The Trinity in the Bible

Bible  Lesson #10

Study

The Trinity in the Bible

Historical Development of the Doctrine of the Trinity

     The term trinity is not found in the Bible but is a theological word which expresses the clear teaching of holy Scripture, especially the New Testament. The first theologian of the church to use the term was Theophilus who spoke of God as trias. The great Latin church father Tertullian first developed the concept of trinitas, one God in three Persons. Though the fathers of the church in the second and third centuries spoke of three Persons of the Godhead while recognizing that there is but one God, the councils of Nicea (A.D. 325) and Constantinople (A.D. 381) gave the fullest expression to the biblical doctrine.

The Biblical Explicitly Teaches That There Is Only One God

The Teaching of the Old Testament

     Belief in one God in the ancient Mediterranean world was unique to the nation of Israel. The faith of Israel is given in the famous Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deut. 6:4). Repeatedly the teaching of the Law and the pronouncements of God's prophets confirm this absolute truth.

The Teaching of the New Testament

     The church continued the teaching of the Hebrew Scriptures, as well as the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, that there is only one God (see 1 Cor. 8:6;  Eph. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:5). This it did in contrast to the rampant polytheism that permeated the Greco-Roman world with its multitude of gods, including worship of the emperor as a God during the latter half of the first century. As the apostles and later the church began to articulate the monotheism against pagan religion, it was necessary to explain how this belief in one God was consistent with the concurrent belief that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each God and yet still only one God.

Scripture Teaches That Three Persons Are One God

Glimpses of the Trinity in the Old Testament

Use of the Word Elohim with Singular Verbs

     The usual Word for God in the Hebrew is Elohim. This noun is in the plural, whereas in several places the term for God is a singular, such as EL or Eloah. In spite of the plural term for God, the true Jewish faith was strongly monotheistic. When Elohim is used regarding the God of Israel, it s used with singular verbs, indicating that the God of Israel is a single being. The plural allows for plurality of expression for God, as later revealed in the New Testament, but Hebrew grammar may also simply be using a plural of plenitude.

Use of Plural Personal Pronouns

     On three occasions the Old Testament uses plural personal pronouns when speaking of God. The first occurrence refers to the creation of humanity: “Let Us make man in Our image” (Gen. 1:26). The second pertains to God deciding to confuse human languages at the tower of Babel: “Let Us go down” (Gen. 11:6-9). The last reference is to the call to mission: “”Who will go for Us?” (Is. 6:1-8)

The Angel of the Lord

     Several times in the Hebrew Scriptures, reference is made to “the Angel of the LORD” (Yahweh).  It is evident from the contexts that these references do not speak simply of a created messenger of God but of God Himself. In certain contexts the Angel of the LORD is identified as God Himself (Gen. 16:7-13 18:1-22), but in others He is distinguished from God (Gen. 19:1-28, especially v.  24; Zech. 1:12, 13; see also Mal. 3:1). Such appearances most likely are of the preincarnate  Christ, who is the revelation of the father (John 1:18; heb. 1:1-3). After the incarnation such appearances of the Angel of the LORD end, for now the revelation of God is present as a human in the person of Jesus Christ (compare Ex. 14:19 with Ex. 23:20; 1 cor. 10:4).

The Explicit Teaching of the New Testament

The Teaching of Jesus Christ on His Relationship to the Father and the Holy Spirit

     Jesus is the Son of the Father. Jesus calls Himself the Son of God, and He also calls God His Father in a way that implies a profoundly unique association. Moreover, Jesus claims relationship with God the father as a partner from all eternity. At other times Jesus makes statements and does deeds that cause others to recognize His claim to equality with God. The specific charge of blasphemy made against Christ was His admission to being the Son of God (Luke 22:70). These texts identify the person Jesus, preexistent to the world, as being God and yet distinct from God the Father.

     Like Jesus the Son, the Holy Spirit is also a divine Person. Before Christ left the earth to be with the father, He promised a Comforter similar to but distinct from Himself. He and the Father come to the believer through this Person, the Holy Spirit.

     In a sense, each Christian is identified with th Triune God. Jesus in His prayer for believers in John 17 indicated that God would dwell with believers in Christ, “ I in them and You in Me” (John 17:23).

The Teaching of the Apostles on the Trinity

     God is called the Father of the LORD Jesus Christ as well as of Christians (Eph. 1:2; Phil. 1:2;  2 John 3). The apostle John specifically calls Jesus God (John 1:1, 18; 8:58).

In several places Paul identifies Jesus as God (Rom. 9:5; Phil. 2:6  Titus 2:13), as does peter (2 Pet. 1:1). The Holy Spirit is declared to be God by Peter (Acts 5:4) and is listed alongside the Father and the Son (Matt. 28:19;  2 Cor. 13:14).

Biblical Teaching About the Trinity

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Bible  Lesson #10

The Trinity in the Bible

Instructions:

1. Reread the pages 4 and 5 Biblical Teaching About the Trinity.
2. Answer the true or false questions.
3. Write five scriptures you would use to tell someone who is not a believer about the Trinity.
4. Write five scriptures you would use to tell someone who is a believer about the Trinity.

TRUE or FALSE

1. The Bible teaches there is more than one God? ___________________________
2. The Bible speaks of four to five distinct persons? _________________________
3. The Bible teaches that three distinct persons have the attributes of God? ________

The Bible teaches that three distinct persons perform the works of God and that three distinct persons have the attributes of God and the Bible speaks of God as three distinct persons?  ______________________________

Write five scriptures you would use to tell someone who is not a believer about the Trinity.

Example: Psalm 102:25

1. _______________________________
2. _______________________________
3. _______________________________
4. _______________________________
5. _______________________________

Write five scriptures you would use to tell someone who is a believer about the Trinity:

Example: Acts 1:8

1. _______________________________
2. _______________________________
3. _______________________________
4. _______________________________
5. _______________________________

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