The Doctrine of the Trinity

One of the main fundamental key truths in messianic faith is the belief in the doctrine of the Trinity. Simply put, the doctrine of the Trinity states that there is:

One Elohim in three Persons

It is not three Elohim in one Elohim - it is one Elohim in three Persons. The Bible specifically states over and over again that there is only one Elohim. This is why you technically can't say that there are three Elohim in one Elohim.

However, as you will see in the Scripture verses I will list below, all three Persons of the Yah-head are Elohim and Adonai Themselves. Yahuwah, the Father is the first Person of the Trinity, His Son Yahushua Mashiyach is the second Person of the Trinity, and the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) is the third Person of the Trinity.

So, if all Three of Them are really Elohim and Adonai Themselves - then why doesn't Elohim the Father tell us in His Word that we are dealing with three Elohim? Why does He keep saying that there is only one Elohim - when in actuality there really are three Elohim, since both Yahushua and the Ruach HaKodesh are Elohim and Adonai Themselves?

There is no question that Yahuwah, Yahushua, and the Ruach HaKodesh are three separate, complete and individual Persons with their own individual unique identities. So why does Yahuwah the Father keep stating that there is only one Elohim in Scripture? This is one of the mysteries of the Trinity that many people have a hard time with.

Here is what I believe may be a possible answer to this question. From Scripture, we know that there are only three classes of beings. Yahuwah, Yahushua and Ruach HaKodesh are one class in that the Three of Them are all Elohim and Adonai Themselves. As such, all Three of Them are absolutely perfect in Their actual natures and personalities. As you will see in one of the Scripture verses I will list below, the Bible tells us that there is no darkness in Elohim. In other words, He has no dark side - no flesh.

This means that Elohim is totally incapable of doing anything evil or bad. He is totally and completely perfectly good in His actual nature and personality. However, the same thing cannot be said of the other two classes of beings that Elohim has created.

The second class of beings that Elohim has created are the angels. The fact that Satan and one third of the angels rebelled against Yahuwah and were thus thrown out of heaven - all show that angels have the capacity and the ability to malfunction to the dark side.

If they did not have this ability and capacity, then Satan and one third of the angels would have never rebelled against Yahuwah the Father in the first place. This one fact alone tells us that angels are not perfect like Yahuwah, Yahusha and Ruach HaKodesh are. They thus cannot be considered Elohim in any way, shape or form.

The third class of beings Elohim has created is the human race. The Bible specifically states that all men and all women have sinned and have fallen way short of the glory of Elohim(Rom. 3:23). This is why Yahusha had to come down to die for all of our sins, flaws and imperfections. The Bible says that all men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of Elohim (Romans 3:10-18) and makes no exceptions. In other words - all humans are imperfect just like all of the angels are.

This now leads us to one simple conclusion. Since all humans and all angels are imperfect - this now means that no angels and no humans can ever be considered to be elohim themselves - no matter how much Satan would still like to believe that, and no matter how many New Age gurus would like to try and tell you otherwise with their false teachings that we are all little elohim ourselves.

Now here is why I believe that Yahuwa the Father has the Trinity set up under the statement of "One Elohim in three Persons."

Since Yahuwa, Yahusha, and Ruach HaKodesh are all Elohim and Adonai Themselves - this means that all Three of Them are totally perfect in Their actual personalities and natures. And if They are totally perfect in Their personalities - then this now means They are totally capable of being perfectly one with one another.

As you will see in several of the Scripture verses below - Yahusha keeps repeating the statement that He and His Father "are one." In other words, They are perfectly one with one another, They are in perfect harmony with one another, They are in perfect agreement with one another, They are in perfect unison with one another.

Since the Two of Them are both Elohim and Elohim Themselves - this now means this union between the Two of them is a perfect divine union. This perfect divine union of oneness between the Two of Them is so perfect, that Yahuwa the Father can now say that there is only one Elohim - not 3 separate Elohim.

The same thing goes for Ruach HaKodesh. As you will see in a Scripture verse I will list below, this verse also says that Ruach HaKodesh is perfectly "one" with both Yahshua and Yahshua. And since the Bible specifically tells us that Ruach HaKodesh is Elohim and Adonai Himself - then this now means His personal union with both Yahshua and Yahshua is a perfect divine union - and as such - He too can be included as being part of the Elohim-head - where Elohim the Father can now state that there is only one Elohim, but one Elohim in three separate perfect Persons within the actual Elohimhead itself.

