“The Plurality of Majesty”
The word “Trinity” is not found in the Scripture, but the concept is biblical. The concept of the Trinity is firmly established in both the Old and the New Testaments.
“And now the Lord God (JHWH – (The Father) has sent Me, and His Spirit.” (Isaiah 48:16) Generally, the Old Testament uses the word JHWH to refer to only one member of the Trinity. JHWH is the doubling of the verb “to be” meaning “absolute existence.” Called the Tetragrammaton or “four letters,” JHWH is the proper name for God or Lord. JHWH is considered sacred and never pronounced by devout Jews. We translate JHWH as Jehovah or Yahweh.
When we speak of God or try to imagine His Being, we are at a loss. The finite mind cannot conceive of the infinite … unless the infinite has revealed itself. God has always revealed Himself to man. The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to man.
Our present study emphasizes God as a triune being; understanding His person is essential.
The word “essence” means the essential being or nature of a person, what that person is. Attributes are those intrinsic qualities which compose the essence of a person. Each person of the Trinity.
In the Bible God reveals himself as three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We call this the Triune of God – the Trinity. All three members of the Godhead have eternal relationship. God (the Trinity) has always existed! There never was a time where the Trinity did not exist. In other words, there was never a “first cause” (causal effect). As God’s creation, we live in a first cause world, God doesn’t!
As stated in the opening paragraph, the word “Trinity” is not specifically stated in Scripture. To explain this concept further, it is a theological term used to express the Godhead. Rarely does a single passage of Scripture delineate point-by-point a complex doctrine. Rather, theologians formulate the principles of any major doctrine by comparing and correlating all related biblical passages. The Trinity aptly describes the Godhead of God who exists as a three fold personality in one Divine Being. The Son voluntarily submits to the will of the Father; the Holy Spirit submits to the Son. It was Christ who sent the Holy Spirit to indwell believers.
The Trinity may be defined as One God subsisting in three persons that are co-equal, and co-eternal with one Divine Nature. In other words God is three persons with identical Essence. God is a Trinity. You cannot have one without the other (2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Peter 1:20).
The following Bible verses point to the existence of a Triune Godhead: Genesis 1:26 “us” and “our” (a plural pronoun for God); Genesis 3:22,23; Deuteronomy 6:4 is the plural Hebrew word for “Elohim” (the “im” is plural – meaning more than one, expressing the plurality of God). See also: Genesis 11:7; 2 Samuel 23:1-3; Isaiah 6:8; 48:16; 63:7-10; Psalm 110:1; 2:7. In the New Testament: Matthew 28:19; John 5:8; 10:30; 14:16; 20:28; Acts 2:33; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Pet.1:2,3; Revelation 1:4. Did you stop and look up the scripture references?
Please, always look up scripture references for your own personal blessing. When you read the scripture for yourself, the Holy Spirit speaks to you in your soul. This is why we should meditate in the Word of God.
As stated above, when the Bible refers to God as “one,” it is referring to the Essence of God. When the Bible refers to or distinguishes between the persons of the Godhead, the names used for each is singular such as: Yahweh, Adonai, or Jehovah.
Jesus Christ is the only visible member of the Trinity (Godhead), John 1:18; 6:46; 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 4:12. God the Father is revealed by the incarnate Christ, by Creation, by His Word the Bible, and by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Throughout Scripture God is referred to as Light. To help us understand the Trinity in a better light, let us look at the characteristics of light: Light is one, but light is composed of three elements which I find astonishing. There is no light apart from all three components that make light, light. For example:
(1). Actinic – is a ray of light consisting of short wave lengths that are neither seen nor felt, a perfect example of God the Father.
(2). Luminiferous – is light produced by emissions of light from heat. This type of light is both seen and felt a perfect illustration of Jesus Christ the second person of the Trinity during the incarnation – God the Son.
(3). Calorific – is light converted into heat. It is not seen, but felt illustrating God the Holy Spirit.
Just remember when the Bible refers to God, it is referring to His Essence. When Divine Persons are the subject, God is revealed as three persons. The following verses illustrate this point: 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2.
In closing: Matthew 3:16-17, describes the most extraordinary manifestation of the Trinity in all of Scripture. After you have read the context, please turn to Isaiah 6:3.
Notice the emphasis in Isaiah 6:3, is on the “Three-in-One,” while in Matthew 28:19, is on “One-in-Three. There is much more to God than this study reveals. We have only just begun to explore the infinite depths and greatness of the Trinity. Every scriptural examination of the Scriptures illuminates the wondrous Trinity. You cannot love God anymore than you know God.
God has dramatically revealed Himself in His incomparable Word – The Holy Bible. To know God is to trust God and His glorious plan, centered in His Son Jesus Christ who sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us, teach us and protect us. God presents all truth “through the Holy Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things [of Scripture], even the depths [doctrines] of God.”
As we grow spiritually in grace, truth and knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit develops our capacity to love and appreciate the Holy Trinity. Learning God is essential to serve Him and Honor Him. God has a pre-designed plan for every believer in Jesus Christ.
Happy Studying in Fields of Grace.
Thank you Father for this summary study of your Divine Essence – the Trinity.
For additional information regarding the Trinity see “The Deity of Jesus Christ” and “Spiritual Gifts.”