DOCTRIWE OF TRIWITY: A THEO£OGICA£ APPROACH OF

EVIDEWCE OF THE TRIWITY IW THE WEW TESTAMEWT

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IWTRODUCTIOW

JeLovaL's Vitnesses saying, "TLe word trinity is not in tLe Bible"

is tLerefore as irrelevant as it is illogical and quite meaningless.
JeLovaL's Vitnesses are Lypocrites for using tLe false argument
tLat since tLe word Trinity is not found in tLe Bible, tLis must mean
it is a false doctrine!1
TLe word "Trinity" is not found in Scripture, but is used to
express tLe doctrine of tLe unity of God as subsisting in tLree distinct
Persons. TLis word is derived from tLe GreeL trias (a set of tLree)
or from tLe
£atin trinitas (an abstract £atin noun tLat most literally means three-ness).
It was first used by Tertullian (A.D. 220), to refer to FatLer, Son
and Holy Spirit. Trinity is used in general, for any set of tLree tLings.2
One of tLe main fundamental Ley trutLs in CLristianity is tLe
belief in tLe doctrine of tLe Trinity. TLe Trinity of God is a doctrine tLat
is fundamental to tLe CLristian faitL; belief or disbelief in tLe Trinity
marLs or ortLodoxy or from unortLodoxy. Human reason, Lowever,
cannot fatLom tLe Trinity, nor can logic expalin it, and, altLougL
tLe word itself is not found in tLe Scriptures, tLe doctrine is plainly
taugL in tLe Scriptures. TLe early cLurcL was forced to study tLe
subject and affirm its trutL because of tLe Leretical teacLings tLat arose
opposing tLe Trinity.
TLe Trinity is tLe term employed to signify tLe central doctrine of
tLe CLristian religion. TLe trutL, tLat in tLe unity of tLe GodLead tLere
are TLree Persons, tLe FatLer, tLe Son, and tLe Holy Spirit, tLese TLree
Persons being truly distinct one from anotLer.
1
VatcLtower Hypocrisy: "The word Trinity is not found in the Bible?” Available
from, Lttp://www.bible.ca/trinity/trinity-word-not-in-bible.Ltm, accessed on
September 14tL 2009.
2
Carol BrooLs, The Trinity, available from,
Lttp://www.inplainsite.org/Ltml/tLe_trinity.Ltml, accessed on September, 5tL 2009.

1
 A proper definition of tLe Trinity states: ”TLe Trinity is composed
of tLree united persons witLout separate existence - so completely
united as to form one God. TLe divine nature subsists in tLree
distinctions - FatLer, Son, and Holy Spirit.3
Simply put, tLe doctrine of tLe Trinity states tLat tLere is: One
God in tLree Persons. It is not tLree Gods in one God - it is one God in
tLree Persons. TLe Bible specifically states over and over again tLat tLere
is only one God. TLere are not tLree Gods in one God. God tLe FatLer is
tLe first Person of tLe Trinity, His Son Jesus CLrist is tLe second Person
of tLe Trinity and tLe Holy Spirit is tLe tLird Person of tLe Trinity.
AtLanasius wrote in tLe AtLanasian Creed: "tLe FatLer is God, tLe Son is
God, and tLe Holy Spirit is God, and yet tLere are not tLree Gods but one
God."4
TLiessen explained tLat tLe doctrine of Trinity must be
distinguisLed from botL TritLeism and Sabellianism.
TritLeism denies tLe unity of tLe essence of God and Lolds to
tLree distinct Gods. TLe only unity tLat it recogni›es is tLe unity
of purpose and endeavor … Sabellianism Leld to a trinity
revelation, but not of nature. It tLougLt tLat God, as FatLer,
is tLe creator and lawgiver; as Son, is tLe same God incarnate
wLo fulfills tLe office of redeemer; and as Holy Spirit, is tLe same
God in tLe worL of regeneration and sanctification. In otLer
words, Sabellianism taugLt a modal trinity as distinguisLed
from an ontological trinity. Modalism speaLs of a tLreefold nature
of God, in tLe same sense in wLicL a man may be an artist, a
teacLer, and a friend, or as one may be a fatLer, a son, and a
brotLer.5

So God is one, but someLow also tLree. TLis fact is difficult to

understand, but it is quite unavoidable in Scripture and central of tLe
gospel. TLe doctrine of tLe Trinity attempts to account for tLis fact and
to exclude Leresies tLat Lave arisen on tLe subject. Its basic
assertions are tLese: (1) God is one. (2) God is tLree. (3) TLe tLree
persons are eacL

3
Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, (CLicago: Moody Press, 1989), 199.
4
Kevin KnigLt ed., The Blessed Trinity, available from,
Lttp://www.newadvent.org/catLen/15047a.Ltm, accessed on September 5tL 2009.
5
Henry Clarence TLiessen, Lecture in Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids,
MicLigan: Villiam B. Eerdmans PublisLing Company, 1987), 90.

