Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: How Do You Understand the Godhead?

Theology
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“The_Omega” (I like your handle, BTW)
I speak as a trinitarian, at least as I understand the idea…

I don’t follow the logic that the orthodox trinitarian doctrine didn’t appear until centuries later and that somehow makes it suspect. It is actually very easy to see trinitarian views in the writings of the earliest church fathers, even from the first century. Even if the idea had not yet been given the name “trinity” to describe it, does not mean it was not accepted as an explanation to the three-in-one Godhead. To me, this logic is the same as saying our Biblical cannon is not reliable as a unit of separate works since it was not ratified until over 300 years after the last one was penned, at the councils of Carthage. All of these early writers wrote to support a trinitarian doctrine.

Ignatius a.d. 30–107

Justin Martyr a.d. 110–165

Ireneaus a.d. 120–202

Clement of Alexandria a.d. 153–217

Tertullian a.d. 145–220

Origen a.d. 185–254

Cyprian a.d. 200–258, who said:
“Finally, when, after the resurrection, the apostles are sent by the Lord to the heathens, they are bidden to baptize the Gentiles “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” How, then, do some say, that a Gentile baptized without, outside the Church, yea, and in opposition to the Church, so that it be only in the name of Jesus Christ, everywhere, and in whatever manner, can obtain remission of sin, when Christ Himself commands the heathen to be baptized in the full and united Trinity?” Epistle LXXII.5.18

I DO get your point that simply proving that certain men said something doesn’t raise what they said to the level of The Word of God. I’m with you there; I agree that you are speaking truth.

I do understand the difficulty of trying to express an inexpressible; trying to cram infinitely transcendent ideas into limiting constraints of the English language. Even if I do not understand that which is far beyond my understanding, even if in my limited capacity I cannot explain it well, or teach it to others, even if my native language has no words to comprehensively convey these ideas, even if in my attempts to understand it I fall desperately short, none of this shortens Gods arm that he cannot save. Right? Even if I have an IQ of 70 or less, even of I never attended any formal education, and I have never learned to read or write, even so God sent His only begotten son that even I could be given everlasting life. I think you also believe this way.

I admit, I do not fully understand “oneness theology”; I am unfamiliar with the origins and its distinctions as held by its adherents, I have not considered the ramifications, and I have not personally wrestled with the dissimilarity of it against a trinitarian view. You seem to consider “Oneness theology” to be unorthodox, and I do not understand when, or why, it diverged from what you consider to be orthodox. Even so, if in my minds eye I imagine you and I standing in heaven and asking about this, I think we will probably both be gently schooled on our naivety, maybe our false assumptions, and misunderstandings of this and other things to which we held too tightly. Maybe, I don’t know.

I do appreciate your instruction, and your identification of the differences in view points. I’m always learning new things. Thanks for your part in my education.

Augustine of Hippo a.d. 354–430 wrote:

Those holy angels come to the knowledge of God not by audible words, but by the presence to their souls of immutable truth, i.e., of the only-begotten Word of God; and they know this Word Himself, and the Father, and their Holy Spirit, and that this Trinity is indivisible, and that the three persons of it are one substance, and that there are not three Gods but one God; and this they so know that it is better understood by them than we are by ourselves.

Augustine The City of God Book 11 Chapter 29

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Where in the BIBLE is there any teaching or wording of God in three persons or God being a tri-unity? There are over 300 places that speak of God in a singular sense. This isn’t about church “fathers” it’s about what the Bible says

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“Where is God called three persons?”

Genesis 1:26 – “Let Us make man in Our image.”
Either God’s got a royal split personality or something else is going on here. Spoiler: it ain’t schizophrenia—it’s a plurality within unity.

Matthew 3:16-17 – Baptism of Jesus:

Jesus is in the water, the Spirit descends like a dove, the Father speaks from heaven.
That’s not one person with three jobs. That’s three persons acting simultaneously. Unless Jesus was throwing His own voice and a heavenly dove puppet show?

John 14:16 – “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter…”
Jesus (Person 1) prays to the Father (Person 2) to send the Spirit (Person 3). That’s not modalism. That’s Trinitarian mechanics in action.

