The Confusion of the Trinity

Over the years, I have studied the Bible with many people and have seen a great deal of confusion regarding the teaching of the Trinity. I have heard everything from claims that Jesus is the Father—meaning the Father died on the cross and was in the grave for three days—to statements such as, “I am not part of the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit; I am just a human and will never be like Jesus.” I have also heard that Jesus took over, so the Old Testament no longer matters because that God no longer exists, along with many other misconceptions.

Teaching the Trinity apart from simply reading the Word of God has caused a tremendous amount of confusion. There is widespread misunderstanding about who the Father is and what He expects of His children, who Jesus is and what He stands for, and how the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives transforms us. This has created great uncertainty about where we, as God’s children, fit within His kingdom. I have observed many people questioning what they have been taught in church, and I have noticed that understanding often varies depending on a person’s denominational background. This confusion has led me to examine what Scripture truly says and to ask why there is so much misunderstanding.

I began searching for the actual word “Trinity” in the Hebrew and Greek writings of the Bible, and I could not find it. What I did find is information from sources such as the New World Encyclopedia Trinity Etymology and the World History Encyclopedia.

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 as "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 Constantinople in 381 AD after years of debate. - Refer to the hyperlink to the ‘Trinity’ article from www.worldhistory.org in the References below.

Since this word does not appear in the original text of the Bible and has caused so much confusion, we need to understand for ourselves—from Scripture—who the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are, and how we fit into God’s kingdom. As with everything else, I encourage you to know what the Word of God says for yourself rather than relying solely on the words of pastors or teachers you listen to.

In this post, we will look only at what Scripture says, not at human opinon to teach us. It is very important to use only the Word of God. James 3 tells us that teachers will face a stricter judgment. As someone who teaches Scripture, I will be held to that stricter judgment; therefore, I choose to rely only on Scripture for everything I teach and share with others. Doing otherwise scares me. I have found that when we simply use the Word of God to teach on this topic, there is no confusion. First, I want to emphasize the importance of using only the Word of God for teaching.

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.
James 3:1 NASB® 1995

“Stricter”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “stricter” in Greek is megas (3173); it means Great, large, mighty
“Judgment”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “judgment” is the Greek word krima (2917). It means Judgment, verdict, condemnation, decision
HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 2917 kríma (a neuter noun derived from 2919 /krínō, "to distinguish, judge") – judgment, emphasizing its result (note the -ma suffix). This is everlasting damnation (torment) for the unredeemed (the usual implication of 2319 /theostygḗs) – or the eternal benefits that come from the Lord's judgment in favor of the redeemed (cf. Rev 20:4). See 2919 (krinō). 2917 /kríma ("the results of a judgment") dramatically links cause-to-effect. Indeed, every decision (action) we make carries inevitable eternal results (cf. Ecc 12;14).
This is something to think about when you share with people.

Jesus also tells us in Matthew 12:36 that we will be judged for every careless word we speak. This is enough to make me guard my words 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® 1995

“Careless”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “careless” is the Greek word argos (692); it means Idle, lazy, inactive

I do not want Jesus to find anything against me, so I choose to use only the Word of God to teach. I also encourage everyone to build their beliefs on the Word of God rather than on concepts created by men. Now, let us look at Scripture that lays out who the Father is, who Jesus is, who the Holy Spirit is, and who we are.

God’s Kingdom is a Household

The Word of God shows us that the kingdom of God is a household. As we examine Scripture, it clarifies the different positions within God’s kingdom. We see that Jesus is the firstborn among many brethren and has been placed in charge of His Father’s kingdom. Scripture also shows that the kingdom is made up of family members. Jesus gives gifts—mature family members (Ephesians 4:11–16)—to spiritually immature members so that all may grow to spiritual maturity.

In Malachi, we see that God’s desire for marriage is to produce godly children.

“This is another thing you do: you cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and with groaning, because He no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’ Because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth. For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong,” says the LORD of hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”
Malachi 2:13-16 NASB® 1995

Paul tells us in his letter to Timothy that in God’s household, there is a specific way we are to conduct ourselves.

but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
1 Timothy 3:15 NASB® 1995

“Household”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Household” is the Greek word oikos (3624): House, household, home, family

The Father requires His household to listen to His firstborn Son, who has been given authority, and to obey when we hear conviction from the Holy Spirit. In doing so, each child will become the new creation He calls His children to be.

