II. Biblical References to the Trinity The Old Testament is replete with intimations that the Godhead is a plurality and some hint to a Trinity, such as, the use of plural nouns and pronouns applied to God; Genesis 1:1, 26; 3:22; 11:6-7; 20:13; 48:15; Isaiah 6:8. It is also interesting to note that in Genesis 1:1,26; 48:15-16, the name for God is in the plural, “elohim” [myhl'] and the verb is singular. A. Old Testament Evidences that God is a Trinity (in grammar, references and syntax): 1. Jehovah is distinguished from Jehovah: Genesis 19:24; Hosea 1:7; also, 2 Timothy 1:18.
2. Jehovah has a Son: Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 9:6; John 3:16,18,36; Romans 1:4; Hebrews 1:6, 8; Who is eternal, Micah 5:2.
3. The Holy Spirit is distinguished from God the Father: Genesis 1:2; 6:3. B. New Testament Evidences of the Trinity
(a very well developed structure of Trinitarian theology): 1. Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus’ baptism formula which names the Persons of the Trinity as co-equal and equally important.
2. 2 Corinthians 13:14, the apostolic benediction demonstrates the attributes of each of the Three Persons of the Godhead as equally unique.
3. John 14:16, Shows the Spirit as equal with the Son.
4. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, gifts for spiritual service are sovereignly bestowed by God the Father by the will of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:16-17, At the baptism of Jesus, the divine Panoply, the three-Headed God of the Bible is seen in a special display. The New Testament plainly teaches that: 1. The Son is recognized as God, Colossians. 1:5,14,18; Isaiah 9:6; 7:14 with Matthew 1:23; Romans 9:5.
2. Jesus is identified as Jehovah in the Old Testament:
a. He was the Creator, Psalm 102:24-27 with Hebrews 1:10-12.
b. Isaiah saw Jesus as Jehovah, Isaiah 6:1, Whom John interprets to be Jesus by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John 12: 41.
c. Jehovah was to come to earth preceded by a forerunner, Isaiah 40:3 and Matthew 3:3.
d. He was among God’s chosen people, Numbers. 21:6-7; 1 Corinthians 10:9.
e. He was to be sanctified, Isaiah 8:13; 1 Peter 3:15.
f. He led captivity captive, Psalm 68:18; Ephesians 4:7-8. D. Jesus’ own testimony concerning Himself (using a string of metaphors which imply His supernatural character): 1. “the bread of life”, John 6:35,41,50.
2. “the door”, John 10: 9.
3. “the way, the truth and the life”, John 14: 6.
4. “the vine”, John 15:15.
5. “the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Revelation 22:13); [This statement is used four times in the book of the Revelation; the first time for God the Father (Revelation 1:8); the second, third and fourth relate to the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:6; 1:11; 22:13).] This is spoken by Jesus, recorded by John as the One he has identified as Jesus and adds, further; “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning [literally, the Beginner or Actualizer] of the creation of God” (Revelation 3:14).
6. “the good shepherd”: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep...” (John 10:11-17);
7. the everlasting (eternal) life Giver: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life and they shall perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand” (John 10: 27-28);
8. “the resurrection, and the life” — “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). These are some pretty strong statements for one to make Who is not Deity and does not possess the absolute power of God. Jesus said He could lay down His own life as a sin sacrifice, then, take it up again. The fact that He did just that speaks volumes in favor of His being Deity. The term “Logos” [LÒgoj] or “Word” — as the expression and embodiment of God emphasizes His Deity in the New Testament (John 1:1-5, 9-14; Revelation 19:13). Also, the apostle Paul uses the word, “kurios” [kÚrioj] “Lord”, which indicates, in his thinking as a Jew, that Jesus is Deity (i.e., Philippians 2:9-11).
D. New Testament Writers’ Testimony about Jesus’ Deity Jesus is called God seven times in the New Testament: 1. John 1:1,14,18, He was in the beginning and was active in creation.
2. John 20:28,Thomas declares that Jesus is “my Lord and my God”
3. Titus 2:13, the future blessed hope of Christ ’s appearing; “Looking for that blessed
hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (ASV)
4. Hebrews 1:8, the Father calls the Son, “O God”.
5. 2 Peter 1:1, the righteousness of God shared by Christ.
