What is Trinity?
The Trinity is the Christian belief that God is one being in three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. They are distinct yet fully united as one God. Even though the word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible, the concept is evident throughout Scripture. Let’s explore this using simple explanations and Bible verses.
There Is Only One God
The Bible teaches that there is only one true God, not many gods.
Deuteronomy 6:4 – "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."
Isaiah 45:5 – "I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God."
1 Corinthians 8:6 – "Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."
Even though God is one, He reveals Himself in three persons.
1. God the Father
God the Father is the Creator and Ruler over everything. He is the one Jesus prayed to and the one who sent Jesus to save the world.
Genesis 1:1 – "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Psalm 68:5 – "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling."
John 3:16 – "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
God the Father loves us and desires a relationship with us.
2. Jesus (God the Son)
Jesus is fully God and fully human. He came to earth to show us God’s love, teach us truth, and die for our sins so we can have eternal life.
Isaiah 9:6 (Old Testament prophecy about Jesus) – "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
John 1:1, 14 – "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." (Jesus is called “the Word.”)
Colossians 2:9 – "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form."
John 10:30 – "I and the Father are one."
Jesus is not just a good teacher or prophet—He is God in human form.
3. The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is also God. He lives inside believers to guide, comfort, and empower them.
Genesis 1:2 – "Now the earth was formless and empty... and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." (The Holy Spirit was present at creation.)
John 14:26 – "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
Acts 5:3-4 – When Peter confronted Ananias, he said, "You have lied to the Holy Spirit... You have not lied just to human beings but to God." (This shows that the Holy Spirit is God.)
The Holy Spirit helps us grow in faith and understand God's truth.
The Trinity Working Together
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together in perfect unity.
Matthew 3:16-17 (Jesus’ baptism) – "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’" (Here we see all three persons of the Trinity: the Father speaking, Jesus being baptized, and the Holy Spirit descending like a dove.)
Matthew 28:19 – "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Jesus commands us to baptize in the name of the Trinity.)
2 Corinthians 13:14 – "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
This shows that all three persons are equally God.
Understanding the Mystery of the Trinity
The Trinity is a mystery, meaning we may not fully understand it, but we can still believe it because the Bible teaches it. Here are a few simple ways to think about it:
Water Analogy
Water can exist as liquid, ice, and steam—three forms, but still H₂O.
Family Analogy
A person can be a father, son, and husband at the same time but still be one person.
Triangle Analogy
A triangle has three sides, but it is still one shape.
These examples help, but they don’t fully explain the mystery of God. The important thing is that God is one but reveals Himself as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to show us His love.
Why Does the Trinity Matter?
It shows us God’s love
The Father sent the Son, and the Holy Spirit lives in us.
It helps us understand salvation
Jesus (God the Son) died for our sins, and the Holy Spirit helps us live for God.
It reminds us we are never alone
The Holy Spirit is always with us.
The Trinity is a truth to believe. Even though it is mysterious, we can trust that God is one, yet He reveals Himself as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to bring us closer to Him.
Who Do We Pray To: God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?
Many new Christians wonder, “Who should I pray to: God the Father, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?” The simple answer is:
We pray to God the Father
In the name of Jesus
Through the help of the Holy Spirit
This pattern follows what Jesus taught about prayer.
Pray to God the Father
Jesus taught His disciples to pray to the Father:
Matthew 6:9 – "This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…’"
John 16:23 – "In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."
This shows that our prayers should be directed to God the Father, who is the source of everything.
Pray in the Name of Jesus
Jesus is our mediator (the one who connects us to God). Because of His sacrifice on the cross, we have direct access to God.
John 14:13-14 – "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
1 Timothy 2:5 – "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus."
This is why Christians often end prayers with “In Jesus’ name, Amen.” We are coming to God through Jesus, who makes the way for us.
The Holy Spirit Helps Us Pray
The Holy Spirit helps us pray, especially when we don’t know what to say.
Romans 8:26 – "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."
Ephesians 6:18 – "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."
The Holy Spirit guides and strengthens our prayers, making them powerful and effective.
While it’s okay to speak to Jesus or the Holy Spirit, the normal way of prayer is to the Father, through Jesus, with the help of the Spirit.