Introduction

The Trinity is basically the idea of one God existing in three individuals. Most Christian denominations believe in some form of the Trinity, though many don't quite understand what it is. The purpose of this essay is to use scripture to explain this teaching in simple, easy to understand terms.

The Father

The bible identifies the Father with a personal name, Yahweh/Jehovah (Exodus 6:3, Psalms 83:18, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 26:4). Interestingly, even in bible versions which replace this name with the word “Lord”, the Father's name is still used in relevant geographical areas (Genesis 22:14, Exodus 17:15). In scripture, the Father is specifically referred to as “God” (John 6:27, Galatians 1:1-3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:2) and Almighty God (Exodus 6:3, 2 Corinthians 6:18, Revelation 15:3). The Heavenly Kingdom belongs to the Father (Matthew 26:29, 6:10,13, 13:43, Luke 12:32). Although scripture states that the Father gave the Son all authority, it is with the understanding that the Son's authority stops short of the Father Himself (1 Corinthians 15:27), and that Christ will eventually give all his power back to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:28). The Father's absolute authority is also revealed in that He is the head of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3), and that the Father is the only One that knows when The End will be (Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32). Scripture also tells us that all good things we receive originate with the Father (Matthew 6:26-33, James 1:17) and that God is the Father of our Lord, Jesus (Ephesians 1:3 ).

The Son

Jesus Christ, the Holy Son of God (Matthew 1:20-22, Luke 1:31-32) , and recognized that the Father is greater Jesus Christ himself (John 14:28, 15:1), and that the Father is his teacher (John 8:26-27). Christ performed only the duties assigned to him from the Father, and never his own duties ( John 4:34, 5:19,30, 36-37, John 8:26-28, 12:49-50, 14:24, John 20:21, 1 John 4:14). Although Christ was capable of following his own will, as implied at Matthew 26:53, he remained obedient to the Father's will, even when he didn't want to be (Matthew 26:39, 42). Christ always instructed people to follow the Father's will (Matthew 7:21, 12:50).

Although Christ was prophesied as being called "Mighty God" (Isaiah 9:6), he is never referred to as Almighty God; he referred to the Father as the only True God (John 17:3) as well as the only God (John 5:44), and referred to the Father as his own God as well (Matthew 27:46, John 20:17). He taught that people should worship the Father (John 4:21,23) and pray to the Father (Matthew 6:9). Christ himself prayed to the Father on occasion (Matthew 26:39, 42, 53). The only power that Christ has is that which is given to him from the Father (Matthew 28:18, John 3:35, John 5:20-24).

Jesus Christ is the Mediator between the Father and mankind (John 14:6, 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 12:24).

The Holy Spirit

Throughout scripture, the Holy Spirit is spoken of as something that is of the Father, and is given from the Father (Matthew 10:20, Luke 11:13, 1 Corinthians 6:19. Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 4:8, Hebrews 2:4, 1 John 2:20) For example, it was through the power of Holy Spirit that Christ was conceived (Matthew 1:18, 20). Later, the Father gave Holy Spirit to Jesus Christ upon his baptism (Luke 3:22, Acts 10:38). John the Baptist taught that believers would be baptized with Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). Holy Spirit was given to a group of people during Pentecost in order to spread the Gospel (Acts 2:1-17). Jesus taught that Holy Spirit would be given to Christian believers upon request (Luke 11:13) and during times of intense persecution (Matthew 10:20, Mark 13:11). Holy Spirit was also given as a means of guidance or direction (John 16:13) and knowledge (Luke 2:26). Sometimes, it was given to bestow special abilities on believers (Acts 1:8, 19:6). Holy Spirit was given on many other occasions as well (Acts 2:38, 4:31, 8:17, 10:45, etc.).

Although the Holy Spirit is personified in some cases (Acts 13:2, 21:11, Hebrews 3:7), it has never been said to act on its own behalf. It is not given a personal name, is not implied to have body parts (compared to Exodus 33:22-23, Romans 7:4), and there is no indication that it has free will. Although it is said to teach (John 14:26), and to speak (Mark 13:11, Acts 1:16), it is always the Father who dispatches it (John 14:16,26 15:26, Acts 2:33, 5:32). Sometimes, the Father will dispatch the Holy Spirit in the name of Christ (John 14:26, 20:22). The Holy Spirit is spoken of as being a power (Acts 1:8, Romans 1:4, 15:13, 19).

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit

Blasphemy, i.e. speaking against the Holy Spirit, is the only unforgivable sin (Matthew 12:31-32). Blasphemy is the act of speaking profane or slanderous words. At Mark 3:28-29, scribes accused Jesus Christ of performing works through the use of evil spirits – when in reality he was performing works through the Holy Spirit. Because they were slandering the Holy Spirit by naming it evil, they were blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Thus, Jesus made it clear that such a sin is beyond forgiveness.

Note that, in this passage, Christ states that blaspheming God Himself was forgivable – that is was blasphemy only against the Holy Spirit that was unforgivable. It is believed in many congregations that the Holy Spirit is the very power of God, which is why blaspheming it is such a serious offense.

One In Purpose

Although the Father and the Son are separate individuals (Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:3), they are one in purpose (John 10:30, 16:15). This is why Jesus always did the Father's will instead of his own: The Son obeys the Father (Matthew 26:39, John 5:19, Romans 5:19, Philippians 2:8, Hebrews 5:8), is in subjection to the Father (1 Corinthians 11:3, John 20:17), and directs all attention to the Father (Matthew 5:45, 7:21, 12:50, John 4:23). It is never the other way around.

Because they are one in purpose, scripture tells us that Christ is the Word (John 1:1), and that we should honour the son as we would the Father (John 5:23).

Modalism

Modalism is a primary doctrine in the United Pentecostal Church, the United Apostolic Church, the Church of God of Prophecy, and the Oneness Pentecostal Church, among a few others. In a nutshell, it is a teaching that states the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are actually one entity playing an ordered succession of modes. (This is akin to an individual man playing an ordered succession of modes, for example from apprentice to employee to retiree; from fiance to husband to father; and so on). According to their doctrine, this entity plays the Father mode in the Old Testament, the Son mode in the Gospels, and the Holy Spirit mode after Christ's ascension. This entity plays these modes consecutively in the bible and never plays more than one mode at a time. We consider Modalism to be a flawed doctrine because scripture clearly shows that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit all existed concurrently.

For example, when Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit visibly came upon him and the Father spoke from heaven (Luke 3:21-22). This is very damaging to Modalism, as this shows all three “modes” existing concurrently. Similarly damaging is the passage at John 12:27-28, when Jesus is in Jerusalem as the Father speaks from heaven. On other occasions, Jesus Christ referred to the Father and Holy Spirit existing simultaneously (Luke 11:13), prayed directly to the Father (Luke 10:21, 22:42, 23:34), and spoke of his Father's will being distinctly different from his own (Mark 14:36, John 8:28, 12:49). It doesn't stop there: John the Baptist was to be filled with the Holy Spirit, despite Christ's simultaneous existence (Luke 1:15). The Holy Spirit was in existence when Jesus was a newborn baby (Luke 2:25-28), Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit on certain occasions (Luke 4:1) and Jesus bestowed the Holy Spirit on his men (John 20:22). It is also interesting that Jesus stated blasphemy against the Father was forgivable, but not blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:28-29), implying two separate entities.

Of course there is a plethora of other scriptures to add to this list beyond these. It is undeniable that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate things that exist simultaneously -- the bible is very clear on this.

In Summary

To sum it all up, the trinity can be described as three individual elements -- The Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit -- that work together for one common purpose. Each has an individual role to play, and each is separate from the other.