The actual term “the Trinity” is not found in Scripture, but the truths implied in a trinitarian understanding of God are clearly set out. The OT hints at a plurality of persons in the Godhead. The NT affirms that the Son and the Holy Spirit are divine.
There is only one God
Deuteronomy 6:4 See also Isaiah 43:10–11, Isaiah 44:8; 1 Timothy 1:17, 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.
OT indications of plurality in the Godhead
God refers to himself in the plural
Genesis 1:26 See also Genesis 3:22, Genesis 11:7; Isaiah 6:8
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.”
The angel of the LORD
Genesis 16:11–13 The “angel of the LORD” is identified with, yet distinct from, God. See also Genesis 18:1–33; Exodus 3:2–6; Judges 13:3–22
The angel of the LORD proceeded: “Behold, you have conceived and will bear a son. And you shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your cry of affliction. He will be a wild donkey of a man, and his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” So Hagar gave this name to the LORD who had spoken to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen the One who sees me!”
The word of God
The word of the LORD'' orwisdom of God'' is personified and identified with, yet distinct from, God: Psalm 33:4; Proverbs 8:22–31
The Spirit of God
The Spirit of God is God's personal agent: Genesis 1:2; Nehemiah 9:20; Job 33:4; Isaiah 40:13
The Messiah
The Messiah's divine nature is emphasised: Psalm 110:1; Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 23:5–6
Interchangeable expressions
Word, Spirit (or breath) and LORD are used interchangeably for God: Psalm 33:6; Isaiah 48:16, Isaiah 61:1
NT trinitarian references
Matthew 28:19 The unity of the three persons is reflected in the singular name. See also 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4–6; Revelation 1:4–5
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
The unity of the three persons
The Son is fully united with the Father
John 10:30 See also Mark 9:37 parallel Luke 9:48; Luke 10:16; John 10:38, John 12:44–45, John 13:20, John 14:7, John 14:9–11, John 15:23
I and the Father are one.”
The Spirit is identified with God
2 Samuel 23:2–3 See also Psalm 51:11; Matthew 28:19; 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 distinct from one another
Jesus Christ addresses the Father directly
Matthew 11:25–26 parallel Luke 10:21; Matthew 26:39 parallels Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42; Matthew 26:42, Matthew 27:46 parallel Mark 15:34; Luke 23:46; John 11:41–42, John 17:1
The Father speaks to the Son from heaven
Matthew 3:17 parallels Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22; Matthew 17:5 parallels Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35; John 12:27–28
The Spirit speaks to the Father on behalf of believers
Other examples of the difference between the persons
Matthew 12:32, Matthew 24:36; John 7:39, John 16:7; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1
The relationship between the Father and the Son
Jesus Christ is God's unique Son
John 1:14 The Greek word for “One and Only”, traditionally rendered “only begotten”, is actually used to signify “the only one of its kind”; “unique”. See also John 1:18, John 3:16, John 3:18; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5; Psalm 2:7; 1 John 4:9
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The relationship of Father and Son is unique
Matthew 11:27 parallel Luke 10:22 See also John 6:46, John 7:28–29, John 8:55, John 10:15, John 17:25
All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
The Father loves the Son
John 3:35 See also John 5:20, John 10:17, John 15:9, John 17:24
The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
The Father shares his divine life with the Son
Colossians 2:9 See also John 5:26, John 6:57; Colossians 1:19
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.
The Father delegates his authority to the Son
John 5:27 See also Matthew 28:18; John 3:35, John 5:21–22, John 16:15; Revelation 2:26–27
And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
Father and Son indwell each other
John 14:10–11 See also John 10:38, John 14:20, John 17:21–23
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me — or at least believe on account of the works themselves.
The relationship between the Holy Spirit and the other two persons
The Spirit is the Spirit of God'' andthe Spirit of Christ''
Romans 8:9 Psalm 106:33; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Philippians 3:3; 1 John 4:2; Acts 16:7; Galatians 4:6; Philippians 1:19; 1 Peter 1:11
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.
The Spirit's unique relationship with God
Matthew 10:20 See also 1 Corinthians 2:10–11
For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
The Spirit's unique relationship with the Son
John 1:33 See also Isaiah 61:1; John 14:16–17, John 14:26; Acts 10:38
I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
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.