The Basis of the Trinitarian Belief

In my blog post “One God — or many?” I said, “The Bible teaches that God is one,” and, “. . .this one God exists in a plurality of persons.” Many reject the idea of God as a Trinity because they cannot comprehend it or because they misunderstand it. The belief that the one God consists of three persons is difficult to understand, I admit.

There are those that would argue that the Trinity is not mentioned in the Bible. They are correct. However, the truth of the Trinity is taught in the word of God. The Bible does not teach systematically. One must often deduce truth by compilation: that is, we find bits and pieces here and there which, when put together, bring us to a certain conclusion.

Some argue against the Trinitarian position by claiming that the early church never taught it. That is also correct. However, The early church never taught contrary to the Trinitarian position, either. Specifically, the Church has never taught that Jesus was a god separate from the one, true God. Nor has the church ever accepted such a teaching that Jesus Christ was a created being. The Trinitarian formula was developed to counter the heresy espoused by Arius (d. A.D. 336) that Jesus was a created being and not truly divine. Arius and his beliefs were subsequently tried before the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) which formulated from the Bible the first Trinitarian statement of faith.

Only God can have all the attributes of divinity. The Bible ascribes to Jesus Christ and to the Holy Spirit all the attributes of divinity. One example should be sufficient to support the Trinitarian position. Only God is eternal. The Bible ascribes eternality to God the Father (Deuteronomy 33:27). It ascribes eternality to Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6). It also ascribes eternality to the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 9:14).

Only God can create something from nothing. The Genesis creation account says God created the heavens and the earth. When God was about to make man he said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness." This is the first indication the Bible gives, and that in the first chapter, that God consists of a plurality of persons. The apostle John said (John 1:3) Jesus Christ created the world. “All things were made by him, and [to add emphasis] without him was not made anything that was made.” Jesus could not have created himself nor could he be previously created, seeing he created “all things.” Likewise, the Holy Spirit was involved in creating the earth. Many scripture passages refer to the Holy Spirit working in creation, Psalm 104:24-30 among them: “You send forth your Spirit, they [the works of God] are created: and you renew the face of the earth.”

A careful study of the Bible can lead only to a belief in the Tri-unity of God, and only a study of the Bible will lead there. May God bless you with the realization of this truth.