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"TRINITARIANISM"
By H. LaVern Schafer, B.A., Th.M., Th.D.
(Scripture verse quotations are included)
Chairman of the Department and Professor of Theology in THE
SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATIVE BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
1225 Franklin Street, San Francisco, California 94109
(These notes are class handouts from Theology Proper, 102, 1965.
Scripture passages not included in the original notes have been inserted.)
According to the Scriptures God is one in essence yet three in persons.
God as God is one in a different way than he is three. The one infinite
Spirit which is God is shared simultaneously and equally by three divine
persons.
The doctrine of the Trinity is a Biblical revelation. This triune
concept of God does not come from reason, philosophy, analogy, nor from
natural phenomena. The Trinity is not the same as the triad of gods
found in ancient heathen deities. The heathen concept of a virgin and
child; or a mother, father and son; or of three separate gods, as of
three different forms of one god; or of a three headed god, is not
comparable to the Biblical doctrine of a Trinity within a Godhead.
Human reason and wisdom are incapable of discovering the doctrine of the
Trinity. Therefore, all precepts and concepts of this doctrine must come
from Biblical revelation. Although the doctrine is not rationally
derived, still it is not rationally contradictory. Moreover, in keeping
with the revelation of God, it is rationally explainable to a
Spirit-illumined mind. It is thus a truth that is mentally
apprehensible though, because of human limitations, it is not completely
comprehensible.
The word Trinity does not occur in Scripture, yet the doctrine
concerning the Trinity is wholly a Biblical doctrine.
All of the factual material which makes up the doctrine is contained in
the Bible. Therefore, the human devised term, Trinity, defines and
explains accurately Divinely revealed facts concerning God. Therefore,
the doctrine of the Trinity is wholly a Biblical doctrine.
However, since no one verse contains the complete statement of the
doctrine, an inductive study of the total testimony of the Scriptures
related to this subject is necessary. Without this scientific approach
to the whole truth concerning this subject one can not understand it.
The doctrine of the Trinity is peculiarily a New Testament revelation.
This does not mean that the Old Testament does not contain veiled hints
concerning a plurality within God. It does mean that these Old
Testament intimations are unintelligible apart from the plain revelation
of the New Testament.
In the New Testament alone the doctrine is taught with utmost clarity.
The New Testament is dependent throughout on the doctrine of a Trinity
within the Godhead. Every activity of God in providing or applying
salvation for man is stated to be a work of the one God who is in a
different sense three. A Trinity in unity, not in a unit.
The New Testament is as careful as the Old Testament to oppose the
thought that there is more than one God. In presenting God as triune
the New Testament does not contradict the Old Testament. Rather the
hints and veiled statements of the Old Testament are clearly explained
in the New Testament. The pages of the New Testament clearly teach
that God is one and yet in an altogether different way He is three.
Lucidly this section of Holy Scripture sets forth the fact that the
Father is God, and the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. On the
other hand the clear statement is that these three are not three aspects
of the same person, but three persons having an essential relationship
to each other. There are three divine persons but one God.
God's dealings with man in the Old Testament made it unnecessary for
this doctrine to be revealed then. God progressively revealed Himself
and His plan of salvation. The work on the cross necessitated a fuller
revelation of God so that man could understand what God had done.
Therefore, after the cross God manifested by clear revelation the truth
concerning the Godhead. During the Old Testament times this was
unnecessary for the nation Israel. The polytheistic idolatry to which
Israel was exposed required only the revelation which emphasized Jehovah
as the one true God. Though the intimations and foregleams of this
doctrine are in the Old Testament, none of the Israelites saw in these
shadows the details we now have. Now Christians with their full
revelation plainly see a Trinity in unity and a unity in Trinity. The
relation of Old Testament and New Testament revelations is such that the
believer is prevented from thinking that in the New Testament there are
simply two persons added to the God of the Old Testament. Therefore, New
Testament revelation clarifies Old Testament shadows in such a way as to
show that God has not changed, but He simply has revealed more about
Himself. There is one God, but there are three who are God.
One of the two major objections to the doctrine of the Trinity is that
it has no practical application to daily life for the believer. Indeed,
very few, if any, of the books written on the subject relates this most
important doctrine to situations of daily life. However, according to
the New Testament nothing could be more closely related to daily life
and experience. Every aspect of the Christians life is related to
different persons of the Godhead. The very life that the Holy Spirit
manifests through the believer, comes from the indwelling Son of God.
The new nature which opposes the old nature, comes from the indwelling
Father who is God. In fact the whole triune Godhead is involved in every
Christian experience. In fact a complete Christian experience is based
on an apprehension of the doctrine of the Trinity.
The second major objection is that the word Trinity is not found in the
Bible. Though the word Trinity does not occur in Scripture, yet the
concepts and precepts which make up this doctrine are all found in the
Bible. Therefore there is a doctrine of the triunity of God clearly
stated in God's Word for which the term Trinity has been descriptively
applied. This same problem exists with most doctrines of Scripture. The
doctrine of the Church uses a term to describe ecclesia which is not a
translation but descriptive. "Church" means, belonging to the Lord, but
ecclesia means, called out ones. The word church is a term devised to
describe the "called out ones" of the Bible. Few object to this
descriptive word, yet in an analogous situation some object to the term
Trinity.
