Theological Musings: The Trinity

At church this weekend a brief conversation came up about the Trinity. Here is something I wrote during seminary on the Trinity and its Biblical basis that might be helpful for us all.

While the doctrine of the Trinity remains a mystery, it is an essential element of Christianity. Examination of the Bible leads to the conclusion that there is only one God. The Shema attests that God is one (Dt 6:4) and the 10 commandments prohibit the worship of any other God (Ex. 20:2-3).

Various authors of the New Testament reaffirm the uniqueness of God (1 Cor 8:4-6; 1 Tim 1:17, 2:5; Jam 2:19). While the Bible is clear on God being one, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all deemed deity. The deity of the Father is the least disputed of the three and his divine activity is seen throughout Scripture (Ps 89:26, Mt 6:26-32; 1 Cor 8:4-6). Jesus’ proclaimed his identification with God the Father (Jn 14:9-11). Other statements he made were considered blasphemous because it implied his equality with God (Mt. 26:63-65).

Further, Paul and the author of Hebrews attest that Jesus’ nature is that of God himself (Phil 2:5-11, Heb 1:3). Evidence for the divinity of the Holy Spirit exists in the charge against Ananias when the Holy Spirit is later interchanged with God (Acts 5:3-4). Further, it is the Spirit of God who knows the very thoughts of God and dwells in Christians making them the temple of God (1 Cor 2:10-11, 3:16-17).

Clearly the Bible affirms the unity of the deity and yet distinct persons who comprise this single God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not individual gods (tri-theism), nor is there only a single person who is playing multiple parts (modalism). Instead, there is a diversity within unity. While all three members of the Trinity can be seen throughout the Old Testament, the New Testament more clearly affirms the unity and diversity of the Godhead. Jesus’ charge to the disciples to baptize all people in the name (singular) of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit shows the unity and yet distinct persons (Mt. 28:19).

In addition, many of the New Testament writers offer greetings, blessings, and prayers that call on the different persons of the Trinity to act in Christians lives (2 Cor 13:14; Eph 1:3-14, 3:14-19; 1 Pet 1:2; Jude 20-21). While it is difficult to fully comprehend how three individual persons can be one, the Bible clearly points toward this reality and it has strong implications on how Christians worship and minister. The Trinity reminds us that not all members of the Body of Christ need to function in the exact same role or capacity, but that individuality can be expressed. While individuality is present within the Body of Christ, Christians must strive to maintain unity much as exists in the Trinity and as desired by Jesus (Jn 17).