For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house⁠—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, As in the day of trial in the wilderness, Where your fathers tried Me by testing Me, And saw My works for forty years. “Therefore I was angry with this generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they did not know My ways’; As I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’”
Hebrews 3:4-11 NASB® 1995

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1 Peter 2:4-12 NASB® 1995

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NASB® 1995

“Equipping”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Equipping” is the Greek word katartismos (2677): Equipping, perfecting
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: perfecting. From katartizo (2675); complete furnishing (objectively) -- perfecting. See GREEK katartizo (2675)
HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 2677 katartismós (a masculine noun) – properly, exact adjustment which describes how (enables) the individual parts to work together in correct order (used only in Eph 4:12). See 2675 (katartizō).
“Work”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Work” is the Greek word ergon (2041): Work, deed, action, task, labor
HELPS Word-studies: 2041 érgon (from ergō, "to work, accomplish") – a work or worker who accomplishes something. 2041 /érgon ("work") is a deed (action) that carries out (completes) an inner desire (intension, purpose).
“Building”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Building” is the Greek word oikodomé (3619): Building, edification, structure
HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 3619 oikodomḗ – properly, a building (edifice) serving as a home; (figuratively) constructive criticism and instruction that builds a person up to be the suitable dwelling place of God, i.e., where the Lord is "at home." See 3618 (oikodemeō).
“Mature”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Mature” is the Greek word teleios (5046): Perfect, complete, mature, full-grown
HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 5046 téleios (an adjective, derived from 5056 /télos, "consummated goal") – mature (consummated) from going through the necessary stages to reach the end-goal, i.e., developed into a consummating completion by fulfilling the necessary process (spiritual journey). See 5056 (telos).
[This root (tel-) means "reaching the end (aim)." It is well-illustrated with the old pirate's telescope, unfolding (extending out) one stage at a time to function at full-strength (capacity effectiveness).]

God’s household requires order and obedience. See Joel 2: 1-17 for more about this.

For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
1 Peter 4:17 NASB® 1995

God’s Kingdom is Full of His Children

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® 1995

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® 1995

“Children”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “children” is the Greek word teknon (5043); it means Child, offspring.
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.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Colossians 1:15 NASB® 1995

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® 1995

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® 1995

We are literally born again.

“Born”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “born” is the Greek word gennaō (1080); it means To beget, to give birth, to bring forth, to produce.
HELPS Word-studies: 1080 gennáō – properly, beget (procreate a descendant), produce offspring; (passive) be born, "begotten."

We must be born again to be children of God. Scripture says Jesus is the firstborn of many brethren.

This is what 1 John tells us.

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
1 John 3:2 NASB® 1995

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® 1995

“Conformed”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “conformed” is the Greek word summorphos (4832); it means Conformed, having the same form as, similar in form
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® 1995

Jesus’ Authority

Now that we have established that Jesus is the firstborn among many children of God, we need to look at the authority Jesus was given from His Father. His authority in His Father’s Kingdom is where a lot of misunderstanding is. It is very important that we understand Jesus is a separate being from His Father. He is made of the same substance as His Father, He has the same desires as His Father, but He is not His Father. It is important to understand that He knows His place of submission to His Father.

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® 1995

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

“Equal”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “equal” is the Greek word isos (2470); it means Equal, same, equivalent
HELPS Word-studies: 2470 ísos – equality; having the same (similar) level or value; equivalent, equal in substance or quality (J. Thayer).

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:1-11 NASB® 1995

In verse 6, we see that “although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped.” The word equality in Philippians 2:6 is the same as equal above in John 5:18, which is isos (2470).

“Existed”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Existed” is the Greek word huparchó (5225): To exist, to be, to possess
HELPS Word-studies: 5225 hypárxō (from 5223 /hýparksis, "under" and 757/arxō, "begin, go first") – properly, already have (be in possession of); what exists, especially what pre-exists, i.e., is already under one's discretion (note the prefix hypo).
“Form”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Form” is the Greek word morphé (3444): Form, appearance, nature
HELPS Word-studies: 3444 morphḗ – properly, form (outward expression) that embodies essential (inner) substance so that the form is in complete harmony with the inner essence.
“Regard”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Regard” is the Greek word hégeomai (2233): To lead, to consider, to regard, to think
“Equality”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “equal” is the Greek word isos (2470); it means Equal, same, equivalent
HELPS Word-studies: 2470 ísos – equality; having the same (similar) level or value; equivalent, equal in substance or quality (J. Thayer).
“Grasped”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Grasped” is the Greek word harpagmos (725): Grasping, robbery, something to be seized
HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 725 harpagmós – to seize, especially by an open display of force. See 726 (harpazō).
726 harpázō – properly, seize by force; snatch up, suddenly and decisively – like someone seizing bounty (spoil, a prize); to take by an open display of force (i.e., not covertly or secretly).

