What is the Trinity, and how can God be three in one?

The Short Answer

The Trinity is the Christian belief that there is only one God, who exists as three distinct, co-equal, and eternal persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. They are not three gods, but one God in three persons.

The Biblical Basis

While the word "Trinity" isn't found in the Bible, the concept is woven throughout Scripture. The Bible consistently speaks of God as one, while also showing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as distinct persons who are all divine.

For example, when Jesus gives the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19, He instructs His followers to baptize in the "name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." The use of "name" (singular) for all three persons shows their unity, while listing them individually shows their distinction. Another example is the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3:16-17, where the Son is in the water, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father speaks from heaven—all at the same time.

Diving Deeper

The Trinity is a profound mystery that no human can fully understand, but we can describe what it is and what it isn't.

It is not three separate gods. Christians believe in only one God, unlike in some other religions. It is also not one person wearing three different masks. This idea (called Modalism) suggests that God sometimes acts as the Father, sometimes as the Son, and sometimes as the Holy Spirit, but never all at once. The Bible shows them interacting with each other, proving they are distinct.

A common analogy, while imperfect, is the three states of water: solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (steam). They are all the same substance (H₂O) but exist in different forms. Similarly, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all the one substance of God, but they exist as three distinct persons.

What This Means for You

Understanding the Trinity is important because it tells us about the very nature of God. God is not a lonely, impersonal being. He is, in His very essence, a community of perfect love. The Father loves the Son, and the Son loves the Father, and that love is the Holy Spirit.

Because God is relational, He created us for a relationship with Him. The Trinity also shows us how God works for our salvation: the Father sends the Son, the Son saves us through His life and death, and the Holy Spirit lives in us to help us live as Christians.

A Question to Ponder

Knowing that God is a perfect community of love, how does that change your understanding of His desire for a relationship with you?