What evidence is there in scripture to support the doctrine of the holy trinity?
I have a close friend that is a very devout Jehovah’s Witness; he and I are currently undertaking a study of the word of God together and the more I learn about the witnesses’ faith the less inclined I am to agree with any of their beliefs. My friend and I argue over the doctrine of the holy trinity, he calls me a pagan and says that the trinity is never mentioned in the bible. Other than John 1:1 what other evidence in scripture is there that supports the doctrine of the holy trinity?
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Asked September 08 2013
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Simon Cropper
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Singapore Moses
► In the image of God--’Elohiym (H430) (plural), Gods. The whole structure of the sentence involves unity joined with plurality ► Gen 3:22 says And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil. The phrase, "as one of us" emphasizes the fact that there is more than one distinct person in the Godhead. There are some who argue that the word "Trinity" does not appear in the Bible. For that matter the word "Christianity" also does not appear! A simple and straightforward understanding of the Holy Bible teaches us that God eternally exists as three Persons— the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Like any other doctrine, the doctrine of Trinity is progressively revealed in the Scriptures, a partial revelation in the Old Testament and a fuller one in the New. However, Trinity is a mystery. It cannot be fully and satisfactorily explained in human language or by any analogy. When we accept it in faith we will understand it in stages by experience. If the Jewish interpreters had admitted the plurality of Persons in one God, they would have had no great difficulty in accepting the divine claims of Christ as the Son of God. It was by quoting Psalm 110:1 that Jesus cornered them. "No one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore!" (Mt 22:41-46). It is impossible for a fair-minded Christian to deny the fact of Trinity after carefully studying, for example, the following passages: Gen 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; Psa 45:6,7; Isa 6:8; 48:16; 63:10; Hos 1:7; Mal 3:1,2; Mt 3:16,17; 28:19; Lk 1:35; 1 Cor 12:4-6; 2 Cor 13:14; Eph 4:4-6; 1 Pet 1:2; Jude 20,21. These passages are summarized into three statements by Wayne Grudem in Systematic Theology: (l) God is three Persons (Trinity); (2) Each Person is fully God (Deity); (3) There is one God (Tri-unity). Each of these statements is equally important to keep us from going astray. Many of the heretical views of the famous prophet and healing evangelist William Branham (1909-1965) had stemmed from his anti-Trinity doctrine. His teachings and influence still lie subtly under the couch of many a modern evangelist. The late Evangelist Paulaseer Lawrie is an example. Beware! Even though the Son and the Holy Spirit are equal in deity to God the Father, they subject themselves to Him in their roles. This solemn truth is ignored these days in the Christian world. In some circles, they only talk about Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, and end up with another Jesus. In others, they always talk about Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, and end up with a different spirit. The Father is forgotten! Whatever happened to the Father? When the mother of Zebedee’s sons requested Jesus to allot the left and right seats in His Kingdom to her two sons, He answered, "To sit on My right hand or on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by MyFATHER" (Mt 20:23b). When the disciples enquired Jesus just before His ascension concerning the time of restoration of the Kingdom to Israel, He replied, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the FATHER has put in His own authority" (Acts 1:7). Similarly when the disciples asked Jesus in an earlier instant about the time of the end, He listed several signs but ended His answer saying, "But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only theFATHER" (Mk 13:32), because it is the Father who would "send" His Son again (Acts 3:20). Along these very words of Jesus, let’s finally look at the truth revealed to Apostle Paul: "Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the FATHER, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power...Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL!" (1 Cor 15:24-28). Now dear friend, answer this age-old question: "If I am the FATHER, where is My honour?" (Mal 1:6).
Michael Mavromatis
Hi Simon, My answer would be wow, how many do you want? I'll give you three powerful ones. First, in Genesis 1:1-2 the bible speaks of Gods spirit was over the waters. Further on with the creation of man it says in 1:26, Then God says: let us make human being... (us as in the holy Trinity). In Gen. 18:1-10, we actually get a story of the holy Trinity visiting Abraham. This is powerful on many levels but for one, they talk, eat & drink with Abraham! And thirdly in John 14:15-20, here Jesus actually explains how we will still communicate with Him and God the Father! It doesn't get any better than this! God bless!