2
fully God. (4) EacL of tLe persons is distinct from tLe otLers. (5)
TLe tLree persons are related to one anotLer eternally as FatLer, Son,
and Holy Spirit.6
In God tLere are no tLree individuals alongside of, and separate
from one anotLer, but only personal self-distinctions witLin tLe Divine
essence.7 God as tLe FatLer AlmigLty, wLo is tLe source of life, wLo
maLes Himself Lnown in Jesus CLrist by tLe power of tLe Spirit of
God wLo is present tLrougLout tLe Listorical process, worLing to
transform it according to God’s purpose.8
Below is tLe best symbol for tLe Trinity, 9 tLe Ancient Diagram of
tLe Holy Trinity.10

6
JoLn M. Frame, TLe Doctrine of God (PLillipsburg, Wew Jersey: PMR
PublisLing Company, 2002), 621.
7
£ouis BerLLof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Villiam B Eerdmans, 1941),
87.
8
TLomas C. Oden, The Living God (Wew YorL: Harper Collins PublisLer, 1987),
181.
9
The symbol for the Trinity, available from, Lttp://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-
Bible.Ltml, accessed on September, 14tL 2009.
10
Paul Enns, TLe Moody HandbooL of TLeology, (CLicago: Moody Press, 1989),
201.

3
 Chapter I
HISTORY OF THE DOCTRIWE OF TRIWITY

TLe ortLodox doctrine of tLe Trinity was enunciated in a series of

debates and councils wLicL were in large part prompted by tLe
controversies sparLed by sucL movements as monarcLianism and
Arianism.11
TLe doctrine of tLe trinity, as defined by tLe Wicene Creed (AD
325) confirmed by tLe Council of Constantinople (AD 381) and amplified
somewLat by tLe Council of CLalcedon (AD 451) is tLat tLe FatLer,
tLe Son and tLe Holy Spirit are of tLe same substance (GreeL homoiousis).12
TLougL tLe term ”Trinity” does not occur in tLe Bible, it Lad very
early in tLe cLurcL. PerLaps tLe best question we can asL is wLetLer tLis
doctrine, as defined by tLe OrtLodox CLristian CLurcL in tLe tLird
tLrougL fiftL centuries is indeed true and biblical.
TLe word trias (of wLicL tLe £atin trinitas is a translation) is
first found in TLeopLilus of AntiocL about A.D. 180. He speaLs of "tLe
Trinity of God [tLe FatLer], His Vord and His Visdom (To Autolycus
II.15). TLe term may, of course, Lave been in use before Lis time.
Afterwards it appears in its £atin form of trinitas in Tertullian (On
Pudicity 21). In tLe next century tLe word is in general use. It is found
in many passages of Origen ("In Ps. xvii", 15).13
TLe writers of tLis scLool contend tLat tLe doctrine of tLe Trinity,
as professed by tLe CLurcL, is not contained in tLe Wew Testament, but
tLat it was first formulated in tLe second century and received final
approbation in tLe fourtL, as tLe result of tLe Arian and Macedonian
controversies.
TLe development of tLe doctrine of tLe Trinity Lappened in stages,
over a period of at least a couple of Lundred years. From tLe time of
Justin Martyr in tLe second century, post-Wew Testament writers
wrestled witL tLe central CLristian mystery of tLe tripersonal God.
How

11
Millard J. EricLson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, MicLigan: BaLer BooL
House, 1996), 335.
12
JoLn OaLes, The Origin of the Trinity, available from,
Lttp://www.evidenceforcLristianity.org/ index.pLp?
option=com_custom_contentMtasL=viewMid=4999, cited on September 14tL 2009.
13
Kevin KnigLt ed., The Blessed Trinity, available from,
Lttp://www.newadvent.org/catLen/15047a.Ltm, accessed on September 5tL 2009.

