The Doctrine of the Trinity

 

What is the Trinity?

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“Now this is the catholic[4] faith: That we worship one God in trinity and trinity in unity, neither blending their persons nor dividing their essence.  For the person of the Father is a distinct person, the person of the Son is another, and that of the Holy Spirit is still another.  But the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, their glory equal, their majesty coeternal.”[5]
Athanasian Creed

·       Defining the Trinity: God exists as one being in three persons, each coequal and coeternal, differing in purpose, yet equal in essence and divinity.[6]

Summary:  In short, Christian theism (aka… the Bible properly and consistently interpreted) teaches that God (Jehovah) is one in essence – that means there aren’t any other “Jehovah’s” floating around out there.  This is the name for Him, as He is, God.  Now, this is where the confusing part comes in – God, who is one in essence, exists in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The “Oneness” of God is in His uniqueness as God of the universe.  His triunity comes in that He is actually three persons existing as one being.

Needless to say, this has led to a lot of confusion through the years, and people have tried, and failed, to come up with good illustrations.  I contend there are no good illustrations, as there is nothing in our natural world that comes close enough to explaining the complexity that is the Tri-unity (trinity) of God.

·       Cautions:

o   We know of the Trinity (even though the word isn’t used) through the fact that God is described throughout the Bible using the word “LORD” – or Jehovah.  This is ascribed to all three members of the Godhead, who are then termed as eternal.  Thus, we can assume that all three members have coexisted throughout eternity as “LORD.”

o   At times, various members of the godhead will be described as “one.”  Be mindful that you don’t confuse this as “we’re the same” when the meaning quite often is “we’re unified in purpose, mission, essence, etc.” (based on context)

§  Thus, when Jesus says “I and my father are one,” He’s not saying they’re the same, but that they’re unified in the purpose Christ came to fulfill – He hasn’t gone rogue.

o   Also, don’t ascribe precision to verses that are not teaching Trinitarian doctrine.  There are statements made throughout the Bible in various contexts that are not meant to be taken as a doctrinal teaching on the Trinity – so passages that teach “there is one God,” are not trying to say there’s no trinity, but that there aren’t any other gods on the level of Jehovah.

o   Beware of imbalance in your theology.

 

·       False ideas of the Trinity

o    “Partialism” – the idea that God the Father, Son, and Spirit are parts of the whole – like a 3-leaf clover.  No one of them, by these illustrations, are completely independent.

o   “Modalism” – aka Sabellianism – one person, one being, present Himself in different modes (or forms).

§  “Manifestations” – God is Unitarian (that means there is no Trinity), and that He will display Himself at various times in various ways.

§  God was the Father before coming to earth as Jesus and then returning as the Holy Spirit.

§  Would be disproven if we could find evidences that more than one person of the godhead was present and interacting at a time.

o   Unitarianism – one God, no Trinity at all.

o   Subordinationism – Father superior to the Son  and Spirit (see Arianism)

o   Polytheism – three gods (or more)

o   Arianism – hold that Christ and the Spirit are creations of the Father and not equal with Him.

§  This was addressed at Council of Nicea (325 AD)

§  Held to by JW’s, etc., who believe Christ is Michael the Archangel, through whom God the Father created world.[7]

o   Other heretical views – Father, son and spirit mirror the “Body/Soul/Spirit” triad of humanity.

§  God is the soul, Jesus is the body, and the Spirit is the spirit.[8]

·       Evidences for monotheism, tri-personality, equality of the three members of the godhead

o   Monotheism - the idea that there is one being of God.

§  There was (almost[9]) no disagreement among the early church fathers on this point.

·       There is an idea of henotheism at times – the belief in a head god and lesser subordinate gods.  Some scholars and institutions will teach that the OT was henotheistic.

·       Some view Psa. 82 as a presentation of this in the form of “Divine Council.”[10]

§  Shema – Deut. 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD.”

·       Modern-day Jews regularly say this, but replace JHVH with Adonai – so, instead of saying “Sh’ma Yisra’el, YHWH ‘eloheinu, YHWH ‘ehad.” They would say “Adonai ‘eloheinu, Adonai ‘ehad.”

§  People who reject Monotheism: Mormons, many Eastern religions, etc.

o   Three persons – this was revealed, according to some scholars, between the testaments in the incarnation of Christ.

§  Extensive evidence that there was a belief in a binity back throughout Jewish tradition.[11]

§  Names for God in Hebrew OT:

·       elohim (about 2700x) – meaning often based on context

o   note: used to also describe gods of the nations (1 Kings 11:33)

o   gods of the council[12] (Psa. 82:1) – in the midst of the “gods”

o   Demons (Deut 32:17) – they sacrificed to “gods” whom they have not known.

o   Deceased human dead (1 Sam. 28:13)

o   Potentially Angels – at least the Angle of the Lord (Gen. 32:1-2; 38:7)[13]

o   The writers did not ascribe our understanding of “God” to the word “Elohim.”  The only specific set of attributes these all seem to have in common is that they are all spiritual beings.

·       el (about 238x)

·       YHWH (about 6800x) – Divine name of God

·       Eloah (about 57x – mostly Job)

§  Each person is clearly distinct.

·       God the Father

·       God the Son

·       God the Spirit

o   Equality

§  Each is equally God in being

§  Each is equally powerful

§  Each has equal authority

§  Some have willingly submitted to the other in various areas.

·       Texts that teach the Trinity

o   Deut. 6:4 – Jehovah is one – monotheism

o   Gen. 1:26 – “let us… our…” (maybe an honorific plural)

o   Deut 32:39 - monotheism

o   Isaiah 6:1-8 – this passage will be used in reference to the members of the godhead.

