Getting to Know God - 4: The Trinity

“Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God is One LORD” - Deuteronomy 6:4

1.   Divergence of Views:

      a.   Tritheism: “there are three Gods, generically one, but individually distinct — that is, there are three Gods who are united in purpose and work, but they are not of the same essence” (Rex A Turner Sr, Systematic Theology, 58).

      b.   Monarchianism: There is only one Divine person who is one in essence and person, but manifests Himself in various forms: God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit: Oneness Pentecostal

      c.   Trinitarianism:

            i.   God is composed of three Divine personalities (or persons) who are united in essence, character, and will, but not in function or presence. Also known as Godhood or Godhead.

            ii.  Person - “one of the three modes of being in the Trinitarian Godhead as understood by Christians” (Webster’s 9^th Coll.).

2.   Delineated:

      a.   There is no discernable difference in the terms “Godhood” and “Godhead.” These two terms appear together in literature as early as the early 13^th century. However, in post New Testament literature, each was used to describe God in a different ways:

            i.   Godhood is often used to describe God’s qualitative nature, that is, His superiority over the gods of man;

            ii.  Godhead is often used to describe God’s quantitative nature, the “three in one.”

      b.   “Godhead” appears three times in the KJV New Testament, but is translated from three different, but closely related words:

            i.   Acts 17:29 - from the Greek to theion, meaning “that which is Divine” or “the Deity.” Note its use b/w two uses of “God” (theos) in the verse and its contrast to “man.” - qualitative

            ii.  Romans 1:20 - from the Greek theiotes - qualitative

            iii. Colossians 2:9 - from the Greek theotes. Lit. God’s essence - both quantitative and qualitative.

3.   Demonstrated in Scripture:

      a.   Deuteronomy 6:4 - lit. ‘The Jehovah (singular) our Elohim (plural) is one Jehovah (singular).’

      b.   Ephesians 4:4-6

            i.   There is one Spirit - v 4

            ii.  There is one Lord - v 5

            iii. There is one God and Father of all - v 6

      c.   John 3:34-35 the Father does not give the Spirit to the Son by measure

      d.   Matthew 28:19 baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, & H.S.

      e.   Matthew 3:13-17 — the baptism of Jesus:

            i.   the Son is present in the Jordan River;

            ii.  the Spirit is present as descending like a dove;

            iii. the Father is present as the voice from heaven.

      f.   John 14:26 — Jesus speaking to the 11 . . .

            i.   “But the Comforter, Who is the Holy Spirit,

            ii.  whom the Father will send (“whom” from the Greek hos identifies a definite masculine personage)

            iii. in My name,

            iv. He (the Holy Spirit) will teach you all things . . .”

      g.   2 Corinthians 13:14:

            i.   the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ;

            ii.  the love of God (implied is the Father);

            iii. and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

      h.   All three are described as God

            i.   the Father - Ephesians 4:6

            ii.  Jesus - John 1:1-2, 14

            iii. The Holy Spirit - Acts 5:3-4