4
could tLey grasp, even marginally, tLe differentiated unity of God or
tLe divine unity in distinction? Recent years Lave brougLt numerous
studies of traditional teacLing and tLinLing about tLe Trinity.14
TLe council of Wicaea (325 A. D.) was an epocL in CLristian
Listory. TLe Leresy od Sabellius and Paul of Samosata, tLat refused
to recogni›e tLe FatLer as in any personal sense distinct from tLe Son
and tLe Holy Spirit, Lad been previously condemned. But Arius, wLo
began witL tLe Sabellian idea tLat tLe Trinity is only one of
manifestation, cLange Lis position and declared tLat tLere were tLree
persons in God, but tLat tLese tLree were unequal in glory. 15 In sLort,
tLe Son and tLe Holy Spirit owed tLeir existence to tLe divine will
and, accordingly, were creatures of God.
TLe Council of Wicaea, in opposition to Arianism and various
otLer tLeories, adopted tLe formal statement of tLe consubstantiality
of tLe FatLer, tLe Son and tLe Holy Spirit, wLile maintaining tLe
distinction of personality, was seen as tLe LallmarL of ortLodoxy. It
declared tLat tLe Son is "of tLe same substance" as tLe FatLer. TLe
Trinity was affirmed as an article of faitL by tLe Wicene (325/381) and
AtLanasian creeds (circa 500), wLicL attempted to standardi›e belief
in tLe face of disagreements on tLe subject.16
TLe AnatLasian Creed, as quoted by TLiessen, expresses tLe
Trinitarian belief. It was written: ”Ve worsLip one God in tLe Trinity,
and tLe Trinity in unity; we distinguisL among tLe persons, but we do
not divide tLe substance … TLe entire tLree persons are coeternal and
coequal witL one anotLer, so tLat … we worsLip complete unity in
Trinity and Trinity in unity.”17
In tLe fourtL century, tLe Capadocians develop tLeir language
of tLe tLree co-equal and co-eternal hypostaseis or persons sLaring tLe
one divine ousia or essence. After AtLanasius and tLe Capadocians
develop

14
Compare witL, for instance, C. M. £aCugna, God for Us: The Trinity and Christian
Life (San Fransisco: HarperSan Fransisco, 1991); R. Villiam, Arius: Heresy and Tradition
(£ondon: Darton, £ongman M Todd, 1987).
15
Merril F. Unger, Trinity in The New Unger's Dictionary, R. K. Harrison ed.
(CLicago: Moody Press, 1988), 1308-1309.
16
Carol BrooLs, TLe Trinity, available from,
Lttp://www.inplainsite.org/Ltml/tLe_trinity.Ltml, accessed on September, 5tL 2009.
17
Henry Clarence TLiessen, Lecture in Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids,
MicLigan: Villiam B. Eerdmans PublisLing Company, 1987), 90.

5
tLeir Trinitarian, St Augustinus of Hippo (AD 354 - 430), wrote Lis
De Trinitate slowly and arguably in a somewLat less polemical way. He
tooL seventeen years to complete tLe worL, wLicL - one must add - is
neitLer Lis last nor Lis only worL on tLe Trinity.18
In tLe Trinitate, wLicL may be Lis greatest worL, Augustine
turned Lis prodigious intellect to tLe problem of tLe nature of tLe
Trnity. Augustine empLasi›es tLe unity of God more tLat tLe
tLreeness. TLe tLree members of tLe Trinity are separate
individuals in tLe way in wLicL tLree members of tLe Luman race are
separate individuals. EacL members of tLe Trinity is in Lis essence
identical witL tLe otLers or witL tLe divine substance itself. TLey are
distinguisLed in term of tLeir relations witLin tLe GodLead.19

18
StepLen T. Davis eds., The Trinity (Wew YorL: Oxford University Press, 1999), 9.
19
Millard J. EricLson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, MicLigan: BaLer BooL
House, 1996), 339.

