Is the concept of Trinity Biblical?

By Andrew Sui

The concept of Trinity is difficult to comprehend for disbelievers. For anyone born of the Spirit of God, he/she can comprehend the spiritual things of the Almighty God without much questions. God of the Bible is Spirit (John 4:24) and is of Love (1 John 4:8) and nowhere in other religious book says that God has the depth of love in the context of John 3:16 (For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.) The question should be asked "Is the concept of Trinity Biblical?" If this doctrine of Trinity is proven to have the source from the Bible, then it will strengthen the evidence that Lord Jesus is more than a prophet of the one Almighty God.

GOD reveals Himself to man in stages. In the Old Testament, when prophet Moses had conversation with GOD through a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush, He asked: "... they shall say to me, What is his Name? what shall I say unto them?", "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." (Exodus 3:13-14) Thousand of years later, in the New Testament, GOD reveals Himself completely through His begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua) who addressed Him as "Our Father which art in heaven" (Matthew 6:9). Jesus addressed Himself as "... I AM the Son of God" (John 10:36 & Matthew 27:43). Before Jesus' crucifixion and His ascension to the Father, He promised that the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in His Name, will teach all things and abide with His disciples forever (John 14:16, 26 & Matthew 28:20). Jesus fore-warned that "... whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." (Matthew 12:32) i.e., he shall commit an unpardonable sin.  Now this is the most important revelation by Lord Jesus that the Holy Spirit is a divine person as whoever blaspheme against Him shall never be pardon. After resurrection from the dead, Jesus taught that the phrase "the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost" is the NAME and not titles at all.

There are 3 powerful verses containing the concept of Trinity in a single verse. It is undeniable that the concept of Trinity is Biblical. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus said "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name {singular} of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" As we can see that the name of GOD is also known as "the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost", the Church gives a term TRINITY to relate this revelation from GOD. 

An example of the concept of trinity is derived from the Old Testament. In Isaiah 48:16, the prophecy of Isaiah about the coming Messiah Jesus is as follows:

F. Delitzsch (p 253) appropriately says, "Since the prophet has not spoken in his own person before; whereas, on the other hand, these words are followed in the next chapter by an address concerning Himself from that servant of Jehovah who announces Himself as the restorer of Israel and light of the Gentiles, and who cannot be therefore either Israel, as a nation." or Isaiah, it can be none other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. It is obvious that the speaker is God who spoke from the beginning and is the one who reveals God to man. And affirms that " the Lord God, and His Spirit, have sent Me." A clear reference to three distinct personalities yet all are God. The one who is God was sent by God and the Spirit of God. It is confirmed in the New Testament in 1John 4:14; "And we have seen and do testify that the Father {GOD} sent the Son {Jesus} to be the Saviour of the world."

The doctrine of Trinity is affirmed by the words of our Lord Jesus Christ saying: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name (singular) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”(Matthew 18:19  KJV). If there is only one divine person, why saying distinctly the 3 persons? In  1 John 5:7, Apostle John says: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” Trinity can be represented by the diagram below but it is not intended to represent the only true GOD because He is Spirit.

In the Bible, the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost can be identified as manifestations of God that were not created. They are part of the nature of God who is eternal. As you can find only three of them who have always existed, then you have the Trinity. If you find more than three, then a different term will be used. But from the Biblical point of view, there are only three.

The first book of the Bible, Genesis tells us that the one God is plural. The word GOD in Hebrew is "Elohim" which is plural. Most of the revelations about God's nature comes from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

• God the Father

• God the Son

• God the Holy Ghost

Trinity is a theological term adopted by Christians to define that the only true God is co-eternal and co-exists in three divine persons and not three Gods. Trinitarian is monotheistic. To determine as whether or not the doctrine of Trinity is truthful, we have to look at the Scripture for a definite answer. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)” The authority of the Holy Bible is final and there is no authority given to men that can supersedes the inspiration of God. Why is the Word of God infallible? Let the Holy Bible defends itself. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. “(Hebrews 4:12 KJV)  Only infallible word is alive and powerful, and God's word testify that it is sharper than any double-edged sword. 

