Who is God?
Christians believe in one true God, yet Scripture speaks of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. How can God be one and three at the same time? This question lies at the heart of the Christian faith.
The Trinity is not the belief that there are three gods. Neither does it mean that one person simply appears in three different forms. It is the Christian doctrine that one God exists eternally as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Understanding this truth helps us know God more deeply and appreciate the relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Understanding the Doctrine of the Trinity
The word Trinity does not appear in the Bible. Christians use it to describe what Scripture reveals about God’s nature. The doctrine brings together two truths: there is only one God, and the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are each fully God.
Deuteronomy 6:4 declares, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one”. Christianity firmly upholds this truth. Yet the New Testament reveals a distinction between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit without dividing God into three beings.
The three persons are co-equal, co-existent and co-eternal. None is a created being, and none is less divine than another; They share the same divine essence, glory and will, while remaining distinct in person.
Consider what this means:
- The Father is God (1 Corinthians 8:6).
- The Son is God (John 1:1, 14).
- The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4).
These are not three separate gods. Each person is fully God, sharing the one divine nature. The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father.
The Trinity is therefore not a contradiction.
Although the word Trinity came into use after the New Testament was written, its foundation is found throughout Scripture. Matthew 3:16-17 gives a clear picture at the baptism of Jesus.
As Jesus comes out of the water, the Spirit of God descends like a dove, and the Father’s voice declares, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” All three are present in the same account: the Son is baptised, the Spirit descends, and the Father speaks.
This passage shows that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are distinct persons. They are not simply three names for the same person.
Other passages strengthen this understanding:
- John 1:1 and John 1:14: The Word was with God and was God, and the Word became flesh in Jesus Christ. The Son is distinct from the Father, yet fully divine.
- Matthew 28:19: Jesus commands His disciples to baptise in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The singular word name brings the three persons together within the one divine identity.
- John 14:15-17: Jesus speaks of asking the Father to give another Helper, the Holy Spirit. The passage distinguishes all three while showing their united work.
- 2 Corinthians 13:14: Paul blesses the church with the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Each person is included in this blessing.
Together, these passages reveal a God who is one in being and three in person. The doctrine is not built on one isolated verse; it arises from the wider testimony of Scripture.
Co-Equal, Co-Existent and Co-Eternal
What does it mean to say that the three persons are co-equal, co-existent and co-eternal?
Co-equal means that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit share the same divine nature. None is inferior in deity or glory. Their distinct roles do not mean that one is less God than another.
Co-existent means that all three persons exist together. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not successive forms God takes at different times.
Co-eternal means that none began to exist after the others. The Son is not a created being, and the Holy Spirit is not a later addition to God. John 1:1 presents the Word as already existing in the beginning.
Some passages describe the Son obeying the Father or being sent by Him. This does not mean the Son is less divine. The Son’s willing obedience in His mission of salvation must not be confused with a lesser divine nature. Similarly, the Holy Spirit’s work does not make Him inferior to the Father or the Son. 2 Corinthians 13:14 places all three within the life and blessing of the church.
Conclusion
The Trinity remains one of the central truths of Christianity because it shapes how we understand God, salvation and our relationship with Him. The Father sends the Son; the Son gives His life for our salvation; and the Holy Spirit works in believers to make Christ known and help them live in faith.
We do not need to understand every mystery of God’s nature before we can worship Him. Yet we should take care to believe what Scripture reveals rather than reduce God to something easier to explain.
The Father is God. The Son is God. The Holy Spirit is God. They are distinct persons, co-equal in deity, co-existent and co-eternal, sharing the one divine essence.
One God. Three distinct persons. One divine nature. This is the Christian confession of the Trinity, inviting us to know the Father, trust in the Son and walk in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.