Since all angels and all humans are imperfect, then that means we are all incapable of establishing any type of perfect divine Elohim-union with either Elohim Himself or with any other human. Only Elohim, Yahshua and Ruach HaKodesh have the ability to establish a perfect divine union with either Themselves or with one of us or one of Their angels.

I believe that this "perfect divine oneness," this "perfect divine union" between Elohim, Yahshua and Ruach HaKodesh is so "Elohim-perfect" - that Elohim the Father can now state that there is only one true Elohim - but one Elohim in three separate, unique and individual Persons.

1. One Elohim in Three Persons

There is one big, whopper mammoth verse that you can literally base the entire doctrine of the Trinity on. Here it is: 1 John 5:7-13

Sacred Names Bible (SNB)

⁷ There are three witnesses — ⁸ the Spirit, the water, and the blood — and these three are in agreement. ⁹ If we accept human witness, Elohim’s witness is stronger, because it is the witness which Elohim has given about B'nei Elohim. ¹⁰ Those who keep trusting in the B'nei Elohim have this witness in them. Those who do not keep trusting Elohim have made him out to be a liar, because they have not trusted in the witness which Elohim has given about his Son. ¹¹ And this is the witness: Elohim has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² Those who have the Son have the life; those who do not have B'nei Elohim do not have the life. ¹³ I have written you these things so that you may know that you have eternal life — you who keep trusting in the person and power of B'nei Elohim.

As you will see in a verse I will list below, the blood is an image or typical reference  to Yahshua. This verse is now telling us that Elohim the Father, His Son Yahshua Mashiyach and (the water) Ruach HaKodesh are "one." This verse is telling us that we are specifically dealing with an Elohim Trinity involving three separate Persons - but with all Three of these Persons being "perfectly one" with one another!

In the 3 captions I will list below, I will give you some of the main verses from Scripture that will specifically tell us that Elohim the Father, His Son Yahshua Mashiyach and Ruach HaKodesh are all Elohim and Adonai Themselves.

And if They are all Elohim and Adonai Themselves, and above verse is telling us that They are perfectly one with one another - then the Bible has just given us perfect proof that we are now dealing with a Holy Divine Trinity of one Elohim in three Persons.

It's like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Once you have all of the puzzle pieces put together and put right next to one another - it then becomes quite easy to see what Elohim is trying to tell us with some of this deeper revelation!

I believe that the above verse is one of the major foundational verses upon which to base the doctrine of the Trinity since it is specifically telling us that all three Persons of the Elohim-head are "perfectly one" with one another.

2. Elohim the Father is Elohim and Adonai Himself

In order to complete the above verse, we now have to show that both Elohim, Yahshua, and Ruach HaKodesh are all Elohim and Adonai Themselves. In this caption, I will give you 10 major power verses all showing that not only is Elohim the Father Elohim and Adonai Himself - but that there are no other Elohim in the entire scheme of things that can even begin to sit next to Him.

The actual wording in some of these verses are very intense in the way they are stating that there is only one Elohim and that there are no other Elohim anywhere else that can compete with Him for this title. Here are 10 major power verses all showing us that Elohim the Father is Elohim and Adonai Himself and that there are no other beings or entities that can even begin compete with Him for this title.

1. "... yet for us there is only one Elohim, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Adonai Yahshua Mashiyach, through whom are all things, and through whom we live." (1 Corinthians 8:6)
2. "But the Adonai is the true Elohim; He is the living Elohim and the everlasting King ... thus you shall say to them: "The Elohim that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens." He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens at His discretion ... For He is the maker of all things. . ." (Jeremiah 10:10-16)
3. "Thus says the Adonai, the King of Israel, and his redeemer, the Adonai of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no Elohim ... Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.' " (Isaiah 44: 6,8)
4. "To you it was shown, that you might know that the Adonai Himself is Elohim; there is none other besides Him ... that the Adonai Himself is Elohim in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other." (Deuteronomy 4:35-39)
5. "Before Me there was no Elohim formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Adonai, and besides Me there is no savior ... Indeed before the day was, I am He; and there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?" (Isaiah 43:10-13)
6. "For I am Elohim, and there is no other; I am Elohim, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,' ... (Isaiah 46:9)
7. "Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am Elohim, and there is no other." (Isaiah 45:22)
8. "I am the Adonai, and there is no other; there is no Elohim besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, that they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the Adonai, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Adonai, do all these things ... I have made the earth, and created man on it." (Isaiah 45:5-12)
9. "For the Adonai is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all elohim. For all the elohim of the people are idols." (Psalm 96:4)
10. "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that Elohim is light and in Him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5)

All of the above verses are very profound and powerful verses all showing us, without any other possible interpretation, that there is only one Elohim - Elohim the Father - and that there are no other Elohim that can compete or sit beside Him as His equal.

