Old Testament Teachings of the Trinity
The word 'trinity' is not used in the Bible, but the doctrine of the tri-unity of God is clearly taught in the New Testament. The Old Testament does not explicitly teach the doctrine. Still, the concept of the Trinity is hinted at in certain places in the Hebrew concept of plurality in unity, which lays a foundation for the future revelation revealed in the New Testament of the Trinity.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV)
The singular word "LORD" in Hebrew is 'Yahweh' and is coupled with the plural "our God" 'Elohim.' The Hebrew word translated as "one" is 'ehad,' which means 'one' or 'unity;' however, the word is also used in other contexts to suggest a plurality within unity. The Hebrew word 'ehad' also appears in Genesis 2:24, which considers two persons as one: "[A man] is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one [ehad]" (NLT). Clearly, the husband and wife are distinct persons, but they are called "one," showing there is diversity within the unity.
The Names for God
One of the Hebrew names for "God" in the Bible, 'Elohim,' is plural in form. The 'im' suffix is plural, and Elohim, when not referring to the One True God, is translated as "gods" (plural). The plural form of a name for the One God could be seen as implying a perfect unity of Persons and is consistent with the New Testament teaching of the Trinity. The Hebrew word 'Adonai,' translated as "Lord," occurs about 300 times in the Old Testament and is also plural.
The Appearances of the Angel of the Lord
In several places, the Old Testament records encounters with someone called "the Angel of the Lord." This supernatural presence speaks as if He is God, identifies Himself with God, and exercises the responsibilities of God.
"I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude." (Genesis 16:10 ESV)
The Angel of the Lord said to Hagar that God is the One who blesses Ishmael, but it's the Angel of the Lord who personally makes the promise to his mother.
The same Angel of the Lord appears to Abraham and assumes the role of God, saying,
"for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." (Genesis 22:12b - see also Ex 3:2; Judges 2:1-4; 5:23; 6:11–24;13:3-22; 2 Samuel 24:16; Zechariah 1:12; 3:1; 12:8).
In several passages, those who see the Angel of the Lord fear for their lives because they have "seen the Lord." The Angel of the Lord was no mere angel. Viewed through the lens of the New Testament teaching of the Trinity, it's easy to conclude that the Angel of the Lord could be a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus.
Descriptions of the Spirit of God
The post-exilic Levites speak of the Spirit of God as being sent by God and speaking for God:
"You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them" (Nehemiah 9:20, NKJV);
"Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets." (Nehemiah 9:30 ESV - see also Isaiah 48:16; 63:10).
Both verses seem to make a distinction between God and another personality called the Spirit of God.
God's Self-References
Most of the time, God speaks of Himself using singular pronouns (Exodus 33:19; Hosea 11:9); at other times, He uses plural pronouns:
"Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness" (Genesis 1:26a ESV).
"Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil.'" (Genesis 3:22 ESV).
"Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech." (Genesis 11:7 ESV)
"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am! Send me." (Isaiah 6:8 ESV)
Each of the verses reveals that God is using the majestic plural to emphasize His power and greatness and implies He reveals different personalities existing as a unified whole.
Messianic Passages
"The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." (Psalm 110:1 ESV).
Yahweh is speaking to Adonai and giving Him the place of highest honor in Heaven. Jesus pointed to this Psalm as proof that the Messiah is more than David's descendant - He is the pre-existent Lord and much greater than David (see also Matthew 22:41-45).
"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions" (Psalm 45:6–7 ESV)
The writer is addressing 'Elohim' and suddenly speaks of "your God," who honors and anoints the Addressee.
The Repetition of God's Qualities or His Name
"And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (Isaiah 6:3 ESV)
The Angels surround God, praising Him as being "holy, holy, holy." The threefold repetition expresses the intensity and completeness of God's holiness. It infers the triune nature of God as the three Persons of the Godhead who are each equal in holiness and majesty.
