(You are listening to "I Stand in Awe of You")
THE GODHEAD
"...in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
Matthew 28:19
Copyright © 1976, 1977 by Diane S. Dew
I. The doctrine of the Trinity (or, Godhead) – attacked
by cults (such as the Watchtower Society,
or Jehovah's Witnesses) so that they can
also deny the deity of Jesus – is one of the most basic
fundamentals of Christianity.
A. Although the word
"trinity" is not in the Bible, the concept of the three-in-one, the
triune
God, is. The term "Godhead," referring to the three-in-one, can be
found in Acts 17:29
and Colossians 2:9. (Many other words or concepts "not in the Bible"
are scriptural
nonetheless: i.e., theology, Bible, etc.)
Acts 17:29
Colossians 2:9
B. The doctrine of the Godhead can be summed up in the literal Hebrew translation of one verse.
Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our Gods (plural) is Jehovah a unity."
II. The concept of the Godhead (Trinity) is evident in scripture
as early as the first chapter of the
book of Genesis.
A. The Hebrew word
Elohim (translated "God" in Genesis 1:1) actually indicates more than
one divine personality. This same plural form is used over 2,500 times in the
Old Testament.
B. In the account of
creation recorded in the book of Genesis God speaks plurally of His
own Person.
Genesis 1:26, 27 (See also Genesis 3:22; 11:7; Isaiah 6:3, 8.)
"Let us make man in our
image, after our likeness ... So God created man in His own image, in the image
of God created He him."
III. Even the Old Testament makes definite reference both to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 30:4
Isaiah 11:2 "... the Spirit ... the Lord ... Him"
Isaiah 42:1 "My Servant ... I ... My Spirit ... upon Him"
Isaiah 48:16 "The Lord God ... His Spirit ... sent Me"
Isaiah 61:1 "Spirit of the Lord God ... upon Me ... the Lord"
Isaiah 63:9 "He ...the Angel of His Presence ... His Holy Spirit"
Ezekiel 36:26, 27
IV. Close examination of the following New Testament scriptures
will make obvious to any
student of the Bible that the
doctrine of the Godhead is truth.
Matthew 1:20, 21 "the Lord (the Father) ... the Holy Spirit ... Jesus"
Matthew 3:16, 17 "Jesus ... the Spirit of God ... a Voice from heaven (the
Father)"
Matthew 12:18 "I ... My Spirit ... on Him"
Matthew 22:42, 43 "Christ ... the Spirit ... Lord (the Father)"
Mark 1:9-11 "Jesus ... the Spirit ... a Voice from heaven ... My beloved
Son"
Mark 12:35, 36 "Christ ... the Holy Spirit ... the Lord (the Father)"
Luke 1:35 "the Holy Spirit ... the Highest ... the Son of God"
Luke 2:26, 27 "the Holy Spirit ... Christ ... Jesus"
Luke 3:21, 22 "Jesus ... the Holy Spirit ... a Voice from heaven ... My
beloved Son"
Luke 10:21 "Jesus ... the Spirit ... Father"
Luke 12:9, 10 "God ... the Son ... the Holy Spirit"
John 3:5 "Jesus ... the Spirit ... God"
John 3:34, 35 "God ... the Spirit ... the Father ... the Son"
John 4:24, 25 "God ... a Spirit ... Messiah ... Christ"
John 14:16, 17, 26 "the Comforter ... the Father ... in My name"
John 15:26 "the Comforter ... the Father ... of Me"
John 20:21, 22 "Jesus ... Father ... the Holy Spirit"
Acts 2:32, 33 "Jesus ... God ... the Father ... the Holy Spirit"
Acts 2:38, 39 "Jesus Christ ... the Holy Spirit ... God"
Acts 4:30, 31 "Jesus ... the Holy Spirit ... God"
Acts 5:31, 32 "God ... a Prince and Savior ... the Holy Spirit"
Acts 7:55 "the Holy Spirit ... Jesus ... God"
Acts 8:14-16 "God ... the Holy Spirit ... Jesus"
Acts 10:38 "God ... Jesus ... the Holy Spirit"
Acts 10:46-48 "God ... the Holy Spirit ... the Lord"
Acts 11:16, 17 "the Lord ... the Holy Spirit ... God ... the Lord Jesus
Christ"
Acts 20:21-23 "God ... Jesus ... the Holy Spirit"
Romans 1:1, 3, 4 "God ... His Son, Jesus Christ ... the Spirit"
Romans 5:5, 6 "God ... the Holy Spirit ... Christ"
Romans 8:2, 3 "the Spirit ... Jesus ... God ... His own Son"
Romans 8:8, 9 "God ... the Spirit ... the Spirit of Christ"
Romans 8:16, 17 "the Spirit ... God ... Christ"
Romans 14:17, 18 "the Holy Spirit ... Christ ... God"
Romans 15:12, 13 "Root of Jesse (Jesus) ... God ... Holy Spirit"
Romans 15:16 "Jesus ... God ... the Holy Spirit"
Romans 15:30 "The Lord Jesus Christ ... the Spirit ... God"
1 Corinthians 6:10, 11 "God ... the Lord Jesus ... the Spirit"
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 "Spirit ... Lord ... God"
1 Corinthians 7:39, 40 "the Lord Jesus ... the Spirit ... God"
1 Corinthians 8:2 "the Lord Jesus ... the Spirit ... God"
2 Corinthians 3:3, 4 "the Spirit ... Christ ... God"
2 Corinthians 13:14 "Jesus ... God ... the Holy Spirit"
2 Corinthians 5:5, 6 "God ... the Spirit ... the Lord (Jesus)"
Galatians 4:6, 7 "God ... the Spirit ... Son ... Father ... God ...
