Because the deity of Jesus has been confirmed, it is necessary to explain the Trinity. Trinity simply means “triunity.” While the word Trinity does not occur in the Bible, the concept is clearly taught. The logic of the doctrine of the Trinity is simple yet complex. Two biblical truths are evident in Scripture and the logical conclusion is the Trinity:
- There is one GOD.
- There are three distinct persons who are GOD: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Unlike antinomy or paradox, which is a logical contradiction, the Trinity goes beyond reason but not against reason. It is known only by divine revelation, so the Trinity is not the subject of natural theology but of revelation. The philosophical law of noncontradiction informs us that something cannot be both true and false at the same time and in the same sense. This is the fundamental law of all rational thought. Because the doctrine of the Trinity is simple yet complex, I will explain and illustrate the Trinity and also use Scripture for proof.
One GOD exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three persons constitute One nature, but this One nature has three distinct persons. While GOD is one and many at the same time, He is not one and many in the same sense. GOD is one what and three whos. The three whos (persons) each share the same what (essence).
No analogy of the Trinity is perfect, but some are better than others. The best way I can explain the Trinity is as a triangle. The triangle is one shape, but the one shape has three distinct corners that make the triangle what it is. Corner 1 is not Corner 2 or 3, Corner 2 is not Corner 1 or 3, and Corner 3 is not Corner 2 or 1, yet all corners unite together as one triangle. And the triangle is Corner 1, 2, and 3. The three corners of the triangle are inseparable from and simultaneous to one another. But of course, the triangle is finite and GOD is infinite; consequently, the triangle is a good illustration, albeit imperfect.
The Trinity can also be thought of as time. Time is one essence with three distinct parts: the hour, the minute, and the second. The hour is not the minute nor is the hour the second; however, the hour is the time. The minute is not the hour nor is the minute the second; however, the minute is the time. The second is not the minute nor is the second the hour; however, the second is the time. All three distinct “persons” of hour, minute, and second constitute one essence of time. And time is the hour, minute, and second. In addition, this illustration reveals how the hour, minute, and second are all equally portraying time while working in harmony with each other in order to exist as one. Although this also is an imperfect analogy, it serves its purpose to teach a complex concept into a simple illustration so as to gain better understanding. If you have seen the Son, you have seen the Father (John 14:9). Likewise, the minute would be a closer examination of the hour. And the Holy Spirit — like the second that is always moving — is a closer examination of the minute.
And in recent history, because of the 2017 popular trend of ‘fidget spinners,’ I can now explain the Trinity in yet another way:
Many people have also related the Trinity with H2O because H2O can be ice, water, and steam; without losing its chemical compound, H2O can be a solid, liquid, and gas. Although this is a simple analogy that does not imply tritheism (three separate gods), it might reflect modalism (one GOD presented in three distinct modes), which is not the intended interpretation of the Trinity. For normally water is not in all three of these states at the same time, but GOD is always three persons at the same time.
Many critics make a point of computing the mathematical impossibility of believing there is a Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the Godhead, without holding that there are three gods. The critics contend that 1 + 1 + 1 = 3. That would certainly be true if we add them; however, Christians insist that the triunity of GOD is more like 1 x 1 x 1 = 1. GOD is triune, not triplex. There is no more mathematical problem in conceiving the Trinity than there is in understanding one to the third power.
Another illustration is the relation between the human mind and its ideas and the expression of these ideas in words. There is obviously a unity among all three of these without there being an identity. In this sense, they illustrate the Trinity. I am one being with a mind that has thoughts that can be expressed.
Augustine suggested a moral illustration of how GOD is both three and one at the same time. The Bible informs us that “God is love” (1John 4:8,16). Love involves a lover, a beloved, and a spirit of love between lover and loved. The Father might be likened to the lover, the Son to the one loved, and the Holy Spirit to the spirit of love. (This illustration is evident, in Luke 15:11-32, when the prodigal son was loved by the father.) Yet love does not exist unless these three are united as one. This illustration has the advantage of being personal, since it involves love, a characteristic that flows only from persons. And this three-in-one is depicted and praised in the act of marriage. In marriage, the two become one with the spirit of love (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; 1Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 5:31). So, 1 male + 1 female + 1 spirit of love = 1 marriage, which is 1 unity. And this is why it is so important that we defend marriage.
Proposition 1: There is only one GOD
The central teaching of Judaism (Shema) proclaims, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4) And when Jesus was asked which of the commandments was the greatest, He prefaced the answer by quoting the Shema (Mark 12:29). From beginning to end, the Scriptures speak of one GOD and label all other gods as false (Deuteronomy 4:35,39; 32:39; Exodus 20:3;1Kings 8:60; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6-8; 45:5-6,21-22; 46:9; Joel 2:27; 1Corinthians 8:5-6; John 17:3; Romans 3:30; 1Timothy 2:5; James 2:19). Thus, it has been established: there is only one GOD.
Proposition 2: There are three persons known as GOD
The Father is GOD: Throughout Scripture, GOD is said to be the Father (Matthew 6:9, 32; Hebrews 12:9; John 4:23; John 5:45; John 6:27; Romans 1:7; Romans 15:6; 1Corinthians 8:6; 2Corinthians 1:3; Philippians 2:11; 2Peter 1:17). What’s more, the Father and the Son are often related by these very names in the same verse (Matthew 11:27; 1John 2:22).