Seth Freeman
As has been mentioned, look at the creation account in Genesis and you will see the Us mentioned with regards to creation. John 1:1 is a powerful verse that the JW only response is to try and twist the Scripture so it fits their theology (hence their own Bible creation). Look at all the "I AM" statements by Jesus. It is clear that all the Pharisees understood these to be claims of Divinity. It is the very reason Jesus is accused of blasphemy and people picked up stones to stone him. It wouldn't have happened had Jesus not been claiming Divinity. Look at the baptism of Jesus - you have all three members of the Trinity represented. Look at how the apostles were to go and baptize - into the name of who? The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Shushant Mojumdar
First of all let me tell this that Christianity is a Monotheist(Deuteronomy 6:4) Faith and not a pagan or pantheist as your friend is referring when you believe in Trinity. God is one but yet three persons. We cannot understand the Trinity completely but that doesnt make it false. As Other people mentioned Passages from Genesis 1:26 as God says let us make Human in our image and not my image. Then we see scripture using three distinct names for same God, like Yahweh for God the Father, Holy Spirit and the Son Jesus Christ. All displays the same character and they love one another. Then one of the passage I studied which displays all three persons is in the verse John 14:16 "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever" Here we see Jesus is asking God the Father to give us Holy Spirit. Jesus himself commanded us in Matthew 28:19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Then in Benediction we see Author mentioning all three persons of Trinity read 2 Corinthians 13:14. However you can read more about Trinity in detail in below link http://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-Bible.html
Mike Bryson
My brother is a Jehovah's Witness and I've found besides the Trinity argument there are several other arguments that might be more effective in getting them to step back and think about the organization that they are following. They are false prophets, the Watchtower Organization, they have predicted Armageddon 8+ times starting in 1874 on up to 1975, in Deuteronomy 18:21-22, God tells us how to recognize a false prophet and that they need not be feared. An invaluable resource I've personally found is The John Ankerberg Show Ucan find him @ jashow.org or on the One Place ap on your smartphone you can stream audio broadcasts of his past shows, just search for JW content he's done several series on JW's and the cults. Remember to ask God for guidance, it's a very scary thing for them to have doubts that contradict the organization that has brainwashed them and the fear of disfellowshipping is great, I've got 2 members of my church that are former JW's that have not talked with family and friends since they've left the organization, I just try to have patience and plant little nuggets for my brother to chew on and pray for the Holy Spirit to work on him. Good Luck and God Bless.
Christian Longe
I have had the exact same discussion with JWs before. My wife and I invited them in and we had a several month discussion with them about their believes. One of the main issues I had with their rejection of the trinity was the first commandment and worshiping Christ. There are specific versus in the bible where the disciples worship Christ (Matthew 28:16-20, Luke 24:52). The first commandment specifically states do not worship anyone but God. So how can the disciples, the first christians, be our example of christian behavior, if their first act as christians was to worship anyone but God? The JW defense is that they didn't worship Christ they simply bowed or the word their book uses is obeisance. However the Greek word is the same in reference to worshiping God and bowing before Christ. There are other examples in the bible where the exact same Greek word for worship is used in reference to others other than God. However, immediately after the person receiving the worship asks for the worshiper to stop (Acts 10:25-26, Revelation 22:8-9). So the question remains, how can you worship Christ and not break the first commandment unless He is God?
Holuwadamilarey Hardeloye
The answer to this question can be found in 1John 5:7-9.This says For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word(Son), and the Holy Ghost , and the three are one. Kindly read other verses to have better understanding of the Bible passage. Seek the face of God for the interpretation . May God give you understanding .
Vachel Herron-butler
If your friend would read, study, and meditate just on this verse below, from the Bible (Genesis 1:26), He would notice that God states "Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR LIKENESS..." He should pay close attention to the words US, OUR, OUR again, but most importantly, the word LIKENESS! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (Genesis 1:26 NASB) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ There are many other ones when Jesus speaks in various books of the Bible such as " ...If You Have Seen Me, You Have Seen The Father." Jesus speaks more about The Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. But the "Holy Spirit Was Also Being Spoken of by God, With Jesus, in that Scripture Above (Genesis 1:26) in the Words US, OUR, OUR again, and LIKENESS. They were all there from the beginning of Creation! Think of it as a "Pretzel", Three separate holes, connected as one! I Hope This Helps You Simon. But there are many more scriptures in the Bible that connect the Three as One "Triune" God Love, Peace, and Joy In The Name Of Jesus! A Disciple of Christ
Steve Wilson
Go to Revelation 1:8 and also 18. Ask your friend if more than 1 Alpha and Omega" can exist. Verse 8 identifies God as the Alpha and Omega. Verse 18 identifies Jesus as the 1st and the last. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your friends eyes to God's Word and blind them when it comes the the NWT and the confusion it offers up as truth. Once that happens, John 1-14 will have to make sense to him. Its the A=B=C analogy. the Word = A; God = B; The Word became flesh, Jesus = C. Once the Holy Spirit reveals that to him, you have a common foundation to build on. I would like to add that the NWT is not a reliable translation in any way whatsoever. I will get the sources tomorrow, but A Christian scholar hired a Greek scholar who was an agnostic to review the NWT for scholarly accuracy being translated from Greek to English. The conclusion was that it was a deeply flawed translation that was twisted to make it support the JW theology. You need to go no further than John 1:1 and ask your friend why he thinks the two translations don't agree. He doesn't have to agree to understand the Trinity. He will need to agree the the A=B=C analogy, and if he does, this is the sign that the Holy Spirit is speaking and he is listening.