One of the most accurate and brief statements of what the Bible teaches
concerning the Trinity is the Athanasian Creed: "We worship one God in
trinity, and trinity in unity; neither confounding the persons nor
dividing the substance."
The Biblical statement of this doctrine is contained in many verses,
which must inductively yield their truth. However, the Bible does state
succinctly in one verse this doctrine. The golden text of Trinitarianism
is Matthew 28:19: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
TRINITARIANISM -- 21 Summary Statements
1. The Trinity is therefore three eternally inter-constituted,
inter-related, inter-existent, and therefore inseparable Persons within
One Being and of One Substance or essence. John 10:30 "I and [my] Father
are one."
2. The unity of God does not infer that He possesses but a single
personality, but a oneness of essence and being, as the one and only
Deity. This unity is therefore
a compound or composite unity rather than a simple or single units.
3. Thus, the one indivisible divine essence, as a unity, exists
eternally as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, so that each Person possesses
the whole essence, and yet is constituted a distinct person by certain
incommunicable properties not possessed in common with the others.
4. God is thus not one and three, but one in three. [Colossians 2:9 "For
in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."]
5. Therefore the essence is not one constituent factor by itself, apart
from the persons, nor the persons three constituent factors by
themselves, apart from the essence.
6. The one essence is simultaneously three persons, and the three
persons are one essence. The Trinity is simple and uncomplex.
7. Therefore the Trinity is not an essence without distinctions united
with three distinctions so as to make a complex being.
8. This doctrine is logically consistent because it affirms that God is
one in another sense than He is three; and three in another sense than
He is one.
9. We do not state that three beings are one being or that three persons
are one person; or that three intelligent beings are one intelligent
being; but we do state that in the same undivided essence are three
different personal distinctions or personal subsistences.
10. The divine nature is distinguished from human nature in that the
divine nature can subsist wholly and indivisibly in more than one person
simultaneously.
11. A trinitarian person is thus the entire Divine nature subsisting in
a particular manner, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
12 Therefore, when it is stated that there are three persons in one
essence, it does not mean that the essence is a fourth thing.
13 The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are each simultaneously the whole
divine essence; so that while there are three persons, there is but one
essence.
14. The substance of one Divine Person is the substance of the others,
both numerically and identically. In this instance, there is no division
of substance. The whole undivided Divine nature is in each Divine person
simultaneously and eternally. (John 14:10, 20: "Believest thou not that
I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto
you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he
doeth the works. ... At that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father,
and ye in me, and I in you.")
15. One human person exists externally to another, and separate from
him; but one Divine person exists in another, and inseparably from him.
Thus one human person can exist apart from another; a Divine person
cannot. John 14:10, 20 (see above);
John 12:48-49 "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath
one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall
judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the
Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and
what I should speak."
16. The difference between one Divine person and another is greater than
the difference between the person and the essence. The essence is
predicated of each Divine Person but the personal characteristics cannot
be predicated of any Divine person except the one to whom it belongs.
17. A trinitarian person is not so comprehensive as the Godhead. A
trinitarian person includes all that is in the unity, but not all that
is in the trinality of God. Thus he does not possess the personal
characteristics belonging to the other two persons.
18. The trinitarian persons are not so real as to constitute three
essences, or beings, but the whole Divine essence is in each trinitarian
Person.
19. The three persons are so real and distinct from each other, that
each possesses a hypostatical or trinitarian consciousness different
from that of the others. These three hypostatical consciousnesses
constitute the one self-consciousness of the Divine essence.
20. There is only one essence, having one understanding, and one will,
yet this unity of essence, understanding and will, has three different
forms of consciousness because it has three different forms of
subsistence as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
21. The Divine self consciousness is not a fourth consciousness
additional to the three hypostatical consciousnesses but is the
resultant of the Three. The three consciousnesses are the one Divine
self-consciousness, and the one Divine self-consciousness is the three
hypostatic consciousnesses.
THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY
I. THE NEW TESTAMENT REVELATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY
A. A Plurality of Persons are Associated as God
1. Two Persons are Associated as God
a. John 10:30 "I and [my] Father are one."
b. John 5:17-29 "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh
hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to
kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but
said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with
God. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what
he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth,
these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the
Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he
will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [them];
even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father
judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the
Son: That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they
honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth
not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say
unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that
sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily,
verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when
the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they
that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in
himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in
himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment
also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for
the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves
shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have
done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have
done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."
c. 1 Corinthians 8:6 "But to us [there is but] one God, the
Father, of whom [are] all things, and we in him; and one
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom [are] all things, and we by him."
2. Three Persons are Associated as God
a. Ephesians 1:3-14 "Blessed [be] the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: According as he
hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before him in
love:"
b. Ephesians 4:4-6 "[There is] one body, and one Spirit, even
as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one
faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who [is]
above all, and through all, and in you all."
c. John 1:29-34 "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him,
and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin
of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a
man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And
I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to
Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John
bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven
like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but
he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto
me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and
remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the
Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son
of God."; cf.
