One God in Three Persons: Biblical Evidence for the Trinity
The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the most foundational—and most mysterious—truths of the Christian faith. It declares that there is one God, eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each is fully God, co-eternal and co-equal, yet distinct in personhood.
While the word “Trinity” does not appear in Scripture, the concept is revealed throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Far from being a theological invention, the Trinitarian nature of God emerges from the text as we behold how God reveals Himself in word and action.
Let’s explore the biblical evidence for the Trinity, grounded in the truth that “the LORD our God, the LORD is one”(Deuteronomy 6:4, NASB), yet revealed in three divine Persons.
1. The Triune God in Creation
From the very beginning of Scripture, we see hints of God’s complex unity:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”
— Genesis 1:1–2, NASB
Here, God is the Creator, and the Spirit is actively present.
Then in Genesis 1:26, we read:
“Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness.’”
The plural language—“Us” and “Our”—has long puzzled interpreters. While some claim it is merely a royal plural, the weight of progressive revelation shows it to be an early hint of the Trinity. This plural language reappears at key moments (e.g., Genesis 3:22; 11:7; Isaiah 6:8).
John 1:1–3 confirms the Trinitarian presence at creation:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… All things came into being through Him…”
This “Word” is Jesus, the eternal Son, present and active in creation alongside the Father and the Spirit.
2. The Trinity in Jesus’ Baptism
At the baptism of Jesus, we see a rare moment where all three Persons of the Trinity are manifest at once:
“After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water… and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and settling on Him, and behold, a voice from the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’”
— Matthew 3:16–17, NASB
Here is Jesus the Son, the Spirit descending, and the Father speaking—distinct, yet united in divine purpose. It is a powerful picture of God’s triune nature revealed in one scene.
3. The Trinitarian Formula in the Great Commission
Jesus explicitly affirms the Trinity in His commission to His disciples:
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit…”
— Matthew 28:19, NASB
Not “names,” but “name”—singular. One God, three Persons. This formula is not arbitrary; it reflects the divine reality into which we are baptized. It shows us the unity and equality of Father, Son, and Spirit.
4. Paul’s Trinitarian Benedictions
Throughout his letters, Paul frequently expresses Trinitarian truths in his greetings and blessings:
“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, NASB
Each Person is mentioned with a distinct role—grace from the Son, love from the Father, fellowship through the Spirit. Yet Paul offers this blessing in one seamless statement, showing the unity of the Godhead.
Similarly, in Ephesians 4:4–6, Paul speaks of:
One Spirit (v.4)
One Lord [Jesus] (v.5)
One God and Father of all (v.6)
This triadic structure is not accidental. It is intentional and theological.
5. Jesus’ Teachings About the Trinity
Jesus regularly referred to the Father and the Spirit in ways that show distinct persons acting in perfect harmony. Consider:
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things…”
— John 14:26, NASB
Here we see:
The Son speaking,
The Father sending,
The Spirit coming.
In John 15:26, Jesus says:
“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.”
Distinct Persons. Shared essence. United mission.
6. The Trinity in Salvation
Each Person of the Trinity plays a role in our redemption:
The Father chooses and sends the Son (Ephesians 1:4–5)
The Son redeems through His death and resurrection (Ephesians 1:7)
The Spirit seals and indwells believers (Ephesians 1:13–14)
Peter echoes this in 1 Peter 1:2:
“…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood…”
This isn't dry theology—this is the heartbeat of our salvation.
7. Embracing the Mystery
At the heart of the Trinity lies a mystery deeper than human reason can fully comprehend. How can God be one in essence and yet exist eternally in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? The Bible doesn’t give us a philosophical treatise, but it does give us a window into this mystery—especially in the words of Jesus Himself.
In John 17, often called the “High Priestly Prayer,” Jesus offers an extraordinary glimpse into the inner life of the Triune God. He speaks not only of His mission on earth, but of His eternal relationship with the Father and His desire to draw His followers into that divine fellowship.
“Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world existed.”
— John 17:5, NASB
Here Jesus speaks of a pre-existent glory—a shared divine splendor that predates creation. The Son was not created; He is eternal, existing in perfect communion with the Father. The relationship within the Godhead is not hierarchical but harmonious. Glory is shared.
Later, Jesus prays:
“I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom You have given Me… so that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us… The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one.”
— John 17:9, 21–22, NASB
In these verses, we see something staggering: the unity between Father and Son becomes the model—and the means—for our unity with God and with one another. Jesus prays that His followers would be drawn into the same divine oneness that exists within the Trinity. That is not a metaphor. That is reality. We are invited into participation with the triune life of God.
This is no cold or detached mystery. It is a relational one—a holy invitation into eternal love. The unity of the Trinity isn’t mere cooperation; it is perfect, self-giving, eternal love between distinct Persons. And that love spills outward to include us.
“Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”
— John 17:24, NASB
This verse reminds us that love has always existed—not just between God and humanity, but within God Himself. Before the world was made, the Father loved the Son. That love is not secondary to God’s nature; it is central. And through Christ, we are welcomed into the eternal relationship of Father, Son, and Spirit.
To embrace the Trinity is to embrace mystery, yes—but also to embrace relationship. The God who is beyond us has chosen to dwell with us and within us.
We cannot fully explain it, but we can fully worship.
We cannot completely comprehend it, but we can completely surrender.
And in doing so, we echo the unity, the love, and the joy of the eternal Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—one God, now and forever.
Final Thoughts
The doctrine of the Trinity is not an abstract concept. It is the foundation of our worship, our salvation, and our identity as believers.
We worship one God—not three gods—but this one God exists eternally in three Persons, each fully divine, working together in perfect unity.
This is the God who made us, saved us, and now lives within us.
May we marvel, not merely at the depth of this mystery, but at the majesty of the Triune God who reveals Himself through Scripture and invites us into eternal fellowship.
“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of armies,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”
— Isaiah 6:3, NASB