The Trinity God
This article is the the result of my recent online exchanges with fellow
Facebook users on the existence of the triune God.
Some may argue that the word Trinity is nowhere to be found in the Bible and
hence it is unacceptable.
This is illogical because there are many instances where new words need to be
coined to describe things or concepts that were yet to be defined.
It is also a fact that some versions of the Quran made use of the coined word
"trinity" like the verses 4:181 and 5:73, to deny the existence of the triune
God.
Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
- clearly says that God is One.
This can be interpreted as having two meanings. The first is that this verse
stresses God's oneness or uniqueness, and the second is that it can also
stresses God's unity.
Matthew 28:19-20
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, and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age." - is an explicit reference to the
co-existence of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Although the doctrine of the Christian God is One who exists as a unity of three
distinct persons (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) and each of the persons is
distinct from the other, yet identical in essence is difficult to understand
initially, it will become more obvious after we have searched the scriptures
(both the Old and the New Testaments) for the proofs.
For a start and at the very beginning of mankind in the Genesis account, God
already revealed Himself as a triune God.
Genesis 1:2
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the
deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that
they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the
livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along
the ground."
The "Let us make mankind..." is unlikely to refer to God and His angels
because angels can't create something out of nothing in the Genesis account.
Only God can!
A few more allusions in the Old testaments should reinforce the reality of the
triune God:
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and
give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
The word Immanuel originates from the Hebrew word עִמָּנוּאֵל which mean "God is
with us".
It therefore supports the deity of Jesus and alludes Him as one of the persons
in the triune God.
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will
be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
This verse needs no elaboration that Jesus is the one
and same God as the Father.
Daniel 7:13-14
"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of
man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was
led into his presence.
He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of
every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will
not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
These verses also allude to the "son of man" who is to be worshiped as the
second person in the Holy Trinity
Exodus 34:14: Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is
Jealous, is a jealous God., and Psalm 81:9: You shall have no foreign god
among you; you shall not worship any god other than me.
- support this
hypothesis.
In the New Testament,
Matthew 1:23
"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him
Immanuel" (which means "God with us")
- affirms Isaiah 7:14 of the triune God.
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without
him nothing was made that has been made. - affirms Genesis 1:26 that God is
One who exists in distinct persons.
John 10:30
I and the Father are one." -
supports the concept of the triune God.
John 14:5-11
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we
know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my
Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." Philip said,
"Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." Jesus answered:
"Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the
Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in
me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the
Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in
the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the
works themselves. - is also self-explanatory
in the oneness and the unity of God.
Philippians 2:6-11
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by
taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being
found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death--
even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave
him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every
tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
These verses show that God reduced himself,
coming in the form of a Jesus, a servant.
Titus 2:12-15
It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live
self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for
the blessed hope--the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus
Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify
for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These,
then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority.
Do not let anyone despise you.
Titus 2:13 is an explicit reference to Jesus Christ as God and Savior.
1 John 5:5-8
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is
the Son of God. This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He
did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who
testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify:
the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
-
is yet
another strong allusion to the Trinity God.
In short, we don't need to be theologians to
recognize the
triune God based on what the Bible has said to us.
The Doctrine of Trinity states that:
- There is one God
- God is 3 co-existing eternal persons.
- Each person is fully God.
Just because we cannot fathom how God can be fully 3 in 1,
it doesn't mean it is not possible or illogical.
Job 11:7-11
“Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do? They are deeper than the
depths below—what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider
than the sea. If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court,
who can oppose him? Surely he recognizes deceivers; and when he sees evil, does
he not take note?”
If we believe in a God who is omniscience (all knowing),
omnipresence (all present) and omnipotence (all powerful), then the existence of
a Trinity God is not illogical, it is just unfathomable by our human
understanding.
Hope this summary will help to
bring about some clarity on
the concept
of the Trinity
God.
For those who are interested in the discussion threads, they can be found at
https://www.facebook.com/RajaPetraKamarudin/posts/1405643633017265?comment_id=83144
.
Isaiah 55:8-9
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The Trinity God is one in essence, but three in Person.
Good Friday