Jesus is submissive to His Father in every way. 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. 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.

And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Matthew 26:39 NASB® 1995

Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

“O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
John 17:1-26 NASB® 1995

In chapter 17 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 and 16.

Colossians 1 also gives us valuable insight.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth; just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities⁠—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach⁠— if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
Colossians 1:1-29 NASB® 1995

“Image”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Image” is the Greek word eikón (1504): Image, likeness, representation
HELPS Word-studies: 1504 eikṓn (from 1503 /eíkō, "be like") – properly, "mirror-like representation," referring to what is very close in resemblance (like a "high-definition" projection, as defined by the context). Image (1504 /eikṓn) then exactly reflects its source (what it directly corresponds to). For example, Christ is the very image (1504 /eikṓn, supreme expression) of the Godhead (see 2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15).
"1504 (eikṓn) assumes a prototype, of which it not merely resembles, but from which it is drawn" (R. Trench). 1504 (eikṓn) then is more than a "shadow"; rather, it is a replication (F. F. Bruce, Hebrews, 226; see also Lightfoot at Col 3:10 and 2:21).
“Invisible”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Invisible” is the Greek word aoratos (517): Invisible
HELPS Word-studies: 517 aóratos (from 1 /A "not" and 3708 /horáō, "see") – properly, not seen; invisible to the physical ("naked") eye; (figuratively) spiritual reality as perceived through God's inbirthings of faith. Accordingly, 517 (aóratos) and faith (4102 /pístis) are closely associated (Ro 1:17-20; 1 Tim 1:17-19; Heb 11:27).
“Fullness”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Fullness” is the Greek word pléróma (4138): Fullness, completion, that which fills

In Isaiah, we see the promise of Jesus’ coming. We see who He is and what He will do.

But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them. You shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence As with the gladness of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian. For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9:1-7 NASB® 1995

“Mighty”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Mighty” is the Hebrew word gibbor (1368): Mighty, strong, warrior, hero
“God”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “God” is the Hebrew word el (410): God, god, mighty one
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: God, goodly, great, idol, mighty one, power, strong
“Eternal”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Eternal” is the Hebrew word ad (5703): Forever, perpetually, continually, until, eternity
“Father”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Father” is the Hebrew word ab (1): father, fathers, father's
“Prince”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Prince” is the Hebrew word sar (8269): Prince, ruler, leader, chief, captain, official
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: chief captain, general, governor, keeper, lord, taskmaster, principal,
“Peace”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Peace” is the Hebrew word shalom (7965): Peace, completeness, welfare, well-being, safety, prosperity

In the book of John, we see that Jesus has the power to give life. This power was given to Him from His Father.

Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
John 4:13-14 NASB® 1995

For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 3:34-36 NASB® 1995

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
John 6:35-40 NASB® 1995

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.
John 5:25-30 NASB® 1995

A Psalm of David. The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” The LORD will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.” Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew. The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country. He will drink from the brook by the wayside; Therefore He will lift up His head.

Psalm 110:1-7 NASB® 1995

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.

1 Corinthians 15:20-28 NASB® 1995

Hebrews 10 gives us further understanding that, while Jesus is of the same substance as the Father, He is not the Father.

For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, But a body You have prepared for Me; In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure. “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (In the scroll of the book it is written of Me) To do Your will, O God.’” After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them,” He then says, “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Hebrews 10:1-18 NASB® 1995

We see that Jesus came to do God’s will by establishing a new covenant through laying down His life. After accomplishing this, He sat down at the right hand of God.

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.

Be Aware of a Different Jesus

Something we must be very aware of is that there are different spirits that are disguising themselves to be the Jesus of the Bible. In John 1:12-13, we see that if we receive Jesus (the Jesus in the Bible), we are given the right to become children of God. I say “the Jesus in the Bible” because there are many false Jesuses in the world. They claim to be the Jesus of the Bible, but the words they speak are not the same as the words spoken by the one Jesus in Scripture.

It is important to understand that many false christs, false prophets, and false teachers will come into the world (2 Corinthians 11:4, 1 John 4:1-3, Galatians 1:6-10). The way we can recognize the difference between spirits is whether the spirit speaks the same language as Scripture. 1 John 4 explains this clearly: false people will speak what lying spirits are saying, while people and spirits that are of the truth will align with God’s Word.

