LIBERTY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

DOCTRINE OF GOD: RELATIONSHIP OF THE TRINITY IN SERVICE AND WORSHIP

A Study of The Trinity In The Doctrine of God

Liberty Theological Seminary in partial fulfillment of the requirements for completion of the course,

THEO 626 B03

Doctrine of God By Joseph L. Wells Jr.

Liberty University 11 July, 2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction Trinity Defined Trinity And Godhead Understanding The Trinity Guides True Worship Elohim And Trinity In The Old Testament Conclusion Trinity Verses Bibliography

3 5 6 9 12 19 21 24

INTRODUCTION . . . the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. (Daniel 11:32) In dealing with the Trinity as related in the Bible, it is important to note that the word Trinity is not found in the Bible. Charles Hodge states, the Trinity is not proven by citation of Scripture but that all the elements of the doctrine are asserted over and over again from the beginning of the Bible to the end of the Bible.1 Richard N. Davies says, This revelation of himself is not found in any one formulated statement, but must be gleaned from the entire body of the Scriptures, by a collection and right comparison of the different statements made concerning him.2 The writer of this short essay somewhat takes issue with Hodge and holds to the fact that 1 John 5:7 is part of the inspired word of God; that cannot be broken. 1 John 5:7 says, For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. The writer of this short essay has done hours of research on this verse of Scripture and believes that beyond any reasonable doubt it is authentic. Stanford Murrell states Rather than trying to "prove" the Trinity, it is better to simply affirm what the Scriptures teach concerning God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.3 Robert E. Webber says, The confusion over worship today runs so deep that some have lost the sense of the relationship between
1

Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology - Volume I: Inconsistent with Doctrine of the Trinity, and of the Person of Christ, (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1940), 345. 2 Richard N. Davies, Doctrine of The Trinity: The Biblical Evidence, (Cincinnati, Oh. Cranston & Stowe, 1891), 11 3 Stanford E Murrell, A Foundation for Faith: A n Introductory Study of Systematic Theology , (Philadelphia, PA, 1998), 44.

worship and truth. For example, I attended a conference where we sang the chorus, Father I adore you, and then the second verse, Jesus, I adore you. Our singing ended without the third verse, Spirit, I adore you. When the leaders of the conference were asked, Why didnt you sing the third verse? the answer was straight forward and without apology. We dont worship the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately this example of the failure to comprehend basic Christian truth and how it corresponds with worship is altogether too pervasive in the evangelical community.4 We live in a world that is always changing and changing when you least expect it. There are many false teachers out in the world today and Jesus said that there would be. There are so many voices out there in the world today that just confuses a lot of people. They are told to believe in God and pray to him but they really do not know what all that means. For instances, the Bible tells us that we are to love the Lord God with all our heart soul and mind. How can someone do that if they do not know who God is? It is my prayer that I can put in writing a short enough paper that deals with the Trinity that will properly introduce each member in such a way that the reader will learn how to properly pray and worship each member in the Godhead so that not only will they bring honor and glory to God but so that they in return will be blessed in such a way that he or she will want to pray, worship and serve them like never before. The church should always keep before its people the teaching of the Trinity because it is a biblical teaching that most members know very little if anything. Concerning the Trinity, Feinberg writes, when it comes to the typical Christian in the pew (even very conservative ones), though they assent to this doctrine, few really understand what it says.5 The Bible teaches that we are to love God. Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, . . . The LORD our God is one

4 5

Webber, Robert E. Is Our Worship Adequately Triune? Reformation and Revival, Rar 09:3 (Summer 2000), 121. John S. Feinberg. No One Like Him: The Doctrine of God. (Wheaton, IL. Crossway, 2001), 475.

LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The question that arises from these two verses is a very simple one. How do you love anyone whom you do not know? How do you love God with everything that is in you if you do not know who he is? This brings us to another thought from the Bible. Daniel wrote, . . . the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits (Daniel 11:32). Could this be the very reason that so many Christians seem to do very little if anything at all! Paul said in Titus 1:16, They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him. . . John Pless writes, postrnodernity's profusion of bogus and everchanging 'truths' and 'values' can only be overcome by a renewal of Trinitarian theology - not in the watered-down version of liberal theology: No cheap anthropocentric metaphors are in order here. Rather theologians must learn to speak about the triune God in a new language that resonates with the post-post-modem people who are attempting to come out of the spiritual bankruptcy into which the quest for autonomy has led them. This may well be one of the most important tasks for theologians in the almost 2000 years of church history. It is an urgent task. There is no time to lose.6 TRINITY DEFINED Augustus Hopkins Strong was one of the leading theologians of his day; his writings are still used today by many. Strong wrote, The doctrine of the Trinity may be expressed in the six following statements: 1. In Scripture there are three who are recognized as God. 2. These three are so described in Scripture that we are compelled to conceive of them as distinct persons. 3.

John T. Pless, Concordia Theological Quarterly: Tracking the Trinity in Contemporary Theology, (Fort Wayne, IN. 2005), 117.

This tripersonality of the divine nature is not merely economic and temporal, but is immanent and eternal. 4. This tripersonality is not tritheism; for while there are three persons, there is but one essence. 5. The three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are equal. 6. Inscrutable yet not self-contradictory, this doctrine furnishes the key to all other doctrines. These statements we proceed now to prove and to elucidate.7 Sproul writes, Now, I grant without reservation that the Trinity is a perplexing mystery. It is mysterious to us because we do not understand how one being can include three persons.8 The Father was made from none, nor created, nor begotten. The Son is from the Father alone, neither made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son, neither made, nor created, nor begotten but proceeding. Therefore there is one Father, not three fathers, one Son, not three sons, one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this trinity no one is first or last, no one is greater or less. But all the three coeternal persons are coequal among themselves, so that through all, as is above said, both unity in trinity, and trinity in unity is to be worshipped.9 TRINITY AND GODHEAD Now before we get too far into this brief essay it should go to reason that some things will just be taken for granted. There is not enough time or space to develop every background detail that one could put into such a paper as this. When we talk about the Trinity or the Godhead we are referring to two words that refer to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. The first word is Trinity and it is criticized by mostly the un-learned and liberal

Augustus Hopkins Strong, Systematic Theology: Doctrine Of The Trinity, (New York, New York: A. C. Armstrong and Son, 1889), 89. 8 R.C. Sproul, The Mystery of the Holy Spirit, (Sanford, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 1990), 34. 9 Charles L. D. Hartley, The Trinity, (Murwillumbah, Australia: L&R Hartley, 1998), 6.

scholars as stated above. One of the reasons that the Trinity is criticized is because we are told that God is one and that Christians hold to the teaching of monotheism yet they do all this teaching about The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit all being God. Sproul says, It is because of this passionate commitment to monotheism in the Old Testament that the concept of the Trinity provokes so much consternation. If God is one, how can we justify the worship of three personsFather, Son, and Holy Spirit?10 It makes it look to some that dont know better that we are worshiping three Gods instead of one and that we are making up words that are not even in the Bible to justify our doctrines. Well, it is true, the word Trinity is not in the Bible but dont fret too much because there are lots of words that are used as Christian teachings that are not in the Bible and many of those words nobody ever says anything about. Words like Bible and Intercession are words that you really cannot get around using but there is nothing wrong with them. John Calvin wrote, there is a proper medium to be observed: we should seek in the Scriptures a certain rule, both for thinking, and for speaking; by which we may regulate all the thoughts of our minds, and all the words of our mouths. But what forbids our expressing, in plainer words, those things which, in the Scriptures, are, to our understanding, intricate and obscure, provided our expressions religiously and faithfully convey the true sense of the Scripture, and are used with modest caution, and not without sufficient occasion? Of this, examples sufficiently numerous are not wanting. But, when it shall have been proved, that the Church was absolutely necessitated to use the terms Trinity and Persons, if any one then censures the novelty of the words, may he not be justly considered as offended at the light of the truth? As having no other cause of censure, but that the truth is explained and elucidated?11 One learns rather quickly when studying the Trinity that this theological term is the results of the church

10 11

R.C. Sproul, The Mystery of the Holy Spirit, (Sanford, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 1990), 21. John Calvin. Calvins Institutes, Book On. (Philadelphia, PA. Westminster Press, 1559), 161.

