Remind yourself of the readings we have looked at concerning the persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Then read and reflect on the following Scriptures that influence our thinking about the Trinity:

Genesis 1:2, 1:26-27; Isaiah 9:6, Matt 3:16-17, 28:19, John 14:16-17, all of John 17, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Colossians 1:15-20, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-6.

Question: Before doing any of the additional readings, consider the following statement:

• Suppose a friend, hearing you are studying the Trinity, responds: "Come on! The Trinity was just made up by a bunch of theologians with nothing better to do. The word "Trinity" does not appear in the Bible. 'Three persons, one being' -- that makes no sense. Look: think of it this way. The Bible presents truth from our point of view. So the Bible records that the sun moves across the sky -- even though we now know the earth is moving, not the sun. Just so, the Bible records three different ways that we see God in action, and refers to these three as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God in heaven, in charge of the universe is God the Father. God incarnate, dying for us on the cross, is God the Son. And God inside us, filling us, enabling us to be like Him, is God the Holy Spirit. Not three Gods and not three persons -- One God, one person, revealing himself to us in three different forms."

• Please respond to your friend, basing your response on the Scriptures above or other Scriptures that come to mind.

Readings: Now read the following articles:

• Dodman, Treasures of the Truth, Chapter 10: The Trinity (I am seeking permission to post this to the web)

• Delashmutt, McCallum, Gordon, and Patch, Xenos Christian Fellowship: "Theology Proper: The Unity and Diversity of God."

• R.A. Finlayson, "God in Three Persons."

• James White, "The Trinity, the Definition of Chalcedon, and Oneness Theology."

Assignment: Now consider what you wrote previously. What additional insights do these readings give you into the Trinity? Revise your statement if necessary.

This data file may not be copied in part, edited, revised, copied for resale or incorporated in any commercial publications, recordings, broadcasts, performances, displays or other products offered for sale, without the written permission of Thomas C. Pinckney, tpinckney@williams.edu, c/o Community Bible Church, Harrison Ave, Williamstown, MA 01267.