SCRIPTURAL BASIS OF

THE TRINITY
By Venerable. Dr. I. U. Ibeme
http://www.scribd.com/ifeogo ; http://thechapelofgrace.wordpress.com
PriscAquila Christian Resource Centre http://priscaquila.6te.net

The word “Trinity” or the doctrine of Trinity is meant to help us understand the only True God
Who is revealed in the Holy Scriptures as the ONE eternal mysterious and tremendous divine
BEING, Who is revealed to us and Who relates to us in THREE distinguishable divine
PERSONS of Farther, Son and Holy Spirit, for our salvation.
If God would appear to you today, He would appear as either the Father, the Son or the Holy
Spirit.
But you should know that these different relational Persons are of the same one God, not
different beings or gods.
That's what the doctrine of The Trinity helps you to grasp.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/ifechukwu-ibeme/-the-divine-trinity-/949187975144758/

INTRODUCTION:
The doctrine of the Trinity of the Godhead is the Church’s best understanding of the One
True God, Who is revealed in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as both
Absolute (One Divine Essence) and Relational (Three Divine Persons or Three Divine
Anthropomorphisms with which believers could relate for eternal salvation). Trinity is NOT
tritheism (three gods). The doctrine of the Trinity of the One Godhead is too great for the human
mind and linguistic symbolisms, yet it is the most important truth for the salvation of humanity.
When writing about the Trinity in The Doctrine of the Trinity (New York: Abington Press,
1958), Professor Cyril. C. Richardson put his dilemma and bewilderment this way:
“No doctrine is so important and so implicitly difficult in Christianity”

To non-Christians (and some Christians), the Trinity is a problem and an enigma; however, the
Trinity becomes the solution and answer to many perplexing problems of nature, being,
spirituality and reality, if it is received humbly and willingly by faith as divinely revealed Gospel
mystery. Even for us humans, without having spirit, soul and body, we lose our identity and
personality, become deficient humanity and deserve to be beasts or vegetables or worse. When
we accept that humans are spirit, soul and body, many perplexing issues about human experience
begin to make sense.

The Scriptures spoke about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, calling these Three
both GOD and LORD. Christ spoke stupendously about His oneness and glory with the
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Father from eternity (John 10:30, 38; 17:5)! When talking about Christ’s divinity in the
Scriptures, the Apostles described Him as possessing “ALL THE FULLNESS” of the
GODHEAD (Colossians 2:9).
Joh 10:30. I and the Father are one.
Joh 10:38. ... so that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in
Him.
Joh 17:5. And now, O Father, glorify Me alongside Yourself, with the glory which I
had with You before the world was.
Col 2:9. For in Him[Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

The Divine TRINITY (first recorded in Latin by Tertullian of Carthage AD 200) or

Divine TRIAD (first recorded in Greek by Theophilus of Antioch AD 180) is a descriptive
term used by the ancient Church (apparently before these records). TRINITY denotes the
Church’s best systematic understanding of that UNITED and FULL RELATION within
the BEING of the one DIVINITY or GODHEAD and God’s Full saving personal relation
with the true Christian believer, as is most agreeable with the great and profound Truth
revealed in the Apostolic Scriptures.

The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are the Three Divine Manifestations (PERSONS
or SUBSISTENCES) which the Apostolic Scriptures call both “God” and “Lord”.

PERSON or SUBSISTENCE is used to represents what the Three Divine Manifestations

have in distinction.

SUBSTANCE or ESSENCE is used to represents what the Three Divine Manifestations

(PERSONS or SUBSISTENCES) share in unity.

The TRINITY of the One GODHEAD is a word coined from THREE-IN-UNITY which
means:
♣The Three PERSONS (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) united in One SUBSTANCE of the
One GODHEAD; or
♣The One GODHEAD of One SUBSTANCE manifest in Three PERSONS (Father, Son
and Holy Spirit).

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SCRIPTURAL BASIS OF THE TRINITY
Without grasping the revealed truth of the Trinity, one would not make sound sense of:
 the Biblical Scripture,
 the Salvation of humankind from consequences and condemnation of sin,
 the Divinity of the Godhead,
 our personal relationship with God and
 the source and purpose of nature and existence.