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24–26 ESV)
The threefold repetition of God's name in the Old Testament is an indicator of the complete New Testament revelation that God is a Triune Being.
New Testament Teaching of the Trinity
One Eternal God
The Bible declares there is only one eternal God who always existed in eternity past and into eternity future in three persons in what is known as the Trinity – God, the Father, God, the Son, Jesus, and God, the Holy Spirit, who each have their own personal spirit-body, mind, and spirit (Deuteronomy 33:27; Isaiah 44-49:6; 57:15; 1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 2:6; Psalm 147:5; Jeremiah 23:24; Acts 17:24-28). They have always existed together with no point of origin and are unique and separate individuals with their own personalities and not the essential parts of one Being. The Triune God can be clearly seen "being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20 KJV).
God, the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is another Person, distinct from both the Father and the Son (John 5:32, 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15). He is symbolized as a separate person from Jesus (Revelation 1:4-5; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6). He was sent from the Father to endow Jesus with power through the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38; Isaiah 11:2; 42:1-7; 61:1-2).
The Holy Spirit is fully God, the pre-existent Counselor, and Comforter who lives inside every Born-Again Christian and will remain in them to help, guide, and change those who willingly want to be changed (Isaiah 40:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Ps 139:7; Job 33:4; Romans 8:2; Galatians 5:22; John 14:17). He is not a "spirit guide," or "pure energy." Nor is He a "ghost," spirit, or phantom. He has a will, mind, and feelings with His personality (1 Corinthians 2:10-11; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Corinthians 12:11; Acts 16:6-11). He is not a raw power that exerts energy or the effluence of the eternal God that resonates through eternity. He is the third Person of the Triune God (Genesis 1:2; Matthew 12:28, 31-32; 28:19; Acts 1:8).
The Holy Spirit is responsible for filling the Born-Again Christian daily with power to serve and preparing them for the coming of the Lord. It is He who "began a good work," and He "will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6 NIV). It is His sole responsibility to sustain and keep the Born-Again Christian guiltless, keep them from stumbling, and finally present them blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy. He will never let them die, be thirsty again, leave, forsake, cast out, or drive them away, nor can anything grab hold of them to separate them from His love, because He is their guarantee of salvation (John 4:14,6:37,8:12,10:27-29,11:25-26; Romans 8:38-39; 1 John 2:1; Jude 1:24; 1 Corinthians 1:8).
God the Son, Jesus
Jesus is God, the Son (John 1:1; Colossians 1:15-19; Luke 4:34), and came to Earth as 100% fully human and 100% fully God from a reality eternally separate from Earth (John 8:23-24). He had no beginning and has no end. Jesus has been given all authority in Heaven and Earth. He willingly chose to come to Earth as a human in the flesh, which gave Him the essential power to save anyone who receives Him as Lord and Savior from the penalty of sin through His shed blood on the Cross (Matthew 1:18; 4:2; Luke 2:40; John 4:6; 8:40; 11:35; 19:28; Hebrews 2:16-18).
Jesus is not the Father or His offspring. Jesus claimed that He came from God, the Father, and was going back to Him (John 8:42,16:5,10:36,17:8). The Father was in Heaven all the time that Jesus was on Earth (Matthew 5:16, 48). Over 80 times, Jesus affirmed that He was not the Father (example, John 14:1-9). Jesus made it clear that He and not the only Person in the Godhead was not the Father. Jesus was the speaker, but not the one spoken of or to (Matthew 7:21; 11:27; 18:10,35; Luke 2:49; John 5:17-43, 8:19-49, 10:17-37, 14:7-28; 15:1-26; Revelation 1:1; etc.).
Jesus had a virgin birth from a surrogate mother. He is not "a" god or the biological offspring of God or humanity (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35). As 100% human, He relied on His divinity as well as the Father and the Holy Spirit to perform miracles to prove He was also 100% fully God (Luke 4:18; John 10:33-39; Mark 4:35-41).
