[Questions concerning the God-head have been around within God’s church since the death of the apostles, and they will no doubt continue until Christ’s return.]

Belief in a Triune God-head has been declared by some to be one of the required beliefs to which one must confess to avoid the label “cult” these days, or in post-Nicean days, “heretic”. Having read many essays on this subject over the years, one thing has become clear; proponents of the Trinity are forced to go outside scripture, outside the family and outside reality to explain how three equals one. So, having no delusions of settling this question once and for all, let us simply consider what scripture says on this subject.

The pivotal trinity scriptures, of course, are the last three verses of the Gospel of Matthew:

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake to them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

There it is – “in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.” Isn’t that three in one? Does the use of the words “Holy Ghost” here (Strong’s Concordance #40 hagios= holy, #4151 pneuma = spirit or ghost) somehow exclude the Father from being “hagios” or “pneuma?” Of course not! Christ calls His Father hagios, holy (Joh 17:11). Also, we are told “God is a spirit” (pneuma) (Joh 4:24).

It must be noted at this juncture that the command to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and holy ghost in Mat 28:19 itself was added by the Catholic Church in the second century to uphold their own belief of a triune diety. A reader from New York kindly pointed me to the credible proof of this truth. Baptism was done in the name of Jesus Christ only. This fact is admitted in their own Catholic Encyclopedia II, page 263…

“The baptismal formula was changed from the name of Jesus Christ to the words Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by the Catholica Church in the second century.”

Additionally, the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, page 2637, under “Baptism”, says:

“Mat 28:19 in particular only canonizes a later ecclesiastical situation, that its universalism is contrary to the facts of early Christian history, and its Trinitarian formula (is) foreign to the mouth of Jesus.”

We can further use as proof of this verse’s error as quoted from “The Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C. 1923, New Testament Studies Number 5” by Bernard Henry Cuneo:

“The Lord’s Command To Baptize An Historical Critical Investigation. By Bernard Henry Cuneo page 27. “The passages in Acts and the Letters of St. Paul. These passages seem to point to the earliest form as baptism in the name of the Lord.” Also we find, “Is it possible to reconcile these facts with the belief that Christ commanded his disciples to baptize in the triune form?” Had Christ given such a command, it is urged, the Apostolic Church would have followed him, and we should have some trace of this obedience in the New Testament. No such trace can be found. The only explanation of this silence, according to the anti-traditional view, is that the short christological (Jesus Name) formula was (the) original, and the longer triune formula was a later development.”

These and various other listings agreeing to the later addition of the “Holy Ghost” to this verse are numerous, and many can be found listed as “A Collection of Evidence Against the Traditional Wording of Matthew 28:19” by Clinton D. Willis.

Now we know from the scriptures that the Father is “hagios” and “pneuma” spirit. So is there any scriptural reason to believe that the “hagios pneuma” is the spirit of the Father? As a matter of fact, the scripture says exactly that!

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Let’s consider a few other scriptures on this subject. Notice:

Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost (hagios pneuma).

Now look at:

Luk 1:35 The Holy Ghost shall come upon you and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Matthew says simply “she was found to be with child of the Holy Ghost.” But Luke 1:35 mentions “the Holy Ghost”, “the Highest” and “God.”

Who is the Father of Christ?

So who fathered Christ? Well, since Christ spent His whole earthly ministry talking about “my Father” (Mat 7:21), and “My Father and your Father” (Joh 20:17), it should be obvious who is the Father of Christ.

Then in Matthew 12:31, Christ says “the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.” Why did Christ say this? Because He had just been accused by the Pharisees of casting out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons (note vs 24). So how does Christ respond to this accusation? Notice vs 28:

Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

He then goes on to warn them against blaspheming the “hagios pneuma“, Holy Spirit, translated Holy Ghost in the KJV.

Obviously Christ had cast out the demons by the Holy Ghost, or as He puts it in verse 28, “by the Spirit of God.” This same account in Luke 11:19 calls the hagios pneuma “the finger of God”, again indicating the Holy Spirit is the essence through which God operates.