The doctrine of the Trinity should be understood, taught and proclaimed as the ultimate truth
about the One True God, which is revealed through Christ and the Gospel. It needs not and
should not be proved by natural philosophical reasoning, because the Trinity is a biblical
insight into what human wisdom and reason cannot philosophize – THE SUPERNATURAL
ESSENCE OF THE DIVINE NATURE. In The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Theology
(Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1969, 1983), Alan Richardson, onetime Dean of York puts it
thus:
“There is no problem at all of reconciling the divinity of Christ and the Spirit with
Jewish monotheism.”

The doctrine of the Trinity makes the absolute fullness and the relational personhood of the
Godhead known (Col 1:19, 2:9; John 1:14, 16). Without being a trinity, God could not be our
Saviour or Redeemer and would be deficient deity: lacking fullness, personality and self-
existence. The inevitability of the “triune-ness” of the Godhead for our salvation and faith in the
Triune God is seen in Christ’s teachings:
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  “No one comes to the Father except by Me” (John 14:6; Matt 11:27) and
 “No one comes to me except the Father draws him” (John 6:44, 65) and
 “No one can enter God’s Kingdom except one is born again of the Spirit of God” (John
3:5) and
 “No one can be saved from divine condemnation except one believes in the Son of God
sent by God the Father” (John 3:14-18).
The Apostles also insisted that “No one can belong to Christ except one has the Spirit of
Christ” (Rom 8:9) and “There is no salvation in any other name except the Name of Jesus”
(Act 4:12; Mark 16:16; John 3:36) to which all the Prophets agree (Act 10:42-43).

(I) THE DIVERSITY AND PLURALITY IN THE UNITY OF THE GODHEAD AS

FOUND IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
For both Christians and Jews, God is absolute unity “The Lord our (Israelites) God is one God”
(The Shema Deut 6:4), “For us (Christians) there is only one God” (1Cor 8:6), “And there is
no other God but one” (1Cor 8:4). However the Jews affirm the unity (in intra-related plurality)
of God without further affirmation of the Trinity (THREE PERSONAL SAVING
MANIFESTATIONS, OR THREE ANTHROPOMORPHIC SUBSISTENCES, OR
RELATIONAL DIVINE PERSONS) in this unity, as the Christians do. This is because in the
Old Testament, there is only enough evidence to show the related plurality or diversity in the
unity of the Godhead. The “three-ness” of this personal relation was not very apparent as it is in
the New Testament.
1. There are passages that refer to God with plural name “Elohim” though God is clearly
said to be one.
2. There are also passages where God himself is quoted as referring to himself as “Us” (Gen
1:26; 3:22; 11:7; Isa 6:8).
3. There are passages where God is referred to as thrice holy (Isa 6:3) and as thrice
benedictory (Num 6:24-26).
4. There are passages that attribute personal deity to the Wisdom and Word of God (Prov 8;
Ps 33:6-9).
5. There are passages that show God, His Word and His Spirit working together as Divine
unity (Gen 1:2-3; Isa 63:8-10).
6. There are also passages that speak of the Messiah as God (Ps 2; Isa 9:6).
7. There are “Theophany” passages that refer to “the Angel of the Lord” manifestations as
God yet distinct (Gen 18; Exd 3:2-6; Judges 13:2-22).

Therefore, the monotheistic Jewish religion of the O.T. points, though vaguely, to the Trinity.
For it shows personal diversity and plurality in the Godhead which point to no other Divine
Persons than Yahweh, His coming Messiah (i.e. the Son, the Word and the Wisdom of Yahweh)
and the Spirit of Yahweh. However, the Jews still find it difficult to accept the Trinity up till
today. All the same, the Jews believe that God has personal characteristics (Anthropomorphism)
and should be related to and walked with as a Person, not merely recognised as a cosmic super-
force.

