Old Testament Names

(1) Plural Nouns "In the beginning [Elohim] created the heaven and earth" (Gen. 1:1). Elohim is the plural noun, meaning three or more. This, of course, suggests the Trinity in creation. See also Genesis 3:5; Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 13:2, 3. Many times Elohim is translated (in English) in the singular and the plural.

(2) Plural Pronouns. "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…" (Gen. 3:22). See also Genesis 1:26; Isaiah 6:8. This is God speaking to God — thus the Trinity.

(3) Scriptural Statements. The Scriptures state that God anointed God, and how could this be if God be not a Trinity? "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows" (Ps. 45:6,7). See also Hebrews 1:8-12; Psalm 110:1.

(4) Scriptural Designations. That is, in Genesis 1:1 God declares that He created the heavens and the earth, and in verse 2, the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, is singled out: "The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (See also Job 24:13). And elements of personality are accounted for by reference to the Holy Spirit: "There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: and the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD (Is. 11:1, 2).

The Son, the Second Person of the Trinity is singled out also: "I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. . . . Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way…" (Ps. 2:7, 12a). The Angel of the LORD of the Old Testament is no other than Jesus Christ Himself, and in the following portion of Scriptures He is declared as being separate from God the Father and Holy Spirit: "The angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water . . . in the way to Shur" (Gen. 16:7).

The following Scriptures plainly reveal the Trinity of the Godhead: Genesis 18:1,2,33; Isaiah 48:16; 63:8-10.

(5) Triple Expressions. Whenever the Scriptures express praise or benediction of the Godhead, a triple exclamation is declared which points to the fact that as God is the Three-In-One God these expressions must also be three: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace" (Num. 6:24-26). "And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come" (Rev. 4:8).

b. New Testament Disclosures.

(1) Baptism of Christ. The baptism of Christ is one of the best illustrations which prove the Trinity: "Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:16, 17). Here there is presented the Father in heaven, the Son in the water, and the Holy Spirit descending as a dove.

(2) Baptismal Formula. The Church of God in Christ Jesus has always used that formula laid down by its Founder Himself, Jesus Christ: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…" (Matt. 28:19, 20). Note that the Scriptures do not say, "in the names of"; but, "in the name of." One in Three; one name, but three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

(3) Apostolic Benediction. The Church has used this benediction (which was first used by the Apostle Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit) for the last nineteen hundred years: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen" (II Cor. 13:14).

(4) Other Scripture. The following verse plainly reveals the fact of the Trinity: "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26).

2. Unity of Being: Undivided and Invisible. There is one God; He is the one and only God: "Thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears" (II Sam. 7:22); "Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he" (Is. 41:4). See also Isaiah 43:10, 11; 44:6; Deuteronomy 6:4. God — Elohim — is a compound unity; that is, the noun, God (which is plural), is used always with a singular verb: "In the beginning God [plural] created [singular] the heaven and the earth" (Gen. 1:1); "The LORD [singular] God [plural] of gods, the LORD [singular] God [plural] of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD [singular], (save us not this day,)…" (Josh. 22:22). See also Genesis 1:5, 8, 13; 33:20.

A Scriptural Summary

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