C. Matthew McMahon
Christian Preacher
Pretend you ar the Apostle Paul teaching the Galatian Church the doctrine of the Trinity.
How would you prove this doctrine using only the OT?
How would you prove this doctrine using only the OT?
Trinity in the OT
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God the Father is evident in the Genesis account and throughout.
God the Son is also evident in Genesis 1:26, for it would not be so to make man in the image of angels, but in the image of Himself.
The Son is further evident in various manifestations where titles and the worship of Him by the taking off sandals and bowing before Him is conducted (See Joshua 5:13-15) for such acts of worship angels do not permit. Nor was it permitted to worship any other 'god'. Exodus 20: 5 "you shall not bow down to them nor serve them..." Also I would guess that he would surely make mention of the usual Isaiah passages to show Christ in the OT.
The Spirit would be evident to them in such declarations in the OT such as Genesis 41:37 , "...Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God." where Pharaoh recognizes and gives credit to Joshua for having the Spirit of God within him, but not being God himself (several other OT passages use the phrase "and the Spirit of the Lord came upon..."). Also in the times of the Tabernacle and of the Temple, The Spirit of God remained with the people, but obviously not as being confined to a box, He still had His presence over all heaven and earth. God was very really there in the temple. So the concept of the Spirit of God would not be foreign to them.
In all three being really there, the only thing left to show is that all three command the same reverence and worship as being GOD, which again is evident in the titles and worship show to the three separately.
God the Son is also evident in Genesis 1:26, for it would not be so to make man in the image of angels, but in the image of Himself.
The Son is further evident in various manifestations where titles and the worship of Him by the taking off sandals and bowing before Him is conducted (See Joshua 5:13-15) for such acts of worship angels do not permit. Nor was it permitted to worship any other 'god'. Exodus 20: 5 "you shall not bow down to them nor serve them..." Also I would guess that he would surely make mention of the usual Isaiah passages to show Christ in the OT.
The Spirit would be evident to them in such declarations in the OT such as Genesis 41:37 , "...Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God." where Pharaoh recognizes and gives credit to Joshua for having the Spirit of God within him, but not being God himself (several other OT passages use the phrase "and the Spirit of the Lord came upon..."). Also in the times of the Tabernacle and of the Temple, The Spirit of God remained with the people, but obviously not as being confined to a box, He still had His presence over all heaven and earth. God was very really there in the temple. So the concept of the Spirit of God would not be foreign to them.
In all three being really there, the only thing left to show is that all three command the same reverence and worship as being GOD, which again is evident in the titles and worship show to the three separately.
SmokingFlax
Puritan Board Sophomore
Well...I'd have to start with Gen. 1:26
"Let Us make..."etc.
Even though I understand that Calvin didn't feel that this was a very effective proof.
Gen. 11:7
"Let Us go down..."
Although I'm not sure how exactly I'd do it, I'm pretty certain that the various appearances of the Angel of the Lord that occur throughout the Biblical narrative (like in Gen. 18) would have to be worked into the explanation of the Trinity.
Of course Isaiah 9:6 ...the "Son"... whose name will be called Mighty God, Everlasting Father, etc.
The Psalms-
Psalm 2,
Psalm 110:1
I'm certain there are many others but these are the first that come to mind. This would be a great study...if I could manage to not get side-tracked as I worked through the OT.
"Let Us make..."etc.
Even though I understand that Calvin didn't feel that this was a very effective proof.
Gen. 11:7
"Let Us go down..."
Although I'm not sure how exactly I'd do it, I'm pretty certain that the various appearances of the Angel of the Lord that occur throughout the Biblical narrative (like in Gen. 18) would have to be worked into the explanation of the Trinity.
Of course Isaiah 9:6 ...the "Son"... whose name will be called Mighty God, Everlasting Father, etc.
The Psalms-
Psalm 2,
Psalm 110:1
I'm certain there are many others but these are the first that come to mind. This would be a great study...if I could manage to not get side-tracked as I worked through the OT.
biblelighthouse
Puritan Board Junior
I love Genesis 18. The Lord appears to Abraham as three men. I get a kick out of how the passage moves back and forth between using singular and plural pronouns in reference to God:
Gen.18
[1] And the LORD [singular] appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.
[2] He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the earth,
[3] and said, "My lord [singular], if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.
[4] Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves [plural] under the tree,
[5] while I fetch a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on -- since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said."
[6] And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes."
[7] And Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it.
[8] Then he took curds, and milk, and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
[Edited on 8-5-2005 by biblelighthouse]
Gen.18
[1] And the LORD [singular] appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.
[2] He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the earth,
[3] and said, "My lord [singular], if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.
[4] Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves [plural] under the tree,
[5] while I fetch a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on -- since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said."
[6] And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes."
[7] And Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it.
[8] Then he took curds, and milk, and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
[Edited on 8-5-2005 by biblelighthouse]
biblelighthouse
Puritan Board Junior
Wow! That is good! Thank you for sharing this verse.
It sounds like the Second Person of the Trinity Himself is speaking here! Excellent!
BobVigneault
Bawberator
I'm with Pastor Goundry. I've always liked the Isaiah passage.
Isaiah 48:16
Isaiah 48:16
I've always liked Zechariah 3:2:
And the LORD said to Satan, 'The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?"
This always implied personal plurality in the Godhead to me, as Yahweh was Himself appealing to Yahweh to rebuke Satan. Zechariah could also have further support in 12:10, but I know that has some translational quirks, and I've never studied the Hebrew.
And the LORD said to Satan, 'The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?"
This always implied personal plurality in the Godhead to me, as Yahweh was Himself appealing to Yahweh to rebuke Satan. Zechariah could also have further support in 12:10, but I know that has some translational quirks, and I've never studied the Hebrew.
There are two words for one in Biblical Hebrew: 'ehad ('one', 'alone', 'unity from parts') and yahidh (uniqueness-only one of its kind). 'EHAD, lends itself to the plurality position (or certainly allows it).
HEAR ,O ISRAEL,THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE,(EHAD). Deuteronomy 6:4
Some passages in which 'EHAD is used:
Gen 2.24--the man and his wife will be one (ehad) flesh--clearly a composite unity.
Ex 26:6, 11--the fifty gold clasps are used to hold the curtains together so that the tent would be a unit (ehad).
2 Samuel 2:25--many soldiers made themselves into 'one group' (ehad)
Gen 34:16 --the men of Shechem suggest intermarriage with Jacob's children in order to become 'one(ehad) people'.
Joshua 9.2 -- the western kings agree to fight Joshua as "one (ehad) force"
So the use of the word EHAD,in Deuteronomy 6:4,would strongly point to one God more than one person.
HEAR ,O ISRAEL,THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE,(EHAD). Deuteronomy 6:4
Some passages in which 'EHAD is used:
Gen 2.24--the man and his wife will be one (ehad) flesh--clearly a composite unity.
Ex 26:6, 11--the fifty gold clasps are used to hold the curtains together so that the tent would be a unit (ehad).
2 Samuel 2:25--many soldiers made themselves into 'one group' (ehad)
Gen 34:16 --the men of Shechem suggest intermarriage with Jacob's children in order to become 'one(ehad) people'.
Joshua 9.2 -- the western kings agree to fight Joshua as "one (ehad) force"
So the use of the word EHAD,in Deuteronomy 6:4,would strongly point to one God more than one person.
Devin
Puritan Board Sophomore
I've always wondered if perhaps the following could be applied to the Father/Son.
Proverbs 30
4Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son's name?
Surely you know!
Proverbs 30
4Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son's name?
Surely you know!
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