Matthew 3:16-17 "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up
straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were
opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending
like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from
heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased."
d. John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15 "And I will pray the
Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may
abide with you for ever; [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom
the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither
knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and
shall be in you. ... But when the Comforter is come, whom I
will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of
truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of
me: ... Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient
for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter
will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him
unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of
sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because
they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my
Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the
prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to
say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he,
the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all
truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he
shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you
things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of
mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. All things that the
Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take
of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you."
e. 2 Corinthians 13:14 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and
the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, [be]
with you all. Amen."
f. 1 John 5:1-12 "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ
is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat
loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know
that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep
his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep
his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For
whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is
the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. Who
is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that
Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and
blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water
and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because
the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in
heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these
three are one. And there are three that bear witness in
earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these
three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the
witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God
which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the
Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth
not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the
record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record,
that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in
his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath
not the Son of God hath not life."
B. Three Persons are Declared to be God
1. The Father is Declared to be God
a. Title God is usually joined with reference to Father
(1) 1 Corinthians 8:6 "But to us [there is but] one God, the
Father, of whom [are] all things, and we in him; ...";
Ephesians 4:6 "One God and Father of all, who [is]
above all, and through all, and in you all."
(2) Romans 15:6 "That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth
glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.";
1 Corinthians 15:24 "Then [cometh] the end, when he
shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the
Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all
authority and power."
(3) John 6:27 "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but
for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life,
which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath
God the Father sealed.";
James 3:9 "Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and
therewith curse we men, which are made after the
similitude of God."
b. Title God when used alone usually refers to Father
(1) James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not;
and it shall be given him."
(2) 1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ also hath once suffered for
sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to
God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by
the Spirit:"
2. The Lord Jesus Christ is Declared to be God
a. The claims of Jesus
(1) He claimed to be God
(a) Matthew 4:6-7 "And saith unto him, If thou be the
Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He
shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in
[their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any
time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said
unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt
the Lord thy God."
(b) Matthew 26:63-64 "But Jesus held his peace. And the
high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure
thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether
thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto
him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you,
Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the
right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of
heaven."; cf.
Mark 14:61-62 "But he held his peace, and answered
nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said
unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the
Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the
Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and
coming in the clouds of heaven."; &
Luke 22:67-70 "Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he
said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:
And if I also ask [you], ye will not answer me, nor
let [me] go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on
the right hand of the power of God. Then said they
all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto
them, Ye say that I am."
(c) John 4:25-26 "The woman saith unto him, I know that
Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is
come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto
her, I that speak unto thee am [he].";
John 9:35-38 "Jesus heard that they had cast him
out; and when he had found him, he said unto him,
Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and
said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him,
and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said,
Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.";
Luke 19:10 "For the Son of man is come to seek and
to save that which was lost."
(2) He claimed to come from heaven
(a) John 1:11 "He came unto his own, and his own
received him not."; cf.
Matthew 10:34-35 "Think not that I am come to send
peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a
sword. For I am come to set a man at variance
against his father, and the daughter against her
mother, and the daughter in law against her mother
in law."; &
Mark 2:17 "When Jesus heard [it], he saith unto
them, They that are whole have no need of the
physician, but they that are sick: I came not to
call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
(b) John 3:13 -- first occurrence of phrase "came down
from heaven" "And no man hath ascended up to heaven,
but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of
man which is in heaven."
(c) John 5:36-37 -- first occurrence of phrase "Father
hath sent me" "But I have greater witness than [that]
of John: for the works which the Father hath given
me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness
of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father
himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of
me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor
seen his shape."
(d) John 8:42 "Jesus said unto them, If God were your
Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and
came from God; neither came I of myself, but he
sent me.";
16:28, 30 "I came forth from the Father, and am come
into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to
the Father. ... Now are we sure that thou knowest
all things, and needest not that any man should ask
thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth
from God."
(3) He claimed a unique relation to God as Father
(a) Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is
in heaven.";
10:32-33 "Whosoever therefore shall confess me
before men, him will I confess also before my Father
which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me
before men, him will I also deny before my Father
which is in heaven.";
11:25-27 "At that time Jesus answered and said, I
thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because thou hast hid these things from the wise and
prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so,
Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All
things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no
man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither
knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he]
to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him]."
(b) Luke 22:29 "And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my
Father hath appointed unto me;"
24:49 "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father
upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem,
until ye be endued with power from on high."
(c) John 5:17ff "But Jesus answered them, My Father
worketh hitherto, and I work." (many references
follow this)
(d) Matthew 6:8-9 "Be not ye therefore like unto them:
for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of,
before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray
ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy
name." (note "Your Father" and "Our Father")
(e) John 20:17 "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for
I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my
brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my
Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your
God." (note "my Father" and "your Father")
(4) His claims validated by His enemies' reactions
(a) John 5:18 "Therefore the Jews sought the more to
kill him, because he not only had broken the
sabbath, but said also that God was his Father,
making himself equal with God.";
8:59 "Then took they up stones to cast at him: but
Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going
through the midst of them, and so passed by.";
10:31, 39 "Then the Jews took up stones again to
stone him. ... Therefore they sought again to take
him: but he escaped out of their hand,"
(b) Matthew 26:63-64 "But Jesus held his peace. And the
high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure
thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether
thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto
him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you,
Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the
right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of
heaven."
