The Triune God

Today's texts: Acts 2:1-21 or Genesis 11:1-9; Psalm 104:25-35, 37; Romans 8:14-17; John 14:8-17, (25-27)



The Trinity is a basic Christian belief, yet the notion of the triune God (one God in three persons, Father, Son, and Spirit) is possibly the most difficult Christian doctrine to understand. Where does this idea of Trinity come from? The word Trinity is found nowhere in the Bible. However, from very early on in Christian history, the concept of the Trinity was the basic understanding of God’s nature, based on how he revealed himself in scripture.

Passages like this week’s from John 14 are at the root of the question. Jesus’ disciples ask him to show them the Father. Jesus replies that since they’ve seen him they’ve also seen the Father, suggesting that in a mysterious way Jesus and the Father are one yet also separate persons. Then Jesus promises that he will ask the Father to send the Spirit of truth to his followers, saying in the verses beyond this week’s reading that he will not abandon his followers, but that he will come to them. So the Spirit and Jesus are also one -- the Spirit, sent from the Father, being Jesus’ presence in his followers. All are One, yet all three are clearly unique persons.



And there it is: Father, Son, Spirit, the three persons existing in an eternal, interdependent unity. The first believers (being good Jews) knew that there was only One God, yet here we (and they) see not just three different expressions of God, but clearly three unique persons doing the One God’s work in the world.

This week's texts: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15.