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The Doctrine of the Trinity - Bible Study: Difference between revisions
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The doctrine of the Trinity requires that we affirm the following three statements: | |||
:A. There is one God. | |||
:B. The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God. | |||
:C. The three are distinct. | |||
The purpose of this Bible study is to list a number of passages the deal with each of these three statements. | |||
==There is one God== | |||
Scripture is abundantly clear that there is one and only one God. | |||
===The Old Testament=== | |||
This is the basic understanding of God in the Old Testament: | |||
:''Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, '''the LORD is one'''. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Dt 6:4–5.</ref> | |||
:''...that all the peoples of the earth may know that '''the LORD is God; there is no other'''.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Ki 8:60.</ref> | |||
God alone is the one true God and there is no one like him. When he speaks, he alone is speaking—he is not speaking as one God among three who are to be worshiped.<ref>Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 238.</ref> | |||
:''I am the LORD, and there is no other, '''besides me there is no God'''; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that '''there is none besides me'''; I am the LORD, and '''there is no other'''. <ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 45:5–6.</ref> | |||
:''Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And '''there is no other god besides me''', a righteous God and a Savior; '''there is none besides me'''.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 45:21.</ref> | |||
:''Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! '''Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.'''”<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Is 44:6–8.</ref> | |||
===The New Testament=== | |||
The New Testament also affirms that there is one God. | |||
:''For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus...<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Ti 2:5.</ref> | |||
:''...since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 3:30.</ref> | |||
:''You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jas 2:19.</ref> | |||
==Each member of the Godhead is fully God== | |||
While there should be not question that the Father is fully God, there are people in the message that do not believe that the Son is fully God (see [[Vaylism]]). Additionally, some cults, such as the Jehovah's Witness, do not believe that the Holy Spirit is fully God. | |||
===The Son is fully God=== | |||
The first chapter of John clearly affirms the full deity of Christ: | |||
:''In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was '''with God''', and the Word '''was God'''. He was in the beginning '''with God'''. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 1:1–4.</ref> | |||
The Son was always fully God. The story of Thomas' encounter with the risen Christ also confirms this. The narrative shows that both John in writing his gospel and Jesus himself approve of what Thomas has said and encourage everyone who hears about Thomas to believe the same things that Thomas did.<ref>Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 235.</ref> | |||
:''Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, '''“My Lord and my God!”''' Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 20:27–29.</ref> | |||
Other passages speaking of Jesus as fully divine include Hebrews 1, where the author says that Christ is the “exact representation” (vs. 3, Gk. χαρακτήρ, G5917, “exact duplicate”) of the nature or being (Gk. ὑπόστασις, G5712) of God, meaning that the Son exactly duplicates the being or nature of God the Father in every way: whatever attributes or power God the Father has, the Son has them as well.<ref>Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 235–236.</ref> | |||
:''He is the radiance of the glory of God and '''the exact imprint''' of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Heb 1:3.</ref> | |||
:'''''But of the Son he says'''... You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. '''But you are the same, and your years will have no end.'''<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Heb 1:10–12.</ref> | |||
:''...waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of '''our great God and Savior Jesus Christ'''...<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Tt 2:13.</ref> | |||
:''To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of '''our God and Savior Jesus Christ'''...<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 2 Pe 1:1.</ref> | |||
:''To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the '''Christ, who is God over all''', blessed forever. Amen.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Rom 9:5.</ref> | |||
:''For in him '''the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily''', and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Col 2:9–10.</ref> | |||
===The Holy Spirit is fully God=== | |||
The Holy Spirit is classified on an equal level with the Father and the Son. According to Peter’s words, to lie to the Holy Spirit is to lie to God. | |||
:''But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to '''lie to the Holy Spirit''' and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? '''You have not lied to man but to God.'''”<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ac 5:3–4.</ref> | |||
God’s temple is the place where God himself dwells, which Paul explains by the fact that “God’s Spirit” dwells in it, thus apparently equating God’s Spirit with God himself. | |||
:''Do you not know that you are '''God’s temple''' and that '''God’s Spirit dwells in you'''?<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Co 3:16.</ref> | |||
David attributes the divine characteristic of omnipresence to the Holy Spirit, something that is not true of any of God’s creatures. It seems that David is equating God’s Spirit with God’s presence. To go from God’s Spirit is to go from his presence, but if there is nowhere that David can flee from God’s Spirit, then he knows that wherever he goes he will have to say, “You are there.”<ref>Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 237.</ref> | |||
:'''''Where shall I go from your Spirit?''' Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ps 139:7–8.</ref> | |||
Paul attributes the divine characteristic of omniscience to the Holy Spirit: | |||
:''For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also '''no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God'''.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Co 2:10–11.</ref> | |||
Jesus attributes the activity of giving new birth to everyone who is born again to the Holy Spirit: | |||
:''Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is '''born of the Spirit''' is spirit.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Jn 3:5–6.</ref> | |||
And John attributes it to God, meaning that the Holy Spirit is God: | |||
:''No one '''born of God''' makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been '''born of God'''.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Jn 3:9.</ref> | |||
== | ==Each of the Three Members of the Godhead are Distinct== | ||
The statement "God is three persons" means that the Father is not the Son; they are distinct persons. It also means that the Father is not the Holy Spirit, but that they are distinct persons. And it means that the Son is not the Holy Spirit. For a discussion of what the term "person" means, we would recommend that you read this article - [[Three Persons]] | |||
===The Old Testament=== | ===The Old Testament=== | ||
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:''And '''do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God''', by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 4:30.</ref> | :''And '''do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God''', by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 4:30.</ref> | ||
== | ==Conclusion== | ||
This Bible study has presented a number of scriptures which Biblically prove that the following three statements are true: | |||
#God is three persons. | |||
#Each person is fully God. | |||
#There is one God. | |||
If you do not believe the first statement, you end up with significant problems which we deal with in this article - [[Oneness]] | |||
If you do not believe the second statement, this creates a different problem which we deal with in this article - [[Dynamic Monarchianism]] | |||
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