The Trinity: one of the most fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. Though sometimes refuted by some, the Scriptures clearly acknowledge its existence. This article contains a discussion all about the Trinity.
What is the Trinity
Trinity is a word that describes a triune God. Triune meaning three parts: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Tri means three while unity means one = triunity equals trinity. We are triune beings: body (our physical bodies), a soul, and a Spirit. Three parts, yet one human being, created in the image of God.
While the actual word Trinity is not contained within the Scriptures, they specifically address these three. For example, in Matt 28:19-20 contain part of Jesus’ Great Commission to the disciples before His ascension where He said:
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. NIV
Another example is in 1 John 5:7. This chapter addresses the assurance of salvation by faith through the Son (Jesus). Verse 7 reads:
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. KJV
Here we have the three: God the Father, the Word (Jesus cf. john 1:1, 14) and the Holy Ghost (the Spirit).
While this triune consists of three distinct aspects they move in unison as the One God. These three aspects make up the Divine Godhead. For all of eternity, God the Father, God the Son and God Holy Spirit have always been in relationship and communication with each other, yet not as three gods but as one God. One clear example of this is in Genesis. From the very beginning we see God moving in unity with the other aspects of the deity. In the book of Genesis, the first book in the Bible, God says, In Genesis 1:26: “Let us make man in our image…male and female he created them.”
This concept of three is universal of God’s creation. The entire universe is made up of three elements: Time, Space, and Matter. Furthermore, each of these elements contains three ‘components. Let’s look.
Time contain the three elements: past, present, future. These are three distinct fundamentals representing three distinct roles. Each is coexisting, yet they are not three separate times but one under the nature of time. Therefore, they all share the same environment: time.
Space contains the elements: height, width, depth and they are all distinct from one another, representing different functions of space. But they are not three separate spaces but one under the same environment: space.
Matter contains the elements: solid, liquid, gas. These are three separate and distinct elements with different functions. But they aren’t three matters; they are sharing the same one nature: matter.
And last by not least, God’s crown creation: man—Body, Soul, and Spirit. These are three distinct aspects but not three men, only one man.
I sure the pattern is recognizable at this point!
To look at a mathematical example: not 1+1+1=3 but 1x1x1x1=1 three elements making up 1
Three is a very significant number Biblically. It is often called the divine number because it is mentioned in connection with holy things so frequently. It is the number of divine completeness and perfection. It exemplifies that God is in it.
Going back to creation and the three elements of creation, please take note that there are three sets of threes. In other words, there are trinities within the trinity. The number three (3) is palpable. One can look at this and observe that God is fully involved in creation! Perhaps more detail on the number three in a future article.
One of the questions skeptics bring up concerning the Trinity is: If Jesus is God, why did He pray and who was He praying to? While on earth, Jesus continued to talk to the Father, and the Father and the Spirit continued to communicate with him. Look at what He is quoted as saying John 10:30: “I and the Father are one.”
Understandably the doctrine of the Trinity is one of the most difficult concepts in Christianity. On the other hand, it’s fundamental to Christians because it affirms what God is like and who He is. It also plays a central part in Christians’ worship of an unobjectifiable and unfathomable God.
Fact is, God’s triunity transcends our rational comprehension and that makes it somewhat difficult to comprehend. But it’s not impossible. It’s something to pray for understanding about.
But as God Said through the prophet Isaiah in Isa 55:8-9 ” For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” With a statement like that, it makes sense to not fully understand everything about God. But He reveals what He wants us to know through the Scriptures. Although Scripture does not give us complete answers to all questions, it does give us enough information to enable us to trust God and to know right from wrong. Through the truths revealed in Scripture, we can know much about God, and we can have the assurance that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.
We also have a helper: The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. For Jesus said in John 16:13: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth…“ As we are led and guided by the Spirit and grow spiritually, more truth is revealed. We just need to follow the lead. My next article will be on the Holy Spirit. Amen
For further reading on the Trinity, I recommend the book: The Deep Things of God by Fred Sanders. You can read the review and purchase on Amazon.com [paid link]
Please feel free to leave any comment or question you may have below.
Thanks for putting out time to get this article for the public it would be of great help to us all as the importance of this body(the trinity) is not something to be joked with.i really enjoyed r adding your article it really gave me more insight on the TRINITY.tjanks once again
You’re very welcome – Thanks for commenting!
Thank you so much for your post about the trinity. I had no idea just how perfectly and universally the concept of three is throughout the bible and through our lives. You broke down all the elements in a very easy to read fashion.
I would like to see a couple more pictures or charts to make this more visually appealing, but otherwise enjoyed my time here!
Hi Ashley – Glad you enjoyed the post. Yes the number 3 is a powerful influence in our lives. Thanks for commenting!
Thank you for the awesome post! I love reading about Theology and the Trinity is a particularly interesting aspect of Theology. I went one semester at Franciscan University to get my Masters in Theology and we briefly went over the Trinity. I wish I could remember some of what we talked about, because it was really interesting and we talked about how each Person of the Trinity is in relation to the other Persons of the Trinity.
