What The Bible Says About The Triune Godhead
AN IMPORTANT NOTE OF INTRODUCTION:
I wish to start off this study by making a rather significant observation about God, the God of all eternity who existed before time began. If the “Godhead” was singular (only one Divine person), then God would be incomplete in a most serious and profound way. God would not know – experientially – what a relationship was or is. In addition to being infinitely holy, God is a relational Being. He understands and appreciates relationships. In fact, God has elected certain people from among all men and women, to have a relationship with, for all eternity. When the Lord Jesus walked the earth 2000 years ago, he selected a group of 12 men to fellowship with for the duration of his 3 year earthly ministry. These were men whom Jesus spent every day with, all day at times, for 3 years straight. That in and of itself is a testimony to the desire that God has for a relationship with His people. The Bible’s primary focus is about a holy and merciful God who is reconciling estranged people back into a relationship with Himself – at an enormous cost to Himself personally. To minimize the relational aspect of God, or worse – to say it is not a necessary component of God’s Personality – is to detract from who God is, and that is a serious act of rebellion for the creature to deny what the Creator has said about Himself in sacred Scripture.
GENERAL REFERENCES TO THE TRIUNE GOD:
Genesis 3:22a – “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: … ”
Genesis 11:7 – “Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
Romans 8:9 – “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
1Corinthians 12:3-6 – “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. {4} Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. {5} And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. {6} And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.”
2Cor. 13:14a – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, [be] with you all. Amen.”
Ephesians 4:4-6 – “[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, {6} One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.”
Jude 1:20-21 – “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, {21} Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
Matthew 3:16-17 – “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: {17} And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 28:19 – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name [note: singular noun] of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
Psalms 18:2 – “The LORD (Jehovah) [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower. 1 Cor. 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”
Exodus 20:2 – “I [am] the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”
John 20:28 – “And Thomas answered and said unto him [Jesus], My Lord and my God.”
Acts 5:3-4 – “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back [part] of the price of the land? {4} Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God“
A. EACH PERSON IN THE TRIUNE GOD IS DESCRIBED AS ETERNAL:
Romans 16:26 – “But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:”
Hebrews 9:14 – “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Micah 5:2 – “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he [Jesus] come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting.”
Exodus 3:14 – “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
John 8:58 – “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”
Rev. 22:13 [Jesus]: – “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”
B. EACH PERSON IN THE TRIUNE GOD IS DESCRIBED AS HOLY:
Isaiah 6:3 – “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the LORD of hosts: the whole earth [is] full of his glory.”
Rev. 4:8 – “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”
Rev. 15:4 – “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art] holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”
Acts 3:14 – “But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you”
1 John 2:20 – “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”
C. EACH PERSON IN THE TRIUNE GOD IS DESCRIBED AS TRUE:
John 7:28 – “Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.”
John 15:26 – “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me”
Rev 3:7 – “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth”
D. EACH PERSON IN THE TRIUNE GOD IS DESCRIBED AS OMNIPRESENT (EVERYWHERE AT ONCE):
Jer. 23:24 – “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD [Jehovah].”
Ephesians 1:23 – “Which is his body, the fulness of him [Jesus] that filleth all in all.”
Psalms 139:7 – “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?”
E. EACH PERSON IN THE TRIUNE GOD IS DESCRIBED AS OMNIPOTENT (ALL POWERFUL):
Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”
Rev 1:8 – “I [Jesus] am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
Romans 15:19 – “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”
Jeremiah 32:17 – “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, [and] there is nothing too hard for thee:”
Hebrews 1:3 – “Who [Jesus] being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
Luke 1:35 – “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
Isaiah 9:6 – “For unto us a child is born [Jesus], 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.”
F. EACH PERSON IN THE TRIUNE GOD IS DESCRIBED AS SUPPLYING MINISTERS:
Jeremiah 3:15 – “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
Ephesians 4:11 – “And he [Jesus] gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”
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.”
Matthew 10:5a – “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, …”
Acts 13:2 – “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”
G. EACH PERSON IN THE TRIUNE GOD IS DESCRIBED AS CREATOR:
Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Genesis 1:26a – “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the … ”
Colossians 1:16 – “For by him [Jesus] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”
Job 33:4 – “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.”
John 1:3 – “All things were made by him [Jesus]; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
Job 26:13 – “By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.”
H. EACH PERSON IN THE TRIUNE GOD IS DESCRIBED AS SANCTIFIER:
Jude 1:1 – “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, [and] called:”
Hebrews 2:11 – “For both he [Jesus ]that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified [are] all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,”
1Peter 1:2 – “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
I. EACH PERSON IN THE TRIUNE GOD IS DESCRIBED AS WORKER OF SPIRITUAL OPERATIONS:
Hebrews 13:20-21 – “20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Colossians 1:28-29 – “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: {28} Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”
1Cor. 12:11 – “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”
J. EACH PERSON IN THE TRIUNE GOD IS DESCRIBED AS SOURCE OF ETERNAL LIFE:
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
John 10:28 – “And I [Jesus] give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.”
Galatians 6:8 – “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
K. EACH PERSON IN THE TRIUNE GOD IS DESCRIBED AS TEACHER:
Isaiah 54:13 – “And all thy children [shall be] taught of the LORD [Jehovah]; and great [shall be] the peace of thy children.”
Luke 21:15 – “For I [Jesus] will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.”
John 14:26 – “But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Isaiah 48:17 – “Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I [am] the LORD [Jehovah] thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way [that] thou shouldest go.”
Galatians 1:12 – “For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1John 2:20 – “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”
L. EACH PERSON IN THE TRIUNE GOD IS DESCRIBED AS RAISING CHRIST FROM THE DEAD:
1Cor. 6:14 – “And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.”
John 2:19 – “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
1Peter 3:18 – “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”
M. EACH PERSON IN THE TRIUNE GOD IS DESCRIBED AS INSPIRING THE PROPHETS:
Hebrews 1:1 – “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,”
2Cor. 13:3 – “Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.”
Mark 13:11 – “But when they shall lead [you], and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.”
N. EACH PERSON IN THE TRIUNE GOD IS DESCRIBED AS OMNISCIENT (ALL KNOWING):
Acts 15:17-18 – “That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. {18} Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.”
John 21:17 – “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him [Jesus], Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
1Cor. 2:10-11 – “But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. {11} For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”
O. EACH PERSON IN THE TRIUNE GOD IS INVOLVED IN THE WORK OF SALVATION:
2Thessalonians 2:13-14 – “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: {14} Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Titus 3:4-6 – “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, {5} Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; {6} Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;”
1Peter 1:2 – “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
P. THE NAMES OF ALL 3 PERSONS IN THE TRIUNE GODHEAD ARE USED IN BAPTISM:
Matthew 28:19 – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost“
CONCLUSION:
We can see from the above overwhelming biblical evidence that those who recognize the God who manifests Himself in three divine persons are in perfect agreement with the Bible and they are not worshipping three separate gods.
Introduction by RM Kane, Verses compiled and categorized by James Riscinti