All other false Elohim being worshipped by all of the other false religions of this earth are nothing more than false idols according to Psalm 96:4 - and they will all eventually be completely taken out from this earth when Yahshua comes back to us in His second coming to set up His Millennium Kingdom from the city of Jerusalem.

Also notice in the very last verse where it specifically says that there is no darkness in Elohim - that He is all light and all goodness!

3. Yahshua Mashiyach is Elohim and Adonai Himself

All of the above verses are definitely establishing that Elohim the Father is Elohim and Adonai Himself. Now here are 18 major power verses all showing that Yahshua Mashiyach is also Elohim and Adonai Himself.

Notice in the very first verse that it says that the Word - which is Yahshua - was with Elohim from the very beginning of all things and that He too is Elohim Almighty Himself! The third verse says that a virgin will bring Yahshua into our world and His name shall be called Immanuel - which means that "Elohim is with us."

1.    "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim." (John 1:1)
 

2.    "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
 

3.    "Therefore the Adonai Himself will give you a sign: behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His Name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)
 

4.    "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty Elohim, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
 

5.    "... looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great Elohim and Savior Yahshua Mashiyach ..." (Titus 2:13)
 

6.    "To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our Elohim and Savior Yahshua Mashiyach." (2 Peter 1:1)
 

7.    "And we know that the Son of Elohim has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Yahshua Mashiyach. This is the true Elohim and eternal life." (1 John 5:20)
 

8.    "... no one can say that Yahshua is Adonai except by Ruach HaKodesh." (1 Corinthians 12:3)
 

9.    "Therefore Elohim also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, and that at the name of Yahshua every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Yahshua Mashiyach is Adonai, to the glory of Elohim the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)
 

10. Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Adonai and my Elohim!" (John 20:27)
 

11. "... Mashiyach Yahshua, who being in the form of Elohim, did not consider it robbery to be equal with Elohim, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:6)
 

12. "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Elohimhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." (Colossians 2:9)
 

13. "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves." (John 14:10)
 

14. "I and My Father are one." (John 10:30)
 

15. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." (Revelation 22:13)
 

16. "I am the Aleph and the Tav, the Beginning and the End," says the Adonai, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)
 

17. "Yahshua Mashiyach is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)
 

18. Yahshua said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58)

All of the above verses are definitely telling us, without any other possible interpretation or spin that you can put on them - that Yahshua Mashiyach is Elohim and Adonai Almighty Himself - and that He is truly the second Person of the triune Elohim-head!

The last verse, where Yahshua says before Abraham was, He says "I AM." The words "I AM" are present tense - which means that Yahshua has always been - He was never created or had any type of origination point like all humans and all angels have. Only Elohim can be eternal and that one statement, all by itself, shows that Yahshua Mashiyach is eternal just like His Father is. This makes both Him and Elohim the Father co-eternal in the Elohim-head itself.

The two verses from Revelation 1:8 and 22:13 are stating that Yahshua is the First and the Last - just like the one verse above on Elohim the Father. They are both the First and the Last - which makes both of Them Elohim and Adonai.

When the apostle Thomas says to Yahshua in the above verse - "My Adonai and my Elohim" - Yahshua does not correct him, but accepts the statement that he is making to Him - once again proving that Yahshua is Elohim and Adonai Himself.

All of the above verses are major key power verses all showing us that Yahshua Mashiyach is truly Elohim and Adonai Himself - and as such - is truly the second Person of the triune Elohim-head.

4. Ruach HaKodesh is Elohim and Adonai Himself

To complete the doctrine of the Trinity - we now have to show and prove from Scripture that Ruach HaKodesh is also Elohim and Adonai Himself. The following verses will do that for you. Here they are:

1. "Now the Adonai is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Adonai is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3:17)
2. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to Ruach HaKodesh and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? ... You have not lied to men but to Elohim." (Acts 5:3-4)
3. "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there." (Psalm 139:7)
4. "... how much more shall the blood of Mashiyach, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to Elohim ..." (Hebrews 9:14)
5. "... no one know the things of Elohim except the Spirit of Elohim." (1 Corinthians 2:11)

The very first verse specifically tells us that Ruach HaKodesh is Adonai Himself. The next verse then tells us that Ruach HaKodesh is Elohim Himself when Peter is telling Ananias that he has lied to Elohim when he had just lied to Ruach HaKodesh!

