Arguments for the Trinity

Arguments for the Trinity

Most Christians absolutely believe in the triune Deity: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Which in the language of the New Testament, Greek is homoousios, of one substance with. The Trinity is foundational to their Christian belief system.

Others believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are thee separate entities which in Greek is homoiousios, of like substance. For years I belonged to this camp. After posing my position to a public Christian internet forum, I found verse after verse that either directly confirmed the existence of the Trinity or alluded to the existence of it. The similarity of the two Greek words was a cause for much of the confusion.

The definition of the Trinity was the main topic at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. The decision was settled by a vote. 250 and 318 bishops attended the council and only 2 voted against the Trinity. From this decision came the Nicene Creed which starts with an affirmation of the Trinity.

Does this of and by itself confirm that the Trinity is of God. No. But even as today, I weigh the wisdom of well known Biblical scholars in my study; there is wisdom in adding weight to the Nicene consensus.

The relationship between The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit is beyond the realm of human understanding. How often has man tried to explain God in man's terms and failed? The best explanation I've heard is the Trinity is liked to water which exists as steam, liquid and ice; yet, it is one and the same substance.

Rom 1:22-23 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Our understanding is limited. God's isn't:

Mark 4:10-11 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable . 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: This indicates that there are mysteries of the Kingdom of God we don't understand.

1 Cor 13:9-10 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

If one verse isn't sufficient proof; consider the evidence of the composite of verses alluding to or claiming the Trinity. The Bible confirms itself through restating its principles in its verses.

The Disciples worshipped Jesus, which if Jesus weren't God would violate the 1st Commandment.

Matt 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Matt 28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
Matt 28:17-18 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Luke 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
John 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

The Old Testament prophesied the coming of the Father - Son:

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

The New Testament speaks of the God and Son as One:

Matt 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.

Matt 28:18-19 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mark 1:9-11 Then one day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John there in the Jordan River. The moment Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens open and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descending on him, and a voice from heaven said, "You are my beloved Son; you are my Delight"

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
Some interpret this verse to mean "of one mind". This is valid only if taken in isolation.

John 10:32-33 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

John 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me , and I in him.

John 14:10-11 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me ? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me , he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me

John 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me , and I in you.

John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood .

2 Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

2 Cor 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Eph 4:4-5 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Heb 1:8-9 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

I have deliberately omitted 1st John 5:7, which proclaims the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. because many believe this verse was added to the text after the book was canonized. Most Bible translations omit this verse.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

So it is Christ who is saying this to John in: Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

I've learned through this process, as a Christian believer, it is important to test and retest my beliefs and doctrine against the Word of God. That if through this process, I gain the wisdom to recognize what I once believed doesn't hold up to the test and retest of scripture, to let go of the old and live by what is proven in the Word.

1 Cor 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: