Introduction to the Trinity

This is a brief outline of some interesting things that relate to this topic.  I put this together for a bible study one night, and I thought I would share it in case it is helpful to others.

1 - God has revealed Himself to us as One God in Three Persons:

The Father is God:  Ephesians 1:2

The Son is God:  John 1:1

The Holy Spirit is God:  Acts 5:3-4

God is One:  Deuteronomy 6:4


2 - Some Attributes of God (all apply to the Trinity)

Self-Existent/Eternal - Nobody created God.  He has no beginning or end. (Psalm 90:2, John 8:58...also, Jehovah means "The existing one" - I am that I am)

Self-Sufficent - God lacks nothing, needs nothing  (Acts 17:23-25, Colossians 1:16-17)

Immutable - does not change (Hebrews 13:8)

Omnipresent - You can never go to a place where God is not present (Psalm 145:18, Psalm 139:7-10, Mat 18:20, Mat 28:20, John 14:16-17)

Omniscient - He is all knowing.  There is nothing anywhere that He does not know. (Psalm 147:5, 1 John 3:20, Psalm 139:1-6)

Omnipotent - He has all power to do anything He desires - Rev 19:6, Job 42:2, Luke 1:37

(Further reading:  "Knowledge of the Holy" by A.W. Tozer, "Knowing God" by J.I. Packer)


3 - Some Different Roles of the Persons of the Trinity

The Father sent the Son. (John 6:57, 3:16, 8:42)

The Son did not send the Father. The Spirit did not send either the Father or the Son.

The Spirit brought the Son into a human body by placing Him in the womb of Mary. (Luke 1:35)

The Son was performing the will of the Father when He came as a man (John 6:38)

Neither the Father nor the Spirit put on humanity like the Son did.

After the Son ascended and was placed at the right hand of the Father, the Father gave the Spirit to the Son, and the Son pours the Spirit out on us. (Acts 2:32-33)

The Spirit did not give or send the Father or the Son.

The Spirit “continues” the ministry of the Son after the Son ascends - The entire book of Acts

The Son glorifies the Father (John 17:4)

The Father glorifies the Son (John 17:1)

The Spirit testifies of the Son. (John 15:26)

The Son (while in the body) was led by the Spirit (Luke 4:1)

The Spirit enabled the Son (while in the body) to perform signs and wonders, and cast out demons (Luke 4:14-18, Matthew 12:28)

The Spirit inspired the writers of the scriptures. (2 Peter 1:20-21)

The Father reveals things to us by the Spirit. (1 Cor 2:10-12)

The Son died for our sins.  (Romans 5:8)

The Father and the Spirit resurrected the Son from the dead:  (Romans 1:4, Romans 8:11)

The Father, Son, and Spirit created the universe.  (Genesis 1:1-2, Colossians 1:16-17)

(Further reading:  "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Relationships, Roles, and Relevance" by Bruce A. Ware)