Biblical Evidence for the Trinity in the Old Testament
As a lover of the doctrine of the Trinity I wanted to make in blog form the main points that Anthony Rodgers brought up against a Muslim debater in regard to whether or not the Bible teaches the Trinity.
THE TRINITY IN THE EXODUS
Isaiah 63:7-10 (KJV)
7 I will mention the loving kindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
8 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. 9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the Angel of his presence saved them [Exodus 3:2,4,6, 12:23,29, 14:19,21,24]: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. 10 But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit [Exodus 28 & Numbers 11:25]: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
THREE IN ONE ACCORDING TO THE GRAMMAR
ONE GOD VIA MULTIPLE PERSONS IS OUR MAKER
Genesis 2:26, (KJV), “And God said [singular noun], Let us [plural verb] make man in our image, after our likeness.”
Psalms 149:2 (KJV), “Let Israel rejoice in him that made him [i.e., “Makers,” plural noun]: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.”
Isaiah 54:5 (KJV), “For thy Maker(s) [plural noun] is thine husband(s) [plural noun]; the LORD of hosts is his name.”
Ecclesiastes 11:5 (KJV), “As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.”
ONE GOD BEING REFERRED TO AS A PLURAL
Genesis 20:13, “And it came to pass, when God caused [plural verb] me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her…”
Genesis 35:7 (KJV), “…because there God appeared [plural verb] unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.”
MULTIPLE PERSONS BEING DESCRIBED AS YHWH
ABRAHAM AND THE LORD WHO RAINED DOWN JUDGMENT FROM THE LORD IN HEAVEN ON SODOM
- Three Persons Visit Abraham, One Who is Identified as the LORD: Genesis 18:1-2 (KJV), “1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them…”
- The Other Men Leave and Only the LORD Remains with Abraham: Genesis 18:22 (KJV), “And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.”
- The Two Men who Leave are Identified as Angels because They Go to Sodom: Genesis 19:1 (KJV), “And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.”
- The LORD Leaves Abraham, Visits Sodom and then Rains Down Judgement from the LORD in Heaven: Genesis 19:24 (KJV), “Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven.”
JACOB AND THE GOD WHO COMMANDED HIM TO BUILD AN ALTAR TO THE GOD WHO WRESTLED WITH HIM
- Jacob Wrestled with a Mysterious Man: Genesis 32:24 (KJV), “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.”
- Jacob then Finds Out the Man was God: Genesis 32:30 (KJV), “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
- God then Tells Jacob to Make an Altar to the God Who Appeared to Him at Peniel: Genesis 35:1 (KJV), “And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.”
- At the End of Jacob’s Life He Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh in the Name of God and the Angel who He Wrestled: Genesis 48:15-16 (KJV), “15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, 16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads…”
MOSES IS TOLD BY THE LORD THAT HE CANNOT SEE HIS FACE BUT HE DOES TALK FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE LORD
- Moses is Commanded by the LORD to Come and Meet with the LORD: (KJV), “And he [the LORD, see previous verses for context] said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.”
- Moses Meets with the LORD Face-to-Face: Exodus 33:11 (KJV), “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend…”
- The LORD Tells Moses He Cannot See His Face: Exodus 33:20 (KJV), “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live…”
- The Mount of Transfiguration Explains How Moses Could See Jesus (the LORD) but not the Father (the LORD): Matthew 17:1-3,5-6 (KJV), “1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him… 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.”
THE LORD PROMISES DELIVERANCE BY THE LORD FROM BONDAGE
Hosea 1:7 (KJV), “But I [the LORD] will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.”
THE LORD SENDING THE LORD
Isaiah 48:16 (KJV), “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.”
Zechariah 2:10-11 (KJV), “10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion:
for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. 11 And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.”
The Father is LORD, the Angel of the LORD is LORD, and the Holy Spirit is LORD. Yet, there are not three “LORDS,” but one LORD sharing His essence with three persons.
THE TRINITY
- THE FATHER IS LORD: Deuteronomy 32:6 (KJV), “Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee?”
- THE ANGEL OF THE LORD IS LORD: Genesis 16:9,13 (KJV Strong’s) “9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands… 13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?”
- THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LORD: 2 Samuel 23:2-3 (KJV), “2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.”
- YET THERE IS ONLY ONE LORD: Deuteronomy 6:4 (KJV), “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.”
Second part of this show I debate with a modalist (oneness)