Q:   Please explain the mystery of the Trinity. Is Jesus one of the three deities or is Jesus God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit?

A:   In Genesis 1:26, God said, "Let US make man in OUR own image." The very Hebrew word for God, ELOHIM, is in fact, plural. This is not to say there are multiple Gods, but rather, there are multiple beings who are God. Neither is it to say that He has "split personalities." These persons are clearly distinguished as separate beings.

Trinity implies three. The word comes from the Latin "trinitas", or "trinus", which means "threefold". In a trinity there is a triad, or "group of three". Many find it helpful to see the Godhead as a trinity composed of the Father (God), the Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit. Although the word trinity does not appear in the Bible, in several passages the Godhead is described in this manner. Please consider the following verses:

The significance of the trinity is that God is one united being but He also exists eternally in three persons at once: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is difficult for us to comprehend how one can be three, and the three can be one, but this concept can be supported by these important biblical facts:

These three statements seem inconsistent, but let’s examine the following points from Scripture.

1. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three separate entities:
1. At Jesus' baptism, all persons were present, but in different forms:
Matthew 3:16-17, When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
2. John 14:16, I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Holy Spirit) that He may abide with you forever.
3. John 14:26, But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My (Jesus') name...
4. John 15:26, But when the Helper (Holy Spirit) comes, whom I (Jesus) shall send to you from the Father...
2. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each are part of the Godhead:

1. The Father is God:
Colossians 1:3, We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.
2. The Son is also God (deity):
John 1:1-3,14, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Matthew 1:21-23, And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

Romans 9:5, of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

Philippians 2:5-6, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.

Colossians 2:9, For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

1 Timothy 6:14-16, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen

Hebrews 1:8-12, But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions." And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail."

3. The Holy Spirit is also God:
4. A lie to the Holy Spirit is equated with a lie to God:
Acts 5:3,4, But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
5. Similarly, the Holy Spirit's inspiration of Scripture is also indicated to be God's:
   2 Pet 1:20, 21, knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

   2 Tim 3:16, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

With our finite minds, it is difficult to comprehend the nature of God; however, the three-person Godhead, which is referred to by some as "the Trinity", appears to be the manner in which God has chosen to reveal Himself to us.