The concept of the Trinity, while the term itself does not appear in Scripture, is clearly presented throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Scripture consistently reveals God as existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, yet remaining one God. Deuteronomy 6:4 states unequivocally, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (NKJV), affirming the oneness of God.
The reality of the Trinity is evident even in the Old Testament. In Genesis 1:26, God says, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness”, using a plural form that suggests a complex unity within the Godhead. Isaiah 48:16 also illustrates this divine plurality: “Come near to Me, hear this: From the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there. And now the Lord God has sent Me, and His Spirit”, indicating the interplay of the Father, the Spirit, and the One sent—prefiguring the Son. Additional passages, such as Psalm 110:1, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool’, further reveal this triune relationship.
The three persons of the Trinity exist eternally, without beginning or end, and are equal in substance and nature. The Son is fully God, the Holy Spirit is fully God, and the Father is fully God. None is more God than the other, and there is no division among them. Jesus affirms this intimate unity in John 17, stating that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him.
John 16:13–15 further elucidates the role of the Spirit:
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you” (NKJV).
There is no division within the Trinity; there is complete fullness and relational harmony. God is love, and therefore the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are love.
From the very beginning of Scripture, the activity of all three persons is evident. In Genesis 1:1–3, the Father is revealed as the Creator of all things, creating through the Word. John 1:1–5 identifies this Word as the One through whom everything was made, Jesus Christ the Son. Simultaneously, the Spirit is depicted as hovering over the chaos and the emptiness. Thus, from the outset, the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is demonstrated in perfect cooperation, united as one God.
Throughout creation and the unfolding of salvation history, the distinct roles of the Trinity continue to be revealed. The Son, Jesus Christ, is the One who brings redemption to creation, while the Holy Spirit sanctifies the world, guiding and transforming it. The Father manifests His love by giving His Son to redeem all who would believe in the Son. Though their functions or actions are distinct in the story of humanity and the existence of the creation, the three persons act in perfect harmony, demonstrating the unity, love, and relational fullness of the one true God. They mutually indwell one another, being fully One and also distinctly three at the same time.
This doctrinal truth, clearly revealed in Scripture, defines the God we worship and sets Him apart from any other deity or idol. It purifies our hearts, ensuring that we do not worship a lesser god or an image of God that we have constructed in our own minds. The worship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit distinguishes Christians, for it reflects the true nature of God as a relational and triune being. It communicates that we belong to a divine family and reveals that God Himself functions in family, in relationship, and in perfect unity and harmony.