I. Scriptural proof:
A. In the Old Testament.
1. Genesis 1:26, 27 and Genesis 3:22.
a. God here speaks to Himself.
b. God speaks as One (God said–the word “God” is “Elohim”, a plural word; but the verb is in the singular).
c. Yet the pronouns are plural–indicating more than one person.
2. (Not mentioned in the article) Ps. 33:6.
a. By the WORD of the LORD were the heavens made–cf. John 1:1ff.
b. “…and all the host of them by the BREATH of His mouth.” (Breath is “Spirit”)
3. The passages of the Old Testament appears to “us somewhat obscure.”
a. In the Old Testament the Word of God emphasized especially the Oneness of God overagainst the views of the heathen who maintained polytheism.
b. There is a definite development in the revelation of God–not NEW things are introduced, but the revelation is made ever more clear.
c. Pentecost marks a radical change in the understanding of the Christian.
B. In the New Testament.
1. In the baptism of Jesus (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; Jn. 1:32-33)
a. The Spirit descends in the form of a dove.
b. The Father speaks from heaven.
2. The formula for baptism (Matt. 28:19) in which the three Persons are mentioned.
3. The conception and birth of Christ (Luke 1:35)
a. Speaks of the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit.
b. And the birth of the Son of God.
4. The apostolic benediction in II Cor. 13:14.
5. I John 5:7 mentions the three Persons specifically.
a. This passage has been denounced as an “addition” to Scripture and not part of the original.
b. But the truth of the Trinity does not rest on this passage alone; the passage surely does present the teachings of all of Scripture.
II. The value of this proof:
A. Negatively:
1. It is true: there are no direct statements in Scripture stating: God is Triune, Three Persons in One Being.
2. This is true because Scripture is not meant to be a book of dogmatics.
B. Positively:
1. Scripture is the only basis upon which this doctrine can possibly rest.
a. The Trinity is not a doctrine which is discovered by human reason.
b. But God Himself must reveal Himself to us.
2. On the basis of that Scripture comes also that which “we feel in ourselves.”
a. The confession does not mean to imply that belief of the truth of the Trinity in part is based on one’s “feeling.”
b. Rather, the “feeling” or experience of the Christian is based on Scripture.
1) Scripture tells us what is the work of the Persons of the Trinity.
2) And we, by God’s grace through Christ, have experienced that of which Scripture testified.
a) We experienced the Father as our Creator; the Son as our Savior; the Spirit as our Sanctifier.
b) Thus the knowledge of the Trinity for the Christian is more than intellectual.
III. Historical development of the Trinity:
A. Opponents:
1. The list of men includes those who in one form or another denied the Trinity–or the Personality of the Son.
2. Sects of our day follow these same old errors.
B. The church from the early period of the New Dispensation maintained this.
Worksheet
A. Supplementary reading: same as that on Article 8.
B. Prooftext (for the Trinity): Psalm 33:6 “By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.”
C. Questions for study and consideration:
1. Could not the passage of Gen. 1 be what could be called a “majestic plural” or an “editorial plural”?
2. Can it be shown that the Angel of Jehovah was the Son, or Second Person, of the Trinity?
3. Here follows a list of other Old Testament passages. Examine them for evidences for the truth of the Trimity: Ps. 110 (cf. also Matt. 22:41-46); Ps. 104:30; Is. 61:1; Isaiah 6:1-3.
4. Could you give reasons why there are no direct statements or definitions of the doctrine of the Trinity in Scripture?
5. Can you find and read the three Creeds listed at the end of this article?
6. Does not reference to these ancient creeds amount to the same thing as basing doctrine on the “tradition” of the church as does Roman Catholicism?
7. Try to find out about Arius and Arianism mentioned in this article.