Then what is Christ’s relationship to the Holy Spirit? To answer this question, as always, we must consider all sides of the question and all the scriptures on the subject. A couple of very revealing scriptures are John 14:28 and Luke 11:11-13.

Notice first:

Joh 14:28 My father is greater than I.

Remember now, both Matthew and Luke, as shown above, say Christ was fathered of Mary by the hagios pneuma, Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. Maybe that explains why in all His earthly ministry Christ speaks often of His relationship with His Father (Joh 14:10-11; 15:1; 11:41-42), but never once mentions His relationship with this other ‘person’ supposedly equal to Himself and the Father.

What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit?

A careful reading of John chapters 14-16 makes it clear what the hagios pneuma, Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is and what function it serves.

First we will look at Luke 11:11-12.

Luk 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Luk 11:12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

Let’s notice here Christ is telling us the Father has (owns) something He wants to give to us: something of His He considers will nourish and strengthen us. What is this nourishment the Father has for us? Notice verse 13:

Luk 11:13 If you then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?

Notice here that even the King James translators render the Greek words “hagios pneuma” as Holy Spirit. So the Holy Spirit is a gift God the Father has for us if we will only ask Him.

We still need to understand what Christ has to do with the Holy Spirit. So let’s go back to John 14 where the “Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost” (vs 26) is first mentioned in scripture. As a matter of fact, the only mention of the Comforter in all of the King James Bible is in the 14th, 15th and 16th chapters of the gospel of John. Notice I said “in the King James Bible.” I did not say “in the Bible.” I’ll explain the reason for this shortly.

First let’s see what scriptures reveal about this “Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost” (Joh 14:26). The context of this chapter is established in the previous chapter 13. In John, Christ says:

Joh 13:33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You shall seek me: And as I said unto the Jews, whither I go, you cannot come; so now say I to you.

Now, read verses 4-6 of chapter 14: “And whither I go you know and the way you know. Thomas saith unto Him, “Lord we know not whither you go and how can we know the way?” Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man comes unto the Father but by Me.” Going on to verse 10: “Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, He does the works.”

Where is the Holy Spirit in all this? Christ says “I am in the Father and the Father in me.”

Notice the wording of verses 16-20; the first mention in all scripture of “The Comforter.” “And I will pray the Father, and He will send you another Comforter (Greek: parakleetos, Strongs #3875), that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it sees Him not, neither knows Him; for He dwells WITH YOU (Christ) and SHALL be in you. I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you.” In other words, Christ comes to us through His Father’s spirit. Now look at verse 20: At that day (when the Comforter “dwells with you”) “you shall know that I am in my Father and you are in Me and I in you.”

As clearly as it can be stated, our Savior has here said, “I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you.” If we can see as Christ told Phillip that “I am in the Father and the Father in me” (vs 10), then we will understand who the Holy Ghost is and what its function is. So why then would Christ use the word “another” Comforter? Was the Christ who “dwells with you” (vs 17) somehow different from the Christ who “shall be in you?” Oh, how true this is!

The apostles knew Christ outwardly in the flesh for 3 1/2 years without even being converted (Luk 22:32). They had baptized more disciples than John (Joh 4:2), cast out demons (Luk 10:17) and healed the sick (Luk 10:9), yet Christ tells Peter in Luk 22:32 that he has never even been converted.

We all experience Christ in the flesh (baptism, demons cast out, healings); blessings indeed, but all experienced in the passing flesh long, long before He begins to live His life in us. So John 14:17, “…He dwells with you and shall be in you” is as true today as the day the apostle John wrote those words. As good as Christ in the flesh was, “another comforter” is much better. The apostle Paul puts it this way: “henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more.” Another, a better Comforter has come. He is not just WITH us. He is IN US!

Let’s go back now to John 14. Christ continues to expound upon the coming of “another Comforter.”

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Notice Christ mentions only His Father and Himself. Now verses 25 and 26:

Joh 14:25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name [remember verse 18], he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

These words sound very similar to the verses mentioned earlier when we posed the question, “Is there any scriptural reason to believe that the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of the Father?” The first scripture is:

Luk 12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
Luk 12:12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Notice now how Matthew is inspired to relate this same event.

Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

There it is, made plain by the scriptures. The Holy Ghost is the spirit of the Father; a gift the Father gives to those who ask Him (Luk 11:13). Christ is in the Father, and we are in Christ, and Christ is in us (Joh 14:20). Teaching us all things (Joh 14:26) the “comforter…even the Spirit of Truth…” (Joh 14:16 and 17). AND WHO DOES CHRIST SAY THIS “COMFORTER…EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH” IS??

Notice what John says:

Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15 All things [including the holy spirit] that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The Holy Ghost, the gift God has to give to those who ask him (Luk 11:13) is also Christ’s spirit so that…:

Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Now Joh 16:7 makes sense.

Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Ever wonder why the Holy Ghost couldn’t come while Christ was here?

We can clearly understand that pivotal scripture in Matthew.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost [which should read simply “in the name of Jesus”:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Is Christ The Comforter?

If the Holy Ghost, was given to Christ by His Father, and through that “holy spirit of God” (Eph 4:30), the hagios pneuma, which is the Comforter, the parakleetos, is now Christ in us, then there should be a scripture that calls Christ the parakleetos.

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

It so happens that there is just such a scripture, but you would never know it by simply reading your King James Bible or for that matter using your Strong’s concordance, which is keyed to the King James English. If one uses Strong’s, one will see the four places where parakleetos appears in John 14, 15 and 16.

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Joh 14:26 But 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.

Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

These scriptures certainly reveal Christ as the parakleetos as we have shown. However, you would need to use an Englishman’s Greek Concordance (Wigram’s) or America’s Online Bible to find the only other appearance of this Greek word in all of the scriptures. It’s not translated Comforter there. Remember as you read this that, according to John 14:26, The Comforter (parakleetos) is the Holy Ghost. The scripture before us is the First Epistle of John, chapter two verse one. “My little children, these things I write unto you that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate (parakleetos – not even capitalized here in the KJV) with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.” There it is once again stated straight out. Jesus Christ is the parakleetos, the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost. In what way is He the Comforter? He is the Comforter because “all the Father has [including “the holy spirit of God”] He has given to Me” and Christ now gives the Holy Spirit “to whom He will.”

“Christ is our parakleetos, but not of Himself.

Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

In conclusion I will repeat the verses which demonstrate how Christ is “the Comforter which is the holy spirit”:

Joh 14:26 But 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.

Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14 He [“the comforter… even the spirit of Truth”) shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath [including “the comforter… the spirit of Truth”] are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

This all serves to make super clear that “the comforter, which is the holy spirit… even the spirit of Truth”, has been given to Christ by His Father, and it is through “the holy spirit of God” (Eph 4:30) which was given to Christ by His Father, that Christ can make this statement and can be our parakleetos, our comforter:

Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I [Christ] will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

One God The Father

So what is the conclusion and sum of this discussion? There are several scriptures that come to mind. The first is:

Luk 10:22: All things are delivered to Me of My Father: and no man knows who the Son is but the Father, and who the Father is but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him.

Another scripture along these lines is:

1Co 15:27 For He (the Father) has put all things under His (Christ’s) feet. But when He (the Father) saith all things are put under Him (Christ) it is manifest that He (the Father) is excepted which did put all things under Him (Christ).
1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto Him (Christ) then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him (the Father) that put all things under Him (Christ) that God (the Father) may be all in all.

Ephesians 1:10 says this is ‘all things in heaven and on earth.’ The Holy Ghost, of course, is not mentioned.

The Godhead is Understood by the Things That are Made

1Co 11:3 But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ: and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God (the Father).

Paul is applying in this verse the principle he lays down in Romans 1.

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and God head; so that they are without excuse:

Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians 11 is that the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman, but the woman for the man. Notice now verse 12:

1Co 11:12 For as the woman is of the man even so is the man by the woman: but ALL THINGS OF GOD.

