The Trinity is the Christian doctrine that describes God as one Being in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Each person is fully and equally God, sharing the same divine essence, yet they are not the same person. ![[trinity-diagram.webp]] ### What the Trinity Is: The word Trinity is not in the bible, rather it is a doctrine that comes form the Three Truths ([[Apologetics2018-bt]]). > [!INFO]- **One God**: There is only one God, not three separate gods. >The Bible is clear on this in both Testaments that there is One God ([[The Biblical Affirmation Of One God]]). This is the God of the Jews, The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jesus himself affirms this by quoting the Shema, the Jewish prayer that defines the entire religion. > >> [!bible]+ [Deuteronomy 6:4 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/5/6/) > 4. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one (אֶחָד – Hebrew: echad). %% #Deuteronomy %% > >**This is the first pillar of the Trinity** > [!example]- **Three Persons**: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct but coexist in unity. > > Jesus made many claims to be God, but He **Always** taught that God The Father was in Heaven. The Holy Spirit is credited to being God in the New Testament, but Jesus clarified that The Holy Spirit was not the Father and not The Son. We can see in Matthew that Christians are to make disciples of all nations in the *Name* of the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. At the baptism of Jesus in Mark 1, we can see all three persons are present and interacting with one another. All three are clearly shown to be separate from one another. > > **The is the second pillar of the trinity.** > [!tip]- **Co-equal and Co-eternal**: Each person is fully God and has existed eternally without hierarchy. > > - God the Father is called God ([Romans 1:7](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ROM.1.7)). > - God the Son is called God ([Colossians 2:9](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/COL.2.9); [Hebrews 1:8](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/HEB.1.8)) > - God the Holy Spirit is called God ([Acts 5:3-4](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.5.3-4); [2 Corinthians 3:17-18](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2CO.3.17-18)) > >In Isaiah 48 we see a clear teaching of each being God, in this passage The first and the last speaks saying > >> [!bible]+ [Isaiah 48:12-16 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/23/48/) > 12. “Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. 13. My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together. 14. “Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them has declared these things? The LORD loves him; he shall perform his purpose on Babylon, and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans. 15. I, even I, have spoken and called him; I have brought him, and he will prosper in his way. 16. 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. %% #Isaiah %% > >> [!info] See [[The Trinity Foreshadowed In The Old Testament]] for more detail: > > The Creator who is speaking claims to have been sent by the other Lord God and His Spirit! In [Genesis 1:1-3](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/GEN.1.1-3) God (Elohim, which is a plural), the Spirit of God and the Word of God (and God said…), are all involved in the creation of the universe ([Shema](https://shema.com/the-jewishness-of-the-trinity-248/)). Jesus even claims to have existed before time ([John 8:58](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.8.58)) > > **This is the third pillar of the trinity** > The Trinity, embedded in both the Old and New Testaments , emerges from hints in the Old Testament, such as [Genesis 1:26](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/GEN.1.26) ([[Stewart_undated-fo]]), and prophetic references like [Isaiah 9:6](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.9.6). It is not a doctrine that is discoverable through general revelation or human reasoning, as God's unique triune nature is wholly reliant on His special disclosure in Scripture ([[Zaspel2017-ce]]). The Old Testament lays the groundwork for the Trinity ([[The Trinity Foreshadowed In The Old Testament]]) and has God portrayed with a plural nature ([[The Plurality Of God In The Old Testament]]). The New Testament shows us a more revealed doctrine and consistently presents a triad of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to be God. In the New Testament, these hints from the Old Testament are unraveled, with Jesus affirming His relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit ([John 10:30](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.10.30)). This triadic pattern is evident throughout various passages that explicitly reference the roles and interactions of God, Christ, and the Spirit. From [Matthew 28:19](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MAT.28.19)'s commission to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to [2 Corinthians 13:14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2CO.13.14)'s benediction invoking the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. These triadic references are not isolated occurrences but are all throughout the New Testament ([Luke 4:1-12](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/LUK.4.1-12)), from the birth of Jesus, as seen in [Luke 1:35](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/LUK.1.35) and the baptism of Jesus in [Luke 3:21-22](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/LUK.3.21-22), to the empowering of believers through the Holy Spirit in [Acts 1:4-8](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.1.4-8) and[2:33](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.2.33), [2:38-39](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.2.38-39). The Trinity is consistently highlighted in teachings, miracles, and the work of salvation, reinforcing the biblical understanding of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as distinct persons within the Godhead ([John 4:10-25](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.4.10-25), [7:37-39](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.7.37-39), [7:14-16](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.7.14-16), [20:21-22](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.20.21-22); [Acts 1:4-8](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.1.4-8), [2:33](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.2.33) [2:38-39](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.2.38-39); [5:3-4](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.5.3-4), [5:9](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.5.9), [5:30-32](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.5.30-32); [7:55-56](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.7.55-56); [10:36-38](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.10.36-38), [44](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.44)-48; [11:15-18](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.11.15-18); [15:8-11](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.15.8-11); [20:38](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.20.38); [28:25-31](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.28.25-31); ). The early Christian community, as recorded in Acts and the Epistles, understood and worshipped God in a Trinitarian framework, as seen in the Pauline benedictions ([2 Corinthians 13:14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2CO.13.14)) and Peters' teachings ([1 Peter 1:2](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1PE.1.2)). Numerous