Theology, the Study of God

by WordExplain


Bringing Truths from Different Books of the Bible into Focus, Perspective, and Understanding.



"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all."  2 Corinthians 13:14




































Theology Proper, the Study of God
by WordExplain

The Trinity



An Explanation of the Triune Being of God

Symbol Explanation Scripture





There is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), but He exists as the most complex being in all of existence.  There is a plurality of beings who comprise the One God.  The Hebrew name of God, Elohim, is a plural proper noun. God as a plurality is revealed in Genesis 1:26, where God says, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness." Further revelation reveals that God exists as a Trinity, or better, Triunity.

There are three who are identified as being God:
Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19;
Luke 3:21-22;
2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2




The Father is identified as God. John 6:27;
Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 8:6;
Ephesians 4:6



The Son is identified as God. John 1:1; 8:58; 20:26-29; Colossians 1:15-20;
Titus 2:13;
Hebrews 1:8;
1 John 5:20



The Holy Spirit is identified as God. Genesis 1:1-2;
Psalm 139:7;
Acts 5:3-4;
Romans 8:14

The Triune God is comprised of three distinct persons. Personhood is defined as possessing complex intelligence, communication, emotion, will, and supra-material existence transcending time.  By this definition animals do not qualify. Furthermore, one does not need to have a body to qualify as a person.  God is spirit (John 4:24), yet he possesses personality.  When man dies, his body decays, but his spirit continues to exist somewhere.
Definition




God the Father is a Person.  He possesses, for example, emotion and will.
Psalm 2:4-5;
Psalm 2:7;
Ephesians 1:3-11



God the Son is, and always has been a Person. He possesses, for example, emotion, and will.
Mark 3:5
Hebrews 10:9-10


God the Holy Spirit is a Person.  He possesses, for example, great intelligence and emotion.
Isaiah 40:13-14;
Ephesians 4:30


At the same time, though there is only one God, the three Persons of the Trinity are distinct from one another, yet act together in perfect harmony.  The Father is not the same person as the Son, nor is the Son the same person as the Father.  (When Jesus prayed, He was not addressing Himself.) Matthew 3:16-17; 
Luke 3:21-22;
Matt. 26:39



God the Son is not the same person as God the Holy Spirit; nor is God the Holy Spirit the same person as God the Son.
Matthew 3:11, 16;
4:1;
Mark 1:9-10;
Mark 1:13



God the Holy  Spirit is not the same person as God the Father, nor is God the Father the same person as God the Holy Spirit. John 16:13
Romans 8:9;
15:30;
2 Corinthians 13:14

"After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the hevens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."  Matt. 3:16-17




For a Discussion of the Existence and Attributes of God,
Click Here.



WordExplain by James T. Bartsch


(Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.  Used by Permission.)


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Published November 8, 2010

Updated January 28, 2022