The Trinity
The doctrine of the Trinity holds a central place in Christian theology, functioning as a summary of the Christian affirmation about God. It is this doctrine we now turn to clarify.
It is often said that the word “Trinity” does not appear in the Bible. While this is true, the idea of the Trinity is consistently present throughout Scripture, and the doctrine itself can be traced through careful reading of the biblical text.
Doctrines are developed through careful reading and interpretation of Scripture. When Scripture is examined closely, we arrive at three statements: God is three persons, each person is fully God, and there is one God. This conclusion follows appropriately from a careful reading of the biblical text.
The revelation of the Trinity can be traced through both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The Pentateuch
We begin with the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. From the opening page of Scripture, Genesis 1:1 declares, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
The text goes on to show the Spirit of the Lord moving over the waters (v. 3), and further reveals that God’s instrument of creation was His Word, the Lord spoke, and by His Word things came into being.
This idea is echoed in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The instrument of creation in Genesis, God’s Word, is here identified as a person. John tells us further, in verse 14, that the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
This confirms that the Word was indeed a person, and John’s revelation in verse 14 makes clear that this Word is Jesus.
Even from the first book of the Bible, the doctrine of the Trinity is evident: God the Father as Creator, the Holy Spirit hovering over the waters, and Jesus revealed as the Word.
A further declaration of the Trinity appears in Genesis 1:26, where God says, “Let us make man in our own image, in our own likeness, so that they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air…”
Notice that this verse uses plural language, “Let us.” Verse 27 then shifts to singular pronouns: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
Verse 26 presents plural pronouns, while verse 27 presents singular pronouns, showing that the “us” and the “he” refer to the same being. God could not have been addressing angels, since humanity is made in the image of God, not of angels. Since verse 27 states that man was made in God’s image, those whom God addressed in verse 26 must share the same essence as He does.
The Psalms
The Psalms also present a clear picture of the Trinity. One striking example is Psalm 45:6–7, “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness, therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
Here the phrase “God, your God” points to two distinct persons being referred to as God.
Likewise, Psalm 110:1 states, “The Lord says to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Two separate beings are here addressed as Lord. Who else could David be referring to as Lord if not God Himself?
Among the prophetic writings, Psalm 45:16 offers another example, “Come near me and listen to me. From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret; at the time it happens I am there. And now the Sovereign Lord has sent me and endowed me with the Spirit.” Here the Sovereign Lord sends the one identified as the Messiah, who is endowed with the Spirit.
Many further references to the Trinity appear throughout the Old Testament; these are simply a few examples.
The New Testament
The revelation of the Trinity comes into fuller focus in the New Testament, beginning at the outset of Jesus’ ministry.
The baptism of Jesus, recorded by all three Synoptic Gospels, is our first point of reference. As John baptized Jesus, Matthew 3:16–17 records, “The heaven was opened, and the Spirit of God descended like a dove and alighting upon him. And a voice said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love, and with him I am well pleased.’”
Here we see the presence of Jesus Himself, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father, all three persons present simultaneously.
Another clear example is Matthew 28:19, “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.”
Again, three persons are named, yet Scripture uses the singular “name,” not “names.” This underscores that there are three persons but one God. Had the verse said “in the names of”, or “in the name of the Father and the name of the Son and the name of the Holy Spirit”, it would imply three gods.
The familiar benediction of 2 Corinthians 13:14 offers a further example, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Once again, three persons of God appear together.
From all of this, it is clear that the doctrine of the Trinity is evidently and consistently present in Scripture.