John 1:1,14 – “The Word was with God, and the Word was God… and the Word became flesh.”
The Word is with God and is God? Sounds like someone’s been reading a divine riddle… unless, of course, you understand distinct persons sharing one essence.

2 Corinthians 13:14 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
Paul didn’t write filler. He stacked that benediction with Trinitarian symmetry.

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“But the word ‘Trinity’ isn’t in the Bible!”
Neither is “omniscient” or “omnipresent,” but I dare you to say God isn’t those either. The word isn’t the issue. The doctrine is. And the doctrine is dripping from the text like honey from the comb—if your eyes aren’t glued shut by tradition.

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You said it’s about what the Bible says, not the Church Fathers. Good. Because the Bible says plenty, and what it doesn’t do is shrink the Almighty down to a one-man masquerade act. God isn’t playing peek-a-boo in different hats.

So unless you’re ready to explain how Jesus prays to Himself, sends Himself, and sits at His own right hand—maybe it’s time to stop looking for the word “Trinity” like it’s some kind of password, and start looking at the whole counsel of God.

300 verses on God’s singular nature? Great. So do I. We believe in ONE God. But He’s not unipersonal—He’s tri-personal. That’s not contradiction. That’s revelation.

You’re not battling the Trinity—you’re battling the Bible while pretending you’re defending it. And that, my friend, is what we call spiritual sabotage dressed up as sola scriptura.

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With that type of assumption, we could then assume whenever there is a Bible verse with “us” in it…it would automatically mean THREE persons.
The monotheistic Jews did not interpret Gen 1:26 to mean a plurality but that God was speaking to the heavenly host, or He was speaking (pondering) to Himself.
Three separate distinct persons was not taught by the patriarchs, the prophet, the Apostles or Jesus Christ.
In the water was ONE person ! A voice is a person? A sign as a dove…A dove is a person? Colossians 2:9

Authorized (King James) Version

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
(In Him- Not them)

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Oh BrotherDavid, bless your theological heart—but you’re building a house of doctrine on a foundation of assumptions, then warning others not to assume. So let’s sweep away the sand and set this thing on the rock of actual Scripture.

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  1. “The Jews didn’t interpret Genesis 1:26 that way.”

Correct—and neither did they interpret Isaiah 53 as pointing to Jesus. Shall we throw that one out too? The Jews also rejected the Messiah. Are you going to let their unbelief be your hermeneutic? Because Romans 11 calls that spiritual blindness—not sound doctrine.

Genesis 1:26:
“Let Us make man in Our image.”
If God is talking to angels, are we then made in the image of angels? Because verse 27 says:
“So God created man in His own image…”
Not “their” image. Not angelic likeness. The plural conversation ends in a singular act by a singular God, revealing a plurality within unity.

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  1. “In the water was ONE person!”

You’re right. One person—Jesus. But don’t play hide-and-seek with the rest of the passage:

Matthew 3:16-17 –
• The Son is baptized,
• The Spirit descends like a dove,
• The Father speaks from heaven.

If that’s one person, then congratulations—you’ve turned Jesus into a ventriloquist with a drone.

A voice from heaven is not a “person”? Tell that to John 12:28–30, where the voice of the Father speaks audibly from heaven and the crowd hears it. That wasn’t Jesus throwing His voice—it was the Father. And if your theology turns one member of the Godhead into a glorified sound effect, you’ve downsized the divine into a cartoon act.

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  1. “A dove isn’t a person.”

Exactly. The Spirit descended like a dove—symbolic appearance, not essence. But the Spirit is a Person. Read John 14:26:

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost… he shall teach you all things.”
He, not it. You don’t call a force “he.” The Holy Spirit teaches, guides, speaks, intercedes (Romans 8:26). Not qualities of a bird. Qualities of a Person.

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  1. Colossians 2:9 – “In Him dwelleth all the fullness…”

Absolutely. Jesus is fully God.
But what does “fullness” mean? That the Son is the sum total of the Godhead? That’s not what the verse says. It says the fullness dwells bodily—not that He’s the only person in the Godhead. It’s emphasizing Christ’s deity, not redefining the Trinity. Paul isn’t saying, “Forget the Father and Spirit—Jesus is all there is.” He’s saying Jesus isn’t a partial revelation—He’s fully divine.