battling heretics throughout history and not just some new fancy term that scholars came up with to sound smart because they had nothing better to do with all their time. It was the Arian crisis of the fourth century that demonstrated so clearly the need for precise formulation of the doctrine of the Trinity.12 Richard Davies wrote, The prayerful study of the Bible, from the day of Pentecost down, has convinced men that Almighty God exists as a Trinity of co-equal persons in the unity of the Godhead. To state this doctrine briefly and correctly, and to guard it against the false teachings of Arius and other errorists, the believers in the Trinity were necessitated to adopt the phrase, "The Trinity in Unity," which, for convenience' sake, has been abbreviated into "The Trinity."13 Sproul goes on to say that, the formula (God is one in essence, three in person) seeks to protect Christianity from serious combat on two fronts. On the one hand, the church wants to maintain its strict adherence to monotheism. Hence the first part of the formulaGod is one in essence. This means simply that there is only one Being whom we call God. On the other hand, the church seeks to be faithful to the clear biblical revelation of the deity of Christ and the deity of the Holy Spirit. Therefore the church distinguishes among three persons in the Godhead Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This accounts for the second part of the formula Three in person.14 The next of these two words is Godhead. This word is actually found in the Bible in three locations. Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
12 13

R.C. Sproul, The Mystery of the Holy Spirit, (Sanford, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 1990), 24. Richard N. Davies, Doctrine of The Trinity: The Biblical Evidence, (Cincinnati, Oh. Cranston & Stowe, 1891), 11. 14 R.C. Sproul, The Mystery of the Holy Spirit, (Sanford, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 1990), 22.

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. The Greek word for Godhead is theot s. If you do a comparative study with this word and ' l h ym it is really noteworthy with what you find. Theot s (transliterated) actually points to more than just one person as does Elohim in the Hebrew. I am not a Hebrew or Greek scholar but it appears, at least on the surface, that what Elohim in the Hebrew language connotes could very well be the similar in some manners as Theot s connotes in the Greek. The Godhead, means that God's very presencein all of His light and puritydwells among us in the person of Jesus Christ.15 The Westminster Confession of Faith offers this short description of the Godhead; it reads, In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity ; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.16 UNDERSTANDING THE TRINITY GUIDES TRUE WORSHIP As stated above, it is very important that we bring honor and glory to God. This is why it is important to know each member of the Trinity and how to have communion with them. Not knowing this is almost likes always calling somebody that you are supposed to know really good the wrong name every time that you address them. How would that make someone feel,
15

Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Practical Word Studies in The New Testament, (Chattanooga, TN: 1998), Vol.5. 16 Marcus Dods and Alexander Whyte. The Westminster Confession Of Faith: Chapter I. Of The Holy Scripture, (Edinburgh, London. T. & T. Clark, 1647), 58.

especially the to the one who has done more for you than anyone ever will. Steve Lewis says, The position we take on the Trinity will have profound bearing on our Christology. The position we take on the Trinity will also answer several questions of a practical nature. Whom are we to worshipFather only, Son, Holy Spirit, or the Triune God? To whom are we to pray? 17 Lewis goes on to say, the doctrine of the Trinity is important because it is the basis or pattern for all true relationship and fellowship.18 Andrew Murray says, in each act of worship, and each step of growth, and each blessed experience of grace, all the Three Persons are actively engaged.19 With Christ in the School of Prayer, Murray says, It is in the daybreak light of such thoughts that the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity no longer is an abstract speculation, but the living manifestation of the way in which it were possible for man to be taken up into the fellowship of God, and his prayer to become a real factor in God's rule of this earth.20 Steve Lewis says, Prayer is practiced in a Trinitarian way. . . we may address any Person of the Trinity21 Every day when you pray, try something like this and see how that begins to open the door of fellowship for you. Pray to all three members of the Godhead. Start by asking Jesus Christ to forgive you of any un-confessed sin and to wash your feet so that you will be pure and clean and whole all over so that there will be nothing to hinder your prayer and fellowship with the Father. Then ask the Holy Spirit to forgive you where you have grieved Him or hindered Him, in any way of working in and through you. Then ask Him to fill you with His power to live for Jesus and to be a witness to those around you that need to be saved. Then begin your prayer

