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 When
you think of God the Father do you think of an elderly
gentleman, perhaps with a well-dressed beard and a stately, yet
kindly bearing? Many do use a sort of composite “father”
image, for reference, even though they know God is Spirit. I
suppose no great harm is done in this — if we leave it right
there — a “crutch” for earth-bound creatures. But this is
not what is meant by the “person” of God, and is not what
one “counts” in considering the “trinity”.
God
the Son did not come into existence by a birth process. His
glory is “as of an only begotten” (Jn. 1:14— the
expression is qualitative, without the article) and He existed
and functioned co-eternal with the Father (Jn. 1:1 Heb. 1:2). He
has “person” — apart from His earthly sojourn — but
there is far more involved than a number to add to the
first paragraph.
And
God the Spirit (Acts 5:3-4) is no less “person” because He
is Spirit. I would not presume to “explain” DEITY to you,
but we should learn something about the person of God, if only
to recognize the ridiculous treatment given the “trinity” by
JW’s, and “Jesus Only” advocates.
The
Divine personality could only be conceived after the analogy of
the human, as far as it could be conceived at all; but God
transcends the whole of nature and all that is human “Person”
simply means that deity is revealed as something more than an
impersonal “force.” God evidences the characteristics of
person, such as “conscious apprehension, rationality, and a
moral sense.” (Webster) Nor can we expect it to be otherwise.
God must be superior to His creatures. Man is both conscious and
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self-conscious. He thinks, acts, and is
antecedent to his actions as an intelligent being. Surely
God — also. These characteristics of God are expressed in the
Bible by “God purposed — knew — was grieved — loved —
forgave — etc.” Multiples of such qualities attributed to
God the Father show “person.”
And
such characteristics are also attributed to the Son, even while
the personality of the Father continues to be acknowledged. He
is exalted at the right hand of God, and “having received of
the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost. He hath shed forth
this —” (Acts 2:33) God’s Son was with the Father before
His incarnation, (Jn. 1; 1-3) creating all things; and He said
that following His death He would return to the Father. (Jn.
14:28) There are two “persons” here.
But
the Holy Spirit is also given personality by the scriptures. He
is “grieved” (Eph. 4:30) ”insulted” (Heb. 10: 29). He
“knows” (1 Cor. 2:11) and can be lied to (Acts 5: 3-4). He
is a “person” on exactly the same basis as the Father and
Son are “persons.” He joins with the Son to say “Come.”
In
Jn. 14:16 the Son says, “I will pray the Father, and He shall
give you another Comforter,... even the Spirit of truth.” (Three
“persons” — one praying, one heeding and sending, and the
third being sent — to “teach” and “comfort” the
Apostles. V.26)
You’ll
find this kind of “trinity” in the book of God’s
revelation.
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