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  1. “Three persons was not taught by the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, or Jesus.”

You sure about that?

Jesus said:
• “I will pray the Father, and He will send you another Comforter” (John 14:16).
• “Not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
• “The Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).

If Jesus is the Father, who’s doing the sending, judging, and submitting? If the Father is the Son, then these verses become divine ventriloquism and theological gymnastics.

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Conclusion:

BrotherDavid, Colossians 2:9 doesn’t cancel Matthew 3:16–17. Genesis 1:26 doesn’t get overridden by your favorite Jewish commentary. And the Spirit is not a bird, nor the Father a boom mic from heaven. Scripture reveals three distinct Persons who are one in essence—one God in triune glory.

Don’t let man-made oneness theology strip the Son of His Sonship, the Spirit of His personhood, and the Father of His fatherhood.

God doesn’t wear masks. He exists in perfect, eternal tri-personal communion—and He’s not confused. The only question is: are we?

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Just give me ONE verse that states God is 3 persons…
John 4:24
Authorized (King James) Version

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
How many Spirits are there?
Matthew tells us the Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary and she was later found with child.
When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, was He praying to the Holy Ghost (person #3) which is a Spirit or person #1, the Father which is also a Spirit !!
Also, the trinity says there are three separate, distinct persons who are co-existent, co-equal and co-eternal. We know the Father had many personal names Jehovah, Yaweh etc…and the Son of God was revealed to us as Jesus, but here we have your mysterious 3rd person: The Holy Ghost…No NAME Holy Ghost !! Where is the communion between the 1st person and the 3rd person ? If all three of your trinity’s" persons" are equal, then why does one not talk, doesn’t commune with the other 2 “persons” ? And what is the Holy Ghost’s Name ? (not what He is-comforter, councelor,helper etc..) I mean what is you 3rd "person’s"personal Name ?When God
manifested Himself in flesh, He limited Himself because as a man the Son (flesh) was not
omnipresent. Jesus’ very Name means Jehovah our Savior.
Do you think there are 3 that sit upon the throne in heaven ? Jesus said He is 1st and Last, not second, third or fourth. He said He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End…How many 1st and Last’s are there? How many Alpha and Omega’s are there ? How many Beginnings and End’s are there ?

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Alright, BrotherDavid—you’ve brought a theological machine gun to the field, but you’re firing blanks. So let’s do this slow, clean, and scriptural. You asked for one verse that states God is “three persons”—and that’s like asking, “Where does the Bible say ‘God is a trinity of three distinct, co-equal, co-eternal persons sharing one essence’ in one sentence?” You won’t find that line—just like you won’t find the word “Oneness” in your Bible either. But Scripture isn’t a slogan manual—it’s a revelation, meant to be read as a whole.

So let’s break this down. Strap in.

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  1. One Verse That Shows Three Divine Persons? Fine. Here It Is:

Matthew 28:19 (KJV)
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
• One name (singular), yet three distinct persons listed.
• If the Father is the Son is the Holy Ghost—why list them separately? Why the tri-fold formula for the one name?

That’s not poetic flair. That’s divine clarity.

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  1. “How many Spirits are there?”

Ephesians 4:4: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.”
Amen—we agree. But don’t confuse essence with personhood.
• God is Spirit in nature (John 4:24), yes.
• But the Father is Spirit (John 6:27),
• The Son is eternally begotten of the Father and fully divine (John 1:1,14),
• And the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (John 15:26).

One Spirit. Three Persons.
That’s not contradiction. That’s Trinitarian theology, straight from the text.

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  1. “Was Jesus praying to Himself?”

You’re asking if Jesus prayed to the Holy Ghost or the Father. That’s your problem—you’ve turned the Godhead into a game of identity swapping.

Matthew 26:39 –
“O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Jesus isn’t speaking to Himself. He’s submitting His human will to the will of another Person: the Father. If He’s just talking to His own divine nature, then the garden becomes a one-man drama with a schizophrenic script.

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  1. “What’s the Holy Ghost’s name?”

So now we’re playing spiritual ID cards?

You want a “name” like “Bob the Spirit”? Newsflash: “Jesus” is the incarnate name of the Son—the only Person who took on flesh. The Father was never incarnate. The Spirit was never incarnate. Names in Scripture reveal function, not Facebook profiles.