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® 1995

“Confess”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The Greek word for “confess” is homologeō (3670); it means to confess, to acknowledge, to agree
HELPS Word-studies: 3670 homologéō (from 3674 /homoú, "together" and 3004 /légō, "speak to a conclusion") – properly, to voice the same conclusion, i.e., agree ("confess"); to profess (confess) because in full agreement; to align with (endorse). [3670 /homologéō ("confess") means to speak the same thing, i.e., "assent, agree with, confess, declare, admit" (Vine, Unger, White, NT, 120).]

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

Study more on The Disobedient and False Brethren

Our Authority In God’s Kingdom

Now that we see we are included as children of God, let’s look at the differences in authority. In the next couple of verses, we see that the Father has handed over all things to Jesus, and Jesus is giving authority to His disciples to go and make disciples.

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® 1995

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 authority to give, and this is what He tells His people.

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® 1995

He tells His disciples to go and make disciples, to baptize them, and to teach them to observe all that He has commanded.

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® 1995

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® 1995

In these verses, we see Jesus giving His people an understanding of the authority they are meant to walk in. Jesus expects us to go out and do great things.

Because of the lack of understanding on this topic, many people do not grasp the promises of the new covenant. The understanding of one heart and one mind comes from the new covenant promises that we are called to enter into. These promises can be seen in Jeremiah 31:31–34, Jeremiah 32:37–41, Hebrews 8:8–12, Hebrews 10:16–17, and many other passages. We see this example lived out in Acts 2:42–47. This is why Scripture says that 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® 1995

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® 1995

If we do what Jesus commands us to do, then we are no longer called slaves, but friends.

In Matthew 10, we see Jesus sending us out into the world and warning us about what it will be like.

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. “But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!
Matthew 10:16-25 NASB® 1995

But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
Matthew 12:48-50 NASB® 1995

Differences Between the Father and Son

Below are more scriptures that specifically show a distinction between our Heavenly Father and Jesus.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
James 1:13 NASB® 1995

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15 NASB® 1995

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
Matthew 24:36 NASB® 1995

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 encourages you to begin digging deeper. I pray that if you have been trained in something other than what the Scriptures say, the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth to you. I also pray that you are willing to change your thinking and align it with the Word of God. After studying Scripture, I encourage you to remove the word trinity from your teaching and thinking, as this word has caused a lot of damage in the church.

Study more on Being One Heart and One Mind

*In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.*
***John 1:1 NASB® 1995***

For an in-depth study of the Holy Spirit, see The Holy Spirit

Personal Testimony:

I had no idea that the word Trinity, or the teaching of the Trinity, was a major cause of confusion in Christianity until I was working at a Christian school and speaking about 1 John 3. As I taught what John says in chapter 3—that we are not to practice sin anymore—people repeatedly told me, “We are not Jesus.” Of course, they were not Jesus, so I did not understand why they kept saying this. It made no sense to me.

After hearing this response over and over, I asked God what the problem was. He showed me that it was the teaching of the Trinity. I did not understand at first why this would be an issue. Then He gave me a picture of the triangle that is often used to represent the Trinity and told me to ask people where they saw themselves in that triangle. Only one person placed their finger in the middle of the triangle. Everyone else said they had nothing to do with the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit because they believed they were merely lowly sinners who would never be like Jesus. I was shocked. As I began to understand this, I started sharing what I was learning with others, and my eyes were opened to the widespread confusion among believers.

Over the years, as I have spoken with many people about this topic, I have learned that simply stating that the actual word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible often causes people to think I am a blasphemer—sometimes even before I can explain the concerns or the confusion that comes from using the term instead of allowing Scripture itself to define God’s kingdom. What I have learned to do is to be specific when speaking about God by saying Father. The word God is often associated with deity in general, not specifically the Father. Scripture is very clear that Jesus is of the same substance as His Father, yet He is not the Father. By asking thoughtful questions that cause people to stop and reflect, it is possible to help them come out from under false teaching and a misunderstanding of who Jesus truly is.

Here are some of the questions I have been shown to ask people who are confused on this topic.

Do you believe that when Jesus died on the cross, the Father and the Holy Spirit also died and went into the grave?
Do you believe that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father, or is He sitting at the right hand of Himself?
Do you believe that the Father can be tempted to sin?
Do you believe that Jesus does the will of the Father, or does He do His own will?

References:

Lexicon: Biblehub.com
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Biblehub.com
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Edited 02/2026