Trinity: God in the Bible, Explained

The word “Trinity” is often used to describe the God in the Bible. But what does Trinity mean, exactly? Is God one or is God three? This question has confused many people, but the answer is actually quite simple.

The Trinity can be Understood Through the Transformation of Water

The chemical name for water is H20. When H20 is at room temperature, it’s a liquid and called water. But if that same water is frozen, it will become a solid and be called ice. And if that same liquid water is boiled, it will evaporate and become a gas, called vapour.

But does it ever stop being H20? Absolutely not. Even though it has a different name and appearance according to different circumstances, its essence never changes. Water, ice and vapour are all H20 and H20 can move easily between these three different states.

In the same way, our Heavenly Father carries out His salvation work with a different appearance and a different title and name at different times, but He is one and the same God — His fundamental nature does not change.

In the Old Testament times, God used the title “Father” and the name “Jehovah” when he revealed himself to the forefathers of faith and delivered the Israelites from Egypt. That same God was born on the earth in order to die for our sins, but since He came in the flesh, in the image of His children, He used the title “Son” and the name “Jesus.” And God is prophesied to complete His last work of salvation with the title Holy Spirit (Rev. 22:17).

The Trinity just means the God in the Bible can change His appearance, name and title, like how H20 changes freely from vapour to water to ice. God the Son Jesus is God the Father Jehovah. Jehovah is the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is Jesus. He is the same one God.

Another way to understand the Trinity, and God in the Bible, is to think about an actor who performs three roles in a play. He appears on stage sometimes as a son, sometimes as the son’s father and sometimes as his grandfather. Each time, he uses a different voice and puts on a different costume, altering his appearance, but he never stops being the one same actor. God in the Bible, the omnipresent and omnipotent creator, can also put on a different appearance and use a different title and name to carry out His will. This is what “Trinity” means.

Some say it’s hard to believe that Jesus is God the Father, just born in the flesh, because it’s hard to believe that Almighty God who lives in Heaven came as a man. In fact, while it’s true that man cannot be God, it is very easy for God to be a man. Almighty God can do everything. If God is going to bring His children, physical beings, to the spiritual world, how much more can God cross from the spiritual world into the physical world?

Understand the Trinity to Understand Jesus

Various churches have so many different explanations about the Trinity. And that means there are so many different explanations of who God is in the Bible.

Some churches consider Jesus only as one of God’s children — literally, a son of God; some say that Jesus is one of the angels; some insist that God and Jesus are not the same, even though the purpose and will of the two are the same — that they are essentially one and two at the same time.

Explanations of the Trinity can be notoriously complicated, so it’s understandable that many people are confused. With such a great difference among the churches, is there a way to know who Jesus is for sure?

Jesus said that the Bible is the only way to know who he is — not personal opinions or theories from a church, pastor or religious scholar. The Bible’s testimony makes the true meaning of the Trinity — God in the Bible — clear and simple.

John 5:39 “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.”

When Jesus spoke these words 2,000 years ago, the New Testament had not yet been written, so the scriptures refer to the books of the Old Testament. That means the prophecies in the Old Testament testify about Jesus. They testify clearly that Jesus is actually the Lord God Jehovah who was born in the flesh. And the Bible also confirms that the Holy Spirit is Jesus’ own Spirit.

Trinity in the Bible: God the Father Jehovah is God the Son Jesus

The prophet Isaiah prophesied about the child, the son who would be born on this earth through the virgin Mary (Isa. 7:14).

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Who is the child, the son in this prophecy? He is Jesus. Every Christian knows this fact. But what did the Bible testify about Jesus? It testified that Jesus is “Mighty God, Everlasting Father.” That Mighty God is our Heavenly Father Jehovah. That means that the Bible prophesied that God the Father Jehovah Himself would be born in the flesh as a child. When that prophecy was fulfilled, Jehovah used the name Jesus.

So Jesus is God Jehovah Himself, however it’s natural that the Father should be called the Son of God when He was born as a child in this world. His title when he came as Christ confirms His mission. Through His life, He set an example for us, the children of God.

The apostles who had thorough knowledge of the truth understood this. They recognized Jesus as God Himself and testified to this fact.

Philippians 2:5-8 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!

Apostle Paul testified that Jesus is “in very nature God.” God here indicates God the Father Jehovah. That means the apostles believed that Jesus’ true nature is that of the Father Jehovah who came as a man for our salvation. He took on the appearance of a man, humbling Himself to seek and save us — even dying for us — but His nature, who He actually was, never stopped being God the creator, our Father, known as Jehovah to the Old Testament prophets.

Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

Here, the Bible testifies that “Jesus is God over all, forever praised.” That can only mean that Jesus is the Father Jehovah.

The Creation Confirms Jesus is Jehovah

Mated verses (two or more Bible verses about the same topic that interpret each other when they are connected) also testify that Jesus is God Father, the creator.

Isaiah 44:24 “This is what the Lord says — your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself.”

Who made all things? The Bible testifies that God the Father Jehovah — alone — made all things. If Jesus was not indistinguishable from Jehovah, if he wasn’t the same God, there’s no way the Bible could credit Jesus as the creator since Jehovah says he made earth “by myself.” But what does the New Testament say?