17

Steve Lewis. The Doctrine Of The Trinity Part I, (Journal of Dispensational Theology: JODT 12:35 , Mar 2008), 38. 18 Steve Lewis. The Doctrine Of The Trinity Part I, (Journal of Dispensational Theology: JODT 12:35 , Mar 2008), 38. 19 Andrew Murray. Holy in Christ, (Chicago, Ill. Fleming H. Revell Company, 1887) 59. 20 Andrew Murray. With Christ in the School of Prayer, (Philadelphia, PA. The Rodgers Company, 1895), 140. 21 Steve Lewis. The Doctrine Of The Trinity Part I, (Journal of Dispensational Theology: JODT 12:35 , Mar 2008), 39.

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to the Heavenly Father and plead the blood of Jesus over all your sins and begin to thank Him for all He has done, all He is doing and all He is going to do in your life. Whatever your request or prayer is about that is who you address in the Trinity as you pray. Take that and expand as you learn the differences of the various functions of the members of the Godhead. You will grow in this area and the Trinity will become very real in your life. Scott Oliphint says, they should think of these characteristics as discussed to each person of the Trinity as God, rather than as applying to only the Father or as applying only to the unity of God, as if the persons did not have such characteristics.22 If we are going to love God with all of our heart, soul and mind and serve him with all of our heart, than we are going to have to learn just who God is. Nathone Stone says, Nowhere is the correspondence between name and character more clear than in the names and titles of God revealed in Scripture.23 Outside of salvation, I cannot think of a more important matter than learning who God is in order that we may worship who He really is. How does a lack of understanding about the Trinity impact Christian worship, service and prayer? Fred Sanders says, The doctrine of the Trinity calls us to recognize, and ponder, and rejoice in the sheer reality of who God essentially is . . . the Trinity. To recognize this is to come face-toface with . . . all Gods ways and works.24 Augustus H Strong in his Systematic Theology shows where all other practices that do not include this important doctrine end up. He says that they all lead to Pantheism. Neither God's independence nor God's blessedness can be maintained upon grounds of absolute unity. Anti-Trinitarians almost necessarily makes creation

22

Scott K. Oliphint. God with Us: Divine Condescension and the Attributes of God, (Wheaton, ILL. Crossway, 2011), 73. 23 Names of God Nathone J. Stone. Names of God, (Chicago, IL. Moody Publishers, 1944), 8. 24 Fred Sanders. The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything, ( Wheaton, Illinois. Crossway, 2010) 59.

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indispensable to God's perfection, tends to a belief in the eternity of matter, and ultimately leads, as in Mohammedanism, and in modern Judaism and Unitarianism, to Pantheism.25 John Owen in writing about the triune God makes this most important statement. He writes, If we understand not the mind of God and intention of the Holy Ghost in this matter (of the Trinity), we may utterly despair ever to come to an acquaintance with anything that God reveals unto us; or, indeed, with anything else that is expressed or is to be expressed, by words.26 Owen states the main reason for his research was, to manifest what is expressly revealed in the Scripture concerning God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; so as that we may duly believe in him, yield obedience unto him, enjoy communion with him, walk in his love and fear, and so come at length to be blessed with him for evermore.27 The London Confession of Faith of 1689 states, doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.28 ELOHIM AND TRINITY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT The Bible starts off in the book of Genesis declaring that there is a God. Genesis 1:1 says, In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth ((KJV). At first glance it does not seem that there is not much to go on about who God is but there is. You see, if you lived back in those days and could understand Hebrew or even today if you understood the language that the Bible is written in, you would know right away that the Hebrew word for God is (Elohim) ' l h ym. Hebrew scholars remind us that Elohim is actually in the plural form. This name of

25 26

Augustus Hopkins Strong. Systematic Theology, (Philadelphia, Pa. Judson Press, 1907) 168. John Owen, .A Brief Declaration and Vindication of The Doctrine of the Trinity , (Grand Rapids, MI: The Banner of Truth Trust, Edinburgh, 1965), 28. 27 John Owen, .A Brief Declaration and Vindication of The Doctrine of the Trinity , (Grand Rapids, MI: The Banner of Truth Trust, Edinburgh, 1965), 36. 28 The London Confession of Faith of 1689 (Mount Zion Bible Institute)