other passages from various epistles, such as Romans ([Romans 1:1-4](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ROM.1.1-4), [5:5-10](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ROM.5.5-10),[8:2-4](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ROM.8.2-4),[8:9-11](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ROM.8.9-11), [8:14-17](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ROM.8.14-17);), The Letters to the Corinthians ([1 Corinthians 6:11](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1CO.6.11),[12:4-6](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1CO.12.4-6)[12:11-12](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1CO.12.11-12), [12:18](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1CO.12.18); [2 Corinthians 1:19-22](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2CO.1.19-22),[3:6-8](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2CO.3.6-8)[3:14-18](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2CO.3.14-18);), Galatians ([Galatians 3:8-14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/GAL.3.8-14),[4:4-7](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/GAL.4.4-7)), Ephesians ([Ephesians 1:3-17](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EPH.1.3-17),[2:18](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EPH.2.18), [2:21-22](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EPH.2.21-22),[3:14-19](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EPH.3.14-19),[4:4-6](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EPH.4.4-6),[4:29-32](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EPH.4.29-32),[5:18-20](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EPH.5.18-20);), and more ([Philippians 3:3](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PHP.3.3); [1 Thessalonians 1:3-6](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1TH.1.3-6); [2 Thessalonians 2:13-14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2TH.2.13-14); [Titus 3:4-6](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/TIT.3.4-6);[Hebrews 2:3-4](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/HEB.2.3-4), [9:14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/HEB.9.14), [10:28-31](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/HEB.10.28-31);[1 Peter 1:2](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1PE.1.2); [1 John 3:21-24](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1JN.3.21-24),[4:13-14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1JN.4.13-14);[Jude 1:20-21](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JUD.1.20-21); [Revelation 2:18](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/REV.2.18), [2:27-29](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/REV.2.27-29).), further emphasize the triune nature of God, affirming the divinity and active roles of each person. From the redemption accomplished through Christ in [Romans 5:5-10](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ROM.5.5-10) to the indwelling of the Spirit in believers as described in [1 Corinthians 6:11](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1CO.6.11) and the unity of the Spirit in [Ephesians 4:4-6](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EPH.4.4-6), the New Testament consistently presents a coherent and unified teaching on the triune God. Removing any of the three core doctrines of the Trinity—One God, Three Persons, and Co-equal and Co-eternal—undermines the entire of Christian faith. Affirming one God is essential to monotheism; without it, we risk falling into polytheism. The Bible is clear on this in both Testaments ([[The Biblical Affirmation Of One God]]). Eliminating the distinct personhood of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit reduces God to a single role and makes the Bible contradict itself ([Matthew 3:16-17](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MAT.3.16-17); [John 1:1-14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.1.1-14), [14:16-17](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.14.16-17);[Rev 5:13-14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/REV.5.13-14)). Denying their co-equality and co-eternality disrupts the full divinity of each person, leading to a distorted view of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. ### What the Trinity Is Not: - **Polytheism**: It does not imply belief in multiple gods ([[The Biblical Affirmation Of One God]]). - **Confusion of Persons**: The Father is not the Son, and the Son is not the Holy Spirit; they have unique roles and relationships (See [[The Holy Spirit Is Not The Father Or Son]]). - **A Literal Division**: It does not mean God is split into parts or that He changes forms. In essence, the Trinity expresses the complexity of God’s nature while affirming His oneness. ![[Wes Huff Trinity InfoGraphic.png]] ###### Infographic from [Wes Huff](https://www.wesleyhuff.com/infographics) # The Divinity Of Jesus Christ > [!tip]- Explore The Claim That Jesus Is God >![[The Divinity Of Jesus Christ]] # The Divinity Of Holy Spirit > [!tip]- Explore The Claim That Holy Spirit Is God > ![[The Divinity Of The Holy Spirit]] > [!FAQ] Myths About the Trinity > >## Myth: The Trinity is not found in the Bible. While the term "Trinity" isn’t explicitly in the Bible, the concept is supported by various passages that describe the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as divine and interconnected (e.g., [Matthew 28:19](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MAT.28.19), [John 1:1-14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.1.1-14), [2 Corinthians 13:14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2CO.13.14)). > > >> [!Bible]+ Evidence For The Trinity In The Bible >> - [[The Trinity Foreshadowed In The Old Testament]] >> - [[Full Index Of Trinity Passages]] >> - [[Does The Shema Disprove The Trinity]] >> - [[The Plurality Of God In The Old Testament]] >> - [[The Revealed Identity Of The Angel Of The Lord]] >> - [[The Holy Spirit Is Not The Father Or Son]] >> - [[Deeds Of God Credited To Jesus]] >> - [[Deeds Of God Credited To The Holy Spirit]] >> - [[Attributes of God Credited To Jesus]] >> - [[Attributes Of God Credited To The Holy Spirit]] >> - [[Titles And Names Of Jesus That Belong To God Alone]] >> > > ## The Trinity was invented in the 4th century. > > The concept of the Trinity is rooted in early Christian scripture and tradition. While it was formalized in the Nicene Creed (AD 325), the beliefs that make up the Trinity existed in the writings of early [[The Early Church Fathers Believed Jesus Was God|Church Fathers]] and the [[Scriptural Examples The Trinity| New Testament]]. > >Those in opposition of the doctrine have depicted the development of devotion to Jesus as a divine figure as an evolutionary process influenced paganism ([Wilhelm Bousset](https://paperpile.com/app/p/2ff42e49-6660-0052-818a-292c220431ee 'Kyrios Christos')) Some opponents even say that trinities of gods existed in various ancient mythologies, such as Egyptian and Babylonian that would influence the Christian Church ([JW](https://paperpile.com/app/p/fad8727e-4737-08a1-8656-cd5f089e1983 'The Trinity�Should You Believe It? � Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY')). This is not true, there is no evidence of any other religions having influence on the doctrine (See our refutation of [[JW.org, Early Church Fathers And The Trinity]]). > >>[!Example]+ Evidence For The Trinity In History >> - [[The Early Church Fathers Believed Jesus Was God]] >> - [[The First Christians Worshiped Jesus As God]] >> - [[The Early Church Fathers Believed The Holy Spirit Was God]]