“Comforter,” “Spirit of Truth,” “Holy Ghost,” “Spirit of the Lord,” “Spirit of Christ”—all biblical names tied to one divine Person, the Holy Spirit.
If you need a first-name basis for the third Person of the Trinity, maybe check Acts 5:3-4—where lying to the Holy Ghost is equated with lying to God.

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  1. “Where’s the communion between the Father and the Spirit?”

You mean like:
• John 14:26 – The Father sends the Holy Spirit.
• John 15:26 – The Spirit proceeds from the Father and testifies of the Son.
• 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 – The Spirit searches the deep things of God and reveals them.
• Romans 8:26-27 – The Spirit intercedes to the Father on behalf of the saints.

Brother, that’s communication. That’s communion. That’s Trinitarian traffic.

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  1. “Do you think there are 3 thrones?”

Nope. One throne. One God. Three Persons sharing that glory. Read Revelation 22:1:
“…the throne of God and of the Lamb…”
One throne. Two mentioned. Unified in majesty.

Jesus is Alpha and Omega? Absolutely. So is the Father. So is the Spirit. Because they’re one God, not one guy in a divine disguise.

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Final Word:

You want a tidy verse that says “God is three persons”? That’s like asking where the Bible says “God is one mode who shapeshifts like a theological Transformer.” Neither exist.

But the evidence is everywhere:
• Three persons at the baptism.
• Three persons in Jesus’ prayer.
• Three persons in Paul’s benedictions.
• Three persons in the Godhead—each acting, speaking, loving, sending, receiving.

The Trinity isn’t tradition—it’s text. And denying it doesn’t make it disappear. It just turns the glory of God into a theological costume party.

You asked for one verse? I gave you a feast. Want seconds?

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Actually… THAT is a fun conversation. And a misnomer. The idea of heaven is largely misunderstood. And this is because details are sorely lacking. We have parables, metaphores to explain the concept… But people have painted in a lot of the details.

Also, I don’t think a body could dwell there.

If Christ is still in physical form, he would need a physical place to dwell. If he is not still hanging around the Earth, he is on another planet, or something else that is physically inhabital.

Sooo… :person_shrugging:

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Honestly, when I first read the title I thought this was about the Oneness of all existence, of all creation, all life, all things being one with Christ, one with God, all things being one, interconnected, one organism, one body etc.etc.

Apostolic dogma was a surprise. I wonder why the Apostolic church, being a part of the Holiness movement around 1900s chose to depart from what the mainstream church believes?

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You have showed scripture of the manifestations or roles of our great one God, Jesus Christ.
No where did Jesus teach He was a 2nd person in a triune God squad. The information you gave about the Holy Ghost’s personal name was glossed over and ignored. These are not names Comforter,” “Spirit of Truth,” “Holy Ghost,” “Spirit of the Lord,” “Spirit of Christ”—no more than Son is Jesus’ name or Father is the Father’s personal name. If you would quit just trying to be so right you could understand. You said, the Spirit was never incarnate! The Spirt was incarnate- what is God ? Don’t you know that the ONE God is a Spirit ? There is ONE God with one name: Jesus
. 2 Corinthians 5:19

Authorized (King James) Version

19 to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
John 14:9
Who was in Christ ? God was
Authorized (King James) Version

9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
One God-
[saiah 44:24]
Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

Isaiah 44:8

Authorized (King James) Version

8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid:
have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it?
ye are even my witnesses.
Is there a God beside me?
yea, there is no God; I know not any.

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BrotherDavid, I appreciate your tenacity, but you’re swinging the same sword and calling it a new strike. The problem isn’t the verses you’re quoting—it’s what you’re ignoring.

You’re trying to stuff the infinite, triune God into a oneness mold made by men in the 20th century—and that theological Tupperware doesn’t seal. You keep quoting verses that affirm there is one God—which Trinitarians fully affirm. But you think saying “one God” automatically means one Person. That’s the flaw in your foundation.

Let’s clear the fog with truth and fire.

:fire: 1. “You’ve only shown roles and manifestations.”

Nice try, but no. Roles don’t talk to each other. Masks don’t love each other. Manifestations don’t send other manifestations. What you call “roles,” Scripture presents as Persons.