(c) John 18:31 "Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him,
and judge him according to your law. The Jews
therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to
put any man to death:";
19:7 "The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by
our law he ought to die, because he made himself the
Son of God."
b. The testimony of others
(1) Introduction--John 5:31-47 "If I bear witness of myself,
my witness is not true. There is another that beareth
witness of me; and I know that the witness which he
witnesseth of me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bare
witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from
man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He
was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing
for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have greater
witness than [that] of John: for the works which the
Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I
do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne
witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any
time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word
abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe
not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have
eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And
ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. I
receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye
have not the love of God in you. I am come in my
Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall
come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye
believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek
not the honour that [cometh] from God only? Do not think
that I will accuse you to the Father: there is [one]
that accuseth you, [even] Moses, in whom ye trust. For
had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he
wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how
shall ye believe my words?"
(2) John the Baptist:
(a) John 1:23 "He said, I [am] the voice of one crying
in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the
Lord, as said the prophet Esaias."
(b) John 1:15, 30 "John bare witness of him, and cried,
saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh
after me is preferred before me: for he was before
me. ... This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a
man which is preferred before me: for he was before
me." (cf. v. 27 "He it is, who coming after me is
preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not
worthy to unloose.")
(c) John 1:34 "And I saw, and bare record that this is
the Son of God."
(3) God the Father
(a) Matthew 3:16-17 "And Jesus, when he was baptized,
went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the
heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit
of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon
him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
(b) Matthew 17:5 "While he yet spake, behold, a bright
cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of
the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in
whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."
(4) Angels
(a) Luke 1:31-33, 35 "And, behold, thou shalt conceive
in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call
his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be
called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God
shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of his kingdom there shall be no end. ... And
the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost
shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest
shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy
thing which shall be born of thee shall be called
the Son of God."
(b) Luke 2:11 "For unto you is born this day in the city
of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
(c) Mark 1:24 "Saying, Let [us] alone; what have we to
do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come
to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy
One of God." (fallen angels)
(5) The disciples
(a) Matthew 16:16 "And Simon Peter answered and said,
Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
cf. John 6:68-69 "Then Simon Peter answered him,
Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of
eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou
art that Christ, the Son of the living God."
(b) John 20:27-29 "Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither
thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither
thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not
faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and
said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto
him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast
believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and
[yet] have believed."
(6). Other persons
(a) Elizabeth -- Luke 1:43 "And whence [is] this to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
(b) Zachariah -- Luke 1:78 "Through the tender mercy of
our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath
visited us,"
(c) Thief on cross -- Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus,
Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy
kingdom."
(d) Centurion at cross -- Mark 15:39 "And when the
centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he
so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly
this man was the Son of God."
(7) New Testament writers under inspiration and their
inspired writings
(a) Romans 9:5 "Whose [are] the fathers, and of whom as
concerning the flesh Christ [came], who is over all,
God blessed for ever. Amen."
(b) John 1:1, 18 ("only-begotten God") "In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. ... No man hath seen God at any time;
the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the
Father, he hath declared [him]."
(c) Titus 2:13 "Looking for that blessed hope, and the
glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ;";
2 Peter 1:1 "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle
of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like
precious faith with us through the righteousness of
God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:" [Grandville
Sharp's rule]
(d) Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and
to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath
made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which
he hath purchased with his own blood."
(e) Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine
heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved.";
Philippians 2:11 "And [that] every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of
God the Father.";
Acts 2:34, 36 "For David is not ascended into the
heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my
Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, ... Therefore let
all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God
hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified,
both Lord and Christ."
(f) 1 Corinthians 2:8; 8:6 "Which none of the princes of
this world knew: for had they known [it], they would
not have crucified the Lord of glory. ... But to us
[there is but] one God, the Father, of whom [are]
all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus
Christ, by whom [are] all things, and we by him."
(g) Romans 14:8-9 "For whether we live, we live unto the
Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord:
whether we live therefore, or die, we are the
Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose,
and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead
and living."
(h) Hebrews 1:8, 10 "But unto the Son [he saith], Thy
throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: a sceptre of
righteousness [is] the sceptre of thy kingdom. ...
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the
foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the
works of thine hands:"
3. The Holy Spirit is Declared to be God
a. His titles relating Him to God
(1) Spirit of God -- Matthew 3:16 "And Jesus, when he was
baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo,
the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit
of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:"
(2) Spirit of the Lord -- Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord
[is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the
gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,
and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty
them that are bruised,"
(3) Spirit of your Father -- Matthew 10:20 "For it is not ye
that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which
speaketh in you."
(4) My Spirit -- Acts 2:17-18 "And it shall come to pass in
the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit
upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your
old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my
handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy:"
(5) Spirit of Christ -- Romans 8:9 "But ye are not in the
flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of
God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of his."
b. Specific statements
(1) Acts 5:3-4, 9 distinctly called God "But Peter said,
Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the
Holy Ghost, and to keep back [part] of the price of the
land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and
after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why
hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast
not lied unto men, but unto God. ... Then Peter said
unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to
tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them
which have buried thy husband [are] at the door, and
shall carry thee out."
(2) 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (RSV) " Now the Lord is the
Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the
glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness
from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from
the Lord who is the Spirit."
(3) 1 Corinthians 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple
of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?";
cf. 6:19 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple
of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of
God, and ye are not your own?"; &
Ephesians 2:22 "In whom ye also are builded together for
an habitation of God through the Spirit."