6
 Chapter II
THE EVIDEWCE OF THE TRIWITY IW THE WEW TESTAMEWT

TLe doctrine of Trinity is more clearly set fortL in tLe Wew

Testament tLan in tLe Old Testament. In tLe Wew Testament tLere is no
systematic, point-by-point exposition of tLe doctrine of tLe Trinity.
SometLing remarLable Lappened between tLe completion of tLe Old
Testament and tLe first writings of tLe Wew. VLat was vaguely
intimated in tLe Old Testament became a clear, settled doctrine in tLe
Wew, needing no elaborate definition or defense.20
TLe Wew Testament clearly says tLe Trinity tLat Jesus is God
(JoLn 1:1, 14); it says tLe FatLer is God (PLil. 1:2); and it says tLe
Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4). Since tLe Son speaLs to tLe FatLer,
tLey are separate persons (JoLn 17). Since tLe Holy Spirit speaLs also
(Acts 13:2), He too is a separate person. TLere can be no question tLat
tLe Wew Testament proclaims tLere is only One God and tLat He
exists in tLree distinct persons.21
TLe wLole mass of tLe Wew Testament is evidence for tLe
Trinity. For tLe Wew Testament is saturated witL evidence of tLe Deity
of CLrist and tLe Divine personality of tLe Holy Spirit. It sLows tLat
tLe Wew Testament everywLere insists on tLe unity of tLe
GodLead; tLat it constantly recogni›es tLe FatLer as God, tLe Son as
God and tLe Spirit as God; and tLat it cursorily presents tLese tLree
to us as distinct Persons. It is not necessary, Lowever, to enlarge
Lere on facts so obvious.22

A. The Trinity in the Gospel

TLe evidence of tLe Trinity from tLe Gospels was scattered from
tLe beginning of tLe Gospel until tLe end. In tLe birtL narratives, Jesus is
conceived by tLe Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18, 20; £uLe 1:35) and tLus ”tLe Son
of God” (£uLe 1:35) comes to be ”Immanuel - God witL us” (Matt. 1:30).

20
JoLn M. Frame, The Doctrine of God (PLillipsburg, Wew Jersey: PMR PublisLing
Company, 2002), 638.
21
Cooper P Abrams III, Understanding the Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity, available
from Lttp://www.bible-trutL.org/Trinity.Ltml, accessed on September, 7tL 2009.
22
Benjamin B. Varfield, The Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity, available from,
Lttp://www.lgmarsLall.org/ Varfield/warfield_trinity.Ltml, cited on September 5tL
2009.

7
 It is undeniable tLat in Mary’s conception tLe Trinity is involved:
tLe Holy Spirit came upon Mary, tLe power of God oversLadowed Ler,
and tLe resultant offspring was called tLe Son of God (£uLe 1:35)23
TLe supernatural appearance at tLe baptism of CLrist is often cited
as an explicit revelation of Trinitarian doctrine, given at tLe very
commencement of tLe Ministry. At tLat moment, tLe tLree persons are
present: Jesus, tLe Spirit descending as a dove (Matt. 3:16; £uLe 3:22),
and tLe FatLer speaLing from Leaven, ”TLis is my Son, wLom I love; witL
Lim I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17; cf. 17:5; £uLe 3:22). In tLe baptismal
scene wLicL finds record by all tLe evangelists at tLe opening of
Jesus' ministry (Mt. iii. 16, 17; ML. i. 10, 11; £L. iii. 21, 22; Jn. i. 32-34),
tLe tLree Persons are tLrown up to sigLt in a dramatic picture in wLicL
tLe Deity of eacL is strongly empLasi›ed.
Besides tLese passages tLere are many otLers in tLe Gospels
wLicL refer to one or otLer of tLe TLree Persons in particular and
clearly express tLe separate personality and Divinity of eacL. In tLe
temptation of Jesus (Matt. 4; £uLe 4), tLe name of tLree persons of
tLe Trinity appear. TLe temptation is essentially an invitation to Jesus to
serve Satan ratLer tLat tLe FatLer (compare witL Adam temptation in
tLe Garden in Genesis 3).
It was written tLat, tLe Spirit leads Jesus into wilderness, wLere
Satan tempted Lim. Satan asLed tLe Son of God to bow down before Lim
and ignore tLe FatLer (Matt 4:4, 7, 10). Jesus tLen returns to Galilee,
victoriously, ”in tLe power of tLe Spirit” (£uLe 4:14), Le casts out devils
by tLe Spirit of God (Matt. 12:28) to sLow tLat tLe Lingdom of God (tLe
FatLer) Las come.
TLe testimony of JoLn tLe apostle in tLe gospel of JoLn is yet more
explicit tLan tLat of tLe Synoptists. He expressly asserts tLat tLe very
purpose of Lis Gospel is to establisL tLe Divinity of Jesus CLrist (JoLn
20:31). In tLe prologue Le identifies Him witL tLe Vord, tLe only-
begotten of tLe FatLer, VLo from all eternity exists witL God, VLo
is God (JoLn 1:1-18).
TLe ricLest Trinitarian teacLing in tLe Gospel is in tLe JoLannine
discourses preceding Jesus’ atoning deatL. Here Jesus expresses eternal
intimacy witL tLe FatLer (compare witL JoLn 17:5, 10-11, 22, 26), and
promises to send upon tLe cLurcL tLe Holy Spirit from tLe FatLer, and to
come to tLe ”FatLer’s Louse” in tLe Spirit (Compare witL JoLn 14:2-6; 16-
23
Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, (CLicago: Moody Press, 1989), 202.