GOD is powerful and it is one to the power of 3. So in arithematic, it is not 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 but rather it is 1 ³ = 1 x 1 x 1 = 1. Father is GOD, SON is GOD and Holy Ghost is GOD and they are ONE. But GOD is NOT the Father alone, GOD is NOT the SON alone, and GOD is NOT the Holy Ghost alone; GOD is Spirit constituting 3 distinct persons. 

 The Father is God - as spoken by Prophet Moses in Genesis 1:26-27 (KJV):  

Because God is our creator, He is our Father in heaven who take care of us. 

One may comment that "us" is Hebrew plural for respect. But Genesis was written through inspiration around 1410 BC where the mannerism is practised only after civilisation of mankind. The modern days term for explaining away the use of plural "us" as respect for GOD is unbiblical! What did the Bible say about God "YHWH" which is His Holy Name? There are many passages that testify God did not use pural "we" as a respect. God always use "I" as the first person and His name is "I AM". Thus the argument that "us" in Genesis 1:26 is a Hebrew plural of respect is an invalid statement. No doubt, Genesis 1:26 is the first revelation to mankind that the only true God exists in "more than one divine person". You will notice that in Genesis 1:29 GOD said "Behold, I..." and in Exodus 3:14 GOD said to Moses His name is "I AM" and why not "WE" if Hebrew plural respect is true? God is love and He never changes. There is consistency in the address of God Himself throughout the Bible. God has many holy names in Hebrew such as Jehovah Jireh, Yahweh, "I AM" and are we right to say there are many Gods because of so many names? 

In 1 John 5:5-9 (KJV), Apostle John testifies that there are 3 witnesses in heaven confirming Jesus is the Son of God, as follows:

5:5	Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
5:6	This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is Truth.
5:7	For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
5:8	And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
5:9	If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son.

The Son of God: Jesus Christ

1) Jesus Christ was born by a virgin who was conceived through the Holy Ghost of God. In Matthew 1:18-25, Apostle Matthew testifies as follows: 

1:18	Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
1:19	Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
1:20	But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
1:21	And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
1:22	Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
1:23	Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
1:24	Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
1:25	And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

2) In Luke 1:26, Dr. Luke testifies as follows:-

Jesus Christ was begotten by Virgin Mary through an agency of the Holy Ghost and not from relationship with an earthly father.  So He has a divine origin and is the Son of God as Angel Gabriel proclaimed and confirmed by Jesus Christ Himself (John 10:36).

3) In John 6:45-46 Jesus says He has seen His Father and came out from God. As Jesus originates from God, He is GOD!

It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. (John 6:45-46)" In John 12:45, Jesus said: "And he that seeth me seeth Him that sent me." The Jews knew that he who sees God shall die (Exodus 20:19, Exodus 33;20 & Judges 13:22) because of God's exceeding glory. Yet Jesus said: "I and my Father are one." (John 10:30) Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:17-18) 

4) Gospel according to John 1:1-3 says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Jesus Christ is also called " The Word of God" (Revelation 19:13). 

Hence, John 1:1-3 can be paraphrased to read as follows:-

In the beginning was Jesus Christ (the Word), and Jesus Christ (the Word) was with God, and Jesus Christ (the Word) was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

5) Jesus further affirms that He was with God in the beginning and came out from GOD into the world. In John 16:27-28 &17:5, Jesus says,

The Jews were accusing Jesus of blasphemy by His claim to divinity. When Jesus was on earth, He did the works of God and speaks according to God's will. When He says " My Father, which gave them me, is greater than ALL..." (John 20:29) is exclusive of himself as the subsequent verses confirms that "I and my Father are One" meaning He is God (John 10:33). Let us refer to the passage of the Gospel of John 10:24-38 in order to determine the context of verse 30 correctly. Gospel of John says:

Thirdly, Holy Ghost is God.

In John 14:26 & 16:7-13, Jesus foretold the coming of the Holy Ghost as a Person as follows:

In Acts 2:33, Apostle Paul testifies that Jesus is exalted with God in the Trinity,

Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 1:2 also speaks of the Trinity in this manner:

John 1:29-34, Apostle John witnessed:

The term "the Son of God" is basically not a title but a divine name given to Lord Jesus to reflect his divine origin. Thus He is superior over other prophets before and after Him.