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God represents His transcendent relationship to creation. He is the quintessential expression of a heavenly being. God unlike human beings is without beginning, begetting, opposition, or limitation of power. Thus, Elohim is a plural name with a singular meaning, God is one is essence and many (more than one) in persons.29 Now, it indeed would be hard for the average reader to just pick up the Bible and understand that Genesis 1:1 was talking about the Trinity but it is there. Satan was an angel created by God who for rebellion against God was cast out of Heaven for ever and know awaits his eternal destiny in Hell. He now roams the earth seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8). His first victims were Adam and Eve. In Genesis 3:5, Satan said to Eve, For God (Elohim) doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods (Elohim), knowing good and evil. There is a play of words here that many miss because of not knowing the Hebrew language. In Genesis 3:5 where Satan told Eve that she and her husband would be as gods, knowing good and evil, it would appear that Eve at this time could not have known of any false gods or others who could be called gods, and it would therefore make better sense to make Elohim here refer to the one true God. There is nothing in this verse to make the first occurrence of Elohim (translated God) to be a different person from the Elohim at the end of the verse (translated gods). Likewise in Psalm 138:1 David declared: "before the gods will I sing praise unto thee." Of course, David could have had in mind praising God before some great ones in the earth, but it is unlikely that he was thinking about standing in an idol temple to praise God. It seems more likely that he was simply reiterating what he had said in the first part of the verse: "I will praise thee with my whole heart: before Elohim (God) will I sing praise unto thee."30 Before the fall in the Garden of Eden there were no false gods at that time. Although Eve and Satan
29 30

Derrick McCarson. ORIGINS: An In-Depth Study of Genesis 1-11, (Bloomington, IN. Cross Books, 2012), 19. Charles F. Baker. A Dispensational Theology, (Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grace Publications, 1971), 146.

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were both talking about the same God, Satan comes back with the last statement and has all the members of the Godhead in view and says to Eve, you will be like them. Lewis Chafer says, The serpent appears and denies the word God has spoken, and declares that in the act of eating their eyes would be opened, they would be as Elohim, and know good and evil. The woman first partook of the fruit and then gave it to her husband who ate of it also. According to the Word of God, they became death-doomed and were expelled from the garden. In the light of subsequent Scriptures it is not difficult to identify the tempter as Satan who is later revealed as ever going about seeking the ruin of Gods human creatures. That he should have sought the downfall of Adam and Eve is in harmony with all his wiles which are faithfully depicted in the later Scriptures.31 As before stated, the word Elohim occurs twice in verse 5, and there is as much reason for translating the name Elohim gods in the first instance as in the second, and no reason can be assigned in either case. The ambition to become like the Most High (Isa 14:14) was the original sin of this great angel, and no little meaning is attached to the fact that he brought his own identical sin of independence of God as a temptation to Adam and Eve and that they adopted his philosophy of life.32 Lewis Chafer says, Satan, apparently with sincerity, recommended to Adam and Eve that they, too, be as gods. The original word here translated gods is Elohim and the plural form of Elohim evidently accounts for the plural gods. What Satan really said was, be as Elohim. In response to that suggestion, which only reflected Satans own supreme ambition to be like the Most High, Adam entered upon the same course of unholy repudiation of the divine purpose. So universal has this form of sin become that man thinks he has accomplished much when, if ever,
31 32

Lewis Sperry Chafer. Anthropology: Part 6, (Bibliotheca Sacra, BSAC 101:403 (Jul 1944), 269 Lewis Sperry Chafer. Anthropology: Part 6, (Bibliotheca Sacra, BSAC 101:403 (Jul 1944), 278.

