Biblical Texts for the Trinity
- The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are eternal (Rom
16:26; Rev 1:17; Mic. 5:2; Heb. 9:14; Deut. 33:27).
- The Father, Son and the Spirit created all things (1 Cor. 8:6;
Ps. 100:3; Col. 1:16; Job 33:4; 1 Peter 4:9).
- The Father, Son and Spirit are each omnipresent (Jer. 23:24;
Matt. 28:20; Ps. 139:7; Acts 17:28,29).
- The Father, Son and Spirit are each omniscient (Matt. 11:27;
Acts 15:18; John 21:17; Isa. 40:13; 1 Cor. 2:10; Heb. 4:13).
- The Three are each true and good (John 7:28; 17:17,25; Ps. 34:8;
John 10:11; 14:6; Acts 3:14; 1 Jn. 5:6; John 14:26;
Ps. 143:10; Rev.
15:4).
- They each have a self-regulating will (Eph. 1:11; Matt. 11:27;
John 17:24; 1 Cor. 12:11; Acts 21:14).
- They are each the fountain of life (Ps. 36:9; Eph. 2:4,5; John
5:21; John 3:8; Deut. 30:20).
- They each sanctify us (Ps. 138:3; Isa. 66:13; Jude 1; Phil. 4:13;
1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 3:16; John 14:26; Rom 15:6).
- Each fills our souls with divine love (1 Jn. 5:1; 2:15; 2 Cor.
5:14; 1 Cor. 16:22; Rom. 15:30; Col. 1:8; Deut. 6:5).
- Each gives divine law (Ps. 19:7; Isa. 11:8; Ezek. 2:4; Gal. 6:2;
Col. 3:16; Rev. 2:18; Rom. 8:2; 2 Peter 1:21; Acts 13:2;
James 4:12).
- Each dwells in believers' hearts (1 Cor. 14:25; John 1:3; Eph.
3:17; Col. 1:27; 1 John 1:3; John 14:17; 2 Cor. 13:14;
Isa. 57:15).
- The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are, each by Himself, the
supreme Jehovah and God: "I am Jehovah thy
God" (Exod. 20:2);
"Jehovah our God" (Isa. 4:3; cf. Matt. 3:3) and "the Highest"
(Luke 1:76; and Matt. 10:11);
"Jehovah God" (Ezek. 8:1,3)
and "the Highest" (Luke 1:35). Yet God is One (Deut. 6:4).
To Summarize: Each Person has the same attributes. The Persons
concur in mind, will, and heart, personally distinct yet harmonious, and
performing the same works. They have some of the same names. They are to
be worshiped equally (from Edward Bickersteth, "The Trinity", Grand
Rapids: Kregel Publishing, 3rd printing, 1965, p. 150).
- God is three Persons
- Each Person is fully God
- God is One
Orthodox Christianity holds all three of these statements to be true.
To deny any one is to deny how the Bible reveals God. A biblical view
of the Trinity is essential to understand God's greater story of
creation, fall, redemption and re-creation.
Herman Bavinck, a leading theologian of the 19th century, writes:
"In the confession of the Trinity throbs the heart of the Christian
religion. Every error results from, or upon deeper reflection may be
traced to, a wrong view of this doctrine."
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten
of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of
very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by
whom all things were made. Who, for us and for our salvation, came
down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin
Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius
Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again,
according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the
right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge
the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who
proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son
together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge
one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection
of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
|