Does the Holy Ghost have personality such as feeling offended and has ability to speak?

Witness by Peter : But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. (Acts 5:3-4 KJV) So the Holy Ghost is God.

Witness by Jesus : Blasphemy against Holy Ghost will not be forgiven for eternity. If Holy Ghost is not equal to God, how can it be an eternal sin? Jesus said , “And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” (Matthew 12:32 KJV)

Witness by John Mark: In Mark 3:11, John Mark testifies that Holy Ghost can speak,

Witness by Luke: Luke was a physician (Colossians 4:14), companion of Paul and disciple of Jesus. He was having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first (Luke 1:3) KJV. By his admission of perfect understanding, he was a reliable witness and knew that the Holy Ghost can teach a person  saying:

Conclusion drawn from above 4 witnesses is the Holy Ghost is a divine person who can speak and is eternally offended if blaspheme against Him whose sin can never be forgiven. Holy Ghost is not an angel Gabriel because God never say blasphemy against angel is an eternal sin. Those who say so is ignorance of the truth of God's identity.

No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Ghost in him. Example of Trinity exists in one verse can be found in many verses of the Holy Bible. Upon close analysis, it closely relates 3 divine persons together. In 1 Corinthians 12:3-6 and 2 Corinthians 13:14, Apostle Paul testifies,

Apostle Paul proclaims that there is one God and not 3 Gods. In 1 Timothy 2:5 and Galatians 3:20, Apostle Paul testifies,

Who is a liar?  1 John 2: 22-23, 4:15-16 Anyone who deny that Jesus is the Son of God.

Few Examples of Trinity Verses to support Christian's belief:

1) John 14:26 

2) 2 Corinthians 13:14

3) John 1:33-34

Common Misconception about the words of Jesus:

One may fail to comprehend the Hypostatic Union, i.e., the teaching that Jesus is one person with two natures. He is both God and Man as declared in Col. 2:9, "For in Him [Jesus] dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily." Jesus was also truly man, we have verses such as John 14:28 where Jesus says " the Father is greater than I." He was then speaking that specific verse as a Son of Man during his earthly ministry. One may question that if Jesus is God, how could He be greater than Himself? Of course, they fail to understand the Trinity (three persons) and they fail to understand that Jesus, (Phil. 2:5) cooperated with the limitations of being a man and was in a lower position than the Father (Heb. 2:9) in order to suffer death on the Cross. This is confirmed by Jesus’ own words in John 10:17-18, Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Christians know their doctrine and obey the teachings of the Holy Bible and not of man. If one says that the word of Trinity is not found in the Holy Bible and it must be wrong to say so, it is purely out of ignorance. Study the Bible and understand it yourself before making any comments.

Answers to the Common Objections on the Concept of Trinity:

The Father and Holy Ghost have no names, only titles, but the Son has a name, called Jesus, therefore he can't be God.

This is contrary to what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 ".. in the Name of the Father, and of the Son {Jesus of Nazareth}, and of the Holy Ghost". Jesus, the Son of God was both human and divine. He gets his name from his humanity and his title of Messiah from his divinity.

How can Jesus be God and then complain that God has forsaken him?

This is taken from Matthew 27: 46 and Mark 15:34 when Jesus was on the Cross and cried out "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?". In His humanity He could bring His seemingly justifiable complaint to God just the same as any human. But he was not actually asking for a change of circumstances because He knew He had to suffer in submission to the will of God. In His divinity He could just as easily have called on his Father to send twelve legions of angels and expect an immediate response, but He chose not to. (Matthew 26:53). His complaint was actually for fulfillment of prophecy and a claim to be the suffering Messiah, as it was a quote from Psalm 22 which contains a number of details about how the Messiah would be executed.

How was Jesus able to operate simultaneously with both his human and divine nature? 

God knows. His way is above ours. I just accept by faith that it is possible because I can see that Trinity is Biblical.

