By the Trinity is meant the unity of three persons in one Godhead; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Representing God as one, the Scriptures also ascribe divinity to Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Course of the Argument by H. B. Smith

a. God is one. Unity is ascribed to God.

b. The Father is divine a distinct person.

c. The Son is divine a distinct person.

d. The Holy Spirit is divine a distinct person.

e. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are classed together, separately from all other beings.

(See passages cited under Attributes, Unity.)

b. The Father is divine and a distinct person. The Word "Father" is used in the Scriptures in a two-fold sense in relation to the Godhead sometimes as equivalent to God, sometimes to the first person of the Trinity.

1. Passages where "Father" is used as equivalent to God, not implying personal distinctions. Deuteronomy 32:6, 2 Samuel 7:14, 1 Chronicles 29:10, Psalm 89:26, Isaiah 63:16, Jeremiah 3:19, Malachi 2:10, Matthew 6:9, Mark 11:25, Luke 12:30, John 4:21, 23, 24, 2 Corinthians 6:18, Philippians 4:20, James 1:17, 1 John 2:15, 16

2. Passages applied to God in contrast with Christ, denoting a special relation to Christ as Son, in His office of Redeemer. Psalm 2:1-11, Matthew 11:27, 25:34, Mark 8:38, 14:36, John 5:18-23, 26, 27, John 10:15, 30, 17:1, Acts 2:33, Romans 15:6, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 15:24, 2 Corinthians 11:31, Galatians 1:1-4, Ephesians 1:2, 3, 4:5, 6, Philippians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 3:11, 13, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 1 Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4, Philemon 1:3, 1 Peter 1:2, 3, 2 Peter 1:17, 1 John 1:3, 1 John 4:14, Jude 1:1, Revelation 3:21

c. The Son divine, a distinct person from the Father.

1. Christ pre-existent. Existed as a distinct person before He came into the world. (read 13 &, 16 together) Micah 5:2, John 8:56-58, 17:5, 1 Corinthians 15:47, Philippians 2:6, 7, Colossians 1:17, 1 John 1:1, Revelation 22:13, 16

2. Not merely pre-existent, but pre-eminent, above all things except the Father, co-eternal with the Father. Matthew 11:27, 28:18, Luke 20:41-44, John 3:13, 31, Acts 10:36, Romans 14:9, Ephesians 1:20-22, Philippians 2:9, 10, Colossians 1:15, 17, 18, Hebrews 1:4-6, 1 Peter 3:22, Revelation 1:5, 3:14

3. Creator of the universe. John 1:3, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2, 10

4. Divine attributes ascribed to Him

a. Omnipotence. Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 28:18, John 10:17, 18, 11:25, 1 Corinthians 1:24, Philippians 3:21, Colossians 2:10, 2 Timothy 1:10, Hebrews 1:3, Revelation 1:8

b. Omnipresence. Matthew 18:20, 28:20, Ephesians 1:23

c. Eternity. Micah 5:2, John 1:1, Revelation 1:8

d. Omniscience. Matthew 11:27, Luke 10:22, John 2:24, 25, 21:17, Acts 1:24, Colossians 2:3, Revelation 2:23

5. The divine name is applied to Him as to no other being except the Father, implying supreme divinity. Psalm 102:24, 25, Hebrews 1:8-10, Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, Malachi 3:1, Matthew 1:23, John 1:1, 20:28, Acts 20:28, Romans 9:5, Ephesians 5:5, Philippians 2:6, Colossians 2:9, Titus 1:3, 2:13, Hebrews 1:8-10, Psalm 102:24, 25, 2 Peter 1:1, 1 John 5:20, Revelation 17:14, 19:16

6. Exhibited in the Scriptures as the object of religious worship. Matthew 2:11, 14:33, 15:25, Luke 24:52, John 5:23, Acts 7:59, 60, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 2 Corinthians 12:8, 9, Galatians 1:5, Philippians 2:10, 1 Thessalonians 3:11, 12, 2 Timothy 4:18, Hebrews 1:6, Psalm 97:7, 2 Peter 3:18, Revelation 5:13

d. The Holy Spirit is divine and a distinct person from the Father and the Son.

1. The Holy Spirit is divine. Called the Spirit of the Father, the Spirit of the Son, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of life. Genesis 1:2, 6:3, Nehemiah 9:30, Isaiah 63:10, Ezekiel 36:27, 28, Acts 2:16, 17, Joel 2:28, Matthew 10:20, Luke 12:12, John 14:16, 17, 15:26, Acts 5:3, 4, 28:25, Romans 8:14, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 1:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:8, Hebrews 2:4, 1 Peter 1:2

2. Is distinct from Father and Son, and is personal. The personal pronoun _He_ applied to Him; personal acts ascribed to Him. Matthew 3:16, 17, 28:19, Mark 1:10, 11, Luke 3:21, 22, John 14:26, 15:26, 16:13, Acts 13:2, 4, 15:28, Romans 8:26, 1 Corinthians 12:11

3. Converting, regenerating power ascribed to Him. Nehemiah 9:20, Isaiah 44:3, Ezekiel 36:26, 27, 37:14, Joel 2:28, Matthew 3:11, John 3:5, 6, 14:26, Acts 9:31, Romans 8:9, 11, 14, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5, Galatians 4:6, 5:22, Ephesians 1:13, 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 1:2, 1 John 3:24, Revelation 22:17

e. The Father, Son, and Spirit are classed together, separately from all other beings, as divine. Matthew 28:19, Romans 8:9, 14-17, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2, Jude 1:20, 21

Result of the Biblical evidence in respect to the divinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

1. That the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are personally distinguished from each other. There is recognized throughout a personal relation of the Father and Son to each other. So of the Holy Spirit to both.