Exploring the Mystery of the Trinity

As we continue now with our study of the doctrine of the Trinity, we will recall that in our first session, we looked briefly at the Old Testament concept of monotheism -- that is the affirmation of the oneness of God, and showed that there has been controversy over the period in redemptive history when monotheism was developed. [00:00:07]

And let me begin first of all by saying that even though we don't have an explicit definition of Trinity, in the Old Testament, nevertheless we do have hints from time to time of Trinity throughout the pages of Old Testament history. One of those important hints is one that we've already looked at from a different angle, namely the plural use for the name of God, Elohim. [00:00:42]

The critics see the use of that name as a crass form of polytheism. Nevertheless, others have seen in that plural name, particularly as it is accompanied by a singular verb, a sort of cryptic reference to the plural character of God. Now let me tell you a couple of things about that. First of all I don't think it necessarily indicates the Trinity, because it could simply be a literary form similar to what we call the editorial plural. [00:01:12]

But more to the point is a Hebrew literary device called the plural of intensity, and that plural of intensity calls attention to the depth dimension of the very character of God in whom resides all elements of deity and of majesty. And so I would say at the very minimum the name Elohim is compatible with the doctrine of Trinity and may in fact be hinting in that direction. [00:02:24]

In fact the very word "universe" comes from the concept of unity and diversity jammed together -- that we live in a place of great diversity that nevertheless has unity; and the Greek philosophers sought (and I would say in vain) to find the source of both unity and diversity. And yet in the Christian faith, and in the Christian worldview, all diversity finds its ultimate unity in God Himself. [00:04:49]

But, in addition to that, also in the creation account we encounter already the Spirit of God, who is active in creation and who is bringing something out of nothing and who is meeting the criteria for deity that is set forth, for example, in the New Testament. And so that is another hint toward the multi-personal character of God early on in that work. [00:05:47]

When we come to the New Testament, it's not as though the New Testament repudiates the Old Testament affirmation of monotheism. The concepts of monotheism that are so firmly established in the Old Testament are not only assumed, but repeated over and over again in the New Testament. Let me just give one illustration -- or a couple illustrations of that. [00:08:53]

Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus (or Mars Hill) and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious, for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an alter with this inscription: 'To the unknown God.'" Now let me just again give us another little dangling parenthesis if you will. [00:09:44]

Paul mentions seeing this alter to the unknown God, and he says, "Therefore the one whom you worship in ignorance, or without knowing, or agnostically (a gnosis), Him I proclaim to you. God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, nor is He worshiped by men's hands, as if He needed anything. [00:13:15]

And so in the very same sentence that Paul is ascribing clearly deity to Christ, he is at that same moment reaffirming the unity of God and the oneness of God. All right, well why is that the New Testament then speaks of one God, and yet at the same time affirms the deity of the Holy Spirit and the deity of Christ? The reason why the church does that, as I said earlier, is because the Bible does it. [00:16:21]

We see it especially in John's gospel. And I'll come to John one in a moment because that is the most significant passage of all. But remember, in the "I ams" of Jesus when He said, "I am the door," and, "I am the way the truth and the life," and all that sort of thing. Among those, particularly in John 8 our Lord says, "Before Abraham was, I am." [00:17:36]

Also in John's gospel we have the intriguing narrative of the post-resurrection appearance of Jesus when some of the disciples had seen Him, and Thomas was absent. And remember doubting Thomas? He says, "Unless I can see Him with my eyes and put my hand in His side, and my fingers in the nail prints, I'm not going to believe. In the midst of this skepticism, Jesus appears to him and offers His hands and His side. [00:19:38]