Hi Jessie – I agree, Theology is very stimulating to me also. Glad you enjoyed the post.
Have a blessed one!
Thanks for this great article on the Trinity. There is some confusion for some people and it is helpful to have a guide like this to either use as you are explaining to someone all about the Trinity or just point them here and let them read about it for themselves.
As you say, although not specifically mentioned in the Bible, what the Trinity includes is certainly mentioned plenty of times. It is helpful to think of the three as a bundle so to speak, as the Trinity allows us to. It really is the core of the beliefs that Christians have.
I will be checking out the book that you have recommended for further study. The Deep Things of God by Fred Sanders sounds like an interesting read and will be a welcome addition to my home library. I will head to Amazon after finishing this comment to have a look. Good post and thanks again!
Hi Dave – Glad you enjoyed the article. Thanks for commenting and enjoy the book!
Thank you so much for such an informative post. Never thought about Tri and Unity as a word combine before but it makes a lot of sense. Seems like everything comes in three to make it whole. I will check out the Deep Things of God by Fred Sanders. Want to find our more what he has to say.
Cheers!
Hi Nuttanee – Yes the number three (3) is a very prominent one. it represents divine compleness and perfection.There are so many major influences in our lives made up of three. God is all around us!
Enjoy the book!
Hello Nathaniel;
very nice presentation, I could not do better. I will not return to the trinity which for me is established as a fundamental principle of my faith; I would simply like to set out here questions for reflection on the subject; the revelation of God which was made to our fathers of the old testament (Abram; Elijah; Moses ect …) covered the three aspects of God? What about those who have not known Christ the Savior and the Holy Spirit comforting? thank you for answering my questions.
Thanks Moi for your questions. However, I’m not sure of what you’re asking. Can you please clarify?
Thanks!
I have just read this and never would have put together the reason of the Trinity that God has created. It truly is amazing that reading the bible you can find this referenced in so many places. Thinking that all of the things in the world have been created in the same way that the trinity is involved. Just a quick question on where you have found all this info on the trinity is it all in the book you mentioned or from more readings and from the bible also. Great info and I thank you for taking the time to help spread the word of the Lord. Thank you
Douglas
Hi Douglas – My infor comes from the Scriptures and other research. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Have a blessed one!
Hello Nathaniel,
Thank you for creating such a helpful post.
I know first time the meaning of Trinity. Triune meaning three parts: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. I will buy the book you recommended.
The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything is the best book.
Thank you
Parveen
Thanks for commenting Parveen. Enjoy the book! Let me know how you like it!
Hi, I enjoyed reading and learning about this. I have never heard of the idea of having both a soul and spirit. I guess the spirit is what is giving life to everyone.
that theory makes sense to me. So that means we have individual souls?
this was a great article with great insight.
Yes Jake, absolutely, we all have an individual soul and every soul is responsible for its actions. One of the places where this is explained in the Scriptures is in Ezekiel chapter 18. It is also in the New Testament.
Have a blessed one!
Hello Nathaniel. Thank you for sharing more insights on the Trinity. Of course as have said, most people do not believe in the Trinity yet they claim they are Christians. We should live after Christ and practice what the Bible teaches. You have done a very good on here explaining the Trinity and with pointers to the Bible too. I believe in the Trinity; I pray God opens the eyes of our understanding to better understand the Trinity as his ways are not our ways, Amen!
Yes, we must pray for understanding so that the Spirit can enlighten us. I’m happy that you enjoyed the article.
Have a blessed one!
Thanks.
I agree Mr. Biizy, we must pray for a better understanding of the Trinity and all of His ways.
Thanks for commenting and have a blessed one!
Friends please wake up…the trinity was founded by the Roman Catholic church in 325 AD. Please friends Matthew 28:19 refer to the THREE OFFICES OR MANIFESTATIONS OF ONE GOD…AS FATHER in the O.T Son in N.T and as the Holy Spirit in a many membered bride. The person first refer to the Trinity was Tertullian 200 AD then Athanasius took it into the council of Nicea 325 AD and Augustine took it furher. In 381 AD the emperor Theodosius proclaimed the doctrine as the only way to salvation. Everyone who do not agreed with the trinity was killed. Friends the Roman Catholic churc slew 68 mil christians who refused the bow before the doctrine of the trinity. Sabellius and his followers were wiped out in the 3rd century….Mickhail Servetus was killed by the Roman and Protestant churches for refusing to bo bow to the doctrine. Friends you may go to your library or search google to test my facts. Finally the doctrine of the trinity will become the MARK OF THE BEAST. past Cloete
cloete.Willem1@gmail.com
Hello WilleM – Hello WilleM – Matthew 28:19 affirms the reality of the Trinity, the concept coming directly from Jesus himself. He did not say baptize them into the “names,” but into the “name” of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While the word “Trinity” does not occur in Scripture, it well describes the three-in-one existence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Again, This is by Jesus Himself.The Roman Catholic church killed Christians who did not accept
Sunday worship, not the Trinity. The mark of the beast will be false worship. Rev 14:9-10 reads, “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, (10) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:”
Thanks for commenting!