We look at the nature of our Triune God and a brief church history to discover if the word trinity is in the Bible.
What is the Godhead in the Bible? What does Godhead mean?
“Bring me a worm that can comprehend a man, and then I will show you a man that can comprehend the Triune God.” – John Wesley
The term “Godhead” refers to the divine nature or essence of God, particularly as it relates to the Christian understanding of what we call the Trinity. It encompasses the idea of God as a unified being made up of three distinct personas: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.
In simpler terms, “Godhead” is a way of describing the fullness of God’s divine nature—His power, presence, and being—while also recognizing the three distinct personas within this unity. The word is often used in theological discussions to explain the complexity of God’s nature as both one and three at the same time.
The term “Godhead” appears in older translations of the Bible, such as the King James Version (KJV), where it conveys the idea of God’s divine attributes and His complete divinity.
Describing God with Metaphors
To understand how God can be both three and one at the same time, we often turn to analogies.
One common analogy uses the parts of an egg—the shell, white, and yolk—three parts that make up one egg. Another is water, which can be ice, liquid, or steam, but still remains water. Some may also remember the Veggie Tales video Sumo of the Opera, where the shamrock is used as a symbol—three parts of one leaf.
Each of these analogies highlights either God’s oneness or His threeness, but none fully capture the whole truth.
Another analogy compares God to the sun. The Father is like the source of the sun’s power and light (1 Tim 6:15-16). Jesus is like the light itself, bringing life and sight (John 1:4, 6; 2 Cor 4:6; Heb 1:3). The Holy Spirit is like the sun’s energy, invisible but powerful.
St. Augustine suggested we look at ourselves since humans are made in God’s image. He compared the Trinity to a person’s spirit, soul, and body—different aspects of the same being.
However, it’s difficult to hold onto both the oneness and threeness of God without leaning too far into thinking of God as either three separate gods (tritheism) or just one God appearing in different forms (modalism).
A helpful analogy comes from human psychology. Just as a person can take on different roles and responsibilities that are connected but distinct, God’s three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—interact perfectly in harmony, always communicating in love without conflict, unlike us humans
There are no metaphors or human language fully capable of expressing the nature of God. Even the word “God” is insufficient.
Is The Word Trinity in the Bible: A Short History
Even St. Augustine, one of Christianity’s greatest theologians, admitted that describing God as a “person” is problematic.[2] The challenge arises because our Triune God—Father, Son (or Logos), and Holy Spirit—is truly beyond our full comprehension.
Each person of the Trinity is all-powerful, all-knowing, and present everywhere, existing beyond time and creation, yet they are united as one God.
Despite the difficulty, it’s vital for believers to seek to understand and explain God’s nature as revealed in the Bible. The early Church Fathers faced similar struggles as they wrestled with how to reconcile God’s oneness with His threeness. These debates, which began in the late second and early third centuries, were not just academic—they were deeply spiritual attempts to draw nearer to the truth of who God is.
One significant controversy was Monarchianism, which aimed to protect the belief in one God. Dynamic Monarchianism suggested that God’s presence in Jesus made Him greater than any other person, but not actually God. On the other hand, Modalistic Monarchianism argued that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were not distinct but merely different modes in which God revealed Himself over time.
In the midst of these debates, Tertullian emerged with a crucial insight. He argued that God’s “threeness” did not contradict His oneness. To clarify this profound mystery and to counter both Monarchianism and polytheism, Tertullian introduced the term “Trinity” (Trinitas) to express the truth that God is both three and one.
As believers, we are reminded by 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 that the Holy Spirit teaches us about the deep things of God, using spiritual language that transcends human wisdom. Through the Spirit, we receive the ability to grasp these divine truths. For those who rely solely on natural understanding, these things may seem like foolishness, but for those who seek spiritual insight, they reveal the wondrous nature of our God.
The doctrine of God invites us into a deeper relationship with His nature, calling us to embrace the mystery and wonder of who He is.
Is the Word Trinity in the Bible? Is There a Trinity Bible Verse?
In short, the word “Trinity” isn’t found in the Bible.
Theologian Tertullian was the first to use the term “Trinity” to describe the nature of our God.
The Word Trinity in the Bible in Christian History
The word “Trinity” may not be found in the Bible, but the concept it represents has been a cornerstone of Christian faith for centuries. It was Tertullian who first coined the term “Trinity” as he sought to articulate the profound mystery of God’s nature.
