The Triune God. Deuteronomy 6:4

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1 Deuteronomy 6:4 The Triune God As Christians we are often asked Twhere is the Trinity in the Bible? T While there are many great dissertations on this foundational Christian doctrine, here is a very short study that I pray will help believers better understand their own faith and also better equip them to defend it to seekers. If one truly believes that the Bible is God s Word, and that it is without error and true and trustworthy in all aspects, then one must believe each/all the following. That God is one. That the is God. That the (Jesus) is God. That the (Ghost) is God. The only logical way to reconcile these seemingly contradictory teachings is to understand God as One God, eternally existent in Three Persons. The Doctrine of the Trinity. God Three in One. We will start our study looking at these three verses: Deuteronomy 6:4, 5 Matthew 3: John 5:7 Although the word trinity is not in the Bible, the concept of the three-in-one, the triune God, is. The term Godhead, referring to the three-in-one, can be found in: Acts 17:29 Colossians 2:9 Many other words or concepts not in the Bible are scriptural nonetheless: theology Bible Rapture shekinah The concept of the Godhead, Trinity, is evident in scripture as early as the first chapter of the book of Genesis. The Hebrew word Elohim, translated God in Genesis 1:1, actually indicates more than one divine personality. This same plural form is used over 2,500 times in the Old Testament. In the account of creation recorded in the book of Genesis God speaks plurally of His own Person. Genesis 1:26, 27, 3:22; 11:7 Isaiah 6:3, 8 The Old Testament makes definite reference both to the and to the. Proverbs 30:4 Isaiah 11:2 "... the... the Lord... Him" Isaiah 42:1 "My Servant... I... My... upon Him" Isaiah 48:16 "The Lord God... His... sent Me" Isaiah 61:1 " of the Lord God... upon Me... the Lord" Isaiah 63:9 "He...the Angel of His Presence... His " Ezekiel 36:26, 27 1

2 P John Attribute The The The Is God Ephesians 1:17, 4:6 Hebrews 1:8; John 1:1, 14 Acts 5:3, 4 Is Eternal Isaiah 9:6 Hebrews 7:3 Hebrews 9:14 Is Immutable Malachi 3:6 Hebrews 13:8 1 Corinthians 12:4 Is Joshua 24:19 Luke 1:35 1 Corinthians 6:19 Some examples of all three aspects or offices of the Trinity in the same one Scripture: God, Jesus Christ, and the. 1 Peter 1:2 Being careful which Bible version you use when you study. Matthew 12:28 (Jesus speaking) st let's look at 1P 5:7-8, and observe that it can be no error that they methodically left out 24 key words documenting the Trinity: SCRIPTRE KJV (King James Version) 1 John 5:7-8 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the, the Word, and the Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (KJV) Isaiah 42:1 (God speaking) John 14:26 (Jesus speaking) I John 4:2 Romans 15:30 NIV (New International Version) 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. (NIV) *(And similarly in all newer Bible versions) NASB (New American Standard Bible) 7 And it is the who bears witness, because the is the truth. 8 For there are three that bear witness, the and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. (NASB) Not all NIV Bible editions read exactly alike! The same goes for the other newer Bible versions. That in-and-of-itself should alert the Bible student that something is dreadfully wrong with the newer Bible versions. I mean, how can TtheyT justify TcorrectingT the Scriptures from one edition of the same Bible version to the next every several years or so? Where is Jesus Christ in the newer versions? KJV NKJV NIV NASB RSV 9... in God, who by Jesus Christ 9...in God who through Jesus 9...in God, who 9...in God, who created all things 9... in God who 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Christ 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. 2 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. 7 So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.

