The word ‘Trinity’ doesn’t actually appear anywhere in the … – Access Inspiration Sermon Illustration Library

The word ‘Trinity’ doesn’t actually appear anywhere in the Bible. In fact, it was the Latin speaking theologian Tertullian (c160-220A.D.) who invented the word ‘Trinity’ (Latin: Trinitas), to explain that the three persons of the God-head are distinct yet not divided, different yet not separate or independent of each other.’ Although the word ‘Trinity’ isn’t mentioned in the Bible, the doctrine of the Trinity; of God being the Triune God – one God in three Persons, or three persons and one substance (or Being) as we say in the Nicene Creed – is a doctrine that is absolutely founded in Scripture, both in the Old Testament and especially in the New Testament. Here are some other noteworthy examples; no doubt you’ll recognise some of them:

In fact, from the very opening verses of Genesis the Trinity is hinted at… “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2). Here we see God the Father, as creator, and God the Holy Spirit hovering over the waters.
You recall that John (one of the twelve disciples) and the author of John’s gospel, calls Jesus the ‘Word’ to make the point that Jesus is God: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made’ (John 1:1-3). Jesus was there in the beginning and He was involved in creation… Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In Genesis 1v26-27 God said: “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness… (Who is God talking to in the plural? It’s the Trinity.) So God created man in his own image… male and female he created them.”

In the New Testament, Luke chapter 1v26-35, God the Father sends the angel Gabriel with the message that God the Holy Spirit will come upon Mary and overshadow her, and God the Son, Jesus… will be born of the virgin… in fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah.
Again in Luke 3v21-22, when Jesus came to be baptised the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove; and the Father spoke from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love: with you I am well pleased.”

John 14v15-17 Jesus [the Son] said, ‘I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.’

On another occasion, while Jesus was eating with his disciples, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1v4-5)
Ephesians 2v18 says: ‘For through him [Jesus] we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.’ (In other words we pray to the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit.)
There are two distinct passages in the Bible that give a very clear and unequivocal Trinitarian interpretation. In the last sentence of his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul closes with these familiar words: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14) And perhaps the clearest verse in all of Scripture, are the words of Jesus recorded in, what has become known as ‘The Great Commission’: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28v19) – One God three persons.

In fact, from the very opening verses of Genesis the Trinity is hinted at… “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2). Here we see God the Father, as creator, and God the Holy Spirit hovering over the waters.
You recall that John (one of the twelve disciples) and the author of John’s gospel, calls Jesus the ‘Word’ to make the point that Jesus is God: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made’ (John 1:1-3). Jesus was there in the beginning and He was involved in creation… Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In Genesis 1v26-27 God said: “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness… (Who is God talking to in the plural? It’s the Trinity.) So God created man in his own image… male and female he created them.”

In the New Testament, Luke chapter 1v26-35, God the Father sends the angel Gabriel with the message that God the Holy Spirit will come upon Mary and overshadow her, and God the Son, Jesus… will be born of the virgin… in fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah.
Again in Luke 3v21-22, when Jesus came to be baptised the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove; and the Father spoke from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love: with you I am well pleased.”

John 14v15-17 Jesus [the Son] said, ‘I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.’

On another occasion, while Jesus was eating with his disciples, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1v4-5)
Ephesians 2v18 says: ‘For through him [Jesus] we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.’ (In other words we pray to the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit.)
There are two distinct passages in the Bible that give a very clear and unequivocal Trinitarian interpretation. In the last sentence of his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul closes with these familiar words: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14) And perhaps the clearest verse in all of Scripture, are the words of Jesus recorded in, what has become known as ‘The Great Commission’: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28v19) – One God three persons.