He recognized that human language often falls short in describing the divine, yet he pressed forward, offering an explanation of the Trinity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three distinct personas sharing one divine essence. His insights were instrumental in moving the theological conversation forward.
Following Tertullian, Origen continued to explore the relationship between the Father and the Son, emphasizing that the Son is co-eternal with the Father and fully shares in His divinity. This idea of an eternal Trinity took root, shaping the understanding of God for generations to come.
However, the journey to a clear doctrine was not without its challenges. A presbyter named Arius sparked controversy by arguing that if the Son was begotten by the Father, then the Son must have had a beginning, suggesting there was a time when the Son did not exist.
This raised a critical question: Could the divine essence of the Father truly be shared, or would that imply the existence of two gods?
To address this, the Church convened the Council of Nicaea in 325. The resulting Nicene Creed firmly declared that Christ was “begotten of the substance of the Father,” affirming the key term homoousios, meaning “of the same substance.” This was a pivotal moment in Christian history, solidifying the belief in the unity of the Father and the Son.
In the years that followed, theologians like Athanasius and the Cappadocian Fathers—Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa—valiantly defended this understanding of God’s nature.
They worked tirelessly to ensure that the unity of God’s essence was clearly articulated, even as they faced challenges from various philosophical and theological perspectives.
The early Church Fathers navigated these complex debates with faith and determination, laying a foundation that has stood the test of time. Their legacy is a testament to the enduring power of truth, guiding believers to a deeper understanding of the God who is both three and one.
What the Trinity Means For You And Me
For most of us it doesn’t matter too terribly if the word “Trinity” is in the Bible or not, because the Holy Spirit reveals spiritual truths using spiritual language, just as 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 tells us.
For most of us, it’s enough to know that church history and Scripture provide a solid foundation for our beliefs.
As believers, we don’t always need to grasp every theological detail; sometimes faith is simpler than that.
Popular writer Anne Lamott put it well:
“I didn’t need to understand the hypostatic unity of the Trinity; I just needed to turn my life over to whoever came up with redwood trees.” ― Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith
Things to Keep in Mind about The Godhead/Christian Doctrine of God
According to theologian, Millard Erickson, the essential elements in a doctrine of God must include these facts:
- The unity of God is basic. God is one, not several joined together.
- Each of the three is one deity, and each is qualitatively the same.
- God’s threeness and oneness are not in the same respect. God is one and at the same time three, and yet without contradiction. The way He is three is not the same as the way He is one.
- There have always been three, and all have always been divine. For example, one member did not come to be at a later time. God is always the same, eternal.
- The function of one may be subordinate to one or both for a period of time, but that does not mean He is in any way inferior in essence.
- The Triune God is incomprehensible, and human understanding is limited.[7]
It is important to know that God is a God Being and not some sort of invisible energy force that pervades the universe, as some religions and New Age adherents believe.
Martin Luther warned that the unity and complexity of God is a mystery beyond human understanding, something that reason cannot fully grasp. He emphasized that it is something we must believe by faith. Luther says,
“For even to the angels, who unceasingly behold it with delight, it is unfathomable. And all who have wanted to comprehend it have broken their necks in the effort.”[8]
A Revelation for God’s Triune Nature
In conclusion, a friend shared with me some amazing revelation you will find helpful.
When he was seeking God for understanding on the subject of the Godhead, he heard God say that he think about God’s nature as 1x1x1=1 rather than 1+1+1=3. Now that sheds some light on God’s nature!
Blessing friend on your journey of knowing God more!
Is the Word Trinity in the Bible? What is the Godhead? Notes:
- Erickson, 346-367.
- C.F. Henry, God, Revelation and Authority, vol. 6 (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999), 371.
- Veli-Matti Karkkainen, The Doctrine of God (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004), 70.
- Wolfhart Pannenberg, Systematic Theology, vol.1 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991), 275; quoted in Veli-Matti Karkkainen, The Doctrine of God (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004), 74.
- Karkkainen, 75.
- Karkkainen, 75-79.
- Erickson, 362-363.
- Martin Luther, What Luther Says: A Practical In-Home Anthology of Luther for the Active Christian, ed. Ewald M. Plass (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing, 1959); quoted in Veli-Matti Karkkainen, The Doctrine of God (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004), 104.