Bob Paul
Suggest you and your Jehovah Witness friend both read Wayne Gruden's Systematic Theology, Chapter 14 [The Trinity] and Kevin O' Connor's book, The Foundations of Christian Doctrine, Chapter 4, The Doctrine of God, Section V The Eternal Godhead [Pages 54 to 70]. There is more than enough biblical justification and evidence for the Trinity, which also forms the basis for the unity of the male - female marriage relationship [two becoming one flesh - Genesis 2:24 , just as God is three Persons in one unity] and their roles in marriage with man as the leader, and woman as the helper [1 Cor 11:3 and Luke 22:42]. The marriage relationship is only of many reasons why the realty and truth of the Trinity is essential to the Christian faith, and gives a model of how we are to live and minister with other believers in community. Bob Paul
Vincent Mercado
Supporter
What is a son of a duck? A duck. Jesus is the Son of God, ergo, Jesus is God.
Gary Patton
One of the best ways to Biblically prove Holy Spirit (His name, not a title that always needs a 'the') is part of the God-head along with the Father and the Son is in Acts 5. In verse 4, the Apostle Peter tells Ananias that he "lied to God" about the size of his gift. Then, in verse 9, Peter condemns Ananias wife for their sin by referring to the "Spirit of the Lord". Blessings all!
Karen Snyder
Weren't the theologians the ones who named it the trinity? Should we be putting God in a box of three when the Bible talks about the Seven Spirits of God?
Lynn Willis
1 John 5:7 King James Version (KJV) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
D W
Supporter
It is referenced 754 times in the Hebrew Bible and 52 times in the New Testament. You'll find it, for example, in Genesis 1:1ff, John 1:1ff, Hebrews 1:1ff, and 1 John 1ff. God proclaimed that Jesus would be known as Emmanel, which is Hebrew for "God with us." The Word God in Genesis is Elohim, which is plural (not "gods", but special case plural. Jesus said "I and my Father are One." That is the equivalent of the plural in Genesis. Jesus said, "You have seen me, you have seen the Father." You may not find the word Trinity, or Tri-unity, but its Truth is all over the place in scripture. The LAST place one needs to study is the JWs and Mormonism. I rejoice that you are inclined not to agree with JW beliefs. Perhaps someone else will have a definitive study on the errors of the JWs and will post it here.
Robert Beaulieu
The website I maintain has several proofs how else could I understand them lest He be true? My latest read for example reveals it. eBible does not like my boasting in the Lord and reveal the website so I try to use wisdom. The examples of Michael Mavromatis or Vachel Herron-butler given are all excellent places to start. Three are indeed one God. He has revealed himself to us in this way that they act and behave as one. When Philip asked to see the father. Jesus said, in John 14:9-11 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (11) Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Man was made lower than the angels and the Son was whom they worshiped. Faith is important to God without it there is no pleasing him Hebrews 11:6 So if they asked Father in heaven to Show them the Son what would He reply? Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God for both them and us. God knew free will was an issue and that it would eventually rebel. He knew what was needed to do in order to restore it to righteousness. The rapture is the opposite of what happened in heaven, in heaven the rebellious were cast out, with us they will simply be left behind. Their only hope into heaven will be martyrdom at the hand of his creature Satan. Faith is how I got to where I am.
Tim Rose
Sayings of Jesus on the cross. There are three in one. Look at this. Luke 23:34: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. Matthew 27:46: My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Luke 23:46: Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. Matthew 27:46 Around the ninth hour, Jesus shouted in a loud voice, saying "Eli Eli lama sabachthani?" which is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? " Mark 15:34 \ And at the ninth hour, Jesus shouted in a loud voice, "Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus was making reference to God not to himself.
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