Biblical Evidence for the Trinity (Godhead)
The concept of the Trinity, or the Godhead, is one of the most profound and debated doctrines in Christian theology, a monotheistic faith. Delving into these scriptures not only strengthens the biblical doctrine of the godhead but also deepens one’s understanding of God.
What is the trinity?
According to Webster 1828, the trinity means the union of three persons in one Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The term “Trinity” is notably absent from the Bible, a point often highlighted by critics of the Christian faith. Yet, it’s the King James Version (KJV) that has the term “Godhead,” which is the reference to trinity. This unique inclusion in the KJV is a divine revelation exclusive to this particular translation.
What is the godhead?
Godhead is three distinct persons as one God.
The places where the word godhead appears in the Bible:
Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Things of creation show Godhead. For example, an egg consists of 3 parts: shell, white, and yolk. The shell itself is not the egg, neither is the white nor the yolk.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
There is Only One God
The Bible says that there is only one God. In the following verses, God appears in its singular form.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Father is God
John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
Holy Ghost is God
Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
The Son is God
Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
God Mentioned as Plural
Although there is only one God, the plurality of persons of the trinity is mentioned in the following verses:
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Genesis 11:6-7 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
Matthew 3:14-15 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Distinctions of Trinity
God the Father is greater than Christ the Son.
John 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
God the Holy Spirit is not to exalt Himself but Jesus.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
The three persons also have distinct personalities.
Basis of the Godhead/Trinity
In the following verses, we will see that the trinity (Father, Son, Holy Ghost) is God.
- Baptism
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
- Benediction
2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. (The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.)
- New birth
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
- Prayer
Romans 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
- Salvation
1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Godhead/Trinity Acting in Unity
All three separate persons display divine nature.
- In creation
God the FatherGenesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
The word is Jesus. In John 1:14, ‘the word became flesh’ was referring to Jesus
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Spirit of God was moving above the waters
Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
- Incarnation (God transform into the flesh, bodily form)
God the FatherJohn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus was born
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Holy Spirit conceived
Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
- Plan of redemption
Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
- Divine plan of Salvation
This story actually talks about salvation. The father in this story represents God the Father and when the son returns, he clothed him with the best robe.Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
The story of the good shepherd. Jesus is the shepherd, He goes out to find us in the wilderness.
Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
The Holy Spirit seals you for eternal life.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Once you got saved, God the Father, He blesses you and opens His arms for you. The Lord Jesus Christ, He finds you and brings you to God. The Holy Spirit makes sure that you are protected when you’re brought to God.
- In communion
We commune with God the FatherEphesians 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Jesus is the bridge, He gave you the access to God the Father
2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
The Holy Spirit is the access to God the Father
Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
- In prayer
We are praying to God and ending in the name of Jesus ChristJohn 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Holy Spirit helps to make your prayer known to God even when you don’t know what to pray or forgot to pray
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
- In glory
God1 Corinthians 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
Son
Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Holy Spirit
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
- In regeneration
GodLuke 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Son
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Holy Spirit
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Distinction of Personalities/Attributes of the Godhead
- Eternal
God the Father was everlasting from the beginningPsalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Christ Jesus is the beginning and the ending
Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.Holy Spirit
Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
- Omnipotent (all-powerful)
God the Father has all the power1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
God the Son has the power as well
2 Corinthians 12:9 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
Holy Spirit
Romans 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
- Omniscient (all-knowing)
God the Father searches all heartJeremiah 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Jesus
Revelation 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
- Omnipresent (presence in everywhere)
We cannot hide from GodJeremiah 23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
Whenever 2 or 3 gather together in Jesus’ name, He is there
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
God the Spirit is with you everywhere
Psalm 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
- Holiness
God the FatherRevelation 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
God the Son
Acts 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Holy Spirit
Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
- Truth
God the FatherJohn 7:28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
God the Son
Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
Holy Spirit
1 John 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
- Benevolent
God the FatherRomans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
God the Son
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Holy Spirit
Nehemiah 9:20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.
- Communion
God the Father1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
God the Son
1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Holy Spirit
2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. (The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.)
For further reading,
– Balance and Attributes of God