The Confusion of the Trinity

Over the years, I have studied the Bible with many people and seen so much confusion on the theology teaching of the Trinity. I've heard everything from Jesus being the Father, meaning the Father died on the cross and went into the ground for 3 days, to people saying I'm not a part of the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit; I'm just a human, and I'm never going to be like Jesus. I've also heard Jesus took over as the God of the New Testament, so the Old Testament doesn't matter because that God doesn't exist anymore, and many other things.

Teaching this concept called the trinity seems to bring a tremendous amount of confusion, not only about who the Father is, the Son is, and the Holy Spirit is, but also about our place as children of God. There are a lot of people questioning what they have learned from this church teaching. It differs depending on what church denomination background the person is from. This confusion has led me to question what the scripture actually says and why there is so much confusion.

I started looking for the actual word, trinity, in the Hebrew and Greek writings, and I couldn't find it in the writings of the Bible. What I have found is this from the New World Encyclopedia Trinity Etymology and the World History Encylopedia.

The Greek term used for the Christian Trinity, "Τριάς," means "a set of three" or "the number three," from which the English word triad is derived. The first recorded use of this Greek term in Christian theology was in about 180 C.E. by Theophilus of Antioch, who used it of "God, his Word, and his Wisdom."

The word "trinity," however, actually came from the Latin Trinitas, meaning "three-ness," "the property of occurring three at once," or "three are one." In about 200 C.E., Tertullian used it to describe how the three distinct persons (personae) of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are of one substance (una substantia). - See hyperlink to New World Encyclopedia in References below.

The word 'trinity' appears nowhere in the Bible; the concept was finalized at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 CE after years ofdebate.
- see hyperlink to ‘Trinity’ article from www.worldhistory.org in the References below.

Since this word is not in the original text of the Bible, we need to understand from scripture for ourselves who the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are and how we fit in. A lot of unbiblical decisions were made at the Council of Nicaea, so I will not be making my belief system off the men who were there and their opinions.

In this post, we are going to look only at what the scripture says, not what man says to teach us. It is very important to only use the Word of God. James 3 tells us teachers will have a stricter judgment. As someone who teaches people the scripture, I'm going to be held to a stricter judgment; therefore, I am only going to look at the scripture for everything I teach and share with people. What I have found is that when we simply use the Word of God to teach us this topic, there is no confusion. I'm going to first point out the importance of only looking at the Word of God from James 3.

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.
James 3:1 NASB

Strong’s Lexicon: The word “stricter” in Greek is megas 3173; it means of external form, bodily size, measure, extent, of intensity and degree, of rank.
Strong’s Lexicon: The word “judgment” is the Greek word krima 2917. It means the issue of a judicial process; hence, judgment, the decision passed on the faults of others, a matter for judgment, a lawsuit, a case.

This is something to think about when you share with people.

Jesus also tells us in Matthew 12:36 that we are going to be judged on every careless word we speak. This scares me enough to watch my mouth in every area of my life.

But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.
Matthew 12:36 NASB

Strong’s Lexicon: The word “careless” is the Greek word argos 692; it means idle, inactive, ineffective, worthless, lazy, shunning the labor which one ought to perform, unprofitable, pernicious, slow, sluggish.

I do not want Jesus to find anything against me, so I simply use the Word of God to teach, and I encourage everyone to build their beliefs off the Word of God and not a concept created by men. Now let's look at some scripture that lays out who the Father is, who Jesus is, who the Holy Spirit is, and who we are.

In Matthew 3, we see that Jesus is declared "My beloved Son."

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 behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
Matthew 3:16-17 NASB

Now we see what is said about those who receive Jesus.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13 NASB

Strong’s Lexicon: The word “children” is the Greek word teknon 5043; it means that which is begotten, born.
HELPS Word-studies: 5043 téknon – properly, a child; (figuratively) anyone living in full dependence on the heavenly Father, i.e., fully (willingly) relying upon the Lord in glad submission. This prompts God to transform them into His likeness.
5043 /téknon ("a child living in willing dependence") illustrates how we must all live in utter dependence upon the Lord (moment-by-moment), drawing guidance (care, nurture) from our heavenly Father. 5043 (téknon) emphasizes the childlike (not childish) attitude of heart that willingly (gladly) submits to the Father's plan. We profoundly learn this as we are receptive to Christ speaking His rhēma-word within to impart faith

This is important to pay attention to because scripture tells us that Jesus is the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29, Colossians 1:18, Hebrews 1:6). So, after Jesus, there is a second, third, fourth, fifth, and so on and so on.