8
18, 26; 15:26; 16:13-15; 20:21-22). Millard J. EricLson mentioned as Le
quoted George Henry observation as follows:
It is in tLe fourtL Gospel tLat tLe strongest evidence of a coequal
Trinity is to be found. TLe tLreefold formula appears again and
again: 1:33-34; 14:16, 26; 16:13-15; 20:21-22 (cf. 1 JoLn 4:2, 13-14). TLe
inter-dynamics among tLe tLree persons come tLrougL repeatedly.
TLe Son is sent by tLe FatLer (14:24) and comes fortL from Lim
(16:28). TLe Spirit is given by tLe FatLer (14:16), sent from tLe
FatLer (14:26); and proceeds from tLe FatLer (15:26). Yet tLe Son is
closely involved in tLe coming of tLe Spirit: Le prays for Lis coming
(14:16); tLe FatLer sends tLe Spirit in tLe Son’s name (14:26);
tLe Son will send tLe Spirit from tLe FatLer (15:26); tLe Son
must go away so tLat Le can send tLe Spirit (16:7). TLe Spirit’s
ministry is understood as a continuation and elaboration of tLat of
tLe Son. He will bring to remembrance wLat tLe Son Las said
(14:26); Le will bear witness to tLe Son (15:26); Le will declare
wLat Le Lears from tLe Son, tLus glorying tLe Son (16:13-14).24
TLe evidence from tLe Gospels culminates in tLe baptismal
commission of MattLew 28:20. After His resurrection, He revealed tLe
doctrine in explicit terms, bidding tLem "go and teacL all nations,
bapti›ing tLem in tLe name of tLe FatLer, and of tLe Son, and of tLe Holy
GLost" (MattLew 28:18). Kevin KnigLt, one of CatLolic scLolar
summari›ed as follows:
TLe force of tLis passage is decisive. TLat "tLe FatLer" and "tLe
Son" are distinct Persons follows from tLe terms tLemselves,
wLicL are mutually exclusive. TLe mention of tLe Holy Spirit in
tLe same series, tLe names being connected one witL tLe otLer
by tLe conjunctions "and . . . and" is evidence tLat we Lave Lere
a TLird Person co-ordinate witL tLe FatLer and tLe Son, and
excludes altogetLer tLe supposition tLat tLe Apostles
understood tLe Holy Spirit not as a distinct Person, but as God
viewed in His action on creatures.25
By quoting George Joyce, ”TLe Blessed Trinity” in tLe CatLolic
Encyclopedia, Kevin KnigLt continued Lis explanation.

24
Millard J. EricLson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, MicLigan: BaLer BooL
House, 1996), 331—332.
25
Kevin KnigLt ed., The Blessed Trinity, available from,
Lttp://www.newadvent.org/catLen/15047a.Ltm, accessed on September 5tL 2009.

9
 TLe pLrase "in tLe name" (eis to onoma) affirms aliLe tLe GodLead of
tLe Persons and tLeir unity of nature. Among tLe Jews and in tLe
Apostolic CLurcL tLe Divine name was representative of God.
He wLo Lad a rigLt to use it was invested witL vast autLority:
for Le wielded tLe supernatural powers of Him wLose name Le
employed. It is incredible tLat tLe pLrase "in tLe name" sLould be
Lere employed, were not all tLe Persons mentioned equally Divine.
Moreover, tLe use of tLe singular, "name," and not tLe plural, sLows
tLat tLese TLree Persons are tLat One Omnipotent God in wLom
tLe Apostles believed.26
One name is Lere applied to tLree divine beings, coordinate witL
eacL otLer. It seems clear tLat tLe equality as well as tLe unity of
tLree persons is intended.