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he, through divine grace, reaches the place where his will is surrendered to God-the place, indeed, from which man should never have departed. In the strange, inexplicable permission of God, Satans ideal man, the Man of Sin, will yet declare himself to be God, sitting in the temple of God (2 Thess 2:4); but this appears to be the climax of mans unholy assumption and constitutes the sign of the end of the age (Matt 24:15).33 Willard Aldrich writes, Satans lie is to the effect that man can make himself like God. That soul-damning lie found its first expression in human history in the garden of Eden. Satan enticed our first parents to sin with the promise, Ye shall be as Elohim (Gen 3:5).34 The Scriptures themselves, however, in the work of creation attribute it to all three Persons of the Trinity. The use of Elohim and Jehovah for the triune God gives clear intimation of this even in the Old Testament.35 The Trinity will probably be one of the main doctrines of the Bible that separate ecumenicalism, unbelieving apostates and heretics from true Bible believers during the closing door of the last days along with all the false cults. The idea of the Trinity is not ascribed to by liberals and Jews. The Jews, whilst acknowledging the plurality of God, naturally do not want a Trinity as this would mean accepting Jesus. They attribute the plurality of God to a plural of majesty and not indicative of numbers.36 One can easily see that the understanding of the word Elohim among the Israelites was clear by looking at several people and events that transpired at creation and yet before Abraham, which he too is a good example that will be considered briefly at the end. The people in the day of the Genesis account knew much more than what first meets the eye. For instance, there were

33 34

Lewis Sperry Chafer. Anthropology: Part 6, (Bibliotheca Sacra, BSAC 101:403 (Jul 1944), 407-408 Willard Maxwell Aldrich, The Sin of Trying to Be Good, (Bibliotheca Sacra, BSAC 095:379 (Jul 1938), 370. 35 John F. Walvoord. Series in Christology Part 3: The Preincarnate Son of God, (Bibliotheca Sacra: BSAC 104:415 (Jul 1947), 285. 36 Charles L. D. Hartley, The Trinity. (Murwillumbah, Australia: L&R Hartley, 1998), 4.

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prophets before Genesis was even recorded. Abel was the first Prophet that the Bible tells us about. Luke 11:50-51 says, That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. The Bible tells us that Abel had faith. Hebrews 11:4 says, By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Faith is the byproduct of the word of God. Romans 10:17 says, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The message of the Prophet Abel was the womans seed (Gen. 3:15) and the firstlings of his flock (Gen. 4:4). Abels message was a message that was the same as all the Old Testament Prophets. An Innocent (lamb) Bloody (offering, sacrifice) Substitutionary Atonement offered in faith (firstlings) to God. Paul, the writer of the book of Hebrews wrote, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel (Hebrews 12:24). The message of salvation in the O.T. was one that was demonstrated through types, figures and shadows. Paul says that the actual fulfillment of Christ on the cross came across as good as Abels message with all its types, shadows and figures was, better than that of Abels. You see, they knew much more than what our text books are saying. Then there is Enoch, seventh from Adam, who too was a Prophet in those days. Genesis 5:21-24 says, And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Enoch walked with God, he probably most likely knew about the
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Godhead.) Enoch is a type of the church that is raptured out before the tribulation (the flood). Hebrews 11:5 says, by faith (faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God) Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Now, notice how much revelation they knew and had from God. Jude 1:14-15 says, And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, The Lord Cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. Enoch knew what was going to happen in the last days; he knew about the return of the Lord along with all of the saints that had fallen asleep before the rapture of the church. He knew about the judgment that follows upon all those who reject the Lord as their Saviour. Job was alive sometime after the flood but before Abraham. Job 22:16 says, Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood. Also, the book of Job mentions nothing about the Law of Moses or any of the Patriarchs and so that puts him in the Dispensation of Conscience. Job knows much about the will of God through human conscience and the Prophets (Abel, Enoch and Job?) that were in his day and time. The New Testament tells us that Job was a Prophet. James 5:10-11 says, Take, my brethren, the Prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which ENDURE. Ye have heard of the patience of Job. What all did Job know and write about? Job knew all three members of the Trinity/Godhead. Job 19:25-27 says, For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see
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for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. Charles Spurgeon wrote, Passing on in our text to notice the next word, it seems that Job found consolation not only in the fact that he had a Goel, a Redeemer, but that this Redeemer liveth. He does not say, "I know that my Goel shall live, but that he lives,"having a clear view of the self-existence of the Lord Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever. And you and I looking back do not say, "I know that he did live, but he lives today."[Spurgeon] Job 33:4 says, The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. The Spirit of God in this verse is the same as it is in Genesis 1:2 where it reads, And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Gleason Archer says that this passage strongly suggests an awareness of the bodily resurrection that awaits all redeemed believers in the Resurrection37 Feinberg says, Job expresses his belief that his redeemer lives and that someday he will see him (Job 19:25-27). Commentators see in this passage a suggestion of the resurrection of the body.38 So, Job knew that there would be a resurrection and that it would be in the last days. He knew about prayer, chastening, and a slew of other teachings that we have today and that are taught in the New Testament. Job then mentions God. Job 5:17 says, Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. Just because Job did not use the word Trinity in his conversations does not mean that he was not aware of such of an association of the three. Just like when people talk today, they mostly just say God. Abraham is another good example of the Trinity in the Old Testament. Jesus said (Joh 8:56), Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Jesus said that Abraham knew and understood about the second member of the Godhead. It goes on to say
37 38