Every man ever born excepting Adam, came through a woman. In a sense Adam came “by the woman”. Applying the Romans 1:10 principle, we could say that in the beginning, God (the Father has no beginning) the Father created Christ and through Christ created the rest of creation. And how does this fit with scripture? Very well indeed. Notice:

Col 1:15 Who (Christ) is the image (not God but the image) of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him (Christ) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

This, of course, agrees with the gospel of John.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

The Word Was God

Does it not say, “The Word WAS God?” Yes, it does, and He certainly is. Notice:

Joh 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
Joh 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Joh 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

Psa 82:6 If He called them gods unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; say ye of Him whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Obviously, as far as Christ was concerned, being a god is quite different from being THE Father.

Who Can Be Worshipped?

Certainly Christ can be worshiped (Mat 8:2; 9:18; 14:33 and 15:25). Does being worshiped make one “Father of whom are all things?” Apparently not. Notice:

Rev 3:9 I will make them of the synagogue of Satan to come and worship before your feet.

Worship is apparently something reserved for gods, but only for those gods who can say with Christ “my Father is greater than I am” (Joh 14:28).

Now let’s allow the risen Christ Himself to reveal to us His relationship to His Father. After all, it is He, not John, who is the revealer. Read Revelation 3:14.

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, THE BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD:

There it is! Christ Himself is calling Himself “the beginning of the creation of God.”

Did Any of The Apostles Teach Anything About A Trinitarian Godhead?

In conclusion, the overwhelming weight of scriptural evidence is that they did NOT teach any such doctrine. How then, did they address this question? Apparently there was no question in the minds of the apostles. Here’s the most succinct statement in scripture and one to which we should all be able to give a resounding AMEN!

1Co 8:6 (a) But to us there is but ONE GOD (and who is that one God?) THE FATHER, OF WHOM ARE ALL THINGS and we in Him…

Here is one of those straightforward, simple scriptural statements. It is in agreement with all scripture. We would do well to simply believe it.

Let’s finish the verse. There is something else God the Father (of whom are all things) wants us to understand about the way He operates, because He is a very consistent and faithful God and Father.

1Co 8:6 (b) … and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Remember now the Romans 1:20 [invisible Godhead is understood by the things that are made] principle? Also, remember the 1 Corinthians 11:12 [the woman was taken out of the man but the man is by the woman but ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD] principle?

Well, here those principles are again: And one Lord Jesus Christ, BY WHOM ARE ALL THINGS, and we by Him.

1Th 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
1Th 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

Let us all rejoice that before God the Father ever created the first physical prototype, that the last Adam was provided to redeem all those who were in the first Adam (1Co 15:45). According as He has chosen us in Him (Christ) BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD Having made known to us the mystery (Greek: secret) of His will, according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself: [Now here’s the secret!] That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things IN CHRIST, both which are in heaven and which are on earth; even in Him: (Eph 1:4,9,10)

But How About 1 John 5:7?

The answer to this question is certainly ancient history to any student of the scriptures who has progressed beyond the “If the King James Bible was good enough for the apostles, then it’s good enough for me!” attitude.

Here is what Jameson, Fausset and Brown Commentary has to say on this verse:

The only Greek manuscripts IN ANY FORM which supports the words, in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one; and there are three that bear witness in earth are the Monfortianus of Dublin, copied evidently from the MODERN Latin Vulgate; the Revianue, copied from the COMLUTENSIAN POLYGLOT; a manuscript at Naples, with the words added in the margin by a recent hand; OTTOBONIANUS, 298, of the fifteenth century, the GREEK of which is a mere translation of the accompanying Latin. ALL the old versions omit the words. The oldest manuscripts of the VULGATE omit them: the earliest VULGATE manuscript which has them, WIZANBURGENSIS, 99, is of the eighth century.” (Emphasis is the author’s.)

One should know that the three men who wrote the JFB commentary believe in the Trinity, and go on to attempt to justify what they admit are words added in the margin by a recent hand.

Let us by God’s grace seek only the truth of God’s word as it was given to us by holy men of old as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2Pe 1:21) Also, That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father and His son Jesus Christ. And these things we write unto you that your joy may be full. (1Jn 1:3-4)

[If you have any questions or comments, please direct them to Mike Vinson.]