What is the Trinity?
The term "Trinity" comes from the Latin word trinitas, meaning “three.” While the Bible itself does not use this term—it was developed later as a theological descriptor—it is an appropriate and helpful way to articulate the unity and plurality of God as revealed in Scripture. Southern Baptists, holding firmly to the authority of the Bible, affirm the doctrine of the Trinity as foundational to understanding the nature of God. The doctrine teaches that God is one in essence but exists eternally as three distinct Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each Person is fully God, sharing the same divine attributes and essence, yet distinct in their roles and relationship with one another.
From the opening verses of Scripture, the plurality within the Godhead is evident. Genesis 1:1–2 states:
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters" (NKJV).
The word used for God in this passage, Elohim, is plural in form, yet it is paired with singular verbs, reflecting both unity and plurality. Furthermore, Genesis 1:26 records God saying, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (NKJV), further emphasizing the relational and plural nature of God.
The Old Testament also distinguishes between the Persons within the Godhead. For example, in Genesis 2:4, the Creator is referred to as the LORD God (Yahweh Elohim), underscoring the covenantal and relational aspect of God's nature. In Genesis 3:8, the LORD God is described as walking in the garden in the cool of the day, an act that suggests personal interaction with creation. The "Angel of the LORD" (Genesis 16:7–11; Exodus 3:2–4) and the manifestation of God as "a Man" (Genesis 32:24–30) further highlight distinct Persons interacting with humanity.
Isaiah 48 provides a remarkable insight into the Trinity. In Isaiah 48:12, the One who speaks identifies Himself as God:
"Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last" (NKJV).
This One, identified as the Creator in Isaiah 48:13, says in Isaiah 48:16, “Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord God and His Spirit Have sent Me” (NKJV).
Here, we see the pre-incarnate Christ distinguishing Himself from the Lord God (the Father) and the Spirit, yet affirming their unity.
The New Testament provides the clearest revelation of the Trinity. At the baptism of Jesus, all three Persons of the Godhead are present. Matthew 3:16–17 states:
"When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’" (NKJV).
Jesus Himself often spoke of the distinct Persons of the Trinity. In John 14:16–17, He said:
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you" (NKJV).
In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19, NKJV). The singular "name" here underscores the unity of God, while the listing of Father, Son, and Spirit affirms the distinct Persons.
The doctrine of the Trinity is neither modalistic (teaching that God is one Person who appears in different modes) nor polytheistic (teaching that there are three separate gods). Instead, it upholds the biblical truth that God is one in essence and three in Persons. As Deuteronomy 6:4 declares: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” (NKJV).
Understanding the Trinity is essential to a proper understanding of God’s work in creation, redemption, and sanctification. The Father initiates the plan of salvation (John 3:16); the Son accomplishes it through His incarnation, death, and resurrection (John 19:30; Romans 4:25); and the Spirit applies it to believers (John 16:7–13; Ephesians 1:13–14).
The Trinity is not just a theological concept but a profound truth that reveals the relational nature of God. This truth invites believers into fellowship with the triune God and provides the framework for understanding love, unity, and community. As Southern Baptists, we celebrate the majesty of the Trinity, affirming its centrality to our faith and proclaiming the triune God as the foundation of all that we believe and teach.