3 1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his 's name written in their foreheads. (The brain is in your forehead. They will have the Lord's name in their mind [heart], written on their souls if you would) 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and fortyfour thousand, having His 's name written on their foreheads. (This erroneously points to a viable mark ON the forehead reminiscent of the Mark of the Beast, which in really is not a viable mark either. This is dangerous!) 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his 's name written on their foreheads. (Danger! this is saying to take a mark ON the forehead in ADDITION to the mark of God. Satan will 'mark' many. See Rev 14:11!, and: Revelation 13:16 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: (KJV) 2 To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our. (They aren't telling us that Jesus is God!) 1 And I looked, and behold, the Lamb {was} standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His written on their foreheads.(danger! this is saying to take a mark ON the forehead in ADDITION to the mark of God. Satan will 'mark' many. See Rev 14:11 & Rev 13:16!) 2 to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ {who are} at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our.(they aren't telling us that Jesus is God!) Three false views Tri-theism, Modalism & Arianism 1 Then I looked, and lo, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and fortyfour thousand who had his name and his 's name written on their foreheads.(danger! this is saying to take a mark ON the forehead in ADDITION to the mark of God. Satan will 'mark' many. See Rev 14:11 & Rev 13:16!) 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colos'sae: Grace to you and peace from God our.(they aren't telling us that Jesus is God!) 1. Tri-theism - 3 gods loosely associated, sort of a club of three separate but equal gods who work together. 2. Modalism - 1 God - 3 manifestations, or modes of existence. God existing in three different modes at different times, only one mode at a time. 3. Arianism - Christ was a created being, not God. Christ was a special created being, but obviously not God. The Scriptures represent all things as being: Out of {ek} the Through {dia} the By {en} the 1 Corinthians 8:6 Ephesians 2:8; 3:14-15 John 1:3 Romans 1:5 1 Corinthians 8:6 Ephesians 1:5; 3 2:18 Hebrews 1:12 1 Corinthians 6:11 Ephesians 2:18, 22; 3:5

4 1 Who Indwells Believers? a. John 14:23 The. b. Romans 8:9,11 The. c. Romans 8:10 The. 2 Who Raised Jesus From the Dead? a. Galatians 1:1 the. b. Romans 8:11 the. c. John 2:19 The 3 Who Searches Minds and Hearts? a. Jeremiah 17:10 The. b. 1 Corinthians 2:10 The. c. Revelation 2:23 The. 4 Who Sanctifies s? a. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 The. b. 1 Peter 1:2 The. c. Hebrews 13:12 The 5 Who Gave the New Covenant? a. Jeremiah 31:33, 34 The. b. Hebrews 10:15-17 The. c. Hebrews 12:24 The. cf. 8:1-13, 10:29, 13:20. 7 Who is the Creator? a. Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 44:24, Acts 17:24, The. b. Job 33:4 The. c. John 1:3, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:8,10 The. 8 Who is Our Helper? a. Hebrews 13:6 The. b. Romans 8:26 The. c. Hebrews 4:16 The. 9 Who Are We Baptized in the Name of? a. Matthew 28:19 The and the. 10 Who Comforts s? a. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 The. b. Acts 9:31 The. c. 2 Corinthians 1:5 The cf. John 16:7 Some Objections to the Trinity Answered Despite the clear Biblical evidence for the Trinity, some cults have objections based on misunderstandings of Scripture. Jesus said: My is greater (meizon) than I John 14:28. But this refers to the 's greater position in Heaven, not superior nature. Philippians 2:5-11 states that Jesus had equality by nature with God, but voluntarily took on the lower position of a servant. The word better (kreitton) would have been used to describe superiority in nature if this is what had been meant. Indeed, kreitton is used to describe Jesus' superiority in His very nature to the angels: Hebrews 1:4. The distinction can be illustrated in the human realm by the role of the President - he is greater than us in position, but he is still a human being like us, so is not better in nature. Jesus is called the firstborn of every creature Colossians 1:15. However, in Jewish imagery, firstborn means having the rights and special privileges belonging to the eldest child, It refers to pre-eminence in rank more than to priority in time. This can be shown in passages where the term firstborn is used of the preeminent son who was not the eldest, e.g. Psalm 89:27, where David is called firstborn although he was actually the youngest son. Firstborn does not mean first created; the Greek for first created is protoktisis. Firstborn is prototokos. In fact, the verses after Colossians 1:15 show that Christ Himself is the creator of all things. Jesus is of God. From this, some cults try to show that Jesus is somehow less than God. In Jewish imagery, the son of often meant of the order of or having the very nature of. For example, sons of the prophets meant of the order of prophets 1 Kings 20:35. 4

5 s of the singers meant of the order of singers Nehemiah 12:28. Jesus' Jewish contemporaries understood that He was claiming to be God, which is why they wanted to kill him for blasphemy: John 19:7. Jesus is the only-begotten John 3:16. The Greek word translated only-begotten is monogenes, which means unique, one of a kind. Jesus is the unique of God, because he is God by His very nature. Believers in Him become sons of God by adoption: Galatians 3:26-4:7. This is shown in the human realm by Hebrews 11:17, where Isaac is called Abraham's only begotten son. Abraham had other sons, but Isaac was the unique son of the Abrahamic Covenant: Genesis chapters 15-18,20. Born when his parents were old. The doctrine of the Trinity is difficult for some people to understand. But this is what God has revealed in Scripture about His own Being, so we should believe it. 5