Where Do We Get The Trinity From The Bible?
"The Doctrine of the Trinity"
(an article from the From The Founder column of the
Christian Research Newsletter, Volume 6: Number 2,1993)
by Walter Martin.
The editor of the Christian Research Newsletter is Ron Rhodes.
Strictly Scripture
Early Church Fathers
Where Do We Get The Trinity From The Bible?
The Doctrine of the Trinity teaches that within the unity of the one Godhead there are three separate persons who are coequal in power, nature, and eternity. This doctrine is derived from the clear teaching of Scripture, and is not a man-made doctrine as some (such as the Jehovah's Witnesses) have claimed. Let us briefly examine some of the New Testament evidences for this important doctrine.
1. _The Incarnation._ The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ as described in the accounts in Matthew and Luke show that the doctrine of the Trinity was not a later invention of theologians. Luke records what an angel said to Mary: "The _Holy Spirit_ will come upon you, and the power of the _Most High_ will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the _Son of_ God" (Luke 1:35).
Since other passages of Scripture reveal that the term "Most High" refers to God the Father, we have in Luke a concrete instance of the Holy Spirit, the Father, and the Son all being mentioned together in the supernatural event of the Incarnation.
2. _The Baptism of Our Lord._ When Jesus Christ was baptized, the heavens opened and the _Holy Spirit_ "descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: 'You are _my Son,_ whom I love; with you _I am_ well pleased'" (Luke 3:21-22). In these verses we see the Son being baptized, the Spirit descending upon Him, and the Father bearing testimony.
3. _Discourses of Christ._ In John 14--16 Christ speaks of the persons of the Trinity in His Upper Room Discourse. Jesus declared to the disciples, "And _I_ will ask _the Father,_ and he will give you _another Counselor_ to be with you forever -- _the Spirit_ of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17). Our Lord here prays to the Father for the Spirit, and His emphasis on triunity is quite apparent. In John 14:26 and 15:26 Christ uses the same formula, mentioning the three persons of the Deity and indicating their unity, not only of purpose and will but of basic nature.
4. _Paul's Letters._ The apostle Paul definitely taught the triune nature of God. He wrote: "May the grace of the Lord _Jesus Christ,_ and the love of _God,_ and the fellowship of the _Holy Spirit_ be with you all" (2 Cor. 13:14). It would have been difficult for Paul to give this benediction if the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were not equal persons within the Godhead.
5. _The Great Commission._ In Matthew 28:18-20 the Lord Jesus commissions the disciples to go out and preach the gospel and to make disciples of all nations. He commands them also to baptize "in the name of the _Father,_ and of the _Son,_ and of the _Holy Spirit._" Taken with the other passages bearing on the subject, this becomes an extremely powerful argument for the Christian doctrine of the Trinity.
6. _Creation._ Although the Bible does not explain to us how the three persons are the one God, it tells us most emphatically that the _Spirit of God_ created the world (Gen. 1:2), the _Father_ created the world (Heb. 1:2), and the _Son_ created the world (Col. 1:16). If you check the creation references in the New Testament, you will see that these particular references are bolstered by several others teaching the same things.
The apostle Paul declared in Acts 17:24, "the God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands." This forces us to an irresistible conclusion. As creation has been attributed to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit singly and collectively, _they are the one God._ There cannot be three gods. The Scripture declares: "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other" (Isa. 45:22). Hence there is _unity in trinity_ and _trinity in unity._
7. _The Resurrection of Christ._ A final instance of Trinitarian emphasis is that of the resurrection of our Lord. In John 2 Christ declared to the Jews, "Destroy this temple, and _I_ will raise it again in three days" (v. 19). John hastens to tell us that Jesus was speaking of the resurrection of His earthly body (v. 21). Other Scriptures, however, state that Christ was raised by the agency of the Holy Spirit (e.g., Rom. 8:13). And Peter explicitly states that the Father raised the Son (Acts 3:26). So, again, God's Word affirms the triune nature of God.
We may not fully understand the great truth of the Trinity. However, we can see the rays of light which emanate from God's Word and which teach us that, in a mysterious sense beyond the comprehension of man's finite mind, God is one in nature but three in person.
