A Case for Creation 101: God’s Nature – The Trinity

A misunderstanding that many people have about Christianity, especially those in other religions such as Islam, is the concept of the Trinity. Christians are often accused of “poly-theism” (worshipping multiple gods). However, this is not what Christianity teaches about the Trinity. As we study through Genesis you will notice times where God uses the plural term “We” or “Us,” and there are many times throughout the Old Testament where people meet God in human form, often referred to as a Christophany or Theophany. In addition, the New Testament gives us many examples where Jesus Himself claims to be God; and it is through the Holy Spirit that believers are given revelation and power to do God’s work. The concept of the Trinity is not a problem for Christianity, it is a solution to what we find about God and His nature in the Scriptures.

There are many ways people try to give examples for the Trinity (ice-steam-water, three-leaf clover, the egg etc.), all of which are inadequate, and rightly so, because as our Creator God we should not be able to completely understand Him. As a former Muslim the late Dr. Nabeel Qureshi struggled with the concept of the Trinity, but he had that a-ha moment when he was in a college chemistry class and came across resonance molecules. These molecules are capable of being a single molecule and three different ones all at the same time. Nabeel reasoned that if something in nature can have that type of property how much more so for God the Creator of all things.

Read Nabeel’s book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus for a complete story of this former Muslim who came to the truth Christianity by reasoning through the evidence:

Watch Dr. Nabeel Qureshi answer the question “Why Believe Jesus Christ is God? (includes an excellent presentation on the “Trinity”)

J. Warner Wallace has also written about the Triune nature of God. Check out his website Cold Case Christianity to read more on this topic. I’ve summarized some of his research on the importance of the Trinity below:

The Trinity accounts for the description of the evidence found in Scripture for the existence of one true God with the characteristics of this God being individually attributed to the persons of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Trinity Accounts for the origin of love because it explains how God is and has been love from all eternity as evidenced in the relationship of Triune nature then shared in relationship with us.
The Trinity accounts for the Deity of Jesus because according to the Gospels and the earliest accounts of Christianity Jesus claimed to be God and proved He was God incarnate.

Jesus is the only one who can solve the human problem of sin, suffering and death. If Jesus was anything less than perfect God in human form then the sacrifice He made in our place would not have been sufficient. According to Wallace, “The cross is the place where God Himself paid the price of our sin; He did not require the death of another created being, the sacrifice of one human for another. Instead, He offered Himself in our place.”

Wallace tells us that the Trinity solves a Biblical dilemma. The solution to this apparent contradiction of Scripture (God is one, yet three persons are God) is the classic formulation of the Trinity as described in the Athanasian Creed:

““That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. 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 coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited. 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 uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. 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; So are we forbidden by the catholic religion; to say, There are three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity.” (from Creeds of Christendom, with a History and Critical notes. Volume II. The History of Creeds.. Harper & Brothers. 1877. pp. 66–71.)”

What helped me, as a biology teacher, was looking at God’s creation and His designation of “Kinds” in Genesis. Here we see that He made each living thing “after its kind,” and to date this is the genetic barrier we know today where cross-breading cannot occur. If we consider God as a “Kind” and there is only one “Kind” of God (His being) consisting of three persons (His nature – Father, Son, and Spirit), the concept of the Trinity is easy. Therefore, God is one in being or “Kind” and this “Kind” is three in persons. Each one has a distinct personality and role within the God-head and within the history of humankind.

Finally, the relationship and roles within the God-head, as evidenced throughout Scripture, gives us a model for human interaction (because we are made in His image) and a picture of how a perfect and loving bond should be within our own relationships. Keeping these things in mind let’s continue our study through Genesis with a focus on the nature of God and the Trinity:

GENESIS AND THE TRINITY

Outline for Context:

The first five books of the Bible (Genesis-Exodus-Leviticus-Numbers-Deuteronomy) are known as the Torah in Hebrew and are commonly referred to as the Books of Moses. Moses is given credit as the author, but it is God who gave Moses the information and told him to write it down, as we will see when we study on through the Old Testament. This is God’s eyewitness account given to Moses (Exodus 31:18, 34:1-2;27, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21)

Chapters 1-11: The Antediluvian Epoch (the period of time prior to Noah’s Flood)

Creation and the Fall
The Promise
Noah and the Flood
A new world and the Tower of Babel

Chapters 12-50: The Patriarchal Period (the beginning of the history of the Nation of Israel)

Abraham-Isaac-Jacob-Joseph and Judah = the Patriarchs of the Hebrew Nation of Israel
The Abrahamic Covenant (the Promise of Genesis 3:15 begins to unfold)

In the beginning God…

The Bible never argues God it assumes God, and it assumes a God of tremendous majesty, magnificence, power and presence. For those of you who enjoy Philosophy check out Anselm’s Ontological Argument. To simplify this argument one can conclude that God is “a being than which nothing greater can be thought.This is a greatness, not in size or space, but in perfection — perfection of intelligence, power, truth, love, all that makes perfection is found within this being.” Therefore if you try to describe God in human terms then He must be greater than what you describe.