Jesus did not seek His glory, but that of the Father (John 8:50-54,17:4). He received all power in Heaven and Earth (Matthew 28:18). He was resurrected and exalted by the Father (Ephesians 1:20-23; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22).
Jesus always prayed to the Father as a separate Person (Matthew 11:25; John 17). Jesus committed His spirit to the Father, not to Himself (Luke 23:46). Jesus called God "My Father" 57 times (see examples John 15:1; Revelation 2:27). Jesus said He did not come to do His own will and that He could not, and did not, do anything of Himself, but that of the Father who had sent Him and worked through Him (John 5:19, 30; 6:38; 7:16-18, 8:26-40; 12:49-50).
The Old Testament was written at least 300 years before the historical Jesus was born. There are over 350 predictions of His coming and His ministry. The Old Testament even predicted the precise time Jesus would be put to death! (see Isaiah 9, which is known as the "'seventy-sevens" prophecy). His birth, ministry, suffering, and death were foretold in the Bible (Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-2; 52:13-115; 53; Jer 23:5-6; Ps 16:10; 22; 41:9; 68:18; 69:21; Micah 5:2; Daniel 9:25; Zechariah 9:9, 11:12).
The prophet Isaiah accurately described the beating that Jesus would endure (Isaiah 50:6). The prophet Zechariah predicted the "piercing" of the Messiah, which occurred after Jesus died on the Cross (Zechariah 12:10). The Bible also prophesied Jesus would come while the Temple of Jerusalem was still standing (Malachi 3:1; Psalm 118:26; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 11:13; Hagar 2:7-9. (Note: The Temple only existed at certain times in Jewish history and was destroyed in AD 70).
No other person in history is like Jesus. He alone met the prophetic criteria clearly laid out by the Prophets of the Old Testament. The mathematical probability of just 11 of those prophecies coming to pass is one chance in 10 to the 19th power or 10 billion times 10 billion!
The Claims of Jesus
Jesus claimed the authority of God (Mark 2:10; 14:6; John 6:39-40; 10:17-18) as the Creator and the sustainer of all things (John 1:3; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 2:9). He asserted Himself as the only way to salvation and did what only God could do and then voluntarily sacrificed His sinless life on the Cross as a legal substitute to atone and make the final payment for the sins of every human being on Earth (Isaiah 52:13-53:12; John 14:6; Luke 22:35–37; Acts 8:26–35; 1 John 2:2). A person can appropriate His forgiveness by acknowledging their sinfulness and repenting of it when they choose to make Him their personal Lord and Savior.
Jesus is absolutely and distinctly different from every other religious leader who has ever lived. He is the only person in history who claimed to live a sinless life and to be fully God, as well as having shared the glory of God in Heaven (John 1:1-5, 8:28-29, 46-47, 17:5; Matthew 12:6,22:37; Mark 2:1-2). When He was accused of claiming to be God, He did not deny it (John 10:30). Jesus did not correct the disciple Thomas when he said to Him, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28 NIV). Jesus willingly received worship and claimed the role and functions reserved only for the Creator God in the Old Testament, such as being the Shepherd, the Rock, and the Sower (Matthew 2:11,7:24-27,13:24-30,14:33,21:15-16; Luke 15,24:52; John 9:38).
Jesus declared that He had the same level of authority as God, that He existed before Abraham and that He had the name of God (Exodus 3:13,14; John 5:19,6:35,8:24,58-59,10:11-14,11:25). Jesus also said that He was the truth, the Lord of the Sabbath and those who have seen Him have seen God (John 14:6,9; Matthew 12:60). Jesus said to the Apostle John "I am the Alpha and the Omega,…who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8 NIV). He also prophesied that He would die and come back to life and that He would return to judge the world (Luke 18:31-33; John 10:17,12;32-33,16:16; Matthew 24:27-30, 25:31-32; Mark 14:61-62).