_This article was adapted from Dr. Martin's book,
Which is now out of print, but here are some other books from Walter Martin you can order from Amazon.com
The Doctrine of the Trinity
(Brief Study)
I. Trinity Defined
II. Not Easily Understood
A. His Own Did Not Know Him
1. John 1:5b2. John 1:10
B. 1 Cor. 2:14
III. Scriptural Analogies
A. The Body of Christ
1. Rom. 12:4,5
2. 1 Cor. 12:12-14
3. Eph. 2:21,22
B. Man's Makeup
1. 1 Thess. 5:23 > Gen. 1:26C. Old Testament Analogies
2. Numbers 14:153. Judges 6:16
4. Judges 20:1
5. Judges 20:8
6. Judges 20:11
7. 2 Samuel 19:14
8. Ezra 3:1
9. Nehemiah 8:1
D. There Is Nothing You Can Compare God To
1. Isa. 40:182. Isa. 46:5
IV. There Is Only One God
A. John 1:1-31. Jehovah's Witnesses' New World Translation states: "a god"
A. If that were true, it would negate the following Scriptures :
1. Deut. 4:352. Deut. 32:39
3. 2 Sam. 7:22
4. 1 Chron. 17:20
5. Psalm 86:10
6. Isa. 43:10,11
7. Isa. 44:6
8. Isa. 44:8
9. Isa. 45:5
10. Isa. 45:6
11. Isa. 45:14
12. Isa. 45:18
13. Isa. 45:21
14. Gal. 3:20
15. 1 Tim. 2:5
16. 1 Cor. 8:4-6
B. Greek Grammatical Rules do not allow for that translation
B. Old Testament Plurals
1. Hebrew word for "God" is 'elohim' (occurs 2700 times)- a plural noun always joined to singular verbs
2. God refers to Himself in the plural
A. Gen. 1:26
B. Gen. 3:22
C. Gen. 11:7
D. Isa. 6:8
3. Other verses refer to God in the plural
A. Isa. 48:16 ("have", singular verb)B. Eccl. 12:1 ("creator")
C. Prov. 9:10 ("Holy One")
D. Job 35:10 (God", "Maker")
E. Isa. 54:5 ("Husband", "Maker")
C. New Testament Singular
1. Matt. 28:19 ("name")
D. God Will Not Give His Glory To Another
1. Isa. 42:8; 48:11 > John 17:5
V. The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ
A. Jesus Has Always Existed
1. Micah 5:22. Isa. 9:6
3. Zech. 12:10 > Rev. 1:7
4. 1 Cor. 10:9 > 1 Cor. 10:1; Numb. 21:5-9
5. 1 Cor. 10:4 > Isa. 44:8b
6. John 1:15,30
7. John 1:1,14
8. John 3:13
9. John 6:51
10. John 3:31,32
11. John 17:5
12. John 17:24
13. Isa. 43:10
B. The Father's Testimony
1. Heb. 1:1,2,5-10
C. Jesus In The Role of Creator
1. The LORD created everything alone
A. Isa. 44:24
2. Jesus participated in the creation
A. John 1:1-3
B. Col. 1:16
C. Heb. 1:2,10-12
3. Therefore, the Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
created everything alone
A. Gen. 1:26
VI. Jesus' Claims To Be God
A. Rev. 1:8; 21:5-7 > Rev. 1:11,17; 2:8; 22:12,13,16B. John 8:24,58
C. John 10:30-36
1. Jesus accused of blasphemy
A. John 8:59
B. John 10:30-33
C. John 5:17,18
D. John 14:6-9
E. John 3:16 ("only-begotten" - Greek)
F. Matt. 18:20
VII. Others' Claims That Jesus Is God
A. The Word Of God1. John 1:1,14
2. John 1:18
3. John 12:37-41 > Isa. 6:1-5
4. John 20:28
5. Matt. 1:21-23
6. Acts 20:28
7. Rom. 9:5
8. Rom. 10:9-13 > Joel 2:32
9. Col. 1:15-18
10. Col. 2:9
11. 1 Tim. 1:16,17
12. 1 Tim. 3:16
13. 1 Tim. 6:14-16
14. Titus 2:13
15. 2 Pet. 1:1
16. 1 John 5:20
VIII. Jesus' Submission To The Father In The Incarnation
A. John 14:28 > Luke 22:27B. Phil. 2:3-8
IX. Jesus And The Holy Spirit Are One
A. John 14:16-18B. 2 Cor. 3:17
1. Jesus is physically in heaven
A. Acts 2:33B. 1 Pet. 3:22
C. Rom. 8:34
D. Heb. 10:12
E. Eph. 1:20
F. Col. 3:1
G. Heb. 1:3
H. Heb. 8:1
I. Heb. 12:2
2. Jesus dwells in us
A. 2 Cor. 13:5B. 1 John 5:11,12
C. Gal. 2:20
D. Eph. 3:17
E. Col. 1:27
F. Rom. 8:10
3. Jesus is always with us
A. Matt. 28:204. Jesus is with believers when they gather
A. Matt. 18:20X. The Holy Spirit Is God
A. James 4:4,5B. Acts 5:3,4
C. Mark 3:28,29
D. John 14:17 > John 14:23
E. Heb. 10:15-17 > Jer. 31:33,34
XI. God Raised Jesus From The Dead
A. God Raised Jesus
1. Eph. 1:19,202. Rom. 10:9
3. Col. 2:12
4. 1 Pet. 1:21
5. 1 Cor. 6:14
6. Acts 2:24
7. Acts 3:15
8. Acts 13:30,37
9. Heb. 13:20
A. The Father raised Jesus
1. Rom. 6:42. Gal. 1:1
B. Jesus raised Himself
1. John 2:19,212. John 10:17,18
C. The Holy Spirit raised Jesus
1. Rom. 8:11XII. We Are The Temple Of God
A. God Dwells In Us
1. 2 Cor. 6:162. Eph. 2:22
3. 1 John 4:12
4. 1 John 4:13
5. 1 John 4:15
6. 1 John 4:16
A. The Father dwells in us
1. 2 Cor. 6:162. 2 John 9
B. Jesus dwells in us
1. Eph. 3:172. 2 Cor. 13:5
3. 1 John 5:11,12
4. Col. 1:27
5. Rom. 8:10
6. Gal. 2:20
C. The Holy Spirit dwells in us
1. John 14:172. Rom. 8:9
3. 1 Cor. 3:16
4. 2 Tim. 1:14
5. Gal. 4:6
6. 1 Cor. 6:19
Early Church Writings (from _The Lost Books of the Bible_)