Archer, Gleason L. Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, (Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervan, 1982), 241. John S. Feinberg. No One Like Him: The Doctrine of God. (Wheaton, IL. Crossway, 2001), 240.

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that it made him rejoice. Abraham knew about God the Father but it says when he understood about God the Son, he rejoiced. Samuel Hart writes, That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity neither confounding the Persons: nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son: and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one: the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son : and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate: and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.39 The Father eternal, the Son eternal: and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals: but one eternal. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three un-created: but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty: and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties: but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God: and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods: but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord: and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords: but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity: to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord.40 Hart goes on to say, So that in all things, as is aforesaid: the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. . . Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation: that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess: that

39 40

Samuel Hart, The Book Of Common Prayer, (Sewanee, Tennessee. University press, 1910), 93. Samuel Hart, The Book Of Common Prayer, (Sewanee, Tennessee. University press, 1910), 94.

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our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds: and Man, of the substance of his Mother, born in the world.41 CONCLUSION

In closing with this short essay I believe that to prevent any confusion in the minds of those who might be wondering if one member of the Godhead is above another; I have picked the words of Steve Lewis to give the answer. Lewis writes, The function of one member of the Trinity may for a time be subordinate to one or both of the other members, but that does not mean he is in any way inferior in essence. Each of the three persons of the Trinity has had, for a period of time, a particular function unique to himself. This is to be understood as a temporary role for the purpose of accomplishing a given end, not a change in his status or essence. . . . The Son did not become less than the Father during his earthly incarnation, but he did subordinate himself functionally to the Fathers will. Similarly, the Holy Spirit is now subordinated to the ministry of the Son (see John 1416) as well as to the will of the Father, but this does not imply that he is less than they are.42 In This short essay I have not been proficient to demonstrate in the most biblical manner that serving and worshiping God has always been done with a Trinitarian reflection by those who we read about in the pages of Holy Script. There is however been enough information provided that can well able and should direct others in the right direction to do much more needed research on this most serious topic. Feinberg wrote, the doctrine of the Trinity cannot be a footnote to Christian theology; it must be at its heart.43 One last thing that I want to point out;

41 42

Samuel Hart, The Book Of Common Prayer, (Sewanee, Tennessee. University press, 1910), 94. Steve Lewis, The Doctrine Of The Trinity Part I., (Journal of Dispensational Theology, 2008), 46. 43 John S. Feinberg. No One Like Him: The Doctrine of God. (Wheaton, IL. Crossway, 2001), 474.

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and it may be the most important thing thus far and I will let it be said by those who put the Westminster Confession Of Faith together. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.44 TRINITY SCRIPTURES Christians believe in the doctrine of the triune God because of the teaching of Scripture as a whole and not because of one particular passage of Scripture.45 1 John 5:7 (KJV) 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 2 Corinthians 13:14 (KJV) 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. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (KJV) 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
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And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

Matthew 28:19 (KJV) 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: John 14:9 (KJV) 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
44

Marcus Dods and Alexander Whyte. The Westminster Confession Of Faith: Chapter I. Of The Holy Scripture, (Edinburgh, London. T. & T. Clark, 1647), 35. 45 Steve Lewis, The Doctrine Of The Trinity Part I., (Journal of Dispensational Theology, 2008), 47.

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1 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. Titus 2:13 (KJV) 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 1 John 5:20 (KJV) 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Luke 1:35 (KJV) 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. John 20:26-29 (KJV) 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach

hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed

29

are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. John 10:30 (KJV) 30 I and my Father are one.

