by Issa Haddad

The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the essential doctrines in the Christian theology. The God we worship is three in one (Trinity in Unity). The tri-unity of the God of biblical Christianity makes God distinct from all other gods that other religion worship.

Having said that, let us look at the Scripture to prove that the belief in the tri-unity of God is a biblical doctrine. It is a logical conclusion drawn out of studying scripture.

John 1:1-2 “In the beginning (From eternity past-before any beginning) was (past tense) the Word (Christ as a person within the Trinity), and the Word (Christ) was with God (the person of the Father), and the Word (Christ) was God (distinct from the Father yet equal in essence).

In the beginning before time began, Christ was already in existence with God. That is what is meant by the term “the pre-existent Christ.” In this verse the Word (Christ) is said to be with God (i.e., in communion with and yet distinct from God) and to be God (i.e., identical in essence with God).

Acts 10:36-38 “You know the message God (the Father) sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ (the Son), who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—38 how God (the Father) anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit (The 3rd Person) and power, and how he (Jesus) went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God (the Father) was with him (Jesus).”

Reading the passage in Ephesians 1:3-14 will reveal to us the different roles and relationships every person of the trinity plays in the Godhead.
“3 Praise be to the God and Father (the person of the Father-) of our Lord Jesus Christ (Son-person), who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Son). 4 For he (Father) chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his (Father’s) sight. In love 5 he (Father) predestined us to be adopted as his (Father) sons through Jesus Christ (Son), in accordance with his (Father) pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his (Father) glorious grace, which he (Father) has freely given us in the One (Son) he (Father) loves. 7 In him (Son) we have redemption through his (Son) blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s (Father) grace 8 that he (Father) lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he (Father) made known to us the mystery of his (Father) will according to his (Father) good pleasure, which he (Father) purposed in Christ (Son), 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment [Millennium kingdom]—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ (Son). 11 In him (Son) we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him (Father) who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his (Father) will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ (Son), might be for the praise of his (Father) glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ (Son) when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him (Son) with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit (3rd Person), 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing (Active work) our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession (Father)—to the praise of his (Father) glory.”

This marvelous passage shows the different roles and relationships each of the persons of the Trinity have. The Father for example blessed us, chose us, predestined us, He planned salvation from beginning to end (v. 4-6, 9, 10). Of the Son the Son redeemed us (v. 7), His blood was shed (v.7). Of the Holy Spirit He is the deposit that guarantees our inheritance in the future (v. 13-14).

Also reading the passage in Colossians 1:15-18 which reads as such:

“15He (Christ-the Son) is the image (eikon– means the very substance or essential embodiment of something or someone) of the invisible God (essence), the firstborn [being before all things] over all creation. 16 For by[1] him (Christ the Son) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him (Christ) and for him (Christ). 17 He (Christ) is before all things, and in him (Christ) all things hold together. 18 And he (Christ) is the head of the body, the church; he (Christ) is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he (Christ) might have the supremacy.”

This passage clearly teaches that Christ the Son (the Second person) is the one who became incarnate, not the Father, not the Holy Spirit. The Son also manifested (declared) the essence of God (His substance and attributes and excellence). Christ is the means or instrument or personal agency by which God the Father created the universe (Heb 1:1-3).

Colossians 1:19-20 (cf. 2:9) “For God (Father) was pleased to have all his (Father) fullness ( the full essence or substance of deity) dwell in him (Christ) and through him (Christ) to reconcile to himself (Father) all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his (Christ) blood, shed on the cross.”

Colossians 2:9 “For in Christ (the Son) all the fullness of the Deity (Essence) lives in bodily form.”

Jude 20-21 “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in (preposition of instrumentality) the Holy Spirit (3rd person of the Trinity). Keep yourselves in God’s (the Father) love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (The Son) to bring you to eternal life.”

[1]According to the lexicon en here is used as (3) of cause; (a) denoting means or instrument by, with (HE 9.22); (b) denoting personal agency by, with the help of, through (MT 9.34).