For a very long time, people have debated this very question and people are very passionate about their answer to this question. After all, this will determine whether or not the faith they have been applying to their life is valid or not. But how should we even approach finding the truth to this answer?
I know what you’re thinking. My answer is going to be bias, cause I am a Christian.
Though it is true, I have my conclusion of the Trinity, but I can assure you that my conclusion is based on my own search for truth and not cause I believed other Christians. So in this series, I will share and present to you the information I collected to draw my conclusion and give you the most neutral perspective as I possibly can to allow you to have your own conclusion. Because when it is all said and done, I cannot provide clear cut proof of the Trinity, I can only present to you the possibilities of it. The rest, is up to you.
Before we begin, let’s establish some ground work.
What Does The Trinity mean?
Let’s start off simple. Here is the official definition:
- The Christian Godhead as one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Google Dictionary
- A group of three people or things.
So Christians who believe Jesus is God – believe that God is one being who appears as 3 different persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Many people have a problem with this concept, for many reasons.
And here are some:
- Jesus did not say plainly that He is God
- People have a hard time believing God would lower Himself to be human
- It is not logical that One Being can be 3 different Beings
- The Bible says there is only One God.
I will say this, these are all very valid points and worth researching. At least, that is how I felt, when I was presented these points. We will definitely walk through each of these points as we move forward.
Nonetheless, you can see how this debate can start off on the wrong foot. People are emotionally invested in this topic because people have trusted in what they believe and the possibility of their belief not being true is very scary. I know the feeling, this is the fear I faced when I went on the journey for truth for myself. But it is totally worth the journey.
Now that we know what the Trinity is and what people are debating. Let’s establish our approach to digging for the truth. Very simply, we will be answering these questions:
- Is God capable of existing as One Being, but also Three at the same time?
- Has God ever appeared in Human form?
- Does the Bible ever support the idea of the Trinity?
- Did Jesus ever make a claim that He is God?
The answers to these questions supported by evidence and Scripture can certainly get anyone to a good place to conclude either way.
So let’s get this series going!
God is One but Three at the Same Time?
When this question is debated by people who do not believe in the Trinity, it is debated with very easy logic. If God is One, He cannot be another being. Therefore, this is a contradiction.
I know, the argument for whether God being one means He cannot be another being, is not that simple.
But if God is the Creator of everything, this means that He is not limited to Human logic. This means He sets the standard of what He can or cannot do.
Nonetheless, let’s examine a little closer to the arguments of the Bible claiming God can only be one.
Here are a couple of key verses:
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me
Isaiah 43:10
I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols
Isaiah 42:8
Know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
Deuteronomy 4:39
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one
Deuteronomy 6:4
These are clear passages that say that God is One. Even says, there is no other, referring to other gods.
The last verse listed is the most used verse for this debate because it is one of the most prominent verse for several reasons. First reason is because practicing Jews have been receiving that verse on a daily basis as being part of Shema prayer. In fact, many Jewish people for centuries and even to this day have this scripture rolled on a piece of paper and nailed to their door frame to remind themselves of this verse daily.
That seems pretty significant verse.
But this verse was also recited by Jesus, which helps the argument that if Jesus had validated this verse, how can He think He is also God?
Let’s dive in a little deeper and what we will discover will not only answer these questions for these verses but for the others as well.
Are There Other Gods?
A key to discover a revelation, is to be patient. There will be some questions that may spark some red flags, that’s a good sign. It means we are getting to the core of the truth. You cannot get to the truth without asking the hard questions.
That being said, if you search it in the Bible, you will discover that there are other gods mentioned in the Bible.
We see here, in a couple of verses, there is instruction about going after or even speaking the name of other gods. We also hear God say that there are no other gods:
Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.
Exodus 23:13
You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you
Deuteronomy 6:14
Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
Exodus 15:11
Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god
Isaiah 44:6
Now we see the mention of gods a little bit more here. But it does appear they are just mentioning the other false religions of the current times. This does not mean that God acknowledges there are actually other gods, right? These people are worshipping something that just isn’t real.
Well, lets take a different look at that.
On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord.
Exodus 12:12
In this verse we see God taking action against gods. If they were not real, how can they receive judgement.
We also see the Psalms mention other gods in praise of God:
There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours
Psalms 86:8
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.
Psalms 96:4
For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
Psalms 135:5
For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
Psalms 97:9
Ok, so it is very clear that the Bible verifies there are other ‘gods’. But it is important to note that the Bible claims, the God of Israel, is at a higher status that these ‘gods’ because He is the Creator.
So What Does This Have To Do With The Trinity?
People who protest the Trinity will point our verses such as Isaiah 42:9, Deuteronomy, 4:39, Deuteronomy 6:4 as being proof that God is one, implying that He cannot divide Himself and cannot exist as also Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
But these verses are not claiming or even talking about the nature of God or what He can or cannot do. Instead, He is claiming His status above all the other gods and reminding humans on who they can or cannot worship.
So these verses, do not contradict the Trinity. There is only One God that we, as Christ followers should be worshipping, and that is the God of Israel. This does NOT say it is impossible that God cannot be three different persons but one nature.
Tune in next week for Part 2, where we will dive in to whether or not the Bible supports the idea of the Trinity and whether God has ever showed signs of coming down in Human form……
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