The Trinity Explained

Understanding The Trinity

The Trinity is considered to be three separate entities: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. While the Trinity is three persons with different jobs, They are one God sometimes referred to as the Godhead.  This can be a difficult concept to understand.  There is a need to know each person of the Trinity to understand the Trinity as a whole.

God the Father

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen 1:1 NIV). God the Father is the Creator of all things in the universe. He is the Father of Israel and the king of His people. Unto Him all will face judgment. “The Father is a distinct divine Person (hypostasis, subsistentia, persona, suppositum intellectuale), distinct from the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Easton, 1897). The Father is often referenced as Elohim, the strong and faithful one.

God the Son

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, And the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1: 1,14). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the second person of the Trinity. Jesus is fully God and fully human. This is referred to as the hypostatic union. There are several places in the Bible where Jesus confirms that He is God (John 10:1; John 14:9).In Revelations 22:13 (NIV), Jesus says “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last…”  Jesus became fully man to share the message of salvation and to die for our sins.

God the Holy Spirit

“And I will pray for the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16-17 KJV). The Comforter Jesus speaks of is the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is fully God and the third person of the Trinity unique from the Father and the Son, but  He is one with Them in the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is sometimes referred to as the forgotten member of the Trinity because He is not always given the same honor and worship as the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is the Same as The Father and the Son in all ways.  On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down to dwell in the hearts of men.  Through the Holy Spirit came conviction and comfort.  The Holy Spirit gave us spiritual gifts such as wisdom, knowledge, healing, miraculous powers, and prophecy.

Conclusion

Although the Bible does not include the word “trinity,” it does clearly identify the three persons of the Trinity. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew name for God is “Elohim”; it is a plural name.  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are identified, and their duties are defined. It is also made clear that the three are one God.

Bibliography

Easton, M. (1897). Easton's Bible Dictionary (3rd ed.). Edinburgh, Scottland: Thomas Nelson.