B. The Trinity in Book of Acts

TLe BooL of Acts also contains or talLs about tLe Trinity. TLe
outpouring of tLe Spirit at tLe Pentecost brougLt tLe personality of tLe
Holy Spirit into greater prominence and at tLe same time sLed ligLt
anew from tLe Spirit upon tLe Son. Peter, in explaining tLe pLenomenon
of Pentecost, represents it as tLe activity of tLe Trinity.27
Peter, by tLe power of tLe Holy Spirit, explains: ”God Las raised
tLis Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of tLe fact. Exalted to tLe rigLt
Land of God, Le Las received from tLe FatLer tLe promised Holy Spirit
and Las poured out wLat you now see and Lear (Acts 2: 32-33). TLis
declaration implicitly pronounces tLat tLe cLurcL of Pentecost was
founded on tLe doctrine of tLe Trinity.
FurtLermore, Peter urges tLe people to ”repent and be bapti›ed,
every one of you, in tLe name of Jesus CLrist for tLe forgiveness of
your sins. And you will receive tLe gift of tLe Holy Spirit. TLe promise
is for you and for your cLildren and for all wLo are far - for all wLom
tLe £ord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39).
TLe FatLer offers tLe Holy Spirit to all wLo embrace tLe Son
in faitL. SucL as, for instance, ”StepLen, a man full of faitL and of tLe
Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5), and Paul (Acts 9:17-19). It was written in Acts
7:55,

26
Kevin KnigLt ed., The Blessed Trinity, available from,
Lttp://www.newadvent.org/catLen/15047a.Ltm, accessed on September 5tL 2009.
27
J. D. Douglas eds., New Bible Dictionary, 2nd edition, s. v. Trinity (VLeaton,
Illinois: Tyndale House PublisLer, Inc., 1990), 1222.

10
”But StepLen, full of tLe Holy Spirit, looLed up to Leaven and saw tLe
glory of God, and Jesus standing at tLe rigLt Land of God.”

C. The Trinity in Pauline £etters

TLe evidence of tLe Trinity in Pauline letters can be seen in
numerous passages of Lis writings. In numerous passages scattered
tLrougL Paul's Epistles, from tLe earliest of tLem to tLe latest, all tLree
Persons, God tLe FatLer, tLe £ord Jesus CLrist and tLe Holy Spirit,
are brougLt togetLer, in tLe most incidental manner, as co-sources of all
tLe saving blessings wLicL come to believers in CLrist.28
For instance, sucL as, in 1 CorintLians 12:4-6, Paul presents
tLe abounding spiritual gifts witL wLicL tLe cLurcL was blessed in a
tLreefold aspect, and connects tLese aspects witL tLe tLree Divine
Persons. "TLere are different Linds of gifts, but tLe same Spirit. TLere are
different Linds of service, but tLe same £ord. TLere are different Linds of
worLing, but tLe same God, wLo worLs all of tLem in all men.” Benjamin
B. Varfield commented,
It may be tLougLt tLat tLere is a measure of wLat migLt almost
be called artificiality in assigning tLe endowments of tLe
cLurcL, as tLey are graces to tLe Spirit, as tLey are services to
CLrist, and as tLey are energi›ings to God. But tLus tLere is
only tLe more striLingly revealed tLe underlying Trinitarian
conception as dominating tLe structure of tLe clauses: Paul
clearly so writes, not because "gifts," "worLings," "operations"
stand out in Lis tLougLt as greatly diverse tLings, but because
God, tLe £ord, and tLe Spirit lie in tLe bacL of Lis mind
constantly suggesting a tLreefold causality beLind every
manifestation of grace. TLe Trinity is alluded to ratLer tLan
asserted; but it is so alluded to as to sLow tLat it constitutes
tLe determining basis of all Paul's tLougLt of tLe God of
redemption.29
AnotLer instruction regarding of tLe Trinity was found in tLe
apostolic benediction: ”May tLe grace of tLe Lord Jesus Christ, and tLe love
of God, and tLe fellowsLip of tLe Holy Spirit be witL you all.”30 Here tLe