These two verses, when you put them right next to one another, are literally telling us that Ruach HaKodesh is both Elohim and Adonai Himself - just like Elohim the Father and Yahshua Mashiyach are both Elohim and Adonai Themselves. This now perfectly completes the Trinity - showing that we are now dealing with one Elohim, but one Elohim in three separate and distinct Persons - Elohim the Father, Elohim the Son and Elohim Ruach HaKodesh.

The third verse above on Ruach HaKodesh is showing that Ruach HaKodesh is omnipresent - which means that He is everywhere at all times. Only Elohim has this kind of ability. This is just one more piece of Scriptural evidence that Ruach HaKodesh has the attributes and abilities of Elohim Himself and as such, has to be Elohim and Adonai Himself.

The verse from Hebrews 9:14 says that Ruach HaKodesh is eternal - which means that He is just like Elohim and Yahshua on this issue. He has never been created and has always been and always was. Again - only Elohim can be eternal with no creation or origination point like all humans and all angels have.

The last verse, where it says that no one knows the things of Elohim except the Spirit of Elohim, is giving us another major clue that Ruach HaKodesh has to be Elohim Himself in order to have this ability to be able know the things of Elohim the Father.

No human and no angel has the perfect ability to know all of the things of Elohim. Only Yahshua and Ruach HaKodesh have this capability within the Elohim-head itself. The Bible says that all humans will only "know in part" with what knowledge we can acquire from Elohim.

The above 5 verses on Ruach HaKodesh are definitely showing us that He is also Elohim and Adonai Himself, and that He has all of the Elohim-attributes and Elohim-abilities of Elohim and Yahshua in the Elohim-head itself.

Conclusion

If you truly believe that all of the Bible has come to us from Elohim the Father through Ruach HaKodesh, then all of the above verses, especially when you group all of them together, are all showing us that our Elohim is one Elohim in three Persons - with Elohim the Father, His Son Yahshua Mashiyach and Ruach HaKodesh being the three distinct Persons of this triune Elohim-head - and with all three Persons of this Elohim-head being co-equal and co-eternal.

The first set of verses about Elohim the Father are also telling us that there are no other Elohim anywhere else - either in heaven above or on this earth - and that all of the other so called Elohim being worshiped by the other false religious systems of this world are nothing but false idols before Elohim the Father and will eventually be completely done away with.

Once again, Elohim the Father has given us some incredible revelation about Himself, His Son Yahshua Mashiyach and His Holy Spirit with the knowledge that is contained in these specific verses from Scripture.       

Michael Bradley
Bible Knowledge, Commentary, Teaching and Over 150 Free Articles

Theology Proper: The Doctrine of Elohim

Theology Proper:

The Doctrine of Elohim

What does the Bible teach about Elohim?

 

Elohim as Triune
Elohim as Triune: Preliminaries

·      The Bible nowhere uses the word "Trinity."

·      So there is no way that anyone can cite a singular text of Scripture to prove the existence of the Trinity;

·      Rather, to speak about the doctrine of the Trinity is to speak summarily about three interrelating, inextricable doctrines that may be set forth in the following propositions:

·      Each of the propositions may be demonstrated from Scripture.

·      Taken together, these three propositions have come to be known as the doctrine of the Trinity.

·      The one Elohim exists in three fully divine persons.

 

1.    There is only one true and living Elohim.

2.    Elohim exists in three persons.

3.    The three persons are each fully Elohim.

 

·      One final note on the relationship between the doctrine of the Trinity and the attributes of Elohim:

·      Since the one Elohim exists in three, fully divine persons, all of the attributes apply equally and fully to each member of the Elohimhead.

 

Proposition 1
There is only one true and living Elohim

·       Isaiah 45:5-7: I am YHWH, and there is no other; besides Me there is no Elohim. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am Yahweh, and there is no other , the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am YHWH who does all these.

·       Isaiah 45:21: Declare and set forth your case; indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, YHWH? And there is no other Elohim besides Me, a righteous Elohim and a savior; there is none except Me.

·       Deuteronomy 4:35: To you it was shown that you might know that YHWH, He is Elohim; there is no other besides Him.

·       Deuteronomy 6:4: Hear, O Israel! YHWH is our Elohim, YHWH is one!