  • The Father speaks from heaven,
  • The Son is baptized,
  • The Spirit descends like a dove (Matt. 3:16–17).

That’s not God playing divine dress-up—that’s three Persons in relational action.

:fire: 2. “Where did Jesus teach He was the 2nd Person?”

How about:

  • “I came down from heaven, not to do my will, but the will of Him who sent me.” (John 6:38)
  • “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30 — not “I am the Father,” but “we are one.”)
  • “Glorify Me…with the glory I had with You before the world was.” (John 17:5)

That’s Person talking to Person, not puppet show monologues.

:fire: 3. “What’s the Holy Ghost’s name?”

You’re asking for a personal name for a Person who is Spirit. But God doesn’t hand out DMV IDs.

You accept “Jesus” as the name of the Son, but what is the Father’s personal name? “YHWH”? “Jehovah”? Even in the OT, He’s called El Shaddai, Elohim, Adonai, Yahweh-Jireh—is each of those a different name, or are they revealing character and role?

By your own logic, unless the Holy Spirit has a business card that says “Kevin,” He’s not a Person. But the Bible calls Him “He,” not it (John 14:26). He teaches, speaks, sends, grieves, and intercedes (Eph. 4:30; Rom. 8:26). That’s personality, not electricity.

:fire: 4. “God is a Spirit…therefore Jesus IS the Spirit.”

No sir. That’s a theological shortcut that crashes the whole system.

Yes, God is Spirit (John 4:24).
Yes, Jesus is God incarnate (John 1:1,14).
But the Spirit is not the same Person as the Son.

Scripture shows distinction:

  • Jesus says, “I will send you another Comforter” (John 14:16). “Another” = not Him.
  • The Spirit descended upon Jesus. He didn’t descend as Jesus.
  • The Spirit intercedes to the Father (Rom. 8:26–27). That’s not modalism. That’s a divine dialogue.

:fire: 5. You quoted 2 Corinthians 5:19 – “God was in Christ…”

Amen! That’s Trinitarian gold. God the Father was working in the Son through the power of the Spirit to redeem mankind.
Three Persons—one mission. You’re quoting a verse that proves what you’re denying.

:fire: 6. Isaiah 44:24 – “I am the Lord… by myself.”

Absolutely. There is one God—not three gods. But this verse doesn’t say one person. It says God alone created all things, which aligns beautifully with John 1:3:
“All things were made by Him [the Word]; and without Him was not anything made that was made.”

So either Jesus is the Word who is also God, or you’re left with a contradiction. Unless, of course, you believe in a triune God.

:fire: 7. “There is no God beside Me.” (Isaiah 44:8)

Yes! No other gods. Not three gods. One God—eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Your Oneness doctrine reads “one God” and assumes “one person.” But Scripture never says that. It shows three persons acting, loving, sending, and speaking. You’re importing Oneness theology into the Bible—not extracting it from the Bible.

:latin_cross: Final Verdict:

You keep quoting verses that affirm the unity of God, and pretending they deny the tri-personal nature of God. But Scripture never pits God’s oneness against His three-personed being. That tension exists only in Oneness doctrine—not in the Word.

Your theology says:

  • Jesus is the Father,
  • Jesus is the Spirit,
  • Jesus is praying to Himself,
  • Jesus sends Himself,
  • Jesus glorifies Himself,
  • And somehow all this is supposed to reflect the God of order.

But what you’ve got is a spiritual shell game. And God doesn’t play games with His identity.

One God. Three Persons. Scripture said it. I believe it.

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Don’t you know that the ONE God is a Spirit ? There is ONE God with one name: Jesus
God is a Spirit, yes Jesus is the Spirit if you believe Jesus is God. When you speak of Jesus are you only speaking of His human nature? Do you not believe He was Son of God and Son of man? 100% man / 100% God. It would be foolish to say a human is God, would it not? But God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. Do you think Jesus Christ was only a man?

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There no triune God… that was a development. Also Truthseeker, I never used the word oneness or said that word was in the Bible.

The Bible predominantly uses singular pronouns when God refers to Himself, with thousands of instances of “I,” “me,” “Him,” and “His”. While there are a few verses, particularly in the Old Testament, where God refers to Himself in the plural (“we,” “us”), the vast majority of references are singular, emphasizing God’s singular nature.