1. Barnabus (?)
A. The General Epistle of Barnabus 4:7B. The General Epistle of Barnabus 5:8,9
C. The General Epistle of Barnabus 5:12
D. The General Epistle of Barnabus 5:17
2. Ignatius (30-107 AD)
A. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians 1:1B. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians 2:7
C. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians 4:9
D. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians 4:13
E. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians 2:11
F. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians 4:6
G. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians 2:4
H. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans 1:1
I. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans 1:13
J. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians 2:23
K. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrneans 1:2
L. The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp 1:15
M. The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp 3:10
3. Polycarp (69-155 AD)
A. The Epistle of Polycarp to the Church at Philippi 124. Justin Martyr (110-166 AD)
A. Dialogue With Trypho,
34B. Dialogue With Trypho, 137
C. Dialogue With Tyypho, 48
D. First Apology, 63
5. Iranaeus (120-202 AD)
A. Iranaeus Against Heresies 1.10.1B. Iranaeus Against Heresies, 4:10
C. Iranaeus Against Heresies 3.19.1-2
D. Iranaeus Against Heresies 5.19.1
6. Clement of Alexandria (150-215 AD)
A. First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians 7:2B. Second Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians 1:1
7. Unknown Author (150 AD)
A. Epistle to Diognetus, 78. Athenagoras (c.177 AD)
A. Intercession on Behalf of the Christians, 109. Theophilus of Antioch (died 181 AD)
A. To Autolycus 2.2210. Melito of Sardis (died about 190 AD)
A. Guide, 1311. Hippolytus (died 236 AD)
A. Refutation of All Heresies 10.34B. Against the Heresy of a Certain Noetus, 17
12. Tertullian (160-220 AD)
A. The Soul, 41.313. Origen (185-254 AD)
A. Fundamental Doctrines, 1 pref. 2-4; 1.2.1; 4.4.114. Athanasius (297-373 AD)
15. Council of Nicea (325 AD)
A. Nicene CreedEarly Church Writings (some below are from _The Lost Books of the Bible_)
1. Barnabus (?)
A. The General Epistle of Barnabus 4:7 "And for this cause the Lord was content to suffer for our souls, although he be the Lord of the whole earth; to whom God said before the beginning of the world, Let us make man after our own image and likeness."B. The General Epistle of Barnabus 5:8,9 "Moses also in like manner speaketh to them; Behold thus saith the Lord God; enter ye into the good land of which the Lord hath sworn to Abraham, and Issac, and Jacob, that he would give you, and possess it; a land flowing with milk and honey. Now what is the spiritual meaning of this is, learn; It is as if it had been said, Put your trust in Jesus, who shall be manifested to you in the flesh...."
C. The General Epistle of Barnabus 5:12 "For thus the Scripture saith concerning us, where it intoduceth the Father speaking to the Son; Let us make man after our likeness and similitude".
D. The General Epistle of Barnabus 5:17 "Because He was about to be made manifest in the flesh and to dwell in us."
2. Ignatius (30-107 AD)
A. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians 1:1 "... according to the will of the Father, and Jesus Christ our God".B. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians 2:7 "There is one physician, both fleshly and spiritual; made and not made; God incarnate..."
C. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians 4:9 "For our God Jesus Christ, was, according to the appointment of God, conceived in the womb by Mary, of the seed of David, but by the Holy Ghost."
D. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians 4:13 "... God Himself appearing in the form of a man, for the renewal of eternal life."
E. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians 2:11 "There is ...one Jesus Christ; who proceeded from one Father, and exists in one, and is returned to one."
F. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians 4:6 "Be subject to your bishop, and to one another, as Jesus Christ to the Father, according to the flesh".
G. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians 2:4 "continue inseparable from Jesus Christ our God".
H. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans 1:1 "to the church which has obtained mercy from the majesty of the Most High Father, and His only begotten Son Jesus Christ; beloved, and illuminated through the will of Him who willeth all things which are according to the love of Jesus Christ our God".
I. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans 1:13 "For even our God, Jesus Christ, now that He is in the Father".
J. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians 2:23 "He is the door of the Father; by which Abraham, and Issac, and Jacob, and all the prophets enter in; as well as the Apostles, and the church."
K. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrneans 1:2 "I glorify God, even Jesus Christ".
L. The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp 1:15 "await Him that is above every season, the Eternal, the Invisible, who became visible for our sake...who suffered for our sake."
M. The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp 3:10 "...in our God, Jesus Christ".
3. Polycarp (69-155 AD)
A. The Epistle of Polycarp to the Church at Philippi, 12 "Now may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal High Priest Himself, the God Jesus Christ, build you up in the faith..."4. Justin Martyr (110-166 AD)
A. Dialogue With Trypho, 34 "For Christ is King, and Priest, and God and Lord..."B. Dialogue With Trypho, 137 "who was also fire when He spoke with Moses from the bush....our Christ conversed with Moses under the appearance of fire from a bush."
C. Dialogue With Trypho, 48 "...He preexisted as the Son of the Creator of things, being God, and that He was born a man by the Virgin."
D. First Apology, 63 "...the Father of all has a Son, who is both the first-born Word of God and is God."
5. Irenaeus (120-202 AD)
A. Irenaeus Against Heresies, 1.10.1 "In order that to Christ Jesus, our Lord, and God, and Savior, and King..."B. Irenaeus Against Heresies, 4:10 "For with Him were always present the Word and Wisdom, the Son and the Spirit, by whom and in whom, freely and spontaneously, He made all things, to whom also He speaks, saying, 'Let us make man after our image and likeness'".
C. Irenaeus Against Heresies, 3.19.1-2 "...He is Himself in His own right God and Lord and Eternal King and Only Begotten and Incarnate Word....The Scriptures would not have borne witness to these things concerning Him, if, like everyone else, He were mere man."
D. Irenaeus Against Heresies, 5.19.1 "The Virgin Mary...being obedient to His word, received from an angel the glad tidings that she would bear God."
6. Clement of Alexandria (150-215 AD)
A. First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians 7:2 "For thus says the Holy Spirit; Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor let the strong man glory in his strength, nor let the rich man glory in his riches". (a quote of Jeremiah 9:23, "For thus says LORD, 'Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom...'")B. Second Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians 1:1 "Brethren, we ought so to think of Jesus Christ as of God : as of the judge of the living and the dead".
7. Unknown Author (150 AD)
A. Epistle to Diognetus, 7 "Rather he sent the Designer and Maker of the universe Himself....God sent him to men."B. Epistle to Diognetus, 11 "This is he who was from the beginning, who appeared new and yet was found to be old, and is ever born young in the hearts of the saints. This is the eternal one, who today is accounted the Son."
8. Athenagoras (about 177 AD)
A. Intercession on Behalf of the Saints, 10 "Who, then, would not be astonished to hear those called atheists who admit God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and who teach their unity in power and their distinction in rank?"9. Theophilus of Antioch (died 181 AD)
A. To Autolycus 2.22 "The divine Scripture itself teaches us that Adam said he had heard the voice. And what else is this voice but the Word of God, which also is His Son".10. Melito of Sardis (died about 190 AD)
A. Guide, 13 "The activities of Christ after His baptism, and especially His miracles, gave indication and assurance to the world of the Deity hidden in the flesh. Being God and likewise perfect man...He concealed the signs of His Deity, although He was the true God existing before the ages."11. Hippolytus (died 236 AD)
A. Refutation of All Heresies 10.34 "For Christ is the God over all".B. Against the Heresy of a Certain Noetus, 17 "God the Word came down from heaven...He came forth into the world and...showed Himself to be God".
12. Tertullian (converted around 193 AD)
A. The Soul 41.3 "God alone is without sin. The only man without sin is Christ; for Christ is also God."13. Origin (185-254)
A. Fundamental Doctrines 1. pref. 2-4; 1.2.1; 4.4.1 " Although He was God, He took flesh; and having been made man, He remained what He was, God".Previous Article | Home Page | Next Article