The Bible and the Trinity

The Bible clearly teaches that there is only one God (see Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:11; 44:6; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:5). At the same time, the Bible plainly indicates a plurality within God’s nature, subsisting of three eternal and coequal Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each the same in basic nature, but distinct in existence. Although the word Trinity does not appear in the Bible, the doctrine of the Trinity is a factual conclusion, reached by comparing and combining relevant scriptural truths.

One of the Bible’s Great Mysteries

The Trinity is one of the great mysteries of the Bible that cannot be fathomed by the finite mind. If God were small enough to figure out, He wouldn’t be big enough to worship. The Bible tells us that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are His ways our ways (see Isaiah 55:8–9). Though we will never fully understand the doctrine of the Trinity, there is no reasonable doubt that the Bible clearly teaches its truth.

The Father Is God

The biblical authors affirm the Father’s divinity by teaching He is holy (see John 17:11), sovereign (see Matthew 11:25), all powerful (see Mark 14:36), full of love and forgiveness (see Luke 15:11–32), the source of all things (see 1 Corinthians 8:6), and is all-knowing (see Matthew 6:8). Jesus confirmed this truth to His disciples when He referred to God as “My Father” (see John 20:17) and taught them to pray to God using the words, “our Father” (see Matthew 6:9).

(Also see: “What We Believe: The Father.”)

The Son, Jesus Christ, Is God

The Bible ascribes the same attributes of God to His Son, Jesus Christ (see Matthew 1:21–23; 28:18; Luke 5:20–24; John 1:1, 14; 8:58; 17:5; Hebrews 13:8). Jesus Christ is worshipped (see Matthew 14:31–33; 28:9; Hebrews 1:6); He is called God (see Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:21–23; John 1:1,14; 20:28); and He can forgive sins (see Luke 5:20–24). The Bible ascribes these attributes to God alone.

The Holy Spirit Is God

The activities and characteristics of God are attributed to the Holy Spirit (see Psalm 139:7–10; Luke 1:35; 11:13; John 14:26; Hebrews 9:14). The Holy Spirit is a Person (see John 16:13–15; Romans 8:27; 1 Corinthians 2:10–13; 12:11); He is Creator (see Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4); and He is called God (see Acts 5:1–11).

A Rational, Biblical Conclusion

For the above reasons and more, we are left with no other rational, biblical conclusion than to believe that God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit exist as a Holy Trinity: the God of the Bible.

There is no question of the existence of the Trinity. The only question is one of belief. We should want to know God, not as whom we think He should be, but simply as whom the Bible reveals Him to be.