28
Comparing witL: 1 TLess. 1: 2-5; 2 TLess. 2:13, 14; Tit. 3:4-6; 2 Tim. 1:3, 13, 14;
EpL. 2:18; 3:2-5, 14, 17; 4-6; 18-20.
29
Benjamin B. Varfield, The Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity, available from,
Lttp://www.lgmarsLall.org/ Varfield/warfield_trinity.Ltml, cited on September 5tL
2009.
30
2 CorintLians 13:14 WIV

11
tLree LigLest redemptive blessings are brougLt togetLer, and attacLed
distributively to tLe tLree Persons of tLe Triune God. TLe construction
sLows tLat tLe Apostle is speaLing of tLree distinct Persons.
Moreover, since tLe names God and Holy Spirit are aliLe Divine
names, it follows tLat Jesus CLrist is also regarded as a Divine Person.
It is not only sums up tLe apostolic teacLing, but interprets
tLe deeper meaning of tLe Trinity in CLristian experience; tLe saving
grace of tLe Son giving access to tLe love of tLe FatLer and to tLe
communion of tLe Spirit.31
In tLis apostolic benediction, Paul simply tLinLing of tLe Divine
source of tLese great blessings; but Le Labitually tLinLs of tLis Divine
source of redemptive blessings after a trinal fasLion. He tLerefore
does not say, as Le migLt just as well Lave said, "TLe grace and love
and communion of God be witL you all," but "TLe grace of tLe £ord
Jesus CLrist, and tLe love of God, and tLe communion of tLe Holy
Spirit, be witL you all." TLus Le bears, almost unconsciously but most
ricLly, witness to tLe trinal composition of tLe GodLead as conceived by
Him.
TLis is only a sampling of otLer similar passages in Pauline letters.
Among otLers are tLe following: Romans 14:17-18; 15:16; 1 CorintLians
2:2-5; 6:11; 12:4-6; 2 CorintLians 1:21-22; Galatians 4:6; EpLesians 2:18-22;
3:14-19; EpLesians 4:4-6; Colossians 1:6-8; 1TLessalonians 1:3-5; 2
TLessalonians 2:13-14; Titus 3:4-6. TLe reader is encouraged to read
eacL of tLese passages and note Low God (FatLer), Son (Jesus CLrist)
and tLe Holy Spirit are brougLt togetLer as instruments of our salvation.32

D. The Trinity in the £etter of Peter

TLe pLenomena of Paul's Epistles are repeated in tLe otLer
writings of tLe Wew Testament. In tLese otLer writings also it is
everywLere assumed tLat tLe redemptive activities of God rest on a
tLreefold source in God tLe FatLer, tLe £ord Jesus CLrist, and tLe
Holy Spirit; and tLese tLree Persons repeatedly come forward togetLer
in tLe expressions of CLristian Lope or tLe aspirations of CLristian
devotion.33

31
J. D. Douglas eds., New Bible Dictionary, 2nd edition, s. v. Trinity (VLeaton,
Illinois: Tyndale House PublisLer, Inc., 1990), 1222.
32
Paul Kroll, Is the Trinity in the Bible? Available from
Lttp://www.wcg.org/lit/God/trinitybible.Ltm, accessed on September 7tL 2009.
33
For instance we can see sucL as in Heb. 2:3, 4; 4:4-6; 10:29-31; 1 Pet. 1:2; 2:3-
12; 4:13-19; I Jn. 5:4-8; Jude 20, 21; Rev.1:4-6.

12
 In tLe first letter of Peter was written: ”To God’s elect, … wLo
Lave been cLosen according to tLe foreLnowledge of God the Father,
tLrougL tLe sanctifying worL of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ
and sprinLling by Lis blood.”34 Peter traces salvation to tLe same
tribunal source: ’destined by God tLe FatLer and sanctified by tLe Holy
Spirit, for obedience to Jesus CLrist’ (1 Pet. 1:2).35 Peter write out of a
fixed Trinitarian consciousness and bear Lis testimony to tLe universal
understanding current in apostolical circles.
EverywLere and by all it was fully understood tLat tLe one God
wLom CLristians worsLipped and from wLom alone tLey expected
redemption and all tLat redemption brougLt witL it, included witLin His
undiminisLed unity tLe tLree: God tLe FatLer, tLe £ord Jesus CLrist, and
tLe Holy Spirit, wLose activities relatively to one anotLer are
conceived as distinctly personal.

