What is The Trinity?
The Bible makes it clear that there is only one God (Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 43:10, 44:6,8, 45:5; John 1:1; 1 Corinthians 8:4,6). But it also makes clear that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are each divine. While this doctrine is difficult for some, a simple analogy is sometimes given: Water has three states—solid, liquid, and gas. All three are the same chemically. But this analogy is incomplete because the persons of the Trinity (Father, son, and Holy Spirit)—unlike water—all exist at the same time. Another analogy is that there are three aspects to the universe, all existing at the same time: space, time, and matter. While analogies do not fully reflect the doctrine of the Trinity, they help some people to grasp it.
Actually, many people, including some Christians misunderstand the Trinity. First it should be emphasized that The Trinity is not about three Gods. Rather Christianity reflects that God is “one God in three persons.” Jesus, as the second person of the Trinity has the same nature and essence as God the Father (Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-4), but is lower in role and rank than the Father (Matthew 26:39; John 5:30; John 14:28). Jesus and the Holy Spirit can be seen as being similar to the light and heat that emanate from the sun. The light and heat are not the sun, but they are of the same nature and essence as the sun.
Actually, many people, including some Christians misunderstand the Trinity. First it should be emphasized that The Trinity is not about three Gods. Rather Christianity reflects that God is “one God in three persons.” Jesus, as the second person of the Trinity has the same nature and essence as God the Father (Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-4), but is lower in role and rank than the Father (Matthew 26:39; John 5:30; John 14:28). Jesus and the Holy Spirit can be seen as being similar to the light and heat that emanate from the sun. The light and heat are not the sun, but they are of the same nature and essence as the sun.
The Trinity is a deduction from Scripture that fully melds all that it says about the nature of God. While the term “Trinity” is not used in the Bible, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are named together in benedictions (2 Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4-6) and in the formula for baptism (Matthew 28:19).
You may wish to read the passages in this section if you want to study the doctrine of the Trinity further.
