1. The Godhead (The Trinity)
The concept of a “Trinity” is “strange” to some
Difficult to explain for others (Difference in 3 Gods & 3 Persons – but just 1 God?)
Denied by the Oneness Pentecostals (UPC / “Jesus Only”)
Catholic Nicene Trinity – No submission within Godhead
Jehovah’s Witnesses deny that Jesus is part of Godhead

2. The Godhead
The Godhead

3. The Godhead Deity – that which is divine (Godhood)
“Manhood” – that which makes man a man
Used three times:
Acts 17:29
Rom. 1:20
Col. 2:9
ASV - “Divinity” (Rom. 1:20)
“Divine Nature” (BDAG)

4. The Godhead
The Godhead
Three Beings in Godhead

5. Three Beings in Godhead
Matt. 3:16-17 – Three at baptism of Jesus
Matt. 17:1-5 – Father & Son at transfiguration
John 8:16-18 – Jesus & the Father
John 8:28, 38 – Diff. in Father and Son
John 14:26/ 15:26 – Three
John 14:28 – Father greater than I
John 17:20-21 – One as believers are one
Gen. 1:26 – Let us make man in our…
Gen. 3:22; 11:7– “us”

6. Three Beings in Godhead
2 Cor. 13:14 – Jesus, God & Holy Spirit
Eph. 4:4-6 – One Lord, One Spirit, One Father
John 20:17 – Jesus ascended to Father

7. Three Beings in Godhead
Term “God” Is Used:
“The word ‘God’ is not the name of a personality; it is the name of a nature, a quality of being.”
Wayne Jackson, The Biblical Doctrine of the Godhead, Christiancourier.com

8. Three Beings in Godhead
Term “God” Is Used:
Comprehensively – To include the Father, Son & Holy Spirit
At Creation (Gen. 1:1)
Father (Acts 17:24; Rev. 4:11)
Son (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Eph. 3:9)
Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2; Job 33:4)
“Let us make man…” (Gen. 1:26)
Specifically – Referring to only one of the three beings
Father (1 Cor. 8:6)
Son (Heb. 1:8; John 1:1-3)
Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-5)

9. Three Beings in Godhead
All three involve in creation (Gen. 1:2, 26; 3:22)
All three at baptism of Jesus (Mt. 3:16-17)
All three bear record in heaven (1 Jno. 5:7)

10. The Godhead
The Godhead
Three Beings in Godhead
Person Defined

11. Person Defined
Webster: A being characterized by conscious apprehension, rationality, and a moral sense.”
Boles: “A person is a being conscious of self, subsisting in individuality and identity, and endowed with intuitive reason, rational sensibility, and a free will.” (p. 33)
A spirit can be a person
Father is a person (Heb. 1:3)
Father is a Spirit (Jn. 4:24) without flesh and bones (Lk. 24:39)

12. Has Characteristics of a Person
Holy Spirit
Has Characteristics of a Person
Has a mind (Rom. 8:27)
Has a will (1 Cor. 12:11)
Has knowledge (1 Cor. 2:10-11)
Can speak (1 Tim. 4:1; Gal. 4:6)
Bears witness (Rom. 8:16)
Teaches (John 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:13)
Testifies (John. 15:26)
Guides (John 16:15; Rom. 8:14)
Commands & restrains (Acts 13:2; 16:6-7)
Appoints (Acts 20:28)
Reproves (John 16:7-8)
Intercedes (Rom. 8:26)
Invites (Rev. 22:17)
Can be lied to (Acts 5:3)
Can be resisted (Acts 7:51)
Can be quenched (1 Th. 5:19)
Done despite to (Heb. 10:29)
Can be vexed (Isa. 65:10)
Can be grieved (Eph. 4:30)
Personal pronouns:
John 16:13
John 14:26
John 15:26

13. The Godhead The Godhead Three Beings in Godhead Person Defined
God is One

14. God is One One God Deut. 4:35, 39 – none other beside
Deut. 6:4 – “Lord is one”
Isa. 44:8 – “is there a God besides me?”
Isa. 45:5 – “I am the Lord, there is no other”
Mark 12:29 – “The Lord our God, the Lord is one”
John 5:44 – “the only God”
1 Cor. 8:4 – “there is no other God but one”
Jas. 2:19 – “You believe there is one God…”

15. Not Used in the Identical Sense1 3
Distinct
Personalities
Divine Nature
No Contradiction!

16. 1 3 Harmony Distinction in Divine Nature Personalities
Isa. 44:24
God is alone
John 8:29
Jesus is not alone
Distinction in
Personalities
Divine Nature
Contrast to Idols

17. 1 3 Harmony Distinction in Divine Nature Personalities
Mark 12:32
None other
John 5:32
Is another
Distinction in
Personalities
Divine Nature
Contrast to Idols

18. God is One One God “One God” Does Not Mean “One Person”
One Blood (Acts 17:26) – does not mean one person
One Body (Eph. 4:4) – does not mean one person
One Flesh (Matt 19:5) – does not mean one person
One Nation (2 Sam. 7:23) – does not mean one person

19. God is One One God “One God” Does Not Mean “One Person”
One God – Three Persons

20. Father Holy Son Spirit God (Deity) (John 20:17) (Acts 5:3-4)
(Heb. 1:8)

21. Father Holy Son Spirit John 14:26 Is Not God (Deity) (John 20:17)
(Acts 5:3-4)
Son
(Heb. 1:8)

22. Father Holy Son Spirit John 8:16-18 John 14:26 Is Not Is Not God
(Deity)
Holy
Spirit
(Acts 5:3-4)
Son
(Heb. 1:8)

23. Father Holy Son Spirit John 8:16-18 John 14:26 Is Not Is Not God
(Deity)
Holy
Spirit
(Acts 5:3-4)
Son
(Heb. 1:8)
Is Not
Acts 10:38; John 16:7-8

24. Shell IS
Is Not
Is Not
Egg
White IS
Yolk IS
Is Not

25. Body
1 Thess. 5:23 IS
Is Not
Is Not
Man
Soul IS
Spirit IS
Is Not

26. Father Holy Son Spirit John 8:16-18 John 14:26 Is Not Is Not God
(Deity)
Holy
Spirit
(Acts 5:3-4)
Son
(Heb. 1:8)
Is Not
Acts 10:38; John 16:7-8

27. God is One One God “One God” Does Not Mean “One Person”
One God – Three Persons
God is “One” in Unity
John 10:30
John 17:20-23

28. God is One Man & Woman Gen. 2:24 Matt. 19:5 Father, Son, Spirit
Two Become One
Gen. 2:24
Matt. 19:5
echad
hen
Father, Son, Spirit
God is One
Deut. 6:4
Mark 12:29

29. God is One One God “One God” Does Not Mean “One Person”
One God – Three Persons
God is “One” in Unity
Submission within Godhead
Mark 14:36
1 Cor. 15:28

30. The Godhead The Godhead Three Beings in Godhead Person Defined
God is One
Consequences

31. Consequences Jesus is setting at his own right hand (Acts 2)
No mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5)
Jesus is his own Father (John 5:19-21)
Jesus really knows what he said he didn’t know (Matt. 24:36-37)
All believers are one person (John 17:20-22)
A delusional God – refers to one person as “us” (Gen. 1:26)

32. The Godhead The Godhead Three Beings in Godhead Person Defined
God is One
Consequences