An
Explanation of the Triune Being of God
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| 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
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