Struggling with the “Trinity”

Posted on October 31 2011

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Dear Anonymous,

Let's begin with a definition. What is meant by the term "trinity?" The word itself could be defined as "tri-unity" or "three-in-oneness." But when we apply it to theology, a working definition could be: "Within the one Being that is God, there exists eternally three coequal and coeternal persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Here we can easily see the three-in-oneness concept.

One particular creed states it this way: "We worship one God in trinity, and Trinity in unity; neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one: their glory equal and their majesty co-eternal."

The Trinity concept taught in the Scriptures is admittedly mysterious. For even Scripture says it's so. Consider 1 Timothy 3:16: "Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory." Being mysterious however doesn't mean it's incomprehensible. On the contrary, this great doctrine of the Scripture is comprehendible with divine assistance, just not comprehensively (Romans 11:33).

I think where the majority of confusion lies with respect to the trinity is in our understanding of the person and nature of Christ. We learn that the human being Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem some 2000 years ago, had two natures: one human and the other divine. The human nature the Son of God assumed was temporal (had a beginning) - it was flesh. Conversely, the divine nature of the Son of God was eternal. He was called the Son of God some 47 times in Scripture. When the angel announced this benediction to Mary he said, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy - the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). Prior to his birth (his incarnation - God the Son taking on human flesh), we are taught that the Son of God always existed - he existed from the beginning (John 1:1-3; Hebrews 7:3)...echoing Genesis 1:1.

Jesus said many times that he "came from the father." Thirty-three times in the gospel of John alone, Jesus said that the Father "sent him." Obviously if he existed before his incarnation - from all eternity - he existed in Spirit and not in body. For the Scripture says that God is Spirit (John 4:24).

So what we have here in the person of Jesus Christ is two distinct natures. And although they are distinct, they are not divided or separated. Rather, they exist harmoniously in one person. The two natures never blending, mixing, or being confused together - yet never divided or separated either. Each nature retains its own attributes. So, on the Cross for example, it was the human nature of Christ that suffered and died. The divine nature (Spirit) returned to the Father. And according to God's eternal plan, on the third day, the divine nature returned to the lifeless corpse in the tomb and vuala! Resurrection!

But the question at hand is more about the inter-communication among the members of the Godhead. In other words, if Christ is God, and God speaks to Christ (like at the baptism), then isn't that the same as Christ speaking to himself? Not if we remember our definition of the trinity (see above).

I don't think there's a better passage of Scripture than the narrative of Jesus' baptism to demonstrate the activity of the three persons of the Godhead interacting. The Son of God enters the water and the heavens are torn open - a voice thunders from heaven saying, "this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Then immediately the Holy Spirit comes down from heaven and remains on Christ. All this being witnessed and recorded by eye witnesses.

So just as Christ is one person with two distinct natures; so God is One Being revealing Himself in three distinct persons. Each person of the Godhead (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit), although distinct in terms of their role and function, are One eternal Being. Mind bending isn't it?

Look at redemption for example. Redemption is God's eternal plan of salvation. This plan is clearly a Trinitarian work; a Trinitarian enterprise that began in eternity past. It goes something like this: from all eternity, before the world was created, before the fall of Adam, the Father designed and initiated a plan - a plan to redeem a specific people form their sin and unto himself. From all eternity the Son agreed to implement the Father's plan. A plan that would have the Son leaving glory and assuming human flesh in order to die as payment for this chosen group of people. And from all eternity the Holy Spirit agreed to apply this work of redemption to all that the Father had chosen and that the Son had died for.

Edwin H. Palmer put it this way: "There is a unity among the three persons of the trinity. The Father chooses the elect. Christ dies for them, and the Holy Spirit carries out the will of both by irresistibly causing the elect to believe and be saved."

So when Jesus was here on earth, in his human and divine nature, he literally was "God in the flesh." Yet in his role as servant, the one who from all eternity was commissioned with the task of implementing redemption by dying on a tree, he was subject to the Father.

But let it be know, that a difference in function does not indicate an inferiority of nature.

In Volume 1 of RC Sproul's 3 Volume series titled: "Truths We Confess: A Layman's Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith," he states: "The Son and the Holy Spirit are not inferior to the Father in the modern sense. They are equal in power, glory, eternality, being, and dignity. But as God works out the plan of salvation, the Son obeys the Father and the Spirit obeys the Father and the Son. This is a purely "economic," or practical subordination, not one of being, dignity, or glory."

And when the Father spoke to him, or when Jesus said, "I only do what the Father tells me," he meant it. It was impossible for him to do otherwise, because not only was he one in purpose with the Father from all eternity, but in his divine nature he was also one in essence, one in being with the Father and holy Spirit. Yet they where distinct - they are distinct persons within the Godhead with different roles and functions.

We see then from the Scriptures that God is One. There are not three Gods. There is but One God who reveals himself to us in three distinct Persons. These three members of the Godhead, although distinct in their function and role, are One in their essence and being and glory.

I trust this excites further study in us all.

Steve Chapman

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Divine - Divinity - Godhead - Trinity