(4) Comparison of New Testament quotations with Old
Testament passages quoted
(a) Cf. Acts 28:25-27 with Isaiah 6:1-13 "And when they
agreed not among themselves, they departed, after
that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy
Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye
shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye
shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this
people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of
hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they
should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their]
ears, and understand with [their] heart, and should
be converted, and I should heal them." cf.
"3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy,
holy, [is] the LORD of hosts: the whole earth [is]
full of his glory.... 8 Also I heard the voice of
the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go
for us? Then said I, Here [am] I; send me. 9 And he
said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but
understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of
this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut
their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear
with their ears, and understand with their heart,
and convert, and be healed. ..."
(b) Cf. Hebrews 3:7-11 with Psalm 95:7-11 "Wherefore (as
the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his
voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation,
in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When
your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works
forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that
generation, and said, They do alway err in [their]
heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware
in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)"
cf. "For he [is] our God; and we [are] the people of
his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye
will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in
the provocation, [and] as [in] the day of temptation
in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me,
proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I
grieved with [this] generation, and said, It [is] a
people that do err in their heart, and they have not
known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that
they should not enter into my rest."
(c) Cf. Hebrews 10:15-17 with Jeremiah 31:31-34
"[Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us:
for after that he had said before, This [is] the
covenant that I will make with them after those
days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their
hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And
their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."
cf. "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I
will make a new covenant with the house of Israel,
and with the house of Judah: Not according to the
covenant that I made with their fathers in the day
[that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of
the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake,
although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel; After those days, saith
the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts,
and write it in their hearts; and will be their God,
and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no
more every man his neighbour, and every man his
brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all
know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of
them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their
iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
(d) Cf. Acts 7:51 with content and Old Testament
"Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears,
ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers
[did], so [do] ye."
C. Three Persons Possess the Attributes and Characteristics of God
1. Representative Attributes and characteristics of God in New
Testament
a. Power -- Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus beheld [them], and said
unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all
things are possible."
b. Goodness -- Matthew 19:17 "And he said unto him, Why
callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is],
God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the
commandments."
c. Mercy -- Luke 1:78 "Through the tender mercy of our God;
whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,"
d. Grace -- Luke 2:40 "And the child grew, and waxed strong in
spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon
him."
e. Love -- 1 John 4:8, 16 "He that loveth not knoweth not God;
for God is love. ... And we have known and believed the love
that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in
love dwelleth in God, and God in him."
f. Light (holiness) -- 1 John 1:5 "This then is the message
which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God
is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
g. Knowledge -- Luke 16:15 "And he said unto them, Ye are they
which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your
hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is
abomination in the sight of God."
h. Truth -- John 3:33 "He that hath received his testimony
hath set to his seal that God is true."
i. Righteousness -- Romans 1:17 "For therein is the
righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is
written, The just shall live by faith.";
Acts 10:34 "Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a
truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:"
j. Life -- Matthew 26:63 "But Jesus held his peace. And the
high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the
living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ,
the Son of God."
2. Attributes and Characteristics Possessed by the Father
a. Holiness -- John 17:11 "And now I am no more in the world,
but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father,
keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me,
that they may be one, as we [are]."
b. Righteousness -- John 17:25 "O righteous Father, the world
hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have
known that thou hast sent me."
c. Life -- John 6:57 (also of Christ) "As the living Father
hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth
me, even he shall live by me." [cf. 6:63]
d. Mercy -- 2 Corinthians 1:3 "Blessed [be] God, even the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies,
and the God of all comfort;"
e. Omnipresence -- Matthew 6:4, 6 "That thine alms may be in
secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall
reward thee openly. ... But thou, when thou prayest, enter
into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to
thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in
secret shall reward thee openly."
f. Omniscience -- Matthew 6:8 "Be not ye therefore like unto
them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of,
before ye ask him."
g. Love -- John 5:20 "For the Father loveth the Son, and
sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew
him greater works than these, that ye may marvel."
3. Attributes and Characteristics Possessed by the Lord Jesus
Christ (most of these after incarnation)
a. Eternity -- John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God.";
8:58 "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Before Abraham was, I am."
b. Omniscience -- John 1:47-48 "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to
him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom
is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou
me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip
called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee."
2:24-25 "But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because
he knew all [men], And needed not that any should testify of
man: for he knew what was in man."
c. Omnipresence -- John 1:48-50 "Nathanael saith unto him,
Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him,
Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig
tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him,
Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee,
I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt
see greater things than these.";
Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together
in my name, there am I in the midst of them.";
28:20 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the
end of the world. Amen."
d. Life -- 1 John 1:2 "(For the life was manifested, and we
have seen [it], and bear witness, and shew unto you that
eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested
unto us;)";
5:20 "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath
given us an understanding, that we may know him that is
true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son
Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.";
1 John 5:11-15 "And this is the record, that God hath given
to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that
hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of
God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that
believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that
ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of
the Son of God."
e. Love -- Ephesians 5:2 "And walk in love, as Christ also
hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and
a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."
f. Immutability -- Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same
yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
g. Truth -- John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but
by me."