6.1 John 5:20, John calls Jesus God.
7. 1 Timothy 3:16,“God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels,
preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up to glory” (ASV). Who was this God? Jesus. † [Information compiled for the Old and New Testament proofs from my study notes, class notes,
collateral reading, including these printed sources: ELEMENTALTHEOLOGY ; Emory H. Bancroft,
D. D., Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids Michigan, 1972 (tenth edition); LECTURES IN
SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY ; Henry C. Thiessen, B. D., Ph. D., D. D., WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1971 (twelfth edition)]. As we have seen, in abundance, the disciples and the apostles of Jesus, and Jesus Himself, taught and believed that Jesus is definitely God, without apology. What of the objection that the Holy Spirit is not God and is, in some manner, inferior to the Father or the Son? The Bible makes no such assertion. Instead the Bible makes the Holy Spirit God, seen by the use of personal pronouns in connection with Him, John 14:17; 16:13. The neuter pronoun in Romans 8:16,26 is the only exception and that is due to an editing problem in the English translations, not in the use of a neuter pronoun. The word “hamon” [¹mîn] can refer to either masculine, feminine or neuter, but its rendering is determined by the context. Since the other references use the word “ekeinos” [™ke‹noj], in the masculine gender (He, Him), the pronoun here should be brought into agreement with them and be made masculine, as does the ASV (that’s just good hermeneutical sense). It is never biblically sound or wise to hinge a doctrine on a single word use. This is especially true when you stand on shaky ground to do it, as here, where it disagrees with the greater preponderance of usage for that word, unless you are trying to discredit what the Bible teaches and you are willing to grasp at straws to do it. He is the Comforter (John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7). Since this title expresses personality when it is applied to Christ (John 14:16; 1 John 2:1), it must also when applied to the Holy Spirit. His Deity is implied in His relationship and association with the Father and Son in the passages like the baptismal formula (Matthew 28:19); the apostolic benediction (2 Corinthians 13:14); in His office as Administrator of the church (1Corinthians 12:4-6). Attributes of Deity are ascribed to Him, such as eternality (Hebrews 9:14); omniscience (1 Corinthians 2:10-11; John 14:26; 16:12-13); omnipotence (Luke 1: 35) omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-10). He is also credited with special works of Deity such as creation (Psalm 104:30; Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4); regeneration (John 3:5); inspiration of the Scriptures (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17) and He raises the dead (Romans 8:11). The Holy Spirit is also called God in Acts 5:3-4, with 2 Corinthians 3: 17-18). In the latter, “the Spirit of the Lord” (KJV would be better read as “the Lord the Spirit” (ASV). It is true that formal statements were not written until well into the
Second Century, AD, but, before that time, such statements weren’t needed. They were developed to combat the false doctrines of Arianism (from the writings of Arias) and Unitarianism, as they began to emerge. The fact remains that the doctrine of the Trinity was taught and preached from the very beginning of the Christian Church and before. It is a biblical doctrine, found throughout the Scriptures, especially the New Testament (written between AD, 33 and 96). The Watchtower’s charges that the doctrine of the Trinity is man-made and isn’t biblical couldn’t be farther from the
truth. If there is no Trinity, then, Christ is not God! If Christ is not God, salvation and our hope in Him are vain and our faith is vain, because it is established upon Him, our Creator/Sustainer Who became our Savior; Who [was and is] before all the creation of God (Revelation3:14); Who is robed in human flesh (Hebrews 10:5); Who was sent by the Father into the world (Galatians 4:4); Who is the object of eternal salvation (John 3:16); Who willingly offered Himself as a sin-offering, laying down and taking up His own life (John 10: 17-18); Who has life in and of Himself (John 5:26); Who has all authority in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18); Who is the everlasting One, being raised from the dead (Revelation 1:18); Who is of one purpose, essence, substance and Being with the Father (John 10:30); Who saves and preserves His saints with everlasting life (John 10:28); Who is returning to earth bodily (Acts 1:9-11); Who will receive all who are His into His presence (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; John 14:2-4). If we separate Christ’s Deity from His humanity, then, all that is left is humanity. And Christ is reduced to a mere, mortal man and a man cannot save a soul from sin and hell. That is a sovereign act of God, alone (Romans 3:23; 5:8-9; 6:23; Revelation. 21:8). Therefore, if Christ is not God, all men are hopelessly lost in their sins and
there is no hope of salvation, ever! The hope of heaven makes it absolutely essential that Jesus Christ be God and the Bible reveals Him so. Jesus the Son is God. The Holy Spirit is God And the Father is God. God is a Trinity and He is a Unity; These are biblically asserted and they are biblically attested to. Amen! This is why, from earliest times, the traditions, creeds and hymnody of the faith has always presented a Trinity — Triunity, if you will. In contrast to those who held the Bible as God’s Book, from the beginning, those who would oppose the teaching of the Triune God of the Bible have always been considered as heretics, then and now. And rightly so. They openly oppose, not only the traditions of Christianity, but, the crystal-clear statements of the entire Bible. They, though unwittingly, or, for gain or agenda of their own, not only spread a false and pernicious gospel, but lead themselves and many others away from Christ rather than to Him. Their doctrine leads unsuspecting and trusting souls into a Christless eternity in the hell they purport does not exist. Through the preaching of their ungodly doctrines of antichrist, they condemn themselves, as well as all who follow their pernicious teaching. The apostle Paul warned the Galatians, thus; “But
though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:8-12). Let the Scriptures speak to your heart and let it lead you to all
truth as God the Holy Spirit guides your ability to learn spiritual things that pertain to God and godliness. He is the only One Who can lead you into all truth, as Jesus told His disciples before He went to the cross to die for the sins of the world, to be the Savior of all who would believe Him unto salvation. I hope that is you. If not, He is ready to save you from sin, death and hell, as soon as you call upon Him. That is the very reason He condescended and came into the world in the first place, to seek and save that which is lost. And if you don’t know Him, you’re lost! He died for you! He’s reaching out to you! The following few stanzas of verse more than adequately summarizes the entire matter for us:
“Praise ye the Father! for His loving kindness,
Tenderly cares He for His erring children;
Praise Him, ye angels, praise Him in the heavens,
Praise ye Jehovah! Praise ye the Saviour! great is His compassion,
Graciously cares He for His chosen people;
Young men and maidens, ye old men and children
Praise ye the Saviour! Praise ye the Spirit! Comforter of Israel
Sent of the Father and the Son to bless us;
Praise ye the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Praise ye the Triune God! Amen.” Author: Unknown
(emphasis mine)
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