Understanding the Trinity.

The Trinity is one of those aspects of theology that is a little hard to understand. Yes, we get the idea: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Three in one, etc. That still doesn’t really describe it. No one this side of Heaven will ever be able to truly understand the Trinity, but the Bible gives us some clues. Here is a quick overview as I can understand and explain it:

Trinity – Latin (Trinitas): Tri-Unity (three parts in one)

• Father – Creator (Deuteronomy 32:6)
• Son – Savior (John 3:16-18)
• Holy Spirit – Messenger & Connector (Romans 8:26-27)

These three are different in rank and function, but the same in essence.

In John 3:16, it says that Jesus is “begotten,” which means he is of or from the Father. It is mentioned over 40 times in the Gospel of John that Jesus was sent by the Father (denoting authority to the Father). Just like a human father and son are both human in essence, the father is still in authority over his son.

Likewise, Galatians 4:4-7 says that He sent the Spirit (denoting authority to the Father) into our hearts through faith in the Son so that we will know and be connected to the Father as the Son is.

There are a places in the Bible where the Son and Holy Spirit are treated as the same as the Father. For example, in John 5:58 Jesus calls Himself “I am.” This is the same name that the Father used for Himself in Exodus 3:13-14 when Moses asks His name. In Mark 3:28-29, Jesus says that blasphemy (denial or cursing) of the Holy Spirit is an eternal and unforgivable sin; just as the Father revealed was a sin against Him in the third of the Ten Commandments. Let’s not forget Genesis 1:26: “Let US make man in OUR image, OUR own likeness.”