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God…

God = The Hebrew word used here is Elohim – the noun is plural (indicating three or more)
The verb (action) Elohim is singular when used with the word bara (create/created from nothing)
Elohim is a term that denotes all-power within, a term with strength (vs. YHWH, a personal term)
Elohim is the normal usage when referenced in the Old Testament for the one true God
Elohim indicates the Trinity working together from the very beginning and the active participation of Father, Son and Holy Spirit in creation, from the beginning

The Trinity

One in Being: God
Three in Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Elohim = God, The Triune All-Powerful Creator of the Universe

We will also find in Scripture the term YHWH (pronounced Yahweh)

YHWH (LORD in English Bibles) = The “I AM,” the LORD, the personal God of the Bible who loves and interacts with His creation
LORD God = YHWH Elohim (personal and powerful)

Therefore, when the reference “LORD God” is used the person is acknowledging that the God of the Bible is their personal, yet all-powerful God. It is a reference of both reverence and love. Our God is a God who loves us, but we also must remember that He is the Creator of everything and therefore will be swift in enacting righteous justice on His Creation (just like a good and righteous parent would do).

Here are some examples from Scripture that the concept of the Trinity solves:

There is one God

Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:5

Each member of the Trinity is God

The Father is God (John 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2). The Son is God (John 1:1, 14; Romans 9:5; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 5:20). The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16).

The members of the Trinity are distinguished one from another in various passages

In the Old Testament, “LORD” is distinguished from “Lord” (Genesis 19:24; Hosea 1:4). The LORD has a Son (Psalm 2:7, 12; Proverbs 30:2-4). The Spirit is distinguished from the “LORD” (Numbers 27:18) and from “God” (Psalm 51:10-12). God the Son is distinguished from God the Father (Psalm 45:6-7; Hebrews 1:8-9). In the New Testament, Jesus speaks to the Father about sending a Helper, the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). This shows that Jesus did not consider Himself to be the Father or the Holy Spirit.

The Person of the Father

The Father is the ultimate source or cause of the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11); divine revelation (Revelation 1:1); salvation (John 3:16-17); and Jesus’ human works (John 5:17; 14:10).

The Person of the Son

The Son is the agent through whom God does the following works: the creation and maintenance of the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17); divine revelation (John 1:1, 16:12-15; Matthew 11:27; Revelation 1:1); and salvation (2 Corinthians 5:19; Matthew 1:21; John 4:42).

The Person of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the means by whom God does the following works: creation and maintenance of the universe (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30); divine revelation (John 16:12-15; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21); salvation (John 3:6; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:2); and Jesus’ works (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38).

Each person of the Trinity has a role in the God-head. Understanding the model God has given us in Himself concerning relationship and role will help us better understanding our own role in God’s Kingdom now and to come. The Trinity is not a problem for Christians it is a solution to what is taught in Scripture.

In conclusion, our finite minds created by an infinite God cannot, nor should not, be able to comprehend His entire being, yet He has given us a way to know Him personally and that is through His Son, Jesus. And, Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to teach us through the Scriptures, and to guide us during our time here on this earth. This is exciting because it helps us pray more specifically as we grow in our intimacy with our loving LORD God!

Going Deeper:

Checkout Christian Apologist Greg Koukl’s recent series in “Solid Ground” click here or go to his website at Stand to Reason (STR).

Take notes (to answer question 3 below) as you watch this in-depth presentation by Greg Koukl on “The Trinity:”

We are only getting started! Join us next week as we look at the Days of Creation!

Genesis Chapter One – Reflection and Discussion Questions:

Keep a notebook or journal as you study through Genesis with us:

Read (or re-read) Genesis chapter one with a focus on the Trinity through the use of the word “We” or “Us” in the English (Elohim in the Hebrew).
Look up the references from the above “examples from Scripture that the concept of the Trinity solves.” Jot down one or two from each category that you’d like to remember.
Write out an example explanation that you can use when asked about the Trinity – use Scripture support and your notes from Greg Koukl’s presentation.

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15