(II) THE TRINITY IN THE UNITY OF THE GODHEAD AS FOUND IN THE NEW
TESTAMENT

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Hitherto, the study and understanding of God has at its best been limited to only God’s Divine
Character and Eternal Power (Rom 1:20) without much insight into God’s Essence and Person.
Whereas the Trinity is implicit in the O.T., it is quite explicit in the N.T. With the revelation of
the Tri-personal nature of God, the NT adds a new dimension to the doctrine of God. This
intimate aspect of the knowledge of God is where the New Testament Gospel excels above all,
because of the revelation of the incarnate Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. God's NATURE
is revealed and known through His Three PERSONS and Many ATTRIBUTES and Mighty
WORKS. While the Three Divine Persons reveal and make known the ESSENCE of God, the
Many Divine Attributes reveal and make known the CHARACTER of God and the Great Divine
Works reveal and make known the POWER of God.
1. The existence or reality and the Essence of God (either as a non-personal FORCE or a
purposeful, spiritual and PERSONAL Being).
2. The perfect Character of God as evident in
(a) Perfect names;
(b) Perfect attributes which are:
i) Natural (i.e. Oneness, Personhood, Infinity, Eternity, Immutability,
Sovereignty, Omnipresence, Omniscience and Omnipotence.) and
ii) Moral (i.e. Goodness, Holiness and Righteousness)
3. The Power of God in Creation and Preservation – i.e. PROVIDENCE.

However, with the revealed truth of the Trinity, a lot of dimensions have now been made known
to humanity about the nature and the work of God (such as the plurality of anthropomorphic
PERSONS in the ONE Divine Essence and His Redemptive work of grace). Also, a whole new
vista of relating with God has been opened (such as our personal walk with God, Personal
indwelling and purposeful leading by God through the Holy Spirit). Today therefore, we do not
only talk about worshipping of the real-living, perfect and powerful God but also about walking
with the redeeming, purposeful, Tri-Personal God who is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This
is the unique offer to humanity by Christianity – insight not only for general worship of
God in His essential oneness but also for deeper walk with God in His personal three-ness.
The offer of this ultimate revelation also makes the ultimate demand on each human, to relate
with God and love God with all our spirit, soul, mind, strength, heart, body, and substance
(Deut 10:12-13; Mark 12:29-30).

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This new offer by Christianity about the essential nature of God as “Three-Persons-in-one” God
and how these Three Persons in God are significant in working together to reach humanity for
every aspect of our salvation is evident from the following passage:
1. At the annunciation, Lk 1:35;
2. At Christ’s baptism, Matt 3:13-17;
3. In Christ’s teachings, e.g. John 10:30; 14:6-7; 14:26, 15:26;
4. In the Baptismal formula of the Great Commission, Matt 28:19;
5. In the Pentecostal sermon, Acts 2:32-33;
6. In the Apostolic Benediction, 2Cor 13:14;
7. In the Apostolic teachings:
(a) On the Spiritual Gifts, e.g. 1Cor 12:4-6;
(b) On the mystery of Election e.g. Eph 1:3-14; 2Thes 2:13-14; 1Pet 1:2;
(c) On the Atonement, e.g. Heb 9:14;
(d) On the work of Redemption, e.g. Eph 2:18;
(e) On the mystery of Adoption, e.g. Gal 4:4-7;
(f) On the Unity of the Church, e.g. Eph 4:4-6;
(g) On worship access Eph 2:18, and worship singing Eph 5:18-20;
(h) On the mystery of the Apostolic ministry e.g. Eph 3:2-5.
And so on and so forth.
8. Scriptures consistently always shows the Three Persons of the One Godhead acting in
Unity for our Salvation:
(i) The Trinity acted together in Creation: -
- The Father spoke (Gen 1:3).
- The Son was the Word (John 1:1).
- The Holy Spirit moved on the Water (Gen 1:2).
(ii) The Trinity acted together in Redemption:-
- The Father sent the Son for us (John 3:16) and chose us (Eph. 1:3, 4).
- The Son offered Himself, finished the work for us (John 19:30) and
redeemed us (Eph. 1:7,8).
- The Holy Spirit was the means of Christ’s offering (Heb. 9:14) and our
seal of guarantee (Eph. 1:13,14.
(iii) The Trinity act together in our Regeneration:-
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 - The Father accepts us as His sons (1John 3:1).
- The Son cleanses us with His Blood (Eph. 1:7).
- The Holy Spirit begets us as sons of God (John 3:5) by baptising us into
Christ’s Body (1Cor. 12:13) as He comes to dwell in us (Rom. 8:9, 15).
(i) The Trinity act together in our Prayer:-
- The Father receives our request (John 16:23).
- The Son is the Name in which we pray (John 16:23).
- The Holy Spirit directs us in petitions (Rom. 8:26).