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Brother Davis, you’re circling the same mountain like Israel in the wilderness—quoting true things, but drawing false conclusions. So let’s cut the fluff and get to the fire.

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“Don’t you know the ONE God is a Spirit?”

Yes. John 4:24—God is a Spirit. But that doesn’t mean God is only one person. That’s category confusion. You’re mistaking what God is (essence) for who God is (personhood). That’s like saying, “Human is one nature, therefore there can only be one human.”

God’s essence: Spirit
God’s being: One
God’s personhood: Three

This is not a contradiction. It’s Trinitarian clarity.

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“There is ONE God with one name: Jesus.”

Oh really? Then explain this:
• Jesus prays to the Father (Luke 22:42).
• Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3).
• Jesus says, *“I came down from heaven not to do My will, but the will of *Him who sent Me.” (John 6:38)

If “Jesus” is the only name of God, then you’ve got Jesus praying to Jesus, sitting next to Jesus, being sent by Jesus, and ultimately glorifying Jesus—which turns the gospel into a divine identity crisis.

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“Was Jesus only a man?”

Of course not. That’s Nestorian nonsense, and no Trinitarian believes that.

Jesus is 100% God and 100% man—fully divine in essence, fully human in nature. But here’s the kicker: His divine nature is not the totality of the Godhead. The Son is not the Father. The Son is not the Spirit. He is the second Person of the triune God.

When Scripture says “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Cor. 5:19), it doesn’t say Christ was the Father—it says the Father was working through the Son, by the Spirit, to redeem the world. That’s Trinitarian synergy, not Oneness sleight of hand.

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“There is no triune God… that was a development.”

Ah yes, the old “The Trinity was invented later” line. Let me ask you this:
• Was Jesus’ divinity a later development just because the word “God-man” doesn’t appear in the OT?
• Was the canon of Scripture invalid until the councils finalized it?

The doctrine wasn’t invented, it was defined—in response to heresies like modalism (which is your doctrine in disguise). The early church didn’t create the Trinity; they clarified what Scripture already revealed.

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“I never said ‘Oneness’ is in the Bible.”

True. You’re right—you didn’t say the word “Oneness” is in the Bible. But neither is the word “Trinity.” So if your standard is “not in the Bible = not true,” then you’d better toss out “incarnation,” “omnipresence,” “rapture,” and your argument with it.

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“God uses singular pronouns—‘I’, ‘Me’, ‘Him’…”

Yes! Because there is one God!
But again, you’re mistaking oneness of being for oneness of person. The triune God speaks with a unified voice because He is one in essence.

But when Scripture wants to show intra-Trinitarian relationship, it does:
• “Let Us make man in Our image.” (Gen. 1:26)
• “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand…” (Ps. 110:1)
• “The Spirit intercedes…according to the will of God.” (Rom. 8:27)
• “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17)

If God is one person, then these are either divine monologues, delusions, or deceptions. And none of those sound like the God of truth.

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Final Word:

You’ve got the right verses, but the wrong lens. You keep trying to jam the infinite glory of the triune God into a one-man model that can’t hold the weight of Scripture. And when it leaks, you just slap more singular pronouns on it and pretend it’s airtight.

But here’s the truth:

One God. Three Persons. Co-eternal. Co-equal. Co-existent.
Not created by the church—revealed by the Word.

You can deny the word “Trinity,” but you can’t escape the truth of it—unless you’re willing to rewrite the whole Bible with your theology in mind.

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Just show 1 scripture that explicitly states God is in “persons”
Where did they teach this ? Not strawman arguments but explicit like other essential heaven or hell teaching. God always was, and always will be… the Son was born because He was God in flesh. The Holy Ghost was given after Jesus was glorified on Calvary. He is the Father in our relationship and creation, the Son in our redemption and the Holy Ghost in our regeneration.
God gave His only begotten Son…He was born and had a beginning -at Bethlehem.
Something is begotten when it’s been generated by procreation — in other words, it’s been fathered. As a man Jesus was born, He hungered, He suffered, He bled and He died. As God He did not have a beginning, He walked on water, He opened blinded eyes, He turned water to wine, He raised the dead, and He rose from the dead and as God - He is coming back again.