Jesus also said that if a person believes in God, they should believe in Him (John 14:1). He claimed to be the ONLY way to God and that He was able to forgive sins as well as to give everlasting life - starting at the very moment a person chooses to make Him their Lord and Savior (Matthew 11:27; John 14:6; Luke 5:20-21,7:48-49; John 6:40,47,10:28-30,11:25). This profound claim is why He was put to death by the religious leaders of His day.
Passages from the Bible that Support the Trinity
1. The word "one" means one in unity as well as one in number. It implies unity in John 17:11,21-23, and yet these three Persons, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, are spoken of as one each in number and individuality in Scripture. There is one God the Father, one Lord Jesus Christ, and one Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 8:6; Eph 4:3-6). Thus, there are three separate Persons in divine individuality and divine plurality. The Father is called God (1 Corinthians 8:6), the Son is called God (Isaiah 9:6-7; Hebrews 1:8; John 1:1-2; 20:28), and the Holy Spirit is called God (Acts 5:3-4). As individual persons, each can be called God, and they can be spoken of as one God because of their perfect unity. The word "God" is used either as a singular or a plural word, like the word sheep.
Everything that could be spoken of God collectively applies equally to each member of the Godhead as an individual. Still, some things are said of each Person of the Deity as to position, office, and work that could not be spoken as of the other members of the Godhead. The Father is the head of Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:3); the Son is the only begotten of the Father (2 John 1:3), and the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son (John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7-15; Acts 2:34).
2. Names of God prove plurality of persons. The Hebrew word for God in Genesis 1:1 and over 2,700 other places in the Old Testament. It is a uni-plural noun meaning Gods and is so translated 239 times (ex: Genesis 3:5; Exodus 22:28; 1 Samuel 4:8; Daniel 2:11; 4:6-9; 5:11,14; etc.).
Sometimes, 'Elohiym' is used with plural verbs and pronouns, "the Gods they caused me to wander" (Genesis 20:13), and "there the Gods they appeared unto him" (Genesis 35:7).
3. Plural pronouns are used of God, proving plurality of persons (Genesis 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; Isaiah 6:8; John 14:23; 17:11,22-23).
4. First, second, and third personal pronouns are used hundreds of times in Scripture, referring to one, two, and three persons of the Godhead in the same sense they are used for men. Sometimes, the different members of the Deity use them to and of one another in the same sense man uses them. In John alone, Jesus uses them 162 times when speaking to and of His Father (John 14:16-17,26,15:26,16:7-15).
Sometimes singular pronouns are used for the whole Godhead of three members as a unity (Exodus 20:3; Isaiah 44:6,8; 45:5,21; 46:9; Hosea 13:4), just like the entire church as a unit is spoken of as a man and "he" (Ephesians 2:14-15; 4:13; 5:25-27; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8).
5. "Man is become as one of us" proves the plurality of persons (Genesis 3:22).
6. Two and three Persons called God have been seen by the same men at the same time and places as being separate persons (Daniel 7:9-14; Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:31-34; Acts 7:54-60; Revelation 6:16; 7:9-17; 21:22; 22:3).
7. Two Lords are mentioned in Genesis 19:24: one on Earth and one in Heaven.
8. Two Persons are referred to in the Old Testament. (See Psalm 8:5-6 with Hebrews 2:5-
18; Psalm 16:8-10 with Acts 2:25-36; Psalm 22:1-22 with Matthew 27:35,39-43,45-46; Hebrews 9:14; 10:5-12; Psalm 40:6-10 with Hebrews 10:5-7; and Psalm 45:6-7 with Hebrews:8-9.
9. Two Lords are mentioned sitting side by side (Psalm 110:1,5; Matthew 22:44; 26:64; Acts 2:33-34; 7:54-56; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3,13,8:1,10:12,12:2; 1 Peter 3:22; Revelation 22:3).