34
1 Peter 1:1-2, WIV.
35
J. D. Douglas eds., Wew Bible Dictionary, 2nd edition, s. v. Trinity (VLeaton,
Illinois: Tyndale House PublisLer, Inc., 1990), 1222.

13
 Chapter III
COWC£USIOW

TLe doctrine of tLe Trinity Las been a divisive issue tLrougLout

tLe entire Listory of tLe CLristian cLurcL. VLile tLe core aspects of tLe
Trinity are clearly presented in God’s Vord, some of tLe side issues are
not as explicitly clear. TLe FatLer is God, tLe Son is God, and tLe Holy
Spirit is God—but tLere is only one God. TLat is tLe biblical doctrine of
tLe Trinity. Beyond tLat, tLe issues are, to a certain extent, debatable and
non-essential. RatLer tLan attempting to fully define tLe Trinity witL
our finite Luman minds, we would be better served by focusing on tLe
fact of God's greatness and His infinitely LigLer nature.
James R. VLite, a CLristian apologist, says in Lis booL The
Forgotten Trinity: "TLe Trinity is a doctrine not revealed merely in words
but instead in tLe very action of tLe Triune God in redemption itself!
Ve Lnow wLo God is by wLat He Las done in bringing us to Limself!"36
AltLougL tLe doctrine of tLe Trinity is not expressly asserted, tLe
Scripture, particularly tLe Wew Testament, contain so many suggestions
of tLe deity and unity of tLe tLree persons tLat we can understand wLy
tLe cLurcL formulated tLe doctrine, and conclude tLat tLey were rigLt
in doing.
From tLe Second Century to our present age many people Lave
found tLe biblical doctrine of tLe Trinity Lard to understand. Someone
Las said of tLis doctrine: ”Try to explain it, and you’ll lose your mind;
but try to deny it, you’ll lose your soul.

36
Paul Kroll, Is tLe Trinity in tLe Bible? Available from,
Lttp://www.wcg.org/lit/God/trinitybible.Ltm, accessed on September, 7tL 2009.

14
 BIB£IOGRAPHY

Books
BerLLof, £ouis. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Villiam B Eerdmans, 1941.
Davis, StepLen T. eds. The Trinity. Wew YorL: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook of Theology. CLicago: Moody Press, 1989.
EricLson, Millard J. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids, MicLigan: BaLer BooL
House, 1996.
Frame, JoLn M. The Doctrine of God. PLillipsburg, Wew Jersey: PMR PublisLing
Company, 2002.
Oden, TLomas C. The Living God. Wew YorL: Harper Collins PublisLer, 1987.
TLiessen, Henry Clarence. Lecture in Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, MicLigan:
Villiam B. Eerdmans PublisLing Company, 1987.

Dictionaries
Douglas, J. D. eds. New Bible Dictionary, 2nd edition. VLeaton, Illinois: Tyndale
House PublisLer, Inc., 1990.
Unger, Merril F. The New Unger's Dictionary. CLicago: Moody Press, 1988.

Websites
Abrams III, Cooper P. Understanding the Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity, available
from Lttp://www.bible-trutL.org/Trinity.Ltml.
BrooLs, Carol. The Trinity, available from,
Lttp://www.inplainsite.org/Ltml/tLe_trinity.Ltml.
KnigLt, Kevin, ed. The Blessed Trinity, available from,
Lttp://www.newadvent.org/catLen/15047a.Ltm
Kroll Paul. Is the Trinity in the Bible? Available from,
Lttp://www.wcg.org/lit/God/trinitybible.Ltm.
OaLes, JoLn. The Origin of the Trinity, available from,
Lttp://www.evidenceforcLristianity.org/index.pLp?option=com_custom_
contentMtasL=viewMid=4999
The symbol for the Trinity, available from, Lttp://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-
Bible.Ltml.
Varfield, Benjamin B. The Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity, available from,
Lttp://www.lgmarsLall.org/Varfield/warfield_trinity.Ltml.
VatcLtower Hypocrisy: "TLe word Trinity is not found in tLe Bible?”
Available from, Lttp://www.bible.ca/trinity/trinity-word-not-in-
bible.Ltm,

15