1. An Overview of Biblical Doctrine
The Holy Trinity
An Overview of Biblical Doctrine

2. Credit: “The Trinity” from Biblical Doctrine: An Overview, by Erik Thoennes, Ph.D. in the ESVSB

3. Essential Affirmations from the Bible

4. Essential Affirmations
There is only one true and living God
This one God eternally exists in three Persons
God the Father
God the Son
God the Holy Spirit

5. Essential Affirmations
These persons are equal in attributes and of the same divine nature (substance)
Each person is fully and completely God, yet not identical.

6. Essential Affirmations
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

7. Monotheism: God is One

8. Polytheism is rejected
Monotheism
There is only one God
Polytheism is rejected
“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Dt. 6:4)
“I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God.” (Isa 45:5)

9. Jesus quotes from Shema (Mk 12:29)
Monotheism
Jesus quotes from Shema (Mk 12:29)
NT writers affirm God’s unity, even as they assert Jesus’ divinity (1 Tim 2:5)
NT never rejects OT monotheism

10. Implication: Idolatry is evil, foolish, wrong, and harmful.
Monotheism
Implication: Idolatry is evil, foolish, wrong, and harmful.
Implication: God should be the ultimate object of our affection.
Implication: God alone deserves absolute allegiance and obedience.

11. Monotheism
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Dt. 6:5, later quoted by Jesus as the greatest commandment)

12. Tri-Unity of God: God is Three Persons

13. Tri-Unity
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

14. Same Divine Nature/Substance Different in role and relationship
Tri-Unity
Three Persons; One God
Same Divine Nature/Substance
Different in role and relationship
Unity and Distinction co-existing without either being compromised
Same essence, different functions

15. Fully Realized in NT, hinted in OT
Tri-Unity
Fully Realized in NT, hinted in OT
Spirit of God “hovering over the face of the waters” (Gen 1:2)
Spirit described as a personal being, yet distinct from Yahweh (Isa 48:16, 61:1, 63:10)

16. Hebrew for “God”: Elohim – a plural word
Tri-Unity
Hebrew for “God”: Elohim – a plural word
Not all scholars agree this is significant
Used with singular verbs
Used singularly in the OT

17. Plural Pronouns used by God
Tri-Unity
Plural Pronouns used by God
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image’” (Gen 1:27, italics added)

18. Seems to be no different in attributes or actions from God
Tri-Unity
Angel of the Lord
Represents Yahweh
Seems to be no different in attributes or actions from God
Cf. Gen 16:7, 10-11, 13; 18:1-33; Ex 3:1-4:31, 32:20-22; Num 22:35, 38; Judg 2:102; 6:11-18

19. Recognized as Christ in NT (Heb 1:8, 13)
Tri-Unity
Two Persons called “God” or “Lord”
E.g., Psalm 45:6-7, Psalm 110:1
Recognized as Christ in NT (Heb 1:8, 13)
Applied by Christ to himself (Mt: )
Messianic figures ascribed divinity (Prov 8:22-31; 30:4; Dan 7:13-14)

20. NT: Full Picture of Trinity
Tri-Unity
NT: Full Picture of Trinity
Jesus’ baptism: all three Persons there, with different roles/actions (Mt: 3:13-17).
Baptismal formula (Mt: 28:19-20).

21. Trinitarian Cadences in NT 2 Cor 13:14 – the Grace
Tri-Unity
Trinitarian Cadences in NT
2 Cor 13:14 – the Grace
1 Cor 12:4-6 – Gifts
Other Plurality passages: Jn 14:16,26; 16:13-15; 20:21-22; Rom 8:9; 15:16,30; 2 Cor 1:21-22; Gal 4:4-6; Eph 2:18; 4:4-6; 1 Pet 1:1-2; 1 Jn 4:2, ; Jude 20-21

22. Father – Plans, directs, sends
Tri-Unity
Summary of Roles
Father – Plans, directs, sends
Son – Sent by Father, subject to Father’s authority, obedient to Father’s will
Spirit – Sent by Father and Son, carries out will of Father and Son

23. Unity without uniformity Diversity without division
Tri-Unity
Unity and Diversity
Unity without uniformity
Diversity without division

24. Tri-Unity
From the Athanasian Creed: “We worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity; we distinguish among the persons, but we do not divide the substance… The entire three persons are co-eternal and co- equal with one another so that… we worship complete unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity.”

25. Tri-Unity
Difficult to grasp, but principle of unity in diversity common in life:
Symphony
Marriage/Family
Sports teams
Parts of the human body

26. Tri-Unity
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

27. Historic Misunderstandings

28. Historic Misunderstandings
Tri-theism: three gods
Over emphasizes the distinction of persons at the expense of the unity of essence
Accused of this by Jews, Muslims

29. Historic Misunderstandings
Modalism: one person
Over emphasizes unity at the expense of the distinctions in persons
Common popularly
Oneness-Pentecostals
Classical Unitarians

30. Historic Misunderstandings
Arianism
The Father alone is God
Spirit & Son are creatures
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Classic heresy (early church, Radical Reformation)

31. Practical Implications of the Trinity

32. Practical Implications
God is definitively known in Christ.
“No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known” (Jn 1:18).
God is unseen, but Christ made him manifest in flesh (incarnation).

33. Practical Implications
The Atonement is possible
Each person acts together, yet with distinct roles in redemption:
“how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to serve the living God” (Heb 9:14, italics added).

34. Practical Implications
God has eternally been personal and relational.
Independent from creation; doesn’t “need” us.
Always love; doesn’t have to create it.

35. Practical Implications
Trinity is a perfect model for relationships within the Body of Christ and human marriage/family.

36. Conclusion

37. Practical Implications
Doctrine of Trinity impossible to fully comprehend
Nevertheless central to understanding God and his nature, events of salvation history, etc.
Key to Christian biblical orthodoxy