[7]    God: Trinity

26.    Where can we find the doctrine of Trinity in the Bible? What is the meaning of Trinity?

a. Definitions: b. Essential elements of Trinity: c. God is one (Dt 6:4; Ex 3:13-15; 20:2-3; 1Co 8:4-6; 1Ti 1:17; 2:5-6; Jas 2:19)   d. Three distinct persons as Deity: (at the same time Mt 3:16-17)
  (1) Father is God (Jn 1:17; Ro 1:7; 1Co 8:6; Php 2:11; 1Pe 1:2)

(2) Son is God (Isa 9:6; Jn 1:1; Heb 1:1-13)

(3) Holy Spirit is God (Gen 1:1-2; Ex 31:3; Isa 11:2; Ac 5:3-4; 2Co 3:17)

(4) Appearance of the three simultaneously at the baptism of Jesus (Mt 3:16-17)

(5) All three in the apostolic benediction (2Co 13:14) – "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
 

e. The oneness of God and threeness of God can exist simultaneously and yet not contradictory:
f. All three persons are the same essence and with the same attributes:
Attribute
Father
Son
Holy Spirit
Eternality Ps 90:2 Jn 1:2; Rev 1:8,17 Heb 9:14
Power 1Pe 1:5 2Co 12:9 Ro 15:19
Omniscience Jer 17:10 Rev 2:23 1Co 2:11
Omnipresence Jer 23:24 Mt 18:20 Ps 139:7
Holiness Rev 15:4 Ac 3:14 Ac 1:8
Truth Jn 7:28 Rev 3:7 1Jn 5:6
Benevolence Ro 2:4 Eph 5:25 Neh 9:20
g. The three persons are equal with different roles in activities
Activity
Father
Son
Holy Spirit
Creation of the world Ps 102:25 Col 1:16 Gen 1:2
Creation of man Gen 2:7 Col 1:16 Job 33:4
Baptism of Christ Mt 3:17 Mt 3:16 Mt 3:16
Death of Christ Heb 9:14 Heb 9:14 Heb 9:14
h. Analogies of Trinity: (1) sun: body, heat, light

(2) water: solid, liquid, gas

(3) man: spirit (spiritual realm), soul (mental realm), body (physical realm)

(4) man (Freud): id (pleasure principle), ego (reality principle), superego (conscience)

(5) human pyschology: Thinking involves judgment, memory, and imagination. They are separate yet belong to the same person. They can have dialogue with each other (such as Christ’s prayer to the Father, Mt 26:39,42) but they work as a unity.

i. Main heresies related to the doctrine of Trinity

(1) Arianism: led by Arius

(2) Sabellianism: led by Sabellius 27.    What is the purpose of creation? a. Purpose of creation: b. The universe was created "out of nothing" (Gr. ex nihilo), not from previously existing materials but simply by the command of God. This term (ex nihilo) is not found in the Bible but in an Apocrypha book II Maccabees 7:28, but the concept is clearly taught in Ps 33:9; 148:5; Heb 11:3.   c. Divine providence: God has not stopped His work after creation. Presently, He continues to preserve and uphold all His creation.