§  “who will go for us” (vs. 8)

o   Isaiah 9:6 – Christ will be called “Mighty God,” “Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”[14]

§  Everlasting Father here is not saying he’s the same as the Father, but that he is “Father of Eternity.”  See Isaiah 9:7 for the “everlasting”/”eternal” aspect.

§  It’s not commenting on the Trinity, per se, so the fact that Jesus is referred to as “father” is not meant to be a denial of the Trinity. 

§  “Everlasting Father” refers to His role and responsibility as provider and protector, much as a father of the family or country is viewed in those ways.  (think of context: “The government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called…”)

o   Isaiah 44:6-8 – often used to “disprove” the Trinity, but it’s merely saying that there’s no one else who is God than Jehovah (which is a term used of all members of the Trinity)

§  This passage also references the “Redeemer,” so there’s at least a binity here.

§  Gal. 3:13 – Christ is the Redeemer

§  Rev. 1:17-18 – “I am the first and the last” – used of Christ.

o   Psalm 139:7 – Lord of time and space (Holy Spirit)

o   Matthew 1:23 – The name “Emmanuel” means “God with us,” referring to Christ.

o   Matthew 3:16-17; Luke 3:21-22 – three persons of the Trinity seen separate at the same time (could be one of the first, unequivocal revelations of the three persons of the Trinity.

o   Matthew 28:19 – Baptism is in the name (singular) of the “Father,” “Son,” and “Holy Spirit,” again stressing they are all God, but one.

o   John 1:1,14 – Jesus is “in the beginning” and also “with God,” and also “God.”  He “becomes flesh,” and “dwells among us,” with the glory “as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

o   John 10:30 – Jesus and the Father are one (united, not one-in-the-same)

o   Acts 5:3 – lying to the Holy Spirit is considered lying to God.

o   1 Cor. 2:10-11 – Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of God, which are only known to God Himself.

o   1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19 – Holy Spirit dwells in us; we are the temple of God (because the Holy Spirit is God).

o   Heb. 9:14 – eternality ascribed to Holy Spirit (so He never “came into existence”)

o   1 Cor. 8:6 – “one God and Lord”

o   2 Cor. 3:17 – “the Lord” is the “Spirit”

o   2 Cor. 13:14 – grace of Lord Jesus Christ; fellowship of the Spirit.

o   Col. 2:9 – in Christ dwells fullness of Deity in a bodily form.

o   1 Peter 1:1-2 – all three persons referenced in inspiring God’s work.

o   1 John 5:7-8 – most unambiguous reference to the Trinity.

·       Final thoughts: Holy Spirit and Jesus and the Father are all referred to as persons, so we have two options – they’re either all the same person (just taking different forms) or they’re three different persons sharing one being (which we have nothing to compare to in order to explain).  The fact that all are considered eternal implies none ever came into being.

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[1] “What’s so Special About Trinitarian Theology?” (https://www.gci.org/theology/special) (9/22/17)

[2] The so-called “Shield of the Trinity,” derived from the Athanasian Creed.

[3] “God the Spirit: Trinitarianism from Then till Now.” (http://www.studyjesus.com/God_the_Spirit/03_Trinitarianism.htm) (9/22/17)

[4] Don’t be stumbled by the use of the word “catholic.”  In it’s pure form, “catholic” means “according to the whole,” and referred to the beliefs that were held common by faithful churches.  It would later be snatched by the Roman Catholic Church and corrupted to thus mean “pertaining to the Catholic Church,” rather than “the beliefs of churches as a whole.”

[5] As the Athanasian Creed was originally written in Latin, some translations will vary slightly, inserting articles in various places and changing around wording slightly.  See “The Athanasian Creed” (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02033b.htm) (9/22/17) for a different wording, but same essence.

[6] “St. Patrick’s Bad Analogies.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQLfgaUoQCw) – a fun summary of Trinity doctrine from the creator of LutheranSatire, giving many examples of terrible (and sometimes heretical) illustrations regularly used.

[7] “Trinity – False View” (https://carm.org/false-trinity) (9/22/17)

[8] Bryan Denlinger is a youtube “preacher” who defends this idea, describing the traditional view as Catholic.  His ideas are somewhat similar to modalism, but he rejects that he is a modalist.  “Why I Reject Modalism” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvNcfclh7zw) and “Official Catholic Teaching on the Trinity.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSC255Zqbk4). (9/22/17)

[9] I’m not aware of any… but maybe one exists.

[10] Michael Heiser is a prominent proponent of the Divine Council.  Whether this makes him henotheistic or not is unclear, but he definitely makes the case that lesser gods are acceptable in a Christian view of the Hebrew culture.  He would not contend that these “gods” were at all even comparable to JHVH, however.

[11] Two Powers in Heaven is a book written to chronicle the response of Jews to the fact that JHVH is regularly described as being in two places at once regularly in Jewish Scriptures.  See also “Dr. Michael Heiser: The Jewish Trinity.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz8J4DTIkEg) (9/22/17)

[12] This is commonly taken to mean human rulers, who were in the place of God as judges on the earth (hence God’s statement that they’ll die like men, even though they were seemingly in the place of God.”  This is why some translations us “rulers” here to translate “Elohim.” See discussion http://vintage.aomin.org/Psalm82.html (9/22/17) and also verses such as Exo. 22:8-9 where “Ha’elohim” is used to describe, apparently, human judges that were responsible to determine innocence or guilt.

[13] These taken from Heiser’s “The Jewish Trinity” lecture.

[14] “Everlasting Father” https://www.gotquestions.org/Everlasting-Father.html (accessed 11/28/17)