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BrotherDavid, once again, you’re bringing a bucket of verses, but trying to pour them into a mold that doesn’t fit. You’re asking for one verse that says “God is three persons” in those exact words—but let’s be honest: if I gave you that, you’d still find a way to duck it. This isn’t about lack of scripture—it’s about your refusal to see what’s already written.

So here it is, clean and clear:

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“Just show 1 scripture that says God is in persons.”

How about Hebrews 1:3 (KJV)?

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power…”

The Son is the express image of the Father’s person—not a manifestation, not a mask, not a role. Person.

The Greek word used? Hypostasis. Literal meaning: subsistence, individual reality, personhood. It’s the same root the early church used to say “one essence, three persons”—because that’s exactly what Scripture shows.

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“Where did they teach this?”

Let’s do a Trinity walkthrough straight from the text, no strawmen—just Scripture:
• Matthew 3:16–17 – Jesus baptized, Father speaks from heaven, Spirit descends. All three acting at once.
• John 14:16–17 – Jesus says, “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter.” That’s the Son praying to the Father to send the Spirit—three persons in conversation.
• John 17:5 – “Glorify me with the glory I had with thee before the world was.” Either Jesus is talking to another person, or He’s playing a cosmic game of make-believe.
• 2 Corinthians 13:14 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all.”
If that isn’t tri-personal language, nothing is.

So no, the word “Trinity” isn’t there—but the doctrine is dripping from every page.

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“The Son was born… the Holy Ghost was given…”

You’re confusing temporal revelation with eternal identity.

Yes, the Son was born at Bethlehem—but He existed before all things (John 1:1-3, Col. 1:16-17).
Yes, the Spirit was given at Pentecost—but He was already hovering over the waters in Genesis 1:2.

These Persons were not created—they were revealed in time. Your timeline is off because you’re treating the manifestation of a Person as the origin of the Person.

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“God is Father in creation, Son in redemption, Spirit in regeneration…”

That’s classic Sabellian modalism—the very heresy the early church condemned because it collapses the Persons into roles, ignoring all the passages where they speak, act, and love each other.

This model makes God sound like an actor changing costumes backstage.

But Scripture shows:
• The Father sends the Son (John 3:16),
• The Son sends the Spirit (John 15:26),
• The Spirit intercedes to the Father (Romans 8:26-27).

That’s not roleplay. That’s relationship. That’s triune life.

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“Jesus was born and had a beginning.”

As a man—yes. As God—no.

“Before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58)
“In the beginning was the Word… and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
“By Him were all things created… and He is before all things.” (Col. 1:16-17)

You say “begotten” means Jesus had a beginning? Wrong. Monogenēs in Greek means “one-of-a-kind,” “unique,” “only one of His kind.” Not created. Not generated. Eternally begotten, not temporally made.

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Final Word:

You want one verse? You got it.
You want sound doctrine? It’s right there—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, eternally distinct, yet one in essence.

Your “one God with three roles” theology doesn’t exalt the majesty of God—it shrinks Him down to a divine costume party.

The Bible teaches One God in Three Persons.
Not because of tradition.
Not because of creeds.
Because that’s what the text demands.

The question isn’t, “Is it clear?”
The question is, “Are you willing to see it?”

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The Greek word used? Hypostasis. Literal meaning: subsistence, individual reality, personhood.
What Bible word are you saying this is synonymous with?
This we agree on- “Jesus was born and had a beginning.”
As a man—yes. As God—no.
You stated:Yes, the Spirit was given at Pentecost—but He was already hovering over the waters in Genesis 1:2. Now according to your belief system- was it "person #1 God, which is a Spirit /or "person #2 " Which is the Holy Ghost ?
Sure the Bible says The Father sends the Son (John 3:16), But the Son did not come as a full grown man ! The Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary and she conceived.
You never did answer the question of who is Jesus’ father…“person #1” the Father / or "person #2 the Holy Ghost who actually caused the conception.
• The Son sends the Spirit (John 15:26),
God is that Spirit…do you not believe that the Father is Spirit? and the Holy Ghost is Spirit?
But there is one God?
TruthSeeker- There is only one Spirit but different operations.
John 4:24
Authorized (King James) Version
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

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Alright BrotherDavid, time to tighten the screws and bring some biblical clarity to your theological chaos. You’ve turned the triune glory of God into a courtroom drama where you’re cross-examining verses out of context and turning divine mystery into human-level logic. So let’s sort this out, point by point—with Scripture, not speculation.

