The Holy Trinity is one of the most hotly debated teachings in the Bible. This doctrine has caused divisions in the “Christendom". It is one of the causes of denominationalism in the world. Some believe there are three persons in one; in other words, God is one but changes in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit when the situation demands. Some hold the view that there is only one God, no God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit. It does not make sense to them that there should be more than one person as God.
To some God is one and everything else is creation. Jesus Christ is seen as an ordinary person like a prophet and the Holy Spirit as some sort of a force in the universe. Again, some believe that three persons exist as God. Even the understanding of this doctrine poses many challenges to people that they reject Christianity outright; it is ridiculous to them.
All the holders of the various views claimed to have derived their basis from some part of the scriptures. For instance, in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 6, it is written that God is one (as if a single person).
(Deut. 6:4) Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.
And also in the book of Matthew, the concept of the Trinity is seen.
(Matt. 28:19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Let us examine the scriptures, rightly divide it and the truth would reveal itself. First of all, the word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible; it is a derived concept. Thus, it is not stated at once in any part of the scriptures that God is Trinity. It has been unfolded gradually in the scriptures right from the story of creation.
The Holy Spirit is God
In the story of creation (Gen.1:2) it is stated that God created the heavens and the earth and the Spirit of God moved over the face of the waters.(Gen 1:1-2) In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
The Spirit of God in the above text can also be found in the books of 1Corinthians 6: 11 and the book of Philippians 3:3.
This same Spirit of God is also referred to as the Holy Spirit in Matt. 3:11, 28: 19; the Spirit in Acts 2:4 and 1Tim. 4:1; the Spirit of truth in John 14:17, 16:13; and the Spirit of Christ in Romans 8: 9 and Philippians 1:19.
Also, the name “Lord” is attached to the Holy Spirit in the book of 2Corinthians 3:17; a name which is often attached to God and Jesus Christ. There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit is also God.
Again, in the story of Ananias and Sapphira, the apostle Peter told Ananias to have lied to the Holy Spirit but in the ensuing verse, he said Ananias lied not to men but God. Peter said the same thing when Sapphira came.
(Act 5:3) But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land?
(Act 5:4) Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Here, the apostle Peter treated God and the Holy Spirit equally! This further proves that the Holy Spirit is God.
Jesus Christ is God
The Bible also clarifies the deity of Jesus Christ. The apostles John and Paul tell us that Jesus is God, He was there in the beginning and all things were created through Him.(John 1:1-3) In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
(Col 1:16-17, 19) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him, all things consist. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Three lessons can be learned from the texts above:
1. Jesus Christ is not a creation but a creator.
2. Jesus Christ is a separate person from God but also God.
3. The fullness of Godhead dwells in Jesus Christ.
In addition, one of the apostles by name Thomas was not with the rest of the apostles when Jesus appeared to them earlier, so when the message was relayed to him, he refused to believe that Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus appeared again when the apostles were in a room with the door shut including Thomas who was not there the other time. When he had seen Jesus Christ he confessed that He is God and Lord.
(John 20:28) And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
An article I read from a site says that the Roman ruler Constantine brought about the parity between God and Jesus Christ. Read the full article here.
In Genesis chapter 1 the verse 26 and also chapter 11 the verse 7 God said: “...let us...” The “us” here is a pronoun (first-person plural), involving a group of people including the speaker; it could be a direct or indirect object of a verb depending upon how it is used in a sentence. It means that there were at least two or more persons there and the one who said “let us” is calling on the rest to go and perform a certain action including Him (the speaker). The question now is who were they? Again the idea of the Trinity is seen here.
The doctrine of modalism
Some who believe in the Trinity have a perception that God is one but changes Himself at various times in different modes or forms. The holders of the doctrine of modalism see God as “ God the creator and father” in the old testament, the same person changes Himself in the incarnation of Jesus to save man from his sins and again changes to the Holy Spirit in this later days to be with the saints. Like water, in its normal state is liquid but when it freezes is solid and when heated changes in the gaseous state. While this idea is easier to explain the nature of God, it does contradict the scriptures hence incorrect.For instance, during the baptism of Jesus Christ, the Godhead manifested. Jesus Christ in the water, the Holy Spirit descending upon Him like a dove and God the Father declaring Jesus as His beloved son in whom He is well pleased. All of these happened concurrently, the same water cannot exist in all three states at the same time!
It also stated in the scriptures that Jesus, while on earth prayed to the Father. Another could be seen in the transfiguration. Therefore, the doctrine of modalism is not at par with the Bible, it runs counter to it. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all equally God at the same time!
Conclusion
God exists in three persons rather than three in one person! Even though it is true that the word “Trinity” is not in the Bible, it has been unfolded in the scriptures gradually. If we do not accept this biblical truth, understanding the Bible would be extremely difficult.
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