3.2 God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

3.2 God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost: He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The mystery of the divine Trinity comes to expression in various ways in the Old and New Testaments. However, Holy Scripture does not mention the term or provide any doctrine on the Trinity. This doctrine was recognised and formulated in the early church on the basis of biblical evidence. 3.2.1 References to the triune God in the Old Testament The first reference to the activity of the triune God is recorded in the first account of creation (Genesis 1: 1–31; 2: 1–4). There it states: “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1: 2) and also: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image, according to our likeness’” (Genesis 1: 26). “Elohim”, the designation for God used in the original Hebrew text, is plural. It means “the Divine” as well as “gods” and should be understood, in light of the gospel, as a reference to the triune God. The various divine manifestations, for example “Angel of the Lord” (Genesis 16: 7–11, 13; Exodus 3: 2–5; Judges 6: 11–16), “Spirit of God” (Genesis 1: 2), or “Spirit of the Lord” (Judges 3: 10; 1 Samuel 16: 13) are also interpreted as references to the mystery of the trinity of God. The events and references in which the number three appears also allude to the Trinity: (cid:129) The three messengers of God who visited Abraham (Genesis 18) are un- derstood in Christian tradition as a reference to the mystery of the divine Trinity. (cid:129) The activity of the triune God in the priestly blessing from Numbers 6: 24–26 is interpreted in the same way: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” (cid:129) The angel’s threefold praise in the inaugural vision of the prophet Isaiah is also considered an indication of God’s trinity: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6: 3). 87 3 The triune God 3.2.2 References to the triune God in the New Testament Although the New Testament does not contain a fully formulated doctrine of the Trinity, it nevertheless records events and formulations which clearly show the divine Trinity and its activity in the history of salvation. One ex- ample of the presence of the triune God can be found right at the beginning of Jesus’ public activity, when, at His baptism, the Father and the Holy Spirit attest to the sending of the incarnate Son of God: “And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heaven parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” (Mark 1: 10–11). The Son of God, as is revealed here, works in unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are also mentioned in the commission to bap- tise, which Jesus Christ gave His Apostles before His ascension into heaven (Matthew 28: 18–19). Indicators of the bond between the persons of the Trinity can be found in the gospel according to John, which speaks of the oneness between the Son and the Father, and where Jesus Christ says: “I and My Father are one” (John 10: 30; cf. John 1: 1, 18). The promise of the Holy Spirit also attests to the trinity of God (John 16: 13–15). There are further references to God’s trinity in the epistles of the New Testament. They can be found in the praises of God as well as in the wording of certain blessings. Accordingly, 1 Corinthians 12: 4–6 states: “There are di- versities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” This passage refers as much to the uniqueness of God as to the different self-revelations of the divine persons. That God’s activity provides evidence of His Trinitarian nature is also attested in Ephesians 4: 4–6: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” The salvific activity of the triune God is referenced in 1 Peter 1: 2: “... according to the foreknowledge of 88