Christ"
Ephesians 2:18 "through Him (Jesus) ... Spirit ... the Father"
Ephesians 2:21, 22 "the Lord ... God ... the Spirit"
Ephesians 3:14, 16 "the Father ... Jesus Christ ... His Spirit"
Ephesians 4:4-6 "Spirit ... Lord (Jesus) ... God and Father"
Ephesians 5:18-20 "Spirit ... Lord (Jesus) ... God ... Father"
Colossians 1:6-8 "God ... Christ ... Spirit"
1 Thessalonians 4:6-8 "Lord (Jesus) ... God ... Holy Spirit"
1 Thessalonians 5:18, 19 "God ... Father ... Christ ... Jesus ...
Spirit"
2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14 "God ... Lord ... God ... Spirit ... Lord Jesus
Christ"
Titus 3:4-6 "God ... Holy Spirit ... Jesus Christ"
Hebrews 2:3, 4 "Lord (Jesus) ... God ... Holy Spirit"
Hebrews 3:4, 6, 7 "God ... Christ ... Holy Spirit"
Hebrews 6:4-6 "Holy Spirit ... God ... Son"
Hebrews 9:14 "Christ ... Spirit ... God"
Hebrews 10:29-31 "Son of God ... Spirit ... Lord ... God"
1 Peter 1:2 "God the Father ... Spirit ... Jesus Christ"
1 Peter 3:18 "Christ ... God ... Spirit"
1 Peter 4:14 "Christ ... Spirit ... God"
2 Peter 1:21 "God ... Holy Spirit ... Lord (Jesus)"
2 Peter 2:1 "God ... Holy Spirit ... Lord (Jesus)"
1 John 4:2 "Spirit ... Jesus ... God"
1 John 4:13, 14 "Spirit ... Father ... Son ... Savior"
1 John 5:7 "Father ... Word ... Holy Spirit"
Jude 20, 21 "the Holy Spirit ... God ... Lord ... Jesus Christ"
Revelation 1:9, 10 "Jesus Christ ... God ... Jesus Christ ... Spirit"
Revelation 3:5-7 "Father ... Spirit ... He that hath the key of David
(Jesus)"
Revelation 14:12, 13 "God ... Jesus ... Lord ... Spirit"
Revelation 21:9, 10 "Lamb ... Spirit ... God"
Revelation 22:16-18 "the offspring of David (Jesus) ... Spirit ...
God"
V. Even though there are three individual Persons in the Godhead, there is still only one God.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; 1 Corinthians 8:4; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19
|
The Attributes of God As Evident in Each Person of the Godhead |
|||
| The Father | Jesus Christ | The Holy Spirit | |
|
omnipotent (all-powerful) |
Genesis 18:14 |
Daniel 7:13, 14 Matthew 28:18 1 Peter 3:22 John 3:31, 35; 17:2 |
Psalms 104:30 |
|
omnipresent (everywhere) |
1 Kings 8:27 Psalms 139:3, 7-10 Proverbs 15:3 Jeremiah 23:23, 24 Isaiah 57:15 Acts 17:24, 27, 28 |
Matthew 18:29 Matthew 28:19, 20 Ephesians 1:23 |
Psalms 139:7-10 |
|
omniscient (all-knowing) |
1 Chronicles 28:9 2 Chronicles 6:30 Job 34:21, 22 Psalms 139:1-6, 11-18; 147:5 Isaiah 48:5; 66:18 Acts 15:18 Romans 11:33-36 1 John 3:20 |
John 4:25, 26, 29; 6:64; He knew their thoughts: He knew the future: |
Isaiah 40:13 |
|
immutable (unchanging) |
Malachi 3:6 | Hebrews 13:8 | 1 Corinthians 12:4 |
|
eternal (everlasting) |
Genesis 21:33 Exodus 3:14 Psalms 90:2; 102:27 Isaiah 41:4 Romans 1:23; 16:27 1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16 Revelation 4:8 |
Isaiah 44:6; 48:12 pre-existent to creation: |
Hebrews 9:14 |
THE GODHEAD: Three Distinct Personalities
.I. The Father is a distinct personality apart from the Spirit:
Matthew 3:16, 17
Isaiah 48:16
II. The Spirit is a distinct personality apart from the Son:
Matthew 123:31, 32 (Luke 12:10)
John 16:7, 13, 14
1 John 5:6-8
III. The Son is a distinct personality apart from the Father:
Matthew 10:32; 11:25-27
Mark 13:32
Luke 17:5
John 5:19, 20, 30; 6:37-39; 14:12, 28, 31; 16:5, 16; 32:17
Ephesians 1:17, 20
1 Corinthians 3:23; 11:3
Colossians 3:1
Hebrews 1:1-3
IV. Yet "the Lord our Gods (plural, Heb.) is one Lord." This is a mystery.
Deuteronomy 6:4
Genesis 1:26, 27 ("...us...our...our")
Diane Dew, PO Box 340945, Milwaukee, WI 53234