..
This is it folks, its true, and it has always been here, the gospel
Amen! Thank You Jesus!
HE IS COMING SOON!
IN JESUS NAME !
HE IS COMING SOON!
http://yahoo.com joshua

god is good all the time
http://lopeznola@yahoo.com NLOPEZ

GOD WAS/IS A BURNING BUSH. GOD WAS/IS A FINGER. GOD WAS/IS A LOUD RUMBLE. GOD WAS/IS A LOUD VOICE. GOD WAS/IS A CLOUD IN THE DAY AND A FIRE AT NIGHT.( THOSE IN THE BIBLE WILL KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.) GOD IS THE ALPHA AND OMEGA. GOD IS THE I AM. GOD IS THE BEGINING AND THE END. GOD IS ONE GOD. THEIR IS NO OTHER GOD BUT ONE GOD. GOD IS JESUS. GOD IS THE HOLY SPIRIT. WHERE IN THE BIBLE DOES IT MENTION TRINITY? WHY CHOSE FATHER SON AND HOLY SPIRIT ONLY WHEN GOD CAME IN OTHER FORMS. GOD IS OMNIPITANT. ( excuse the spelling). GOD CAN BE ANYWHERE AT ONE TIME. SO GOD WAS IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH IN THE FLESH. AS WE ALL KNOW TO SEE GOD IN HIS GLORY WHILE WE ARE IN THE FLESH WOULD KILL US. ERGO. JESUS CHRIST. THANKS . I DID NOT TAG SCRIPTURES. IF YOU HAVE A HUNGER FOR THE WORD DO THE DEED. READ THE BIBLE AND RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF GOD. GOD BLESS EVERY ONE IN OUR LORD JESUS NAME.
tramsey

I have read all of those passages before, many times and they don’t prove a thing. If a friend and I were going to make something we would say let us make it in our image.Deuteronomy 6 says the Lord is one, nothing about three in one or anything at all about three just that He is one. All of these verses can be taken as the speaker talking about two or three separate entities. There is nothing that comes right out and says God is a Trinity
Zach Skagen

I would like to point out that using anything but the KJV will provide extreme and unverifiable meanings and definitions.

I like how you bring up John 1:1

John 1:1 clearly states directly out of the KJV but translated in plain english as:
In the beginning(Firstborn-Christ) was the Word, and the Word(Christ’s teachings) was with(from) God(in heaven), and the Word(Christ’s teachings) was [of] God (referring to the authority god).

I hope that clears things up, since this is the only scripture reference you actually used that was taken literally as Word was God, directly saying Christ was God. But you have to realize that referred to that being as it was of his command.
http://keishrichardson@yahoo.com Keisha

Im confused….in the topic, “What does the bible say about the Deity of Christ” it says that Jesus pretented to be God but in this article it says, “God the Father is God, God the Son (Jesus) is God, and God the Holy Spirit is God – and yet there is only one God. I am confused on a few things in the bible. My philosophy is to live the most positive I can live, do right by my husband and respect everyone else, thank God for everything I have and is to come and I pray that its the key to allow me through the gates of heaven
- Admin
  
  Keisha:
  
  There is only one way into heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ. Please read this article….
  
  http://whatdoesthebiblesayabout.com/archives/what-does-the-bible-say-about-salvation
  
  Michael
Market Genius

“Then I was by him, like a master workman: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
- Proverbs 8:30

“He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
- John 1:2,3

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
- Colossians 1:5

“No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.”
- John 1:18

“Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
- Galatians 4:6

“Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my father also.”
- John 8:19

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
- John 14:9

“Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”
- John 5:17

“I and the Father are one.”
- John 10:30

“Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
- John 20:17

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:4

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
- Hebrews 1:3
Guy

This is always so confusing, I never think about it. Jesus is God’s son though is God in his human form, the Son of Man and the Son of God yet is Deity entirely. Bleh. Hurts my head just like how God has always existed. God is God, I’m happy with that. I praise them all in one person. Whatevs.
creation

@ keisha what confuses you in the bible . by the way which version of the bible do you use ?
jonathan

Oh and when he talks about us, he is talking about the hosts in heaven. What are they, we will never know, but dont speculate what scripture says because that’s how you wind up with so many occult practices. You know sometimes I ask myself maybe if we all got together, and went over scripture to explain our belief, and learn our history then we would probably have a lot more answers to our questions
Ninti

In the beginning was the word. Existence was this word. Nothing would exist if the most high didn’t create it. In order for The Most High to create, he had to have firs existed.
Girl

For those who ask the question how can God be three,
yet, still one?
Another example of this is how we are three yet one,
we have a body, soul, and a spirit, but we are still one.
Dylan Turpin

What about acts 2:38 the bible said Then Peter spoke into them repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost

What Does The Bible Say?

What Does The Bible Say About The Trinity?

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