4. Attributes and Characteristics Possessed by the Holy Spirit
a. Holiness -- Ephesians 4:30 "And grieve not the holy Spirit
of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
b. Truth -- John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13 "[Even] the Spirit of
truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him
not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth
with you, and shall be in you. ... But when the Comforter is
come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the
Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall
testify of me: ... Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is
come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not
speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that]
shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.";
1 John 4:6 "We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us;
he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the
spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."
c. Life -- Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and
death.";
John 17:2-3 -- Father and Son "As thou hast given him power
over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many
as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they
might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom
thou hast sent."
d. Grace -- Hebrews 10:29 "Of how much sorer punishment,
suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden
under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the
covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and
hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"
e. Knowledge -- 1 Corinthians 2:11 "For what man knoweth the
things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?
even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit
of God."
f. Eternity -- Hebrews 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself
without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works
to serve the living God?"
g. Glory -- 1 Peter 4:14 "If ye be reproached for the name of
Christ, happy [are ye]; for the Spirit of glory and of God
resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on
your part he is glorified."
D. Three Persons Exercise the Prerogatives of God
1. Representative Prerogatives of God in the New Testament
a. Receive worship -- John 4:24 "God [is] a Spirit: and they
that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.";
Matthew 4:10 "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence,
Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy
God, and him only shalt thou serve."
b. Forgive sin -- Mark 2:6-7 "But there were certain of the
scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why
doth this [man] thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive
sins but God only?"
c. Receive service -- Matthew 6:24 "No man can serve two
masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the
other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
d. Bestow reward -- Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith [it is]
impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him."
e. Be the object of faith -- Mark 11:22 "And Jesus answering
saith unto them, Have faith in God."
2. Prerogatives Exercised by the Father
a. Receive worship -- John 4:23 "But the hour cometh, and now
is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in
spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship
him."
b. Forgive sin -- Matthew 6:14 "For if ye forgive men their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:"
c. Receive praise -- James 3:9 "Therewith bless we God, even
the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after
the similitude of God."
d. Bestow reward -- Matthew 6:6 "But thou, when thou prayest,
enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door,
pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which
seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
e. Give commands -- John 14:31 "But that the world may know
that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me
commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence."
3. Prerogatives Exercised by the Lord Jesus Christ
a. Receive worship -- John 9:38 "And he said, Lord, I believe.
And he worshipped him.";
20:28 "And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and
my God."
b. Forgive sin -- Mark 2:8-12 "And immediately when Jesus
perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within
themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in
your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the
palsy, [Thy] sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and
take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son
of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the
sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy
bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he
arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all;
insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God,
saying, We never saw it on this fashion."
c. Bestow reward -- Revelation 22:12 "And, behold, I come
quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man
according as his work shall be."
d. Be the object of faith -- John 1:12 "But as many as received
him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even]
to them that believe on his name:";
20:31 "But these are written, that ye might believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye
might have life through his name."
e. Give commands -- John 15:12, 14 "This is my commandment,
That ye love one another, as I have loved you. ... Ye are my
friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."
4. Prerogatives Exercised by the Holy Spirit
a. Receive worship -- Hebrews 10:29 "Of how much sorer
punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath
trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the
blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an
unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of
grace?";
Ephesians 4:30 (implied) "And grieve not the holy Spirit of
God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.";
1 Thessalonians 5:19 "Quench not the Spirit."
b. Give commands -- Acts 8:29 "Then the Spirit said unto
Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.";
10:19-20 "While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said
unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and
get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I
have sent them."
c. Bestow gifts -- 1 Corinthians 12:4, 7-8, 11 "Now there are
diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ... But the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of
wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
... But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit,
dividing to every man severally as he will."
E. Three Persons Execute the Works of God
1. Representative Works of God in the New Testament
a. Creation -- Mark 13:19 "For [in] those days shall be
affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the
creation which God created unto this time, neither shall
be.";
1 Timothy 4:3-4 "Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to
abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received
with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing to be
refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:"
b. Providence -- Matthew 6:30 "Wherefore, if God so clothe the
grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast
into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye
of little faith?"
c. Resurrection -- Acts 2:24, 32 "Whom God hath raised up,
having loosed the pains of death: because it was not
possible that he should be holden of it. ... This Jesus
hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses."
d. Revelation and Inspiration -- Hebrews 1:1-2 "God, who at
sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto
the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken
unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all
things, by whom also he made the worlds;";
2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture [is] given by inspiration of
God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
e. Judgment -- Romans 2:2, 5 "But we are sure that the judgment
of God is according to truth against them which commit such
things. ... But after thy hardness and impenitent heart
treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath
and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;"
2. Works Executed by the Father
a. Creation -- 1 Corinthians 8:6 "But to us [there is but] one
God, the Father, of whom [are] all things, and we in him;
and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom [are] all things, and we
by him."
b. Providence -- Matthew 6:26 "Behold the fowls of the air: for
they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns;
yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much
better than they?"
c. Revelation -- Matthew 16:17"And Jesus answered and said unto
him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood
hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in
heaven."
d. Resurrection -- Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him
by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life."
e. Judgment -- Matthew 15:13 "But he answered and said, Every
plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be
rooted up."
