The Son and the Holy Spirit are equal to God the Father in eternity, nature and status. Within the Trinity the Father is head, first among equals; the Son and the Holy Spirit do the Father's will, glorifying him and making him known; and the Holy Spirit glorifies and makes known the Son.
The Son is equal with the Father
John 5:18 See also John 5:23, John 8:16, John 14:9, John 17:10; Philippians 2:6; Colossians 2:9Romans 1:7 The equality of the Son and the Father is often implied in the opening greetings of the NT letters. See also 1 Corinthians 1:3; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:2; Philemon 1:3; 2 Peter 1:2Revelation 5:13 Doxologies are addressed to the Father and the Son equally or just to the Son. See also Romans 9:5; Hebrews 13:21; 2 Peter 3:18; Revelation 7:10
Because of this, the Jews tried all the harder to kill Him. Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!”
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son
2 Corinthians 13:14 See also Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; Revelation 1:4–5
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
The obedience of the Son to the Father
The Son submits to the Father in his incarnation
Philippians 2:6–7 See also Matthew 24:36; John 4:34, John 6:38, John 14:28, John 14:31; Romans 5:19; Hebrews 5:8, Hebrews 10:5–7; Psalm 40:6–8
Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.
The Father is Jesus Christ's ``head''
1 Corinthians 11:3 See also 1 Corinthians 3:23, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 1 Corinthians 15:27–28
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
Equality and mutuality as the three persons glorify one another
The Son glorifies the Father
Romans 16:27 See also John 14:13; Ephesians 1:5–6, Ephesians 3:21; Philippians 2:11; Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11; Jude 1:25
to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
The Father and the Son glorify one another
John 17:1 In John's Gospel, the “glory” of Jesus Christ is seen above all in the cross. See also John 8:54, John 13:31–32, John 17:4–5, John 17:24; Acts 3:13
When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You.
The Spirit glorifies the Father and the Son
John 16:13–15 See also John 14:26, John 15:26; Ephesians 1:13–14
However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you. Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you.
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.