Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

~ Matthew 28:19-20

As with any relationship, in order to get closer to another, it’s important to learn about them as much as you can.  So, what or who exactly is God? We can learn much about how He works, thinks, and feels from his Word and the world around us. However, what about His physical essence? God is largely unknowable simply because we are humans and incapable of fully understanding a being so far advanced, complex, and all-encompassing as Yahweh. It’s fun to try, though, and I believe He encourages us to learn as much as we are able.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

~ Matthew 7:7-8

The Bible never says the word “trinity,” and it never says a lot of words we use to describe Biblical concepts; however, the trinity idea itself is throughout the Bible. Let’s start at the beginning.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

~ Genesis 1:1

The word God in the above verse was translated from the Hebrew Elohim, which is used to describe all spiritual beings from God Himself to angels and other divine existences throughout the Bible (Blue Letter Bible). You may be surprised to know this is a word that can be used for both singular or many beings (for an example in English, think “sheep”).

The word Spirit was translated from the Hebrew Ruach, which is used to describe breath, mind, and spirit, especially as in reference to the Holy Spirit (Blue Letter Bible). Whether we listen to its “still, small voice” is up to us.

There are many times the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Old Testament. He is described as words being placed into people’s mouths or the Spirit of God who guides and comforts.

“The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.

~ 2 Samuel 23:2

“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants-from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

~ Isaiah 59:21

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

~ Psalms 51:11

But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin.

~ Micah 3:8

The Spirit is spoken up numerous times in the New Testament in the exact same manner. His attributes are unchanged.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My [Jesus’] name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

~ John 14:26

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages,as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

~ Acts 2:1-4

God speaks in the plural several times, yet it isn’t clear who He’s speaking to until you get further along in the Bible and meet more and more of the Trinity.

Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.

~ Genesis 3:22

God speaks in the plural, and in Hebrew, the words used indicate that Yahweh Elohim (as in Yahweh the divine being) proclaimed that man has become knowing, the word also in the plural (Strongs, “Angels”). Is He speaking to Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or just the other divine beings among Him?

Jesus shows up many times, possibly more than we realize. However, here’s a few clear examples that point toward a Son of the Father God.

I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill. I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you… Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in him.

~ Psalm 2:6-7, 12

Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!

~Proverbs 30:4

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

~ Isaiah 9:6

It’s obvious that He shows up in the New Testament, so I won’t post the entirety of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John here. 🙂

God, the divine Elohim, has shown up since the beginning in a three-fold force of love, light, and power. Understanding fully how He functions is probably impossible. However, we can peek a glance at His face at times when we read His Word and seek Him with all our heart. God bless!

After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

~ Matthew 3:16-17

Sources other than the Bible:

Blue Letter Bible

Strong’s Concordance

Angels: What the Bible Really Says About God’s Heavenly Host – Michael Heiser