“You Believe What?!” Week 3: The Trinity

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Key Discussion Topics

  • Trinity in the New Testament
    • While the word ‘Trinity’ itself does not occur in the Bible (and no text explicitly tying them together exists, except in 1 John 5:7-8, which was discussed in Week 1 as a verse that was removed due to textual concerns), the concept is obvious, and New Testament chapters and verses with all three persons of the Holy Trinity include:1
      • Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:21-22, John 14-16, Galatians 4:4-7, Romans 8:14-17, 1 John 4:2-15, 1 John 5:5-6, 1 Peter 1:2-3, and 2 Corinthians 13:142,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
  • Trinity in the Old Testament
    • While there is some argument as to whether the ‘us’ in some verses refer to the Trinity, or the entirety of the ‘elohim’ (which is a term that can mean a single God or a plurality of lower ‘g’ gods, including what we would refer to today as angels), the following verses may refer to the Trinity:11
      • Genesis 1:1-3, Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 3:22, Genesis 11:712,11,12,15
      Genesis 18:1-22 specifically references three separate beings, all of which were referred to as ‘The Lord’16God as the Father can be found in:
      • Deuteronomy 32:6, Psalm 89:26, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 63:16, Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 3:4, and Jeremiah 3:1917,18,19,20,21,22,23
      God as the Son can be found in:
      • Psalm 2:7, Psalm 2:12, Proverbs 30:4, and Daniel 324,25,26,27
    • God as the Spirit can be found in:
      • Genesis 6:3, Exodus 31:3, Numbers 11:17-29, Judges 3:10, 1 Samuel 10:6, 1 Chronicles 12:18, Nehemiah 9:20, Isaiah 11:2, Ezekiel 2:2, and many more28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36
      • Group discussion question: Reading through these verses, do you feel like you have a better understanding of the trinity, or are there specific questions you have?
  • What the Trinity is
    • That the one God exists as or in three equally divine “Persons”, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit37,38,39
      • Be aware that the Trinity is a difficult subject, even for individuals with Theological degrees, and even individuals with doctorates have difficulties with concepts like the eternal subordination of the son40
    • Each of the distinct persons are God, and each of the distinct persons are equal in importance, distinct in their roles, and there are no analogies in nature41
      • Group discussion question: Have you ever been challenged by another person about the Trinity, and what was your response?
  • What the Trinity is not
    • Modalism: believing that the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are three modes, or forms, that God manifests (a misunderstanding of the Trinity, and an attempt to preserve monotheism)42,43,44
    • Unitarianism: the belief that Jesus was a great man and prophet, but not God himself45
  • Non-Trinitarian Organizations46
    • Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons)47
    • Jehovah’s Witnesses48
    • United Church of God49
      • Group discussion question: Have you ever participated (or officially joined) a non-trinitarian organization, and if so, when did you become aware that they held a different belief?

Week 3 References:

  1. White, J. R. (2019). The forgotten trinity: Recovering the heart of Christian belief. Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
  2. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Matt. 28:19 (Original work published 1973)
  3. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Luke 3:21-22 (Original work published 1973)
  4. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. John 14-16 (Original work published 1973)
  5. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Gal. 4:4-7 (Original work published 1973)
  6. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Rom. 8:14-17 (Original work published 1973)
  7. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. 1 John 4:2-15 (Original work published 1973)
  8. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. 1 John 5:5-6 (Original work published 1973)
  9. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. 1 Pet. 1:2-3 (Original work published 1973)
  10. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. 2 Corinthians 13:14 (Original work published 1973)
  11. Heiser, M. S. (2015). Unseen realm. Lexham Press.
  12. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Gen. 1:1-3 (Original work published 1973)
  13. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Gen. 1:26:27 (Original work published 1973)
  14. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Gen. 3:22 (Original work published 1973)
  15. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Gen. 11:7 (Original work published 1973)
  16. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Gen. 18:1-22 (Original work published 1973)
  17. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Deu. 32:6 (Original work published 1973)
  18. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Psa. 89:26 (Original work published 1973)
  19. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Isa. 9:6 (Original work published 1973)
  20. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Isa. 63:16 (Original work published 1973)
  21. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Isa. 64:8 (Original work published 1973)
  22. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Jer. 3:4 (Original work published 1973)
  23. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Jer. 3:19 (Original work published 1973)
  24. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Psa. 2:7 (Original work published 1973)
  25. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Psa. 2:12 (Original work published 1973)
  26. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Pro. 30:4 (Original work published 1973)
  27. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Dan. 3 (Original work published 1973)
  28. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Gen. 6:3 (Original work published 1973)
  29. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Exo. 31:3 (Original work published 1973)
  30. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Num. 11:17-29 (Original work published 1973)
  31. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Jud. 3:10 (Original work published 1973)
  32. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. 1 Sam. 10:6 (Original work published 1973)
  33. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. 1 Chr. 12:18 (Original work published 1973)
  34. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Neh. 9:20 (Original work published 1973)
  35. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Isa. 11:2 (Original work published 1973)
  36. New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. Eze. 2:2 (Original work published 1973)
  37. Stanford University. (2020, November 20). Trinity. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/trinity/
  38. Lewis, J. (2022). The Trinity Simply Explained: Three Simple Foundations For Understanding The Trinity. Retrieved January 25, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQTkgCgoXD0.
  39. White, J. R. (2019). The forgotten trinity: Recovering the heart of Christian belief. Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
  40. Lewis, J. (2020). Eternal Subordination Of The Son?: With Dr. Scott Horrell. Retrieved February 1, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQgy5VL57Bg.
  41. Stewart, D. (n.d.). What is the doctrine of the Trinity?. Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_320.cfm
  42. Stewart, D. (n.d.-a). Does the one god have three different modes? (modalism, sabellianism). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_338.cfm
  43. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Sabellianism. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sabellianism
  44. Lewis, J. (2021). The Importance Of The Trinity: With Dr. Matthew Barrett. Retrieved January 25, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7Gb42bqW2M.
  45. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.-b). Unitarianism and Universalism. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Unitarianism
  46. Lewis, J. (2020). Non-Trinitarian Cults: With Jeff Durbin. Retrieved January 25, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM3S_ssTFac.
  47. Do latter-day saints believe in the Trinity?: Come unto christ. Do Latter-day Saints Believe in the Trinity? | Come unto Christ. (n.d.). https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/article/do-latter-day-saints-believe-in-the-trinity
  48. Should you believe in the Trinity?. Jehovah’s Witnesses. (n.d.). https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/g201308/trinity/
  49. Is god a Trinity?. United Church of God. (2011, July 21). https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-study-aids/is-god-a-trinity

“You Believe What?!” Curriculum

  1. The Bible (what it is and how to read it)
  2. Sermons (and how to understand them)
  3. The Trinity
  4. Sin and Forgiveness
  5. Money
  6. Weird Bible
  7. Today’s Non-Christian Spiritual Practices
  8. Christianity and Today’s World Culture
  9. Challenges within Today’s Church
  10. Uncharted Territory

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