Christians are making Jesus into an idol and worshipping Him as if He was God.

Idolatry is the worst sin against God, and this is the reason that God took the Israelites out of Egypt, to get them away from the idols.

I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (Exodus 20:2)

The suggestion that the followers of Jesus are worshipping an idol is a very serious charge and requires a firm rebuttal.

Idolatry is defined as making a god for yourself according to your own requirements. The first act of idolatry was in Babylon when they said:

... let us build a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make a name [a god], lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. (Gen. 11:4)

Idolatry is making your own god. There is nothing idolatrous about reading the Bible and discovering that there is one God, revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Those who accuse Trinitarians of idolatry are merely venting their own frustrations because of the weakness of their arguments. Son of God means GOD. Jesus is deserving to be worshipped as the One true GOD. 

Why isn't there a passage in the New Testament that explains the Trinity in detail?

The anti-deity crowd always wants to debate everything at great length. There is no polemic debate on this subject in the New Testament because at the time the question had not been raised. They were more concerned with other issues such as the Judaism Controversy and infiltration of the Church by Gnostic mystery cults.

You can go into any church today, and unless it is the type of church that regularly recites a creed, you will rarely hear anything about the Trinity. You only hear about it when church members complain that they have been visited by the Jehovah's Witnesses and drawn into polemic debate. There were no Jehovah's Witnesses in New Testament times and there was no big debate about the Trinity. There was, however, much discussion about the person and work of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Majority of the mainstream Churches believe in Trinity. Of course it does not necessarily follow that the majority must be right. I am just pointing out that born-again Christians do not generally have problems with the Trinity.

If Father is God, Jesus is God and Holy Spirit is God, then there are three Gods and not one GOD?

You may be suprised that the word GOD in Hebrew is Elohim which has plural meaning. Let us say our head is part of the body, hands are part of the body and legs are part of the body, then there are 3 bodies? Not at all, these head, hands and legs are members of the body. GOD is that one BODY. 

The concept of Trinity is the doctrine of men and not of GOD

Doctrine of men originates from men based on man's philosophy. Doctrine of God originates from the words of God in the Holy Bible. To vindicate that Trinity has the origins from the Holy Bible, we shall see passages that speak of God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Ghost. In the olden days before the coming of Jesus, GOD spoke to His people through the prophets who were moved by the Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1: 21). The prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1 Peter 1:10-11) Both Holy Ghost and Spirit of Christ were at work; 1 Peter 1:11 and 2 Peter 1:21 says Holy Ghost moved the prophets to prophesy and Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify.

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the {Holy} Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:2) Simon Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:1), believes in 3 divine persons.

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)

Conclusion: The Scripture cannot be broken and the Doctrine of Trinity cannot be refuted by the revelation of angels nor of man. A prophet has direct communication with God as seen in the story of the burning bush as how God revealed to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments in 2 stone tablets. Of course, God can communicate with man in different ways by angels such as archangel Gabriel spoke to Daniel and mentioned about Michael as told in the book of Daniel 9:20-27 and Daniel 10:7-21. Not in any part of the Bible do we read God's angels squeezed and tormented a man to recite verses. Angels are higher in authority than man but lower in authority than Lord Jesus Christ. Thus the revelation by Archangel Gabriel to man is not superior to the Gospel in the Holy Bible whom the Son of God, Jesus Christ Himself personally revealed to mankind. Lord Jesus came from God and spoke with power and authority. The words from the lips of Lord Jesus Christ are trustworthy and superior than revelation by any angels to mankind. This call for wisdom to examine every word spoken by Lord Jesus. From all the circumstantial evidence, it is concluded that God speaks to man in the Old Testament as "I Am" through His prophets and in the New Testament era through His Son Jesus Christ and after His ascension through His Holy Ghost. This close union between the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost is known as the Trinity or commonly known as God. Did God promise to speak to man by another prophet when the Great Commission was given to the Twelve Apostles to preach the gospel from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the whole world? I do not think there is another prophet greater than Lord Jesus to reveal God's salvation plan. So listen to the greatest prophet of prophets Jesus Christ, the Son of God.