CHAPTER III.
PERSONALITIES IN THE GODHEAD.
THE TRINITY IN UNITY.
The word Trinity does not occur in the Scriptures, but this is no argument against the doctrine itself, since the Scriptures teach the divinity of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, as well as that of the Father; and as neither the divinity of the Father nor the unity of the Godhead was ever called in question at any period, it follows that the doctrine of the Trinity in unity has been in substance, in all its constituent parts, always known among Christians.
The testimony of the fathers is explicit in favor of this doctrine. Justin Martyr, in refuting the charge of atheism urged against the Christians because they did not believe in the gods of the heathen, expressly says: "We worship and adore the Father, and Son who came from him and taught us, these things, and the prophetic Spirit."
Athenagoras, in replying to the same charge, says: "Who would not wonder when he knows that we who call upon God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, showing their power in the unity and their distinction in order, should be called atheists."
Tertullian says: "There are three of one substance, and of one condition, and of one power, because there is one God." And he further adds: "The connection of the Father in the Son and of the Son in the Comforter makes three united together, which three are one thing, not one person, as it is said, I and the Father are one thing with regard to the unity of substance, not of the singularity of numbers." And he adds: "The Father is God, and the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God." Tertullian asserts that this doctrine was in the Church prior to any heresy.
Cyprian says, after reciting the form of baptism: "By it Christ delivered the doctrine of the Trinity, unto which mystery or sacrament the nations were to be baptized."
In the charge and commission which our Savior gave to his disciples--Matthew xxviii, 19--he said: "Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." The Gospel was a covenant or conditional offer of salvation to men. Baptism was the appointed ordinance by which men were to be admitted into that covenant, by which that offer was made and accepted. This being to be made with God himself, the ordinance must, of course, be made in his name; but Christ directed that it should be performed in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and therefore we conclude that God is the same as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Since baptism is to be performed in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, they must be all three persons. And since no superiority or difference whatever is mentioned in this solemn form of baptism, we conclude that all three of these persons are of one substance, power, and eternity. The Apostolic benediction teaches the same doctrine. Paul uses this language: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with you." The manner in which Christ and the Holy Ghost are here mentioned clearly implies that they are persons, for none but persons can confer grace or fellowship, and these three great blessings of grace, love, and fellowship being respectively prayed for by the inspired apostle from Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Ghost, without any intimation of disparity, we conclude that these three persons are equally divine. This solemn benediction is certainly a clear proof of the doctrine of the Trinity, since it acknowledges the divinity of Jesus Christ and of the Holy Ghost.
THE TRINITY.
1. GOD'S NAMES HAVE, IN HEBREW, PLURAL FORMS, _and are connected with plural modes of speech_.
GEN. I, 26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
GEN. III, 22. And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.
GEN. XI, 7. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
2. THREE PERSONS, AND THREE ONLY, ARE SPOKEN OF UNDER DIVINE TITLES.
NUM. VI, 24. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
25. The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
ISAIAH VI, 3. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
ISAIAH VI, 8. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
JOHN XII, 41. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
ACTS XXVIII, 25. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers.
ISAIAH XLVIII, 16. Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
ISAIAH XXXIV, 16. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
HAGGAI II, 4. Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts:
5. According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my Spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
6. For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
7. And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.
MATT. XXVIII, 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
2 COR. XIII, 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
3. BAPTISM IS IN THE NAME OF THREE DIVINE PERSONS.
MATT. XXVIII, 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
4. THE APOSTOLIC BENEDICTION IS IN THE NAME OF THREE DIVINE PERSONS.
2 COR. XIII, 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.