Proof For The Trinity 

The doctrine of the Trinity is often regarded as one of the most significant differences between the Mormon faith and Christianity. Many Latter-day Saints are even quick to point out that the word “Trinity” is not found anywhere in the Bible—and that fact is often drawn on to claim that it is an entirely contrived doctrine of men.

It is even assumed by many Mormons that the doctrine of the Trinity was invented shortly after the time of the Apostles. But is that claim true? Was the Trinity really invented by the early Christian church? Is there really proof for the Trinity?

The Nature of God is Trinitarian

It is true that the word, “Trinity” is not in the Bible. Christians have used this word throughout history to summarize what God reveals about himself in His Word. The Bible has a lot to say regarding the nature of God. It teaches that:

• There is only one God.
• The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Spirit is God.
• The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father

Let’s take a look at some of the verses that prove these points.

1) There only ever has been and only ever will be One Creator God. 

Deuteronomy says

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4).

“To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.” (Deuteronomy 4:35).

And in Isaiah, God says,

“I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.” (Isaiah 44:6).

“I am the LORD and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:5).

Verses like these are all over the Bible, and they make clear statements like:

• There is none like God (Isaiah 46:9, Jeremiah 10:6, 2 Samuel 2:2).
• God can not be compared to anyone (Isaiah 40:18, Isaiah 40:25).
• God doesn’t know of any other gods. (Isaiah 44:8).

2) The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God: 

Latter-day Saints are quick to declare that Heavenly Father is God, which is certainly true! But the Bible tells us more! The Gospel of John says:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1).

John makes it clear that this “Word” is Jesus Who put on flesh becoming one of us (John 1:14). So, before the creation of the world Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God. Jesus himself claimed to be the I AM, Yahweh (Exodus 3:14), the God who created the world and led Israel out of slavery in Egypt (Jude 5). John 8 records Jesus saying:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58).

Jesus even went so far as to say that if a person does not believe that He is the creator God, that person would die in their sins (John 8:24). This is why it was right for the apostles to have referred to Jesus as “God”.

Thomas calls Jesus:

“My Lord and My God” (John 20:28).

Peter calls Jesus:

“our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1).

The Apostle Paul refers to him as

“our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

“the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever” (Romans 9:4–5).

In addition to all this—while the Bible tells us that only God may receive worship (Matthew 4:10), Jesus is worshiped by his disciples (Matthew 14:33)! Not only that, but He approves of it! What’s more, the Bible tells us that Jesus even receives worship from the angels (Hebrews 1:6).

The whole Bible testifies that Jesus is God! And It also makes clear that the Holy Spirit is God!

In Acts, Ananias and Sapphira lied about how much money they had given to the church. In response, Peter says to them: 

“Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit….You have not lied to man but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4).

Additionally, when baptizing someone, we’re commanded to baptize them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Bible speaks of a personal Holy Spirit who is equal with God (Matthew 28:19). Paul even states that

“the Lord is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The Bible is clear about this: The Father is God, the Son is God, the Spirit is God—and God is one!

3) The Father isn’t the Son, the Son isn’t the Spirit, and the Spirit isn’t the Father. 

Jesus often spoke of His Father as distinct from Himself. He would say things like

“I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 5:30)

“the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak” (John 12:49).

Jesus also said that He and the Father would send the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct persons who interact with and relate to one another. At Jesus’ baptism, the Father spoke, the Spirit descended, and the Son was baptized! Those were the distinct actions of three different persons, in this single event. (Matthew 3:16-17).

The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father.

Trinity or Heresy?

Christians are quick to admit that the Triune nature of our God is challenging to understand. But there are numerous Scripture passages that teach us the three points that form the doctrine of the Trinity. We are not trying to invent something new, but are simply receiving what God has revealed about Himself. These three points, revealed in Scripture, serve as guardrails that keep us from thinking wrongly about God.

When we consider the three truths, we find that the Bible teaches that God is one in being, three in person. So was the idea of the Trinity invented by the early church? No! The doctrine of the Trinity is clearly revealed to us by God in His Word.