In John 1:12-13, we see that if we receive Jesus (the Jesus in the scripture), we are given the right to become children of God. (The reason I say the Jesus in the scriptures is because there are a lot of beliefs that claim to be the Jesus in the Bible, but the words spoken aren't the same words that came out of the Jesus in the Bible's mouth.) It is very important to understand that many false christ, false prophets, and false teachers will come into the world. The way we know the difference between spirits is if the spirit speaks the same language as the scriptures. 1 John 4 speaks to us about this. False people will speak what the lying spirits are saying. 1 John 4 says this.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
1 John 4:1-3 NASB

Strong’s Lexicon: The Greek word for “confess” is homologeō 3670; it means to speak the same language, to agree with, confess, acknowledge.

So, as we ponder scripture about the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and who the children of God are, examine if what you have heard speaks the same language as the scripture.

For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. “If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true.
John 5:18-32 NASB

In verse 18, the word “equal” is used.

Strong’s Lexicon: This word “equal” is the Greek word isos 2470; it means equal.
HELPS Word-studies: 2470 ísos – equality; having the same (similar) level or value; equivalent, equal in substance or quality

He addresses the Jews by telling them, "The Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." Jesus never puts Himself above the authority of the Father; He never takes His Father's glory. He puts Himself in submission to what His Father tells Him to do. This is Him having the heart and the mind of His Father; it is not Him being the Father or removing the Father from being. He is made of the same substance as the Father, like children are. Like we, as children of God, are also made of the same substance as the Father. That is why scripture says we must be born again.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3 NASB

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:5-6 NASB

We are literally born again.

Strong’s Lexicon: This word “born” is the Greek word gennaō 1080; it means to beget, to bring forth.
HELPS Word-studies: 1080 gennáō – properly, beget (procreate a descendant), produce offspring; (passive) be born, "begotten."

We must be born as children of God. Scripture says Jesus is the firstborn of many brothers.

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
Romans 8:29 NASB

Strong’s Lexicon: This word “conformed” is the Greek word summorphos 4832; it means to conform to
HELPS Word-studies: 4832 sýmmorphos – properly, conformed, by sharing the same inner essence-identity (form); showing similar behavior from having the same essential nature (used in Phil 3:10; this adjectival form also occurs in Ro 8:29 in many texts).

This is why we must be born again and receive the Holy Spirit. We can do none of this on our own.

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.
John 14:1-31 NASB

In this chapter of John, we see the relationship between our Heavenly Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and those who choose to obey. We, as children of God, are not left out as outsiders. This is important to pay attention to. You can find more clarity on this from John chapters 15, 16, and 17.

Now that we see we are included as children of God, let's look at the authority differences.

All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
Matthew 11:27 NASB

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 NASB

We know the Father is the one who gave Jesus this authority, so the Father is a separate being who has the power to give authority. Now Jesus has the authority to give, and this is what He tells His people.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Mark 16:15-18 NASB

Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 14:11-15 NASB

In these verses, we see Jesus giving His people understanding of the authority they are to walk in.

I encourage you to go read Hebrews chapters 1, 2, and 3 also. These chapters lay out from prophecy the difference between the Father, Jesus, and the angel’s authority level. I encourage you to look into the Hebrew words that the book of Hebrews is pulling from.

I have also seen people getting confused about the one heart, one mind part of our Heavenly Father and Jesus. The understanding of one heart and one mind comes from the new covenant promises that we are to enter into. This promise can be seen in Jeremiah 31:31-34, Jeremiah 32:37:41, Hebrews 8:8-12, Hebrews 10:16-17, and there are many more. We see this lived out in Acts 2:42–47. This is why the scripture says we have the mind of Christ.

For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16 NASB

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another.
John 15:13-17 NASB

If we do what He commands us to do, which will come from the mind of the Father, then we aren't called slaves anymore, but friends. There are many more verses to study to learn who the Father is, who Jesus is, who the Holy Spirit is, and who we are as children of God. I pray this gets you started digging deeper into this. I pray that if you have been trained in something other than what the scriptures say that the Holy Spirit will show you. I pray that you are willing to change your thinking and align it with the Word of God. I encourage you, after studying scripture, to remove the word trinity from your teaching and thinking. This word has created a lot of damage in the church.

References:

Strong’s Lexicon: Biblehub.com
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- Triity." New World Encyclopedia, . 19 Jul 2024, 19:43 UTC. 30 Apr 2025, 15:46 <https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Trinity&oldid=1149389>.
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- Denova, Rebecca. "Trinity." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 03 May 2021, https://www.worldhistory.org/Trinity/. Web. 29 Apr 2025.

1 Heart 1 MindApril 22, 2025