·       I Kings 8:59-60: And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before YHWH, be near to YHWH our Elohim day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that YHWH is Elohim; there is no one else.

·       Mark 12:29: Yahshua answered, "The foremost is,

·       HEAR, O ISRAEL! YHWH OUR Elohim IS ONE Yahweh . . .'"

·       Romans 3:29-30: Or is Elohim the Elohim Y'hudim only? Is He not the Elohim of the Goyim also? Yes, of the Goyim also, since indeed Elohim, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.

·       I Corinthians 8:4: Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no Elohim but one.

·       I Timothy 2:5: For there is one Elohim, and one mediator also between Elohim and men, the man Mashiyach Yahshua.

·       James 2:19: You believe that Elohim is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

 

·       There are two reasons to say that there is only one true and living Elohim in a discussion of His triune essence:

 

1.     First, the Bible teaches that Elohim exists in three persons.

2.     Second, the Bible teaches that the three persons are each fully Elohim.

3.     From these two propositions alone, we MAY (incorrectly) conclude that there are three Messianic Elohim; thus denying monotheism.

 

·      So, is it really necessary, in a discussion of the Triune nature and essence of Elohim to say that there is only one true and living Elohim?

·      ABSOLUTELY!

 

Proposition 2
Elohim exists in three persons

·      There are three persons who make up Elohim:

 

-Father

-Son

-Holy Spirit

 

·       Matthew 28:19: Elohim therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

·       II Corinthians 13:14: The grace of Adonai Yahshua Mashiyach, and the love of Elohim, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

 

·       To understand this proposition more clearly, we can formulate it in this way:

 

1.     The Father, the Son, and Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) are one Elohim: yet

2.     The Father is not the Son

3.     and neither the Father nor the Son are Ruach HaKodesh.

 

·       To say that the Father is not the Son and that neither the Father nor the Son is the Holy Spirit indicates that there are genuine distinctions within the essence of Elohim.

·       To say that the one Elohim exists in three persons does not mean

 

1.     That the one Elohim is three human beings, or even should be conceived as human beings;

2.     That the one Elohim can be divided into three parts;

3.     That the one Elohim can exist separately or independently of any of himself;

 

·       Rather to say that the one Elohim exists in three persons means that the one Elohim is made up of three distinct, self-conscious egos which act in distinct yet coordinate ways.

 

·       Is it really necessary to say that the Father is not the Son and that neither the Father nor the Son is the Holy Spirit?

·       ABSOLUTELY!

 

·       There are two reasons to say that the Father is not the son and that neither the Father nor the Son is the Holy Spirit.

 

1.     First, as we have seen, the Bible teaches that Elohim is one (Prop 1).

2.     Second, the Bible teaches that the Father is Elohim, the Son is Elohim, and the Spirit is Elohim (Prop 3).

 

·       From these two propositions alone we may conclude that the language of Father, Son, and Spirit are simply different modes or expressions of behaviors of the one Elohim; thus, denying that Elohim exists in three distinct, self-conscious, egos.

 

·       The Father is not the Son

            -Hebrews 7:25: Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near        to Elohim through Him, since He always lives to make intersession for them.

            -I John 2:1: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may   not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Yahshua         Mashiyach  the righteous.

            -John 1:1, 2, 14: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim,   and the Word was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim . . . . ¹⁴And the            Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the       only begotten from the father, full of grace and truth.

            John 17:1, 24: ¹Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to Heaven, He     said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify you . . . . ²⁴Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me       before the foundation of the world."

            -Galatians 4:4-5: But when the fullness of the time came, Elohim sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who       were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

           
-See Ephesians 1:3-12

 

·      Neither the Father nor the Son is the Holy Spirit

            -Mark 1:9-11: In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was           baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw       the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice    came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well pleased.

            -II Thessalonians 2:13-14: But we should always give thanks to Elohim for you,          brethren beloved by Adonai, because Elohim has chosen you from the beginning          for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for     this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Adonai   Yahshua Mashiyach..

            -I Peter 1:2: . . . according to the foreknowledge of Elohim the Father, by the             sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Yahshua Mashiyach and be sprinkled with      His blood: May grace and peace by yours in the fullest measure.

            -Acts 10:38: You know of Yahshua of Natzaret, how Elohim anointed Him with         the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing        all who were oppressed by the devil, for Elohim was with Him.

            -Titus 3:4-6: But when the kindness of our Savior and His love for mankind          appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in   righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and        renewing by the Holy spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Yahshua         Mashiyach our Savior.