3. Works Executed by the Lord Jesus Christ
a. Creation -- John 1:3, 9 "All things were made by him; and
without him was not any thing made that was made. ... [That]
was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh
into the world.";
Colossians 1:16 "For by him were all things created, that are
in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities,
or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:";
Hebrews 1:2, 10 " 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us
by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by
whom also he made the worlds; ... And, Thou, Lord, in the
beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the
heavens are the works of thine hands:";
Ephesians 3:9 "And to make all [men] see what [is] the
fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the
world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus
Christ:";
1 Corinthians 8:6 "But to us [there is but] one God, the
Father, of whom [are] all things, and we in him; and one
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom [are] all things, and we by him."
b. Providence -- Colossians 1:17 "And he is before all things,
and by him all things consist.";
Hebrews 1:3 "Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and
the express image of his person, and upholding all things by
the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our
sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"
c. Resurrection -- John 10:17-18 "Therefore doth my Father
love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it
again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of
myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to
take it again. This commandment have I received of my
Father.";
John 5:28-29 "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in
the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the
resurrection of damnation."
d. Revelation -- John 16:12-13 "I have yet many things to say
unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the
Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:
for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall
hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things
to come."
e. Judsnent -- John 5:22, 27 "For the Father judgeth no man,
but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: ... And hath
given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is
the Son of man.";
Acts 17:31 "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which
he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom
he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all
[men], in that he hath raised him from the dead."
4. Works Executed by the Holy Spirit
a. Revelation and Inspiration -- 2 Peter 1:21 "For the prophecy
came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God
spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.";
1 Corinthians 2:12-13 "Now we have received, not the spirit
of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might
know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which
things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing
spiritual things with spiritual [words]."
b. Resurrection -- Romans 8:11 "But if the Spirit of him that
raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised
up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal
bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."
c. Guidance -- Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the
Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
d. Security by sealing -- Ephesians 1:13-14 "... in whom also
after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit
of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until
the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the
praise of his glory."
e. Indwelling -- 2 Timothy 1:14 "That good thing which was
committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth
in us."
f. Quickening -- 1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ also hath once
suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might
bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but
quickened by the Spirit:"
II. THE OLD TESTAMENT IMPLICATIONS OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY
A. Implications of a Plurality in God
1. The Plural Name Elohim -- Other explanations of the plural form
of this name are given; but in the light of the New Testament
revelation of the doctrine of the Trinity, the concept that it
is a foregleam of that revelation divinely purposed is the most
satisfactory.
2. Other Plural Titles for God
a. "Thy Creators" Ecclesiastes 12:1 "Remember now thy
Creator(s) in the days of thy youth, while the evil days
come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I
have no pleasure in them;"
b. "Thy Makers" -- Isaiah 54:5 "For thy Maker(s) [is] thine
husband; the LORD of hosts [is] his name; and thy Redeemer
the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he
be called."
3. Use of Plural Pronouns and Adjectives by God
a. Pronouns -- Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in
our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and
over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.";
3:22 "And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as
one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth
his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and
live for ever:";
11:7 "Go to, let us go down, and there confound their
language, that they may not understand one another's
speech.";
Isaiah 6:8 "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom
shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here [am]
I; send me."
b. Adjective -- Deuteronomy 5:26 "For who [is there of] all
flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking
out of the midst of the fire, as we [have], and lived?";
1 Samuel 17:26 "And David spake to the men that stood by
him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this
Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for
who [is] this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy
the armies of the living God?
Jeremiah 10:10 "But the LORD [is] the true God, he [is] the
living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth
shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide
his indignation."
4. Dual [compound] Form of Word One with reference to God --
Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one
LORD:"
cf. Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and
his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be
one flesh."
5. Jehovah Distinguished from Jehovah -- Hosea 1:7 "But I will
have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the
LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword,
nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen."
6. Jehovah Declared to Have a Son -- Psalm 2:2, 6-7 "The kings of
the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying], ... Yet
have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare
the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this
day have I begotten thee.";
Proverbs 30:4 "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?
who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the
waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the
earth? what [is] his name, and what [is] his son's name, if
thou canst tell?"
B. Old Testament Doctrine of the Angel of Jehovah
1. Introduction -- The sanctity of God's name -- Isaiah 42:8 "I
[am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give
to another, neither my praise to graven images."
2. Amount of Evidence -- The Angel of Jehovah appears about 25
times in the Old Testament, never in the New Testament.
3. Titles Used of This Person
a. Angel of Jehovah (the LORD -- first reference) -- Genesis
16:7 "And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of
water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to
Shur."
b. Angel of God -- Judges 13:9 "And God hearkened to the voice
of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as
she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband [was] not
with her."
c. Angel of His Presence -- Isaiah 63:9 "In all their
affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence
saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;
and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old."
4. Content of the Evidence
a. Angel of Jehovah Identified as Jehovah
(1) Consciousness of men -- Judges 13:20-22 "For it came to
pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the
altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame
of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on [it],
and fell on their faces to the ground. But the angel of
the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife.
Then Manoah knew that he [was] an angel of the LORD. And
Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because
we have seen God."
(2) Content of Scripture -- Exodus 3:2-6 "And the angel of
the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the
midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush
burned with fire, and the bush [was] not consumed.
And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this
great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the
LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto
him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses,
Moses. And he said, Here [am] I. And he said, Draw not
nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for
the place whereon thou standest [is] holy ground.