10. Two Persons are mentioned and required in order to understand the plain language of Psalm 2; 9:19; 132:17; 30:4; Isaiah 4:2; 10:16-17; 28:16; 49:1-10; 50:4-11; 52:13-53:12; 62:11; Micah 5:1-5; Jeremiah 23:4-8; 33:14-26; Zechariah 3:8-10; 6:12-13. In these passages, one is anointed, becomes the Son of, is sent by, is taught by, and becomes the servant of the other, and both are called Lord.
11. Three self-acting Persons—the Lord God, the Messiah, and the Holy Spirit—are referred to as blessing, anointing, sending, and doing things for one another in Isaiah 11:2; 42:1-7; 48:16; 59:21; 61:1-2; 63:1-14; Zechariah 12:10-13:2.
12. In Zechariah 1:7-21 the Lord of Hosts and the Angel of the Lord (also called Lord, Zechariah 1:19-20; 2:1-13) are talking together. One Lord says of the other Lord that He has sent Him to Israel (Zechariah 2:8-13). One Lord refers to Himself as "Me" and to the Lord of Hosts as "His" and "He" (Zechariah 2:8-11). The conference continues throughout Zechariah until 13:6-7, during which both Lords are called fellows or associates.
13. Jesus is called the Son of Abraham, David, Mary, and of God (Matthew 1:1; Mark 1:1; 6:3). He is as much a separate person from God as He is of these other persons.
14. Two Persons are referred to many times in the New Testament (Matthew 11:27; Luke 23:46; John 1:1-2,18; 5:19-20; 14:1-9; 16:15; 17:3,10; Acts 2:38-39; 3:13-26; Philippians 2:5-11; Ephesians 3:5; Colossians 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 20:6; 22:3).
15. Two and three Persons are mentioned in the introductions to New Testament books (Romans 1:1-4,7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1-3; 2 John 1:3; Revelation 1:1-6; etc.).
16. The Father God is the head of Jesus and thus greater than He in position (1 Corinthians 3:23; 11:3; 1 Chronicles 29:11; John 14:28).
17. Jesus is the mediator between God and man, not between Himself and man (1 Timothy 2:5).
18. Two and three Persons are referred to in every New Testament book (Matthew 3:16-17; 12:31-32; 17:5; 22:43-45; 28:19; Mark 1:1-2,10; 13:32; Luke 1:32-35; 2:40,52; 3:22; 4:1,18; Luke 9:35; 23:46; 24:39 with John 4:24; 1:1-3,14,18; 5:17-25,31-38; 6:37,44-46,57; 7:16-18,28,37-39; 8:13-19,26-38,42,54; 10:15-18,24,29,36; 12:26-31,44,49-50; 14:1-26,28-30; 15:1-26; 16:1-33; 17:1-26; 18:11; 20:17,21; 18:11; 20:17,21; Acts 1:7-8; 2:24-36; 3:13-26; 4:10,26-31; 5:29-33; 7:37,55-56; 8:12-17; 9:17; 10:38-48; 17:31; Romans 1:3,7,9; 5:1-11; 8:1-13,26-39; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; 2:10; 3:23; 8:6; 11:3; 12:3; 15:57; 2 Corinthians 1:2-3; 5:17-21; 13:14; Galatians 1:1-3; Eph 1:2-3; 3:14; 4:3-6; 6:23; Philippians 1:2; 2:5-11; Colossians 1:2-3,13-19; 3:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2; 2:16; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2:5; 5:21; 6:14-16; 2 Timothy 1:2; 4:1; Titus 1:4; 2:13; Philippians 1:3; Revelation 5:13.
In no conceivable way can a meaning of three persons be forced in one Person, three beings in one being, or three manifestations of only one Person in any of these or any other scripture.
