The Trinity: One God, Three Persons
The Mystery Beyond Understanding
The Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as one God—is a divine reality that transcends human logic. As finite beings, we cannot fully grasp how God exists as three distinct Persons yet remains one Being. This mystery has sparked debates throughout church history, but Scripture affirms it clearly.
Biblical Evidence for the Trinity
| The Father is God | The Son is God | The Holy Spirit is God |
|---|---|---|
| John 6:27; Romans 1:7 | John 1:1, 14; Colossians 2:9 | Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16 |
| 1 Peter 1:2 | Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 5:20 | 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 |
Yet there is only one God: Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4; 1 Timothy 2:5.
Common Misunderstandings
Throughout history, flawed attempts to “explain” the Trinity have led to heresies:
- Modalism: Claims God is one Person acting in three “modes” (rejected by John 15:26; Luke 3:22)
- Arianism: Denies Christ’s full divinity (contradicted by John 1:1; Colossians 2:9)
- Tritheism: Suggests three separate gods (denied by Deuteronomy 6:4)
“Go therefore and make disciples… baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
— Matthew 28:19
Distinct Yet Unified
While one in essence, each Person of the Trinity has distinct roles:
- Father: Plans redemption (Ephesians 1:3-6)
- Son: Accomplishes redemption (John 6:38; Hebrews 10:7)
- Holy Spirit: Applies redemption (John 16:8-11; Titus 3:5)
Yet all work together as one God (John 10:30; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
Embracing the Mystery
Rather than trying to fully explain the Trinity, we should:
- Accept what Scripture clearly teaches
- Worship the triune God
- Trust that what seems paradoxical to us is perfectly harmonious in God
Practical Implications
This doctrine matters because:
- It reveals God’s nature as relational (John 17:24)
- It assures us of complete salvation (Romans 8:1-17)
- It shapes how we pray (Ephesians 2:18)