Colossians 1:16-18 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

The New Testament says that all things were created by “him.” And Him refers to Jesus, who resurrected and became the firstborn from among the dead (1 Cor. 15:20). When this verse is compared to the verse in Isaiah, it confirms that the Father Jehovah and the Son Jesus are the same one creator. If the Father and the Son are different, there would have to be two different worlds: one created by the Father, who created by Himself, and the other created by the Son, who created all things. These two verses cannot be reconciled if the Father and Son are separate entities. Since there is only one earth that exists, the Father Jehovah and the Son Jesus refer to one and the same God.

God changed His title and His name when He came as Jesus, but he never stopped being Jehovah.

God is the Alpha and Omega

In the Bible, God the Father Jehovah is described as the first and the last, the beginning and the end. As the creator, there is nothing before or after Him.

Isaiah 44:6 “This is what the Lord says — Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.”

The book of Revelation also testifies that the Lord God, a title reserved for God the Father Jehovah, is the Alpha and Omega.

Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the last letter, so this verse also means that Jehovah is the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

But Jehovah isn’t the only one called Alpha and Omega in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 22:13-16 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End…. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

Here, Jesus testifies that He is the Alpha and the Omega. If the Father and the Son are different, then the Father and the Son can never have the same beginning because the Father must come before the Son. They can have the same end, but never the same beginning. However, the Bible says that both Jehovah and Jesus have the same beginning. They are both Alpha. They are both “first.” Jesus is not “second.” This is possible only when the Father and the Son are one and the same God. It is possible only if Jesus is Jehovah.

Some people may be confused because the Bible describes Jesus sometimes as God, sometimes as the Son of God, sometimes as a servant of God, and sometimes as a prophet. But don’t let these titles confuse you.

A man can use his first name, his last name, a nickname, his work title, his title in a voluntary position and his family title at various times, but he never stops being a single man. These names and titles just serve to deepen our understanding of who he is and what he does. It is the same with God. God the Father set examples on earth for his sons and servants and prophets so He used these titles on earth, but the prophecies about Him make it clear that the one who came, Jesus, is God the Father Jehovah.

Even Jesus Himself testified that although he sometimes used the title Son of God, he was, in fact God the Father Himself, and he implored his disciples to recognize this fact.

John 14:8-9 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

It’s time to know Jesus. It’s a long time since He came to this earth 2,000 years ago and still many Christians are confused about the meaning of the Trinity. But in the Bible, it is clear. Jesus is Jehovah. Before He came to the earth, Jesus was guiding the Old Testament prophets as Jehovah. And He is prophesied to come a second time with the title Holy Spirit.

Trinity in the Bible: God’s Spirit is the Holy Spirit

The Bible confirms that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God the Father Jehovah, which is holy. The Holy Spirit is not merely an energy or invisible power, but God Himself.

1 Corinthians 2:11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

No one can read another person’s thoughts. Only your spirit knows exactly what you are thinking. The Bible says the same principle holds true for God. Only who can know the thoughts of God Almighty? Of course, only God Himself knows the thoughts of God the Father Jehovah. However, the Bible reveals in the previous verse that the Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of God.

1 Corinthians 2:10 These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit that reveals things to God’s people. But the Holy Spirit also searches all things, even the deep things of God. That means the Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of God, which means that the Holy Spirit Himself must be God, because only God knows His thoughts. Since God here is the Father Jehovah, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father Jehovah.

Trinity in the Bible: God the Son Jesus is the Holy Spirit

If God the Father Jehovah is Jesus and the Father is also the Holy Spirit, it stands to reason that the Holy Spirit must be Jesus. This principle of the Trinity is confirmed in the Bible.

1 John 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

The Bible testifies that Jesus is our advocate. In other translations, He is described as the one who speaks in our defence. In the original Greek, the advocate is described as parakletos, which means counselor. So Jesus is clearly our advocate and counselor who speaks in our defence.

The same prophecy that testified that Jesus is Mighty God, Everlasting Father born in the flesh also testified that Jesus is our Counselor.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

However, Jesus Himself testified that the Holy Spirit is our advocate, our counselor.

John 14:26 “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Who is the advocate, here? The book of 1 John testifies that the Son Jesus is the advocate. Here, Jesus testifies that the Holy Spirit is the advocate. In both verses the original Greek uses the word parakletos, the counselor. There are not two separate advocates. The Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one and the same God.

The Holy Spirit is not just the energy or power of God, nor is the Holy Spirit merely the gifts God’s people receive. The Holy Spirit is God’s own Spirit that has been guiding God’s people. Trinity means God in the Bible has one Spirit. His Spirit is sometimes called the Spirit of Jesus, sometimes the Spirit of God and sometimes the Holy Spirit — but it is one and the same spirit. And Jesus’ Spirit is prophesied to be born again on the earth at the time of His second coming (Heb. 9:28) in the age of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19).

Trinity means God in the Bible is not three separate persons

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are titles that all refer to the same one God. God is not three separate persons in one godhead as is commonly described in Christian doctrines. Instead, Trinity means the same one God in the Bible carries out the works of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. One and the same God works with a different appearance and with a different name in each age.

So it is true to say that Jesus is the one who created the Heavens and the earth and appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is true that the Holy Spirit divided the Red Sea and gave the Ten Commandments to Moses.

The Bible contains many prophecies about the work the Holy Spirit would do in our age when He comes to earth with Jesus’ new name (Rev 3:12) to bring salvation to His people.