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  1. “What Bible word is hypostasis synonymous with?”

Glad you asked. Hebrews 1:3 (KJV):

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person…”

That word “person” in English is translated from the Greek hypostasis—a term used repeatedly in the early church to describe the distinct subsistence or personhood within the one divine essence.

So yes, the Bible uses the word—and no, it’s not a Trinitarian invention. You just haven’t noticed it because your theology is busy erasing the distinctions the text makes clear.

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  1. “We agree: Jesus was born and had a beginning.”

As a man, yes.
But you’re trying to act like the eternal Son of God began at Bethlehem. That’s like saying the sun didn’t exist until you opened the window.
• “In the beginning was the Word… and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
• “Before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58)
• “His goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)

Jesus didn’t begin—He entered time. He didn’t start existing—He took on flesh.

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  1. “Genesis 1:2—was it Person #1 or Person #2?”

You’re acting like Trinitarians believe each Person takes shifts. No sir.

Genesis 1:1–2:
• God created the heavens and the earth.
• The Spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters.

That’s one God, two Persons in action—distinct yet united.

So who was hovering? The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity.
Was the Father also involved in creation? Absolutely.
Was the Son involved? Colossians 1:16 says all things were made by Him.

Creation is a Trinitarian symphony, not a solo.

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  1. “Who is Jesus’ Father—Person #1 or Person #2?”

Let’s fix your confusion:
• Luke 1:35 – “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee… therefore that holy thing… shall be called the Son of God.”

You’re trying to pit the Holy Spirit against the Father—but they’re not competitors. They are unified in essence and operation. The Father sends, the Spirit overshadows, and the Son is conceived.

To ask, “Is Jesus’ Father the Holy Ghost or the Father?” is to misunderstand the inseparability of the Godhead.

Jesus is Son of God, not Son of the Holy Spirit, because He is eternally begotten of the Father, and incarnated by the power of the Spirit.

That’s Trinitarian harmony. Your version sounds like a paternity test on Maury.

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  1. “But God is a Spirit! There is only one Spirit!” (John 4:24)

Again: Yes. God is Spirit.
But “Spirit” refers to God’s essence, not His personhood.

Let’s break it down:
• One Spirit (essence)
• Three Persons (hypostases)
• No division, no confusion, no contradiction.

You say “one Spirit, different operations”? Great. But Scripture doesn’t stop at “operations”—it names, speaks of, and shows distinct divine persons:
• The Father sends
• The Son obeys
• The Spirit proceeds and empowers

That’s not “one Spirit doing different things”—that’s three Persons in perfect unity.

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Final Word:

BrotherDavid, you keep asking Trinitarians to flatten divine revelation into human categories. But the Trinity isn’t philosophy—it’s Scripture. And your doctrine collapses the Godhead into a roleplay routine that leaves Jesus talking to Himself, the Spirit reduced to a force, and the Father blurred out entirely.

If God is just one person, then the gospel is a divine performance, not a divine relationship.
If God is triune, as Scripture reveals, then the cross is the outpouring of eternal love between the Father, Son, and Spirit—for you.

One God. One essence. Three Persons.
Not a puzzle. A proclamation.

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Three Persons (hypostases) - chapter and verse please
You are a very studied person which is commendable…But you have not been able to show this verbiage in the Bible.There is only one God or there is three… We were in fact made in God’s own image…One person.

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BrotherDavid, you’re asking for the exact verbiage “three hypostases” like the Bible was written in a systematic theology textbook. But here’s your chapter and verse:

Matthew 28:19 – “Baptizing them in the name [singular] of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

One name, three distinct Persons—no roleplay, no metaphor, no masks.

You say we’re made in God’s image, one person? Then why does God say, “Let Us make man in Our image” (Genesis 1:26)?

That’s not singular. That’s plural unity.

So yes—one God. But not one Person. Scripture refuses to flatten Him. So should we.