The Plurality Within The Godhead

THE PLURALITY WITHIN THE GODHEAD
While holding firmly to the unity of God, we must also note that there is also a plurality within God. In theological terms, this plurality is known as the Trinity. Although this term is not found in the Bible, its truth is seen many times. The Name Elohim. The Hebrew word for God (Elohim) is found most often in the plural form, indicating three or more. Hebrew has separate forms for singular, dual and plural. This has often been used by Christians to suggest the possibility of a trinity within God. However this is more probably to be understood as a “plural of majesty,” especially as the same form is also used of the individual false gods. The Use of the Plural Pronoun. In the Creation, Fall, and Babel Accounts (Genesis 1:1-31; Genesis 3:1-24; Genesis 11:1-32), we see an interesting use of the plural pronoun as God is speaking.

Then God said, “Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness...” (Genesis 1:26).

Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of US, knowing good and evil...” (Genesis 3:22). And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people and they all have the same language. And this is what they begin to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.

“Come, let US go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.” (Genesis 11:6-7).

Still another example is seen in Isaiah 6:8 where the Lord asks: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" How are we to understand these uses of “us” and “our”? It has been argued that perhaps God was merely speaking with the angels. However, in each case, the context indicates that it is God who accomplished the planned action. For example, after the stated intention to create man, we read... And GOD created man in His own image, in the image of God He created Him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27).

It does not say that man was created in the image of God and the angels. Neither do we ever read that the angels had any part in that creative work. Man is said to have been created by God and in the image of God.

It has been argued that this is also an example of the Hebrew plural of majesty. However, it is conversely argued that there is no other ancient example of such a plural of majesty being used in the form of a pronoun of anyone other than God. It may be that the early church fathers were correct in seeing this use of the plural pronoun as being a very early suggestion of the tri-unity of God. The Deity of Jesus Christ: The gospel of John opens with a striking affirmation of the deity of Jesus Christ. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1).

(The cults like to take this passage and insert the indefinite article, making this to read that “the word was a god.” In addition to being polytheistic in their outlook, such a stance does not conform to rules of Greek grammar.) The use of the imperfect tense in the three verbs of this passage is striking. The imperfect tense in the Greek describes the continuation of action in the past time. It does not look to a point in time, but rather to an ongoing process. Thus, we might be permitted to translate this passage like this: In the beginning already was the Word, and the Word already was with God, and the Word already was God. (John 1:1).

Don't miss this! The Word did not become God at Creation. We are told that when everything else began, the Word already was God. This is significant when we realize the identity of this One known as “the Word.” And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14). The Word was not originally a Jewish carpenter named Jesus. But at a point in time, the Word became flesh and thus became the One whom we know as Jesus. This is an important distinction and it is necessary that we not get it backwards. This is contrasted in the following chart:

We DO believe|The Word became flesh.

One who was in the beginning and who was with God and who was Himself God took on humanity, becoming a man so that He was now both God and man in one person|
We do NOT believe|The flesh became the Word It would be wrong to conclude that the man Jesus somehow became deity during his life|

He is called the Word because He was sent to communicate the truth of God to men. In this, He did more than the prophets. They proclaimed God in words. He was the Word. He was the very essence of God in the flesh. He communicated the character of God by who He was. This is the purpose for Christ coming to earth - to reveal God to man and to break down the barriers between God and men. No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. (John 1:18).

Notice the identity of the two persons who are here mentioned. First there is God who has never been seen by man. He is also called the Father. But there is also “the only begotten God.” This is God who was born in human flesh. This is Jesus. Do you see the implications? Both the Father and the Son are described as God. This is an indication of the plurality which exists within the One God. A Triune Baptismal Formula.

Matthew records some of the last words of Jesus before He was caught up into heaven. As He spoke to His disciples on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, He gave still another indication of the plurality which exists within God. It is found in the words of the Great Commission.

“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).

