The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the Holy Trinity of the Bible. Together they are one God, but made up of three persons. They all share a divine nature, but Jesus also has a human nature because he lived a human life. The Bible makes numerous distinctions between the three persons.
The concept of the Holy Trinity is not easy to explain, even for some believers. In fact, it’s probably more commonly explored at academic institutions than at churches. That said, it’s often attested that it’s one of the key fundamental aspects of Christianity and the Bible, and understanding the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will significantly enhance your understanding of both.
The concept of the Holy Trinity is not easy to understand and, sometimes, it even confuses people as to whom they should dedicate their prayers. Let’s delve into the fine details of what each means and how their meanings came to pass. We’ll explore specific scriptures and examine biblical truths.
Related Reading: An Analysis of: “Forgive Me, Father, for I Have Sinned”
Father, Son, And Holy Spirit – What Do They Mean?
When those outside of Christianity consider Yahweh, the God of the Bible, they might conjure images of an omnipotent being who created the universe and shuffles people like pieces on a chessboard. However, to those who worship him, he’s a father and a dear friend who saved us from a life of sin and depravity. [GU1]
In Christian doctrine, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit make up the Holy Trinity – one God consisting of three persons. It exists not because of human authority but by God’s word.
What Would the Holy Trinity Look Like If It Were a Diagram?
Imagine a triangle, and a person of the trinity exists in every corner of the triangle. Each one is God, and they all share in his divine nature – three persons with infinite attributes.
The shape of a triangle gives it an infinite/continuous shape and thus provides an accurate representation of God’s infinite attributes. However, because Jesus walked the earth in a physical body, he also has a finite/human nature connected with the divine nature but doesn’t intermingle with it.
So, for example, if you were you ask a question about Jesus, you first need to establish whether you’re referring to his divine nature or his human nature. For instance, “Did Jesus get hungry?”. He did in his finite/human nature, but not his infinite/divine nature.
It can be a complicated question for many, but remember that just because you can’t completely comprehend something doesn’t mean that you can’t apprehend it. You can stand in front of an ocean and say, “I can’t completely comprehend everything in the ocean,” but it doesn’t stop you from saying,” there’s an ocean in front of me.”
What’s The Proof and History Behind Father, Son, And Holy Spirit
When scholars and researchers want to establish a conclusion or make a decision, they have a certain amount of data that they process. We can look around the world and examine the natural order of things; we know that there’s a moral law, and millions of people believe that they have witnessed miracles. Together, these things help us formulate a concept of God.
Christians also have the scripture – the Old and the New Testament. Let’s explore some verses highlighting the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Bible Verses That Make a Distinction Between Three Persons
In the beginning of Genesis, it states that “God created the heavens and the earth”, and there is also a mention that “…the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2, NIV)
This scripture makes an essential distinction between “God” and the “Spirit of God” as two separate persons. Later in the same chapter, in verse 26, it reads:
“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26, NIV).
You’ll notice that he is talking to someone other than himself. He also uses plural terms like “us” and “our,” implying someone else (the holy spirit) is with him.
Consider that in Isaiah 9:6, the prophet delivers a prophecy stating that “to us a son is given” and that he’ll be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God”. (Isaiah 9:6, NIV).
According to this scripture, a child will be born and become the mighty God. How will a child be a mighty god? The scripture refers to the birth of Jesus and how he will exist as a man but become a God (which eventually happens through the resurrection).
When you examine Isaiah 48:16, the first sentence, “Come near me and listen to this:” is Yahweh speaking. He says that he was there from the beginning, as we saw in Genesis. However, “And now the Sovereign Lord has sent me” is Jesus speaking, saying that God sent him. Lastly, Jesus was “endowed with his Spirit,” clarifying that the Holy Spirit is separate from both himself and from God.
In Zachariah 12:10, Yahweh states that he will “pour out a spirit a of grace and supplication”, and that people will “mourn for him as one grieves for a firstborn son”.
This scripture indicates that Yahweh will pour out a spirit that will cause people to repent, and they will look upon Yahweh, whom they have pierced, and mourn for Him as one mourns for a lost son. God has no physical body, so how can anyone pierce him? It could only be possible if he were to take on a human body, which is what Jesus did.
How Does Jesus Fit into The Trinity?
Finally, Jesus tells his followers that he is the final judge of all people, even though the Old Testament says Yahweh is the final judge. He also claims that he is the one that raises the dead at the resurrection, even though the Old Testament states that Yahweh is the one to do that.
Jesus calls himself by many other titles, such as:
- Lord of the Sabbath
- Lord of the prophet David,
- He says he is the I AM of the Exodus
- He claims to be greater than God’s temple
He tells us that he has a unique relationship with the Father, answers prayers, and that he’s present wherever his followers gather. Jesus says he is with his followers for all eternity and that he has all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus also makes a startling declaration that all things the Father has, belong to him.
Jesus also prays to the Father and claims to be from the Father. Why would Jesus make claims that only God could make, yet also draw attention to God as the “Father”?
In John 14 through 16, Jesus says that after he returns to the Father, He and the Father will together send the Holy Spirit. The Spirit he sends is the same Spirit with the Father at creation.
Psalm 104:30 states that the Spirit creates the universe. The Spirit is omniscient in first Corinthians, omnipresent in Psalm 193, and eternal in Hebrews 9. These are divine attributes, yet the Spirit is distinct from the Father and the Son.
In conclusion, if the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all God, and they are also all their own persons, then the only explanation that remains is the concept of the Holy Trinity.
Continue Reading: Spiritual Father Vs. Mentor, What’s The Difference?
Conclusion
The Bible makes clear distinctions between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; they’re three personages with the same divine nature.
