The word “Trinity” itself does not appear in the Bible but rather, the doctrine of the Trinity is a progressive revelation through Scripture. It is hinted at in the Old Testament and solidified in the New Testament. It was then formulated into a creed (The Nicene Creed) by the early Church. The term “Trinity” was coined by Tertullian (A.D. 165-220).
Consider this a very brief yet hopefully helpful introduction to this most treasured doctrine of Christianity.
“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Mat 3:16-18
#1 The Definition of the Trinity
The teaching of the triune nature of God is unique amongst all the world religions. All three main branches of the Christian Church (Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant – including Evangelicals) agree on and hold tightly to this doctrine of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
In his Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem defines the Trinity concisely yet accurately in these three statements:
1. God is three Persons: (See John 1:1-2 / John 14:26 / Matt 3:16-17 / Matt 28:19 / 1 Corinthians 12:4-6/ 2 Corinthians 13:14/ Ephesians 4:4-6 2)
2. Each Person is fully God: (See John1:1-3 / Colossians 2:9 / John 3:5-7 / Acts 5:3-4)
3. There is one God: (See Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (Mark 12:29) / Romans 3:30 / James 2:19)
To say ‘God is one god and three gods’ would be a contradiction. However, to say that 'God is three Persons but one God' is not a contradiction but rather a mystery (or paradox).
#2 What the Trinity Is Not (Heresies)
It’s important to understand that we cannot understand the Trinity. We can see it taught in Scripture very easily and we can believe it – but it is, ultimately, a mystery. However, it’s also important to understand what the Trinity is not. As theologian Louis Berkhof has aptly said:
“(The Church) has never tried to explain the mystery of the Trinity but only sought to formulate the doctrine of the Trinity in such a manner that the errors which endangered it were warded off.”
Here are three of the main errors (or heresies) taught about the Trinity.
Modalism claims that there is one Person who appears to us in three “modes”. One example is that the Father is the mode of God in the OT, the Son is the mode of God in the Gospels and the Holy Spirit is the mode of God in the here and now.
Arianism denies the full deity (or Godhood) of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit claiming they were created. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons teach similar things today.
Tritheism claims there are three individual gods. Basically polytheism…
The true doctrine stresses the diversity of the Persons and the unity of God’s essence.
#3 The Nicene Creed
In the 4th century A.D. controversy arose in the Church (and the entire Roman Empire) over the teachings of Arius (as was stated above Arianism denies the full deity (or Godhood) of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit claiming they were created). Constantine convened the first true council of the Church bishops (The Council of Nicaea) in 325 A.D. and it was overwhelmingly decided that Arius was in error.
However, Constantine’s son came into power soon thereafter and promoted Arianism. A bishop named Athanasius was critical in the defense and teaching of the doctrine of the Trinity that had been decided at Nicaea. He suffered greatly for this and was exiled many times but in the end the Nicene Creed was upheld at the Council of Chalcedon in 381 A.D. and the Trinity has been the orthodox teaching of the Church ever since (See portions of the Nicene Creed at the bottom of the page).
Some teach that the Trinity and Christ’s deity were an invention of Nicaea rather than being grounded in Scripture and the very early Church. In their book How God Became Jesus, many scholars refute that idea.
“In other words, (*the creeds of Nicaea and Constantinople) of the fourth century are not purely politically driven and radically innovative statements of faith. They are, instead, contextualized clarification of New Testament teaching.”
Michael F. Bird (How God Became Jesus - Bird, Evans, Gathercole, Hill & Tilling, Zondervan 2014)
#4 The Ontological and Economical Trinity
Theologians have coined two terms to help describe the Trinity – the Ontological Trinity and the Economical Trinity. Now ontological is a big word but it simply means “being” and refers to the fact that Scripture teaches that each Person of the Godhead is totally equal in essence or being. The Economical Trinity helps us to understand the individual roles or “jobs” of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Father sent the Son into the world to redeem mankind and later raised Him from the dead. The Son obeyed the Father, putting aside some of His divine rights but none of His divine essence. He died on the cross for our sins. The Holy Spirit was sent by both the Father and the Son to ignite the Church and indwell Christians and empower them to live for God.
As was stated earlier – there is diversity among the three Persons of the Trinity but only equality in their essence or being.
“No sooner do I conceive of the One than I am illuminated by the splendour of the Three; no sooner do I distinguish them than I am carried back to the One… When I contemplate the Three together, I see but one torch, and cannot divide or
measure out the undivided light.”
Gregory of Nazianzus
#5 The Trinity and the Gospel
Timothy Keller recently pointed out that the Biblical statement “God is love” (1 John 4:8 &16) takes on a whole new meaning when we think of Him as a Trinity. God did not need angels or humans to love – The Father, Son and Holy Spirit had always loved each other. God then decided to make us for His glory and love.
The second Person of the Trinity (God the Son, Jesus Christ) came in human flesh to live a sinless life, be crucified for our transgressions and be raised again (see also The Hypostatic Union 101). Thus a way was made back to this Triune God, in whose image we were originally made. That is the Gospel. And as we can see from Hebrews and other Scriptures all three Persons of the Trinity were involved (see also #4 – the Economical Trinity):
“…how much more will the blood of Christ (God the Son), who through the eternal Spirit (God the Holy Spirit) offered himself without blemish to God (God the Father), purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
As human beings we are profoundly relational and that quality is rooted in the fact that we were created in the image of a triune God. And now the ultimate relationship – our personal relationship with our Creator – has been restored through the Gospel work of the Trinity.
To quote the ancient doxology – “Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost”!
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14
Sources & Further Reading:
The Bible (ESV Translation)
Systematic Theology: Louis Berkhof
Systematic Theology: Wayne Grudem (Zondervan 1994)
Basic Theology: Charles C. Ryrie (Moody Publishers 1986, 1999)
Historical Theology: Gregg R. Allison (Zondervan 2011)
How God Became Jesus: Bird, Evans, Gathercole, Hill & Tilling (Zondervan 2014)
Portions of the Nicene Creed:
We believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
begotten from the Father before all ages,
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made;
of the same essence as the Father.
Through him all things were made…
And we believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life.
He proceeds from the Father and the Son,
and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
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