God acts as a unity in all his deeds. The three persons of the Trinity are united in one Godhead. They are interrelated with one another, share the same attributes and co-operate in the same work. God's characteristics are consistent, expressing his integral divine nature.
God is one
Deuteronomy 6:4 See also Mark 12:29, Mark 12:32; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 3:20; Ephesians 4:5–6; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.
The three persons of the Trinity are united in one Godhead
All three are interrelated
Romans 8:9–11 The interchange between the persons of the Trinity reflects their unity in terms of activity. See also John 14:23; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 1 Peter 1:2
You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
The Son is one with the Father
John 10:30 See also Matthew 10:40; Mark 9:37 parallel Luke 9:48; Luke 10:16; John 8:16, John 14:9
I and the Father are one.”
The Spirit is one with God
2 Samuel 23:2–3 See also Psalm 51:11; 1 Corinthians 3:16
The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,
The three persons are one in character
All three are eternal
Romans 16:26 the Father; Isaiah 9:6 the Son; Hebrews 9:14 the Spirit
All three are all-knowing
Isaiah 40:13–14 the Father; John 2:24–25, John 21:17; 1 Corinthians 2:10–11 the Spirit
All three are holy
John 17:11 the Father; Mark 1:24; Acts 3:14; John 14:26; Romans 1:4
All three are called Lord and God
The Father: Matthew 11:25; Acts 3:22; 1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:1, John 20:28; Acts 10:36; 2 Peter 1:1; Acts 5:3–4; 2 Corinthians 3:17–18
All three are glorious
The Father: Acts 7:2; Ephesians 1:17; John 1:14, John 12:41; 2 Corinthians 3:8, 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Peter 4:14
The three persons share in the same work
In creation
Genesis 1:1–3 See also Psalm 33:6, Psalm 104:30; John 1:3–4; Colossians 1:16
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
In Jesus Christ's ministry
John 3:34 See also Acts 10:38
For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
In salvation
1 Peter 1:2 See also 2 Corinthians 1:21–22; Titus 3:4–6
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
In indwelling the church
Ephesians 2:22 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:17
And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.
In directing the church's mission
Acts 16:6–10 Acts 14:27; Galatians 1:1; Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:7–8; Acts 13:2, Acts 13:4
After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia. And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
God's characteristics are consistent
His love and justice are in unity
Exodus 34:6–7 See also 2 Samuel 7:14–15; Psalm 103:6–8; Romans 3:25–26
Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”
His wrath and mercy are in unity
Joel 2:11–13 See also John 3:16–18 It is particularly in the cross of Jesus Christ that the perfect balance between God's wrath and justice and his love and mercy are seen; Romans 2:4, Romans 2:7–8
The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it? “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.