The Son is GOD: Not only was Jesus born of a virgin (Mary), but Jesus performed many miracles and also claimed to be Yahweh (GOD). YHWH was the special name of GOD revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:14) when GOD said, “I AM WHO I AM.” In John 8:58, Jesus declares, “Before Abraham was, I am.” This statement claims not only existence before Abraham but also equality with the “I AM” of Exodus 3:14. Jesus also said, “I am the first and the last” (Revelation 2:8), which affirms the GOD written in Isaiah 42:8; 44:6. Likewise, Jesus’s prayer in John 17:5 confirms this as well. And the Jewish audience knew that Jesus claimed to be GOD (John 5:18); in fact, that is why Jesus ended up being crucified. Thus, it is evident that the Son is equal and is GOD (Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1,14; 5:18,58; 10:30; 20:28; Philippians 2:5-6; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3,10; Titus 2:13; 2Peter 1:1; Revelation 1:8; 22:12-13, 16, 20).
The Holy Spirit is GOD: The Holy Spirit is called “God” in Acts 5:3-4. He possesses the attributes of deity, such as omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-12) and omniscience (1Corinthians 2:10-11). He is associated with GOD the Father in creation (Genesis 1:2). He is involved with other members of the Godhead in the work of redemption (John 3:5-7; Acts 13:2; Romans 8:9-17, 26-27; Titus 3:5-7). He is associated with other members of the Trinity under the “name” of GOD (Matthew 28:18-20). The Holy Spirit appears, along with the Father and the Son, in New Testament benedictions (2Corinthians 13:14). The Son prayed to the Father (John 17). The Father spoke from Heaven about the Son at His baptism (Matthew 3: 15-17). Indeed, the Holy Spirit was present at the same time, revealing that they coexist. Further, the fact that they have three separate titles (Father, Son, and Spirit) indicates they are three separate persons. The Holy Spirit is a person because He has a mind (1Corinthians 2:10-11), emotions (Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30), possesses a will (1Corinthians 12:11), and engages in activities that reveal His personal nature such as teaching (Luke 12:12; John 14:26), interceding (Romans 8:27), and searching (1Corinthians 2:10). Thus, it is evident that the Holy Spirit is GOD (2Corinthians 3:17-18).
The Simultaneous Distinction: The New Testament confirms that the persons of the Trinity are distinct (Matthew 3:16-17; 17:5; 28:19; John 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:13-14; 17:1; Acts 10:38).
Summary:
The doctrine of the Trinity cannot be proven by human reason; it is only known because it is revealed by special divine revelation (in the Bible). However, just because it is beyond reason does not mean that it goes against reason. There is no contradiction, yet we lack total comprehension. The doctrine of the Trinity, though explainable, is one of the great mysteries of the Christian faith. The central issue is the deity of Christ, a doctrine inseparable from the Trinity. If one accepts the biblical teaching about the deity of Christ, then a plurality in the Godhead has been acknowledged. Conversely, if the doctrine of the Trinity is received, the deity of Christ is part of the package. The only way to deny the Trinity is to accept that the Bible teaches tritheism (which it does not) or that the Bible teaches adoptionism (which it does not). Tritheism goes against the Shema and against all teachings within the Bible that preach against polytheism. The problem with adoptionism (which had been seen in B.C. Buddhists and the A.D. 18th-century Enlightenment) is that if true, it teaches that humanity is capable of living perfect lives, also being adopted, and also becoming deified. And this, of course, goes against the doctrine of Christ altogether and teaches that people can be saved by good works rather than by grace and faith. Adoptionism teaches that if we live perfect lives and pass the test, prove ourselves worthy, then we will eventually become ‘chosen’ and perhaps even possess supernatural powers as Jesus did. Did Jesus die to show us how to become adopted and deified? Certainly not! Jesus willingly died a sacrificial death to atone for all sin, swallow sin and death forever, seal the crack of separation, and reunite creation with the Creator. Atonement for sin cannot happen without sacrifice. Judaism (Old Testament) and Christianity (Old Testament + New Testament) emphatically teach that Jesus was the sacrificial death that atoned for all sins and the purpose of Jesus was because humanity was incapable of living perfectly holy lives and saving themselves.
Proposition 3 & Conclusion: The three persons are distinct yet one
In Luke 3:22, which describes the baptism of Jesus, it is written that the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are all present and active at the same time. This cannot be one person performing three roles simultaneously. The Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are three distinct persons in one essence. One GOD is known in three persons. Simple yet complex, this is the Trinity. The Father, Son, and Spirit do not contradict one another but complement one another. Just as three corners unite together to make one complete triangle, the three persons of the Trinity unite together as one GOD. And as it is written in Isaiah 55:8-9, GOD’s thoughts and ways are higher than our thoughts and ways; thus, it shouldn’t surprise us that GOD isn’t like a human. Whereas a human is one physical being, GOD is greater. Humans were created in the image of GOD (Genesis 1:26-27), GOD isn’t in the image of a human. In order to understand how Jesus can be GOD in partnership with the Father and Holy Spirit, imagine all three ‘corners’ of the ‘triangle’ in Heaven and one of the ‘corners’ (Son) tilting down into Earth with the other two ‘corners’ still in Heaven. So then, the ascension of Jesus would be like the Son ‘corner’ rising back up into Heaven as the Holy Spirit ‘corner’ tilts down into Earth. And this helps to explain John 16:7 where Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would only come if Jesus left. There’s always two ‘corners’ in Heaven as the ‘anchor’ with one present with us as the ‘hand’ extended to rescue us. Just as a rescuer will anchor him/herself for a basic water rescue before reaching out to save someone, the GOD was firmly anchored in Heaven while reaching out as Jesus to save us.
“Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down!…. Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters”
(Psalm 144:5,7) -ESV
Quest For Truth 
32 thoughts on “The Trinity”