            -Romans 15:13: Now may the Elohim of hope fill you with all joy and peace in   believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

            -Jude 20-21: But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most Holy faith,       praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of Elohim, waiting         anxiously for the Mercy of our Adonai Yahshua Mashiyach to eternal life.   

            -Ephesians 4:4-6: There is one body and one spirit, just as also you were called     in one hope of your calling; one Yahweh, one faith, one baptism, one Elohim and       Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

            -Galatians 4:6: Because you are sons, Elohim has sent forth the spirit of His son          into our hearts, crying, "Abba Father!"

            Ephesians 1: 13-14:  In Him, you also, after listening to the message for truth,          the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with      the Holy spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a           view to the redemption of Elohim's inheritance, with a view to the redemption of           Elohim's own             possession, to the praise of His glory.

            -Ephesians 2:18: . . . for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to           the Father.

 

Distinctive Persons with Distinctive Roles

The Economy of the Trinity
Proposition 2
Elohim in Three Persons

·      The Son is subordinate to the Father in role and relationship

          -I John 4:14:  We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the   Savior of the world.

            -John 3:16: For Elohim so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son,   that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

            -John 6:38: For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the     will of Him who sent Me.

            -Philippians 2:8: Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by       becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

            -Hebrews 5:8: Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things        which He suffered.

 

·      The Holy Spirit is Subordinate to the Father and the Son in role and relationship

 

-In creation (Hebrews 1:2 w/Genesis 1:2

          Hebrews 1: 1-2: Elohim, after he spoke long ago to the fathers ion the             prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom        also He made the world.

            Genesis 1:2: The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the    surface of the deep, and the Spirit of Elohim was moving over the surface of     the waters.     

 

·       The Son is subordinate to the Father in role and relationship

·       Like a human father and son relationship, the Heavenly Father directs, guides, leads, and commands while the Eternal Son submits, follows, and obeys.

·       The Holy Spirit is subordinate to the Father and the Son in role and relationship

            -in redemption

·      John 14:28: 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 15:26: When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me.

·      Implied in Ephesians 1:3-14

·      The Holy Spirit is subordinate to the Father and the Son in role and relationship.

·      The Holy Spirit is the Father's and Son's agent in carrying out their purposes in creation and redemption.

·      The roles and relationships of the members of Elohim are depicted below.

-The Holy Spirit is subordinate in role and in relationship to the Father and the Son.

-The Son is subordinate in role and in relationship to the Father.

 

 

 

                                   

 

                                                                                

 

·      Watershed texts depicting the differences in role and relationship between the members of the Trinity:

-John 14:16-26

-John 16:5-14

 

 

 

Distinctive Persons with

Distinctive Roles

The Ontological Trinity

 

·      Summary

-The distinction between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit indicates differences in role and relationship.

-These differences are most apparent to us in what has come to be known as the economy of the Trinity, or the Economic Trinity, where economy refers to the activities of the different members of Elohim with respect to creation and redemption.

 

·       In other words, Elohim has always existed as three persons, eternally before creation and redemption,.

·       This is what has come to be known as the Ontological Trinity, or the ontology of the Trinity, where ontology refers to the being of Elohim.

·       In addition, the differences in role and relationship are not arbitrary or artificial or even a product of the members' activities;

·       Rather, the differences in role and relationship exemplified by the Economic Trinity flow from the differences in role and relationship that inhere in Elohim as Elohim.

 

·       We can say that the tri-personality of Elohim is an eternal, ontological reality for the following reasons.

-Elohim is immutable (he cannot change). Therefore if He exists now as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, He has always existed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

-The Father and Son acted together as father and Son before time began.

·       Ephesians 1:3:  Blessed be the Elohim and Father of our Adonai Yahshua Mashiyach, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Mashiyach, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.

·       John 1:18: No one has seen Elohim at any time; the only begotten Elohim who is in the bosom of the father, He has explained Him.

·       John 3:17: For Elohim did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

·       Galatians 4:4: But when the fullness of the time came, Elohim sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law.

·       John 17:15: Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

·       Hebrews 1:1-2: Elohim, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

Conclusion

·      Proposition 1: There is only one true and living Elohim.

·      Proposition 2: Elohim exists in three persons.

 -The persons are self-conscious egos.

-The persons have different roles and relationships in the very being of Elohim (The ontological Trinity) that work themselves out in the activity of Elohim (the economic Trinity).