The Doctrine of the Trinity - Bible Study

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    This Bible study presents a number of scriptures that prove that the doctrine of the Trinity is the only doctrine that fits best into the text of the Bible.

    The Old Testament

    There are a number of Old Testament passages that refer to one person as “God” or “the Lord” while this individual is distinguished from another person who is also said to be God. These are some examples.

    In Psalm 45, two separate persons are called “God”.

    Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions…[1]

    In the New Testament, the author of Hebrews quotes this passage and applies it to Christ:

    But of the Son he says,
    “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” [2]

    Jesus rightly understands that in Psalm 110, David is referring to two separate persons as “Lord”, but who is David’s “Lord” if not God himself? And who could be saying to God, “Sit at my right hand” except someone else who is also fully God?[3]

    The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”[4]
    Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet” ’? If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.[5]

    Isaiah 63:10 appears to suggest both that the Holy Spirit is distinct from God himself (it is “his Holy Spirit”), and that this Holy Spirit can be “grieved,” thus suggesting emotional capabilities characteristic of a distinct person.[6]

    But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them.[7]

    Isaiah 61:1 also distinguishes “The Spirit of the Lord GOD” from “the LORD”:

    The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor…[8]

    In Isaiah 48:16, the Spirit of the Lord, like the servant of the Lord, has been “sent” by the Lord GOD on a particular mission.

    Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there.” And now the Lord GOD has sent me, and his Spirit.[9]

    The New Testament

    The New Testament refers clearly to God in three persons.

    Passages that refer to all three persons

    The following passages refer explicitly to each of the three members of the Godhead: 

    :And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”[10]
    Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”[11]
    The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. [12]
    According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood…[13]
    But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.[14]

    The New Testament authors generally use the name “God” (Gk. θεός, G2536) to refer to God the Father and the name “Lord” (Gk. Κύριος, G3261) to refer to the Son of God, then it is clear that there is another trinitarian expression in 1 Corinthians 12Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag

    There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call — one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.[15]

    Distinctions between the Three Persons

    The fact that God is three persons means that the Father is not the Son; the Father is not the Holy Spirit; and the Son is not the Holy Spirit. For a discussion of what is meant by separate person, we would refer you to this article which specifically deals with this issue – Three Persons

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.[16]

    The fact that the “Word” (who is seen to be Christ in John 1:9–18) is “with” God shows distinction from God the Father. In John 17 this distinction is also made:

    Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.[17]

    Jesus is our High Priest and Advocate before the Father:

    But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.[18]
    Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.[19]


    Footnotes

    1. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ps 45:6–7.
    2. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Heb 1:8–9.
    3. ↑ Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 228.
    4. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ps 110:1.
    5. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 22:41–46.
    6. ↑ Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 228.
    7. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 63:10.
    8. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 61:1.
    9. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 48:16.
    10. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 3:16–17.
    11. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 28:19–20.
    12. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 2 Co 13:14.
    13. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Pe 1:2
    14. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jud 20–21.
    15. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 4:4–6.
    16. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 1:1–2.
    17. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 17:24.
    18. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Jn 2:1.
    19. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Heb 7:25.


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