19. Three distinct and separate witnesses bear witness of Jesus (1 John 5:5-11,13,20). Both God and man require this many personal and individual witnesses to confirm any point (Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1). The water and blood of 1 John 5:8 could not be accepted as accredited personal witnesses to confirm any point (Ma6tt 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1). The water and blood of 1 John 5:8 could not be accepted as accredited personal witness in themselves. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the only personal witnesses of this passage. If we consider these to be only one Person, then there are not the required number of witnesses to establish the truth of the Sonship of Jesus. No matter what textual critics say regarding 1 John 5:7-8, many Scriptures confirm these three witnesses. Therefore, we are forced by the facts to admit all of what 1 John 5:7-8 says is TRUE and the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three separate and personal witnesses instead of being only one Person or witness. Indeed, many Scriptures confirm these three witnesses:
(1) The Father (Jeremiah 29:23; Malachi 3:5; John 5:31-37; Romans 1:9; Hebrews 1:1-2; 2:3-4)
(2) The Son (Isa 55:4; John 18:37; 1 Timothy 6:13; Revelation 1:5)
(3) The Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16; John 15:26; Hebrews 10:15; 1 John 3:6)
If all three are witnesses, then they must be separate Persons. The water and the blood confirm the intelligent testimonies of the three Persons of the Godhead and give additional weight to the Sonship of Jesus.
20. The words through and by, are used for Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but not once of the Father, proving that God is a separate Person and the Head and Director of all things done by and through them (1 Corinthians 3:23; 11:3; John 10:29; 14:28; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-15; Acts 2:33-34):
(a) Through Jesus (Acts 4:2; Romans 1:8; 5:1,9,11; 6:23; 7:25; 15:17; 16:27; 1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 3:4; Galatians 3:14; 4:7; 5:10; Ephesians 2:7,18; Philippians 4:7,13; Titus 3:6; Hebrews 13:21; 1 Peter 1:22; 4:11; 1 John 4:9)
(b) By Jesus (John 1:3,10,17; 10:9; Acts 4:10; Acts 10:36; Romans 2:16; 3:22; 5:17,21; Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 1:5; 3:9; Colossians 1:15-20; 3:17; Hebrews 1:1-3; 1 Peter 2:5; 5:10)
(c) Through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:2; Acts 21:4; Romans 8:13; 15:13,19; Galatians 5:5; Ephesians 2:22; Hebrews 9:14)
(d) By the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 11:24; Micah 3:8; Zechariah 4:6; Matthew 12:28; Luke 2:27; 4:1; Acts 11:28; Romans 5:5; 15:19; 1 Corinthians 2:10; 6:11; 12:3,13)
Proofs that Jesus Is Not the Father
21. The Father was in Heaven all the time that Jesus was on Earth (Matthew 5:16,48).
22. Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father (see note 9 above).
23. Jesus said He would confess men "before My Father," proving He is not the Father (Matthew 10:32; Revelation 3:5).
24. Jesus always prayed to the Father as a separate Person (Matthew 11:25; John 17).
25. The Father existed outside the body of Jesus, so He could not be Jesus (Matthew 2:12; 3:17; 17:5; 12:27-30).
26. Both Jesus and satan refer to a God separate from Jesus (Matthew 4:6-10).
27. God was the Father of Jesus, not Jesus Himself (Ephesians 1:3,17; 3:14).
28. In parables, Jesus illustrates His relationship to the Father as that of separate persons (Matthew 21:33-46; John 15:1-8).
29. People are taught to go directly to the Father and not to pray to Jesus (John 14:12-15; 15:16; 16:23-26).
30. The Father knew things that Jesus did not know (Mark 13:32; Acts 1:7).
31. Others saw Jesus as a separate Person from the Father (Daniel 7:9-14; Acts 7:56).
32. Jesus committed His spirit to the Father, not to Himself (Luke 23:46).
33. Jesus claimed that He came from God and was going back to God (John 8:42; 16:5; 10:36; 17:8).
34. God is a Spirit, not flesh and blood, like Jesus was (John 4:24; 19:34; Matthew 16:17; Luke 24:39).
35. People on Earth with Jesus heard God speak as a separate person from Heaven (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; 2 Peter 1:16-18).
36. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, not the Father Himself (John 5:17-35).
37. Jesus called the Father "My God," even after the resurrection (John 20:17; Revelation 3:12).
38. Jesus called God "My Father" 57 times (John 15:1; Revelation 2:27). How could He be His own God and Father and beget Himself?
39. When Jesus was born on Earth, Angels and people still recognized God in Heaven (Luke 2:7-16).
40. Mary and Joseph acted with utmost ignorance if the baby Jesus was all of God, for they presented Him to the Lord, who was someone other than Jesus (Luke 2:22).
41. Simeon had a revelation and guidance from the Holy Spirit that Jesus was not the only member of the Godhead (Luke 2:26-33).
42. John the Baptist knew the Father, but he did not know the Son (John 1:31-34).
43. The Son died, not the Father (1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 2:24).
44. Jesus was the only begotten Son of the Father, so he could not be the Father or the begetter of Himself (John 1:14).
45. Jesus claimed that He could not and did not do anything of Himself, but that the Father worked through Him (John 5:19,30, 6:38, 8:28,12:49-50).
46. Jesus did not come to do His own will, but that of the Father who sent Him (John 5:30, 6:38).
47. The doctrine of Jesus was not His, but the Father's (John 7:16-17, 8:26).
48. Jesus did not speak of Himself, but of the Father who had sent Him (John 7:16-18, 8:26-40).
49. Jesus did not please Himself, but the Father (John 8:29).
50. Jesus was a Son, not a Father, over the house of God (John 8:35-36; Hebrews 3:6).
51. Jesus had the same relation to His Father that men have with satan (John 8:16,35-44, 9:4).
52. Jesus honored the Father as all people should (John 8:49).
53. Jesus did not seek His own glory, but that of the Father (John 8:50-54,17:4).
54. Jesus knew the Father but was not the Father (John 8:55,10:15).
55. The Father loved Jesus as a separate person (John 10:17-18).
56. Jesus kept the Father's commandments and they were not His own (John 12:49-50,15:10).
57. The disciples of Jesus were given to Him by the Father (John 10:29,17:1-25).
58. Jesus was equal with the Father in some things, but not in others (Mark 13:32; John 5:17-39,8:13-19,29-42; 19:18-29; Acts 1:7; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 1:1).
59. Jesus and the Father were in unity and each other in the same sense believers are to be in unity with God (John 10:38,14:10-11,23,17:11,21-23).
60. Jesus was the only way to the Father (John 6:37,14:6).
61. He said, I am not alone or the only witness of My sonship. The Father is another witness (John 5:36-38; 8:13-19,54,12:49-50,14:10-11).
62. Over 80 times, Jesus affirmed that He was not the Father and not the only Person in the Godhead. Jesus was the speaker, but not the one spoken of or to (Matthew 7:21,11:27,18:10,35; Luke 2:49; John 5:17-43, 8:19-49,10:17-37,14:7-28,15:1-26; Revelation 1:1; etc.).
63. Jesus was not as great as His Father (John 10:29; 14:28; 1 Corinthians 11:3).
64. The Father (Matthew 3:17), Jesus (John 10:36), Angels (Luke 1:32-35), demons (Mark 3:11,5:7), and Apostles (Matthew 16:16, John 1:14; Romans 8:32; 2 John 1:3), all declare the sonship of Jesus, but not once do they declare a Jesus-fatherhood.
65. The Father and the Son spoke to each other in audible voices at the same time and place, being heard by many witnesses (Matthew 3:16-17, 7:5; John 12:27-30; 2 Peter 1:17). In no single instance could such speaking be explained as the voice of one individual or be used to prove one Person in the Deity.
66. The word "both" is used for the Father and the Son, proving two Persons (John 15:24; 2 John 1:9).
67. The word "also" is used for the Father and the Son, proving two Persons (John 5:19, 27,8:19,13:32,14:1).
68. The statement, "They have not known the Father nor Me," proves two Persons (John 16:3,5).
69. Jesus received all power in Heaven and in Earth (Matthew 28:18). The Father had to be greater than Jesus to give Him that power (John 14:28).