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If the doctrine of the Trinity in Unity is true, and we do not worship the Son and the Holy Spirit, then we are guilty of withholding our worship from two persons of the Godhead.46

46

Richard N. Davies, Doctrine of The Trinity: The Biblical Evidence, (Cincinnati, Oh. Cranston & Stowe, 1891), 12.

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Bibliography Aldrich, Willard Maxwell. The Sin of Trying to Be Good, Bibliotheca Sacra, BSAC 095:379 Jul 1938. Baker, Charles F. A Dispensational Theology, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grace Publications, 1971. Calvin, John. Calvins Institutes, Book On. (Philadelphia, PA. Westminster Press, 1559. Chafer, Lewis Sperry. Anthropology: Part 6, (Bibliotheca Sacra, BSAC 101:403 Jul 1944. Davies, Richard N. Doctrine Of The Trinity: The Biblical Evidence. Cincinnati, OH: Cranston & Stowe, 1891. Dods, Marcus and Whyte Alexander. The Westminster Confession Of Faith: Chapter I. Of The Holy Scripture, (Edinburgh, London. T. & T. Clark, 1647. Feinberg, John S. No One Like Him: The Doctrine of God. (Wheaton, IL. Crossway, 2001. Gleason, L. Archer. Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, (Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervan, 1982. Gill, John. The Cause of God and Truth. Long Lane, London: Co. Waterford, 1855. Hartley, Charles L. D. The Trinity. Murwillumbah, Australia: L&R Hartley, 1998. Hart, Samuel. The Book Of Common Prayer, Sewanee, Tennessee. University press, 1910 Hodge, A. A. Outlines of Theology: The Holy Trinity. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 1866. Hodge, Charles. Systematic Theology - Volume II: Inconsistent with Doctrine of the Trinity, and of the Person of Christ. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1940. Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Practical Word Studies in The New Testament, Chattanooga, TN: 1998), Vol.5. Lewis, Steve. The Doctrine Of The Trinity Part I. Journal of Dispensational Theology, 2008. McCarson, Derrick. ORIGINS: An In-Depth Study of Genesis 1-11, (Bloomington, IN. Cross Books, 2012. Murrell, Stanford E. A Foundation for Faith: A n Introductory Study of Systematic Theology. Philadelphia, PA, 1998. Murray, Andrew. Holy in Christ, (Chicago, Ill. Fleming H. Revell Company, 1887.
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Murray, Andrew. With Christ in the School of Prayer, (Philadelphia, PA. The Rodgers Company, 1895. Oliphint, Scott K. . God with Us: Divine Condescension and the Attributes of God, Wheaton, ILL. Crossway, 2011. Owen, John. A Brief Declaration and Vindication of The Doctrine of the Trinity. Grand Rapids, MI: The Banner of Truth Trust, Edinburgh, 1965. Pless, John T. Concordia Theological Quarterly: Tracking the Trinity in Contemporary Theology. Fort Wayne, IN. 2005 Sanders, Fred. The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything, Wheaton, Illinois. Crossway, 2010. Schaff, Philip. A Select Library Of The Nicene And Post-Nicene Fathers Of The Christian Church: St. Augustine: On The Trinity. Grand Rapids, MI: Erdmanns Publishing Company, 1887. Sproul, R.C. The Crucial Questions Series: What Is the Trinity. Sanford, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2011. Sproul, R.C. The Mystery of the Holy Spirit, Sanford, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 1990 John, Calvin. Calvins Institutes, Book On. (Philadelphia, PA. Westminster Press, 1559 Stone, Nathone J. Names of God, (Chicago, IL. Moody Publishers, 1944. Strong, Augustus Hopkins. Systematic Theology: Doctrine Of The Trinity. New York, New York: Banner of Truth, 1886. Webber, Robert E. Is Our Worship Adequately Triune? Reformation and Revival, Rar 09:3 Summer 2000. Walvoord, John F. Series in Christology Part 3: The Preincarnate Son of God, (Bibliotheca Sacra: BSAC 104:415 Jul 1947 Yarnell, III Malcolm B. Neither Calvinists nor Arminians but Baptists, ( Fort Worth, Texas. Center for Theological Research, 2010.

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