My Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Doctrine of God: The Trinity. [First Part]

Notes From Summary of Christian Doctrine By Louis Berkhof.

Verses to memorize :Luk 4:17  And there was handed to Him the book of the Prophet Isaiah, and, opening the book, He found the place where it was written,

Luk 4:18  "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PROCLAIM GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR; HE HAS SENT ME TO ANNOUNCE RELEASE TO THE PRISONERS OF WAR AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND: TO SEND AWAY FREE THOSE WHOM TYRANNY HAS CRUSHED,

Luk 4:19  TO PROCLAIM THE YEAR OF ACCEPTANCE WITH THE LORD."

Jesus reading the Scroll in the Synagogue at Nazereth

Mat 28:19  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations; baptize them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;

2Co 13:14  May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

For Further Study.

1. In what sense can we speak of the general Fatherhood of God? see1 Cor 8:6; Eph 3:14-15; Heb 12:9; James 1:1 compare Numbers 16 : 22
2. Can you prove the Deity of the Incarnate Son? John 1:1; Jn 20:28; Phil 2:6; Titus 2:13; Jerm. 23:5-6; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:3 Rev. 1:8; Col 1:17; John 14:1; 2 Cor 13:14
3. How do the following passages prove the personality of the Holy Spirit? Gen 1:2; 6:3; Luke 12:12; John 14:26; 15:26; 16:8; Acts 8 :29;Romans :11; 1 Cor 2:10-11
4. What  works are ascribed to the Holy Spirit in the following: Ps 33:6; 104:30; Ex 28:3; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Cor 3:16; 12:4

1 The Statement of the Doctrine of the Trinity.

The Bible teaches us that God is one.[Monotheism]. It also teaches that He exists in Three Persons called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.These are not three persons in the ordinary sense of the words. Not  three individuals, but rather three forms in which the Divine Being exists. They can relate to each other. the father speaks to the Son and vice versa. They both send forth the Holy Spirit into the world.

The real mystery of the trinity consists in this that each one of the Persons possess the whole of the Divine essence, and that they have no existence outside of and apart from the Three Persons.

2. Scriptural Proof for the Trinity.

The OT contains some indications of more than one Person in the Godhead.

1. God speaks of Himself in the plural which is not just the Royal Plural used in some cultures.Gen 1:26  And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creepers creeping on the earth. Gen 1:27  And God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him. He created them male and female.
   

2. The Angel of Jehovah is presented as a divine Person. Gen 16: 7-13; 18:1-21; 19:1-22
3. The Spirit is spoken of as a distinct person. Isa 48:16  Come near to Me, hear this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning. From its being, I was there; and now the Lord Jehovah, and His Spirit, has sent Me. Isa 63:10  But they rebelled, and troubled His Holy Spirit; therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them.
4. There are some passages where Messiah is speaking and mentions two other Persons. Is.48:16; Isa 61:6  But you will be named the priests of Jehovah; it will be said of you, Ministers of our God; you will eat the riches of the nations, and you will revel in their glory. Isa 63:9  In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them, and carried them all the days of old.
5. Isa 63:10  But they rebelled, and troubled His Holy Spirit; therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them.

The New Testament give clearer Proofs.

The Strongest proof is found in the facts of Redemption: The father sends the Son into the World and the Son send the Holy Spirit.

There are several passages in which the three Persons are  expressly mentioned such as the Great Commision.

Mat 28:19  Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

John Gill “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; by the authority of these three divine persons, who all appeared, and testified their approbation of the administration of this ordinance, at the baptism of Christ: and as they are to be invocated in it, so the persons baptized not only profess faith in each divine person, but are devoted to their service, and worship, and are laid under obligation to obedience to them, Hence a confirmation of the doctrine of the Trinity, there are three persons, but one name, but one God, into which believers are baptized; and a proof of the true deity both of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; and that Christ, as the Son of God, is God; since baptism is administered equally in the name of all three, as a religious ordinance, a part of divine instituted worship, which would never be in the name of a creature. This is the first, and indeed the only, place in which the Trinity of persons is expressed in this order, and in the selfsame words.”

Note also the Apostolic Blessing : 2Co 13:14  May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

The Three Persons are present at the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist. Luk 3:21  And it happened in the baptizing of all the people, Jesus also being baptized, and praying, and the heaven was opened.

Luk 3:22  And the Holy Spirit came down in a bodily shape, like a dove on Him. And a voice came from Heaven, which said, You are My Son, the Beloved; I am delighted in You.

Compare 1Co 12:4  But there are differences of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1Co 12:5  And there are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.

1Co 12:6  And there are differences of workings, but it is the same God working all things in all.