Expert: Phillip Senn - 2/23/2006

Question
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Followup To
Question - Is Hebrews 1:9-11 then speaking of Jesus as creator? The Bible says in this passage it was Jesus that laid the foundation of the earth. I noticed that this scripture is a cross referance for Psalms 102:24-27, speaking of God the Father, but in hebrews 1:9-12 it is speaking of the Son...this seems to fit perfectly in line with the Elohim that said let US make man in our image. It is interesting Elohim is plural.
Thanks for your time in answering my questions.
Do you believe God is a Trinity? If so, why do you believe this?
Answer -
Laurie,

Thank you for your question concerning the doctrine of the "Trinity".

Yes I do believe God is a "triune" God. There are many passages of Scripture that indicate this. One is the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3:13-17. This indicates that the Son (Jesus) was being Baptized, The Holy Spirit decended in the form of a dove, and a voice from heaven (assumed to be the Father, as he referred to Jesus as the Son).

Jesus is not disputed to be God by the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit is spoken of as God. And the Father is mentioned as God. All three were present at the same time. Some "oneness" churches teach that Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Father are "modes" that God switches between. But in this passage, all three are clearly identified as actively involved at one event.

Another passage is found in Genesis 1:26, where God was ready to create man. God (Elohiym) said, "Let US make man in our image...". The term Elohiym is a plural term, regardless of its usage. There is only one God, based upon Scripture, yet here we have God being mentioned as plural.

One New Testament Scripture that deals with how this is possible is in 1 John 5:7. Although this is a spurious text (meaning that it is disputed as to its proper inclusion in Scripture), it is not needed to validate that the God we serve is specifically mentioned as three distinct persons. By the use of the term person, I mean that a pronoun is associated with the mention of that person, that person has feelings that can be affected, that person can communicate, and that person has personal attributes that differ from other persons (such as different wills).

This being said, how does one describe God as different persons, yet still be one GOD? Jesus mentioned that He and the Father are One. Does that mean that Jesus is the Father? Not at all! In fact Jesus said, "I came not to do my own will, but the will of Him that sent me" (Based upon Scripture, He was sent from the Father).

I hope this has clarified why it is important to believe in the "Trinity". God, who is manifested in three persons, yet is One. Tri = three, une = unity. Three in unity, or three in one. One God, three persons in unity.

If I may be of any further assistance, please don't hesitate to post a follow-up.

With Love In Christ,
Phillip Senn

Answer
Laurie,

You are correct in your understanding that Hebrews is speaking of the Son. It specifically mentions him as the creator in Colossians 1:14-17 and again in John 1:1-3 and in Isaiah 43:14-15.

Jesus spoke of the glory He had with the Father before the foundation of the world. Yet, He also said that His Father was greater than He. The Scripture doesn't say that Jesus was not God. It does say though, that He came to do the will of His Father, and not His own will. Just before He was crucified, He prayed to the Father and asked that He be glorified with the glory which He had with the Father before the world was.

It is clear that Jesus was and is the creator. How then can He be one that is subject to another? According to Scripture, He took upon Himself the form of a servant, and humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

It is through this humble Servant, the man Christ Jesus, that we have redemption through His blood. AMEN!

I hope this has helped you to better understand the diety of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the Triune God.

With Love In Christ,
Phillip Senn