Article IX – The Proof of the Foregoing Article of the Trinity of Persons in One God (2)

“All this we know from the testimonies of holy writ, as from the operations, and chiefly by those we feel in ourselves. The testimonies of the Holy Scriptures, that teach us to believe this Holy Trinity are written in many places of the Old Testament, which are not so necessary to enumerate, as to choose them out with discretion and judgment. In Genesis, 1:26, 27, God saith: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, etc. So God created man in his own image, male and female created he them. And Genesis 3:22: Behold the man is become as one of us. From this saying, let us make man in our image, it appears that there are more persons than one in the Godhead; and when he saith, God created, he signifies the unity. It is true he doth not say how many persons there are, but that, which appears to us somewhat obscure in the Old Testament, is very plain in the New. For when our Lord was baptized in Jordan, the voice of the Father was heard, saying, This is my beloved Son: the Son was seen in the water, and the Holy Ghost appeared in the shape of a dove. This form is also instituted by Christ in the baptism of all believers. Baptize all nations, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. In the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel thus addressed Mary, the mother of our Lord, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also that holy thing, which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God: likewise, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you. And there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. In all which places we are fully taught, that there are three persons in one only divine essence. And although this doctrine far surpasses all human understanding, nevertheless, we now believe it by means of the Word of God, but expect hereafter to enjoy the perfect knowledge and benefit thereof in Heaven. Moreover we must observe the particular offices and operations of these three persons towards us. The Father is called our Creator, by his power; the Son is our Savior and Redeemer, by his blood; the Holy Ghost is our Sanctifier, by his dwelling in our hearts. This doctrine of the Holy Trinity, hath always been defended and maintained by the true Church, since the time of the apostles, to this very day, against the Jews, Mohammedans, and some false Christians and heretics, as Marcion, Manes, Praxeas, Sabellius, Samosatenus, Arius and such like, who have been justly condemned by the orthodox fathers. Therefore, in this point, we do willingly receive the three creeds, namely, that of the Apostles, of Nice, and of Athanasius: likewise that, which, conformable thereunto, is agreed upon by the ancient fathers.”

This article sets forth the proof on the basis of which the faith of the Church that God is Triune rests:

I. Twofold proof:

A. From Scripture:

1. From the Old Testament:

a. Here only the plural “us” as used in Genesis 1:26, 27; 3:22, is mentioned.

b. There are other proofs in the Old Testament, such as:

1) the appearance of the angel of Jehovah, Genesis 18:2; 19:1, 24, etc.

2) the Aaronitic blessing;

3) Psalm 33:6;

4) the treshagion of Isaiah 6;

5) Isaiah 61, etc.

2. From the New Testament:

a. Mentioned are:

1) the baptism of Jesus;

2) the baptism formula;

3) the words of Gabriel to Mary;

4) the apostolic benediction;

5) 1 John 5:7.

b. And to these may be added: all those passages in which divine names, attributes, works and honors are ascribed to the persons of the Son and of the Holy Ghost in distinction from the person of the Father.

B. From their operations:

1. The article speaks of the operations of the three persons as proof of the doctrine of the trinity:

a. It is evident that the threeness in God must become manifest in the works of God.

b. These works or operations are either

1) without us: creation, providence, God’s revelation in the work of redemption in Christ, His death, resurrection, etc.

2) within us, such as: God’s preservation of our natural life and existence; His application of the salvation of Christ to us: regeneration, calling, sanctification, etc.

c. The article mentions:

1) the Father as Creator,

2) the Son as Redeemer,

3) the Holy Ghost as Sanctifier.

2. Meaning:

a. Not that the three persons may be separated, as if each performed a certain work without the others. Then we arrive at the error of tritheism: three Gods.

b. But so that all the works of God are of the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit.

II. As basis on which the Church:

A. Defends this doctrine:

1. Over against:

a. Jews: i.e., unbelieving Jews. Their denial of the Christ leads them to deny the Trinity.

b. Mohammedans: believe in Allah, one God.

c. And several different heretics that are mentioned in the article.

2. In her earliest confessions:

a. The Symbol of Nice: 325.

b. The Apostolic Confession: about 500.

c. The Athanasian Creed. Probably not of Athanasius (died 373), but dating from about the eighth or ninth century.

B. Accepts this doctrine:

1. By faith:

a. The article emphasizes that this doctrine far transcends our comprehension: it is a deep mystery, indeed: I Timothy 6:16.

b. But the church believes it “by means of the Word of God”. We must note here, that although the doctrine of the Trinity is a mystery, it involves no contradiction.

2. In hope of perfection:

a. Not in the sense that we shall ever comprehend the Triune God;

b. But so, that hereafter, the covenant of God shall be perfected, and in that covenant we shall know and enjoy the fellowship of the triune God perfectly. I Corinthians 13.