70. Jesus was resurrected and exalted by the Father, so He could not be the Father (Ephesians 1:20-23; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22)
71. God made Jesus both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:33-36).
72. Six times in John 14:1-9 Jesus made it clear that He was not the Father. The Holy Spirit Is Not Jesus Or the Father:
73. The Holy Spirit is another Person, distinct from both the Father and the Son (John 5:32,6:7-15,14:16-17,26,15:26).
74. It was necessary that Jesus go away so that the Holy Spirit could come (John 16:5-15).
75. Jesus has been seen with the natural eyes as a separate Person from the Father and the Son (Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:31-34; Revelation 4:5; 5:6).
76. The Father is symbolized as a separate Person from Jesus, both of them before God, who sits on a throne (Revelation 1:4-5,3:1,4:5,5:6).
77. Jesus could not be sent from God until Jesus was glorified, but would then be sent from both the Father and the Son (John 7:37-39; Acts 2:33-34).
78. Jesus was sent from the Father to endow Jesus with power, which requires three Persons: the One who sent Him, the One being sent, and the One who received Him (Acts 10:38; Isaiah 11:2; 42:1-7; 61:1-2).
79. A clear distinction is made of the names of all three Persons (Matthew 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14).
80. A clear distinction is made between the Son who prays, the Father to whom He prays, and the Holy Spirit for whom He prays (John 14:16).
81. A clear distinction is made between the Son on the right hand of the Father, the Father on the left hand of the Son, and the Holy Spirit who is sent from the Father and the Son (Acts 2:33-36; Acts 7:56; John 14:16-17,26,15:26,16:7-15).
82. The Son was already given (John 3:16), when the Spirit was not yet given (John 7:39).
83. The Son can be blasphemed with forgiveness possible, but if the Spirit is blasphemed, no forgiveness is possible, which proves two distinct Persons (Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:29-30; Luke 12:10).
84. The Samaritans received Jesus but had not yet received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:5-25).
85. Jesus could do no miracle by Himself (John 5:19), but by the Holy Spirit He did many miracles (John 2:11; Acts 10:38)
86. The Holy Spirit came not to speak of or glorify Himself, but to speak of and glorify Jesus (John 16:7-15).
87. The descent of the Holy Spirit proved the arrival of Jesus in Heaven to sit at the right hand of God, thus proving three Persons (Acts 2:33-34; John 7:39).
88. Jesus claimed even after the resurrection that He was not a spirit being, so He could not be the Father or the Holy Spirit, who are spirit beings (Luke 24:39; John 4:24,14:16-17,26,15:26,16:7-15).
89. In the last book of the Bible, the Trinity is seen as working together in all things (Revelation 1:4-6,3:1,4:5, 5:6, 21:10, 22:17).
The infinite Majestic Triune God is not some universal mind or consciousness that fills space and matter but is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent. God is not confined to three dimensions of space and one dimension of time. God can be in more than one place at a time. God has been seen physically by human eyes many times (Genesis 18:1-33; 19:24; 32:24-30; Exodus 24:11; 33:11-33; Joshua 5:13-15; Judges 6:11-23; 13:3-25; 1 Chronicles 21:16-17; Job 42:5; Isaiah 6; Ez 1:26-28; 10:1,20; 40:3; Daniel 7:9-14; 10:5-10; Acts 7:56-59; Revelation 4:2-5; 5:1,5-7,11-14; 6:16; 7:9-17; 19:4; 21:3-5; 22:4).
The Trinity and the unity of God are mysterious and beyond all human understanding and comprehension. No analogy can adequately explain the Triune God and all of them resemble Modalism because they suggest that only one Being exists, but the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob is one and exists in three different parts that are not co-equal.
