The document discusses the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, which teaches that God exists as three persons - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - but is still a single entity. It explores what the Bible says about each member of the Trinity and their nature. The Trinity distinguishes Christianity from other monotheistic religions. The doctrine was formulated by early church councils to systematically summarize what the scriptures teach about God.

1. The TrinityThe Trinity
APOL 6543APOL 6543

2. Introducing the TrinityIntroducing the Trinity
• If I were to ask you: is God a person?
• What would you respond?

3. An Overview: The TrinityAn Overview: The Trinity
• The Christian doctrine
of the Trinity teaches
that there is ONE God
who is TRI-personal
– That is to say, He has
three centers of self-
consciousness

4. The Trinity & Distinguishing ReligionsThe Trinity & Distinguishing Religions
• The Doctrine of the
Trinity distinguishes
Christianity from all
other monotheistic
religions
• Additionally, it
distinguishes
Christianity from all
the various cults such
as Jehova’s Witnesses
and Mormons, e.g.

5. Investigating the Trinity in ScriptureInvestigating the Trinity in Scripture
• The Doctrine – and word, Trinity – is not found
explicitly in the scriptures
• Rather, the Doctrine is the result of a systematic
summary of the scriptural data
– The fact that the word “Trinity” is not used in the
scriptures is irrelevant
– What is of interest is whether or not the Doctrine
faithfully systematizes the scriptural data
– Let’s briefly explore some of this for context

6. MonotheismMonotheism
• It should go without saying but the Bible clearly
teaches that there is ONE God (monotheism)
• A few quick references for this non-revelatory
opening point 
– Deuteronomy 6:4
– Isaiah 45:5

7. Scriptural DataScriptural Data
The TrinityThe Trinity • As we move through scriptures,
we’ll look at two aspects that are
each clearly taught in scripture
and afterwards seek to articulate
how we can understand it
1) Is each member of the Godhead a
distinct person?
2) Is each member of the Godhead,
God?

8. The FatherThe Father
Is a Distinct Person
•Matthew 11:27
•Matthew 26:39
•John 14:16-17
Is God
•Psalm 89:29
•Isaiah 63:16
•Matthew 6:9

9. The SonThe Son
Is a Distinct Person
• Mark 1:9-11
• John 17:1-5
• John 16:7
Is God
• Colossians 1:15-19 & 2:9
KURIOS – GREEK WORD FOR
YAHWEH – FOLLOW BY OT
PROOF TEXT
• Romans 10:9, 13
ASCRIBE TO JESUS,
CREATION
• Hebrews 1:1-3
• John 1:1-3
EVEN LOSE CONTROL &
CALL GOD
• Titus 2:13
• John 20:28
JESUS OWN COMMENTS
• John 8:58

10. The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit
Is a Distinct Person
•John 14:26
•Matthew 28:19
•Romans 8:26-27
Is God
•Acts 5:3-4
•Romans 8:9
•1 Corinthians 6:11

11. Historical developmentHistorical development
• Doctrine of the Trinity is the result of systematic
reflection on this – and other – data by the
church fathers & in its formulation within the
great creeds
• Key Events/Ideas
– Logos Christology
– Modalism
– Arianism
– Council of Nicaea (325 AD)
– Council of Alexandria (362 AD)

12. cHallenges from inside tHe cHurcHcHallenges from inside tHe cHurcH
regarding tHe trinityregarding tHe trinity
GnosticismGnosticism Taught that matter was evil and spirit was. Merged paganTaught that matter was evil and spirit was. Merged pagan
beliefs and dualism with Christianitybeliefs and dualism with Christianity
ModalismModalism God is one person appearing in different modesGod is one person appearing in different modes
ArianismArianism Denied that Jesus was fully GodDenied that Jesus was fully God

13. tHe development of doctrinetHe development of doctrine
AD33 95 170 313 325 381 451
Cross NT
Complete
Constantine
Converts
Nicea ChaceldonConstantinople
Councils
Muratorian
Fragment
Persecution
of the Church
“Survival Mode”
Doctrine Formalized to
Protect Clear Meaning
of Scripture
Gnostics Heretics

14. Proposing a Model to Show the TrinityProposing a Model to Show the Trinity
to be Logically Coherentto be Logically Coherent
• Most analogies are
poor and tend towards
heresy
– Modalism, e.g.
• Class discussion

15. A Model for Thinking of the TrinityA Model for Thinking of the Trinity
• In Greek mythology there
was a three-headed dog
many of us are at least
familiar with
• Although not real, and
certainly I hesitate to
compare God with some
mythological beast, this is a
tool for us to conceptualize a
mysterious doctrine

16. The Logical Coherence of the DoctrineThe Logical Coherence of the Doctrine
• Considering the analogy
for a moment
• If we could imagine that
Cerberus was endowed
with personhood we
could see how he might
have three distinct
persons and yet be one
entity - Cerberus
• If Cerberus were to die,
his spirit would
seemingly leave his
body and yet remain as
a triune spirit
• This model is simply
offered to demonstrate
that it is not logically
incoherent

17. Philosophical Issues of “Is”Philosophical Issues of “Is”
Is of Identity versus Is of Predication
•The Trinity is God (Identity statement)
•The Father is God; The Son is God; The Holy
Spirit is God (Predicative statements)

18. The Doctrine of the TrinityThe Doctrine of the Trinity
Functions within the Trinity
•Father: source & planner of salvation
•Son: achiever or means or salvation
•Spirit: effecter of salvation
•God has one essence or nature (The Father, Son, & Spirit
are in ‘lock-step’)
•God is three persons coexisting in eternity, of the same
essence