Also the NT contains other verses that refer to Christ as God and to be worshipped in faith: John
1:1-2; 14; John 1:18; John 5:23; John 14:1; John 20:28; Rom 9:5; Tit 2:13; Heb 1:8; 2Pet 1:1;
1John 5:20.
These all declare the divinity of Christ.

Again the personhood of the divine Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God, is very clear from the NT as in
the following:
1. He is referred to in the personal pronoun e.g. John 14:26; 15:26.
2. He has will 1Cor 12:7.
3. He has intellect 1Cor 2:11.
4. He has affection, Eph 4:30; Rom 15:30.
5. He indwells, 1Cor 3:16.
6. He intercedes, Rom 8:26.
7. He speaks Act 28:25.
8. He leads Rom 8:14.
9. He guides, John 16:13.
The Holy Spirit is therefore a personal Spirit not an impersonal force or power.

The apparent understanding of God’s supremacy and authorship in creation amongst the
Apostles (John 1:1-4; Rom 11:36; Eph 1:10; Col 1:15-20; 2:8-10; Heb 1:2; 2:10; 1Cor 8:6; also
see Gen 1:1-3; Job 26:13; Psa 33:6) is that:
 God the Father is the Source Cause of all creation, since all are OF Him;
 God the Son is the Head Cause of all creation, since all are FOR/BY/IN Him;
 God the Holy Spirit is the Means Cause of all creation, since all are THROUGH Him.

With these staggering revelations in the NT, the only conclusion is that God is one, but He
subsists in three Persons of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is a great mystery.
The fullness of the Godhead is the three Persons of the Godhead (Not three separate or substitute
‘individualities’ as such, but three intra-relating and co-existing ‘Persons’ or anthropomorphic
Subsistences of the one true God).

THE TRINITY: ANSWER TO ALL MYSTERIES

Only in the context of the Triune God could eternal salvation by redemption be possible.
Otherwise, we end up with insufficient religious conjectures like illumination, karma,
restitution, cyclic sacrifices, or cyclic reincarnations, equilibration, annihilation, or the

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despair of agnostic atheism. Rejection of the Divine Trinity is rejection of Eternal Salvation
offered through its revelation.

The God that is not Triune is non-relating and impersonal, aloof and lonely, dependent and
not self-existent, not self-revelatory nor redemptive to eternal life. A non-triune deity does not
deserve any worship nor moral/spiritual religion, since it cannot offer salvation from sin and
death. Only the Triune self-relating God could be God of peace and harmony, God of life and
goodness, God of love and mercy, and God of power and justice.

In the doctrine of the Trinity is revealed the explanation of all things and the meaning for all
things created and uncreated; past, present and future; moral, material and mental; visible
and invisible, from creation till eschaton. Trinity is the revealed proof of the existence of the
Redemptive God at work in His purposeful creation.

Only in the glorious Trinity is humanity offered eternal salvation according to God’s
predestination and purpose in Christ (before time), through propitiation by Christ (in time),
and through regeneration by the Holy Spirit (at faith); unto election for glory by the Father,
redemption by the Son and sanctification by the Holy Spirit (2Thes 2:13-14; 1Pet 1:2).

The revelation of the mystery of the Trinity is final divine answer to the menacing human
questions of being, existence and destiny.

Last Updated November 20, 2021

By The Ven Dr. I. U. Ibeme
Copyright © PriscAquila Publishing, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
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