Notice that the disciples were not told to baptize in the names of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Rather, it is in the name of these three persons. Do you see what has happened? We have one name, but three persons. A similar formula is to be found in the apostolic benediction in Paul's second epistle to the Corinthians. 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). When the term “God” is used in the New Testament, it is generally a reference to the Father. This threefold formula is suggestive of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. It could be argued that such a benediction would be inappropriate without the Trinitarian understanding.

God deals with God: There are several passage of the Bible which relate God having dealings with God.

Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy kingdom.
Thou hast loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
Therefore God, Thy God, has anointed Thee. (Psalms 45:6-7). This is a case where God is seen anointing God. This is not mere reflexive language. It is not a case of God anointing Himself. It is one member of the Triune Godhead anointing another member. Less there be any mistake on this, the writer to the Hebrews quotes this passage and informs us that the Father is speaking of Jesus (Hebrews 1:8). This same type of language is used in Psalms 110:1-7. It is a Psalm of David. King David is the speaker in this Psalm. The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand,
Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet.” (Psalms 110:1).

Once again, the Hebrew text helps us to more fully understand the flow of thought in this passage.

JEHOVAH says to my ADONAI:
“Sit at My right hand,
Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet.”

Remember that it is David speaking. He is the King of Israel. He is the highest human authority in the land. There is no other person in the land whom he can address as “lord.” He is the lord of the land. And yet, he does have a lord. His Master is God. He pictures a heavenly conversation when he pictures Jehovah speaking to His Lord.

Jesus once quoted this passage to the Jewish teachings in the Temple. The subject of their conversation was the identity of the Messiah. He first asked them who the Messiah was supposed to be. They replied that the Messiah would be the son of David. This was a correct answer. But it raised a problem. The problem was that Psalms 110:1-7 has David calling the Messiah by the term ADONAI - “Lord.” A father does not refer to his son as “lord.” It is the other way around. In what way is Jesus both the son of David and the Lord of David? He is both humanly descended from David, but He is also the Son of God. He is the God-man.

6. Common Designations: Jesus is said to do things which can only be done by God.

He creates all things: All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being (John 1:3); In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1); Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, “I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself, and spreading out the earth all alone” (Isaiah 44:24).

He forgives sin (compare Mark 2:5-11 with Isaiah 43:25). In Mark 2:9 Jesus asks the question, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your pallet and walk'?” The truth is that neither are easy to say truthfully, for only God can do these things. But Jesus nevertheless continues: “But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” -- He said to the paralytic-- 11 “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home” (Mark 2:10-11).

Over against this are the words of the Lord in Isaiah 43:25. “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.”

He is called God (Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 1:8; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:8). For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

...looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus (Titus 2:13). But of the Son He says, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:8).

He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last (Revelation 1:8 with Revelation 1:17-18).

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8). And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” (Revelation 1:17-18).

Jesus is described as the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation (Colossians 1:15) and we read that it is in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). The Personality of the Holy Spirit. When we deal with the question of the Trinity, it is immediately obvious to most people that the Father is God. The issue of the Son is whether He is also God. The issue of the Holy Spirit it whether or not He is a distinct person. [2]
[2] It has been argued by some that personal pronouns are used of the Holy Spirit — that the Holy Spirit is a “he” and not an “it.” The problem with this assertion is that the neuter pronoun is sometimes used to refer to the Holy Spirit. This is not surprising since the Greek word for “Spirit” (pneuma) is neuter and thus would demand a neuter pronoun. One exception to this is in John 15:26 where the masculine pronoun refers back to the “Helper” (paraklhtoj).

Personal properties are ascribed to Him.

He has understanding and wisdom: For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10).

He has a will: But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:11).

He has power: Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13).

Personal activities are ascribed to Him.

He speaks: And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”(Acts 13:2); but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. (Mark 13:11 b).

He teaches: And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. (Luke 2:26). But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. (John 14:26).

He warns: But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1).

He helps: And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever (John 14:16).

He can be grieved: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).