Moreover he said, I [am] the God of thy father, the God
of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And
Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God."
(3) Revelation of God -- Genesis 31:11-13 "And the angel of
God spake unto me in a dream, [saying], Jacob: And I
said, Here [am] I. And he said, Lift up now thine eyes,
and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle [are]
ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all
that Laban doeth unto thee. I [am] the God of Bethel,
where thou anointedst the pillar, [and] where thou vowedst
a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land,
and return unto the land of thy kindred."
b. Angel of Jehovah Distinguished from Jehovah as a Person --
Zechariah 3:1-2 "And he shewed me Joshua the high priest
standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at
his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said unto Satan,
The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath
chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: [is] not this a brand
plucked out of the fire?"
5. Conclusion from the Evidence -- The Angel of Jehovah is a
divine Being who is distinguished from God as a Person, a fact
which indicates plurality in the Godhead.
C. Old Testament Doctrine of the Spirit of God
1. The Spirit Possesses the Attributes of God
a. Wisdom -- Isaiah 11:2 "And the spirit of the LORD shall rest
upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit
of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the
fear of the LORD;"
b. Omnipresence -- Psalm 139:7 "Whither shall I go from thy
Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?"
2. The Spirit Executes the Work of God
a. Creation -- Job 26:13 "By his Spirit he hath garnished the
heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.";
Psalm 33:6 "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made;
and all the host of them by the breath/Spirit of his mouth."
b. Restrains sin -- Genesis 6:3 "And the LORD said, My Spirit
shall not always strive with man, for that he also [is]
flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.";
Isaiah 63:10 "But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit:
therefore he was turned to be their enemy, [and] he fought
against them."
3. Conclusion from the Evidence -- The Spirit of God is a divine
Being who is distinguished from God as a Person, a fact which
indicates plurality in the Godhead.
D. Repetition of the Threefold Formula
1. Isaiah 6:3 -- "Holy, holy, holy" -- "And one cried unto
another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the LORD of hosts:
the whole earth [is] full of his glory." [human figure seen]
2. Numbers 6:24-26 -- The Aaronic Benediction upon Israel -- "The
LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine
upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his
countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
3. Genesis 48:15-16 -- The Benediction of Jacob upon Joseph's Sons--
"And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers
Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life
long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil,
bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name
of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a
multitude in the midst of the earth."
III. THE DOCTRINAL EXPLANATION
A. The Theological Statement
1. Three Persons are God
a. The Father is God
b. The Lord Jesus Christ is God
c. The Holy Spirit is God
2. God is One
a. Deuteronomy 6:4 " 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is]
one LORD:" cf.
Mark 12:29 "And Jesus answered him, The first of all the
commandments [is], Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one
Lord:"
b. John 17:3 "And this is life eternal, that they might know
thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
sent."
3. The Concluding Statement
a. The Biblical revelation of God is that God is a unity as
far as essential nature is concerned and yet subsists as a
Godhead of three Persons, co-equal and co-eternal each of
whom possesses the totality of the divine essence
simultaneously while existing as a separate personal
manifestation.
b. The Athanasian Creed -- page 1.
4. The Remaining Mystery -- Having stated the doctrine as a
conclusion from the Biblical revelation, one must immediately
confess the remaining unfathomable mystery of the doctrine and
its supra-rational character. It must be accepted by faith in
God and in His revelation of Himself in the Bible.
B. Errors to Avoid
1. Tritheism -- The polytheistic concept that God is in reality
three Gods, being three separate individuals such as Peter,
James, and John. This is not the Biblical doctrine, even
though Christians are accused of holding such a doctrine by
Jews, Mohammedans, and Unitarians.
2. Monarchianism -- The viewpoint that God is ultimately one,
explaining away the Biblical evidence of the trinity of
Persons in one of two major ways.
a. Dynamic Monarchians
(1) Makes the Biblical revelation of the Father the only
true God
(2) Denies in effect the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ,
making him in effect a mere man who is indwelt and
empowered by the spiritual force of God which came upon
him at his baptism and left him on the cross.
(3) Denies the personality of the Holy Spirit, making
Him simply the personification of the power
or forceful influence of God.
b. Patripassion Monarchians (same as modalism or Saballianism)
-- Considers God as basically one who variously presents
Himself in Scripture in the role of the Father or the role
of the Son or the role of the Holy Spirit. Cannot explain
passages where Christ addresses the Father or speaks
concerning Him or concerning the Holy Spirit as separate
persons.
IV. THE NATURAL ILLUSTRATION -- This doctrine has no real and perfect
illustration, because God is unique; but it does permit of almost
endless analogies in the created world: light, man, egg, time, etc.
Five Important Statements on the Trinity
1. There can be no subordination, as to essential Being, of the one
person of the Godhead to another.
2. The subordination is only in respect to order and in relationship to
creation.
3. There is no subordination as to the possession of the divine essence,
but in the manner of personal subsistence and in manifestation.
4. Certain personal operations are not performed by the three persons
jointly but by individual persons exclusively.
5. The oneness of essence explains the fact that (while Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, as respect to their personality, are distinct
subsistences) there is an intercommunion of Persons and an immanence
of one divine person in another which permits the peculiar work of
one to be ascribed, with limitation, to either of the other, and the
manifestation of one to be the manifestation of the other. (John 14)