1. The usage of the Hebrew Elohim.

The very first verse in the Bible contains God’s great name Elohim (Gen 1:1).

Elohim is a plural name—however, when used in reference to the one true God, it is constantly joined with verbs and adjectives in the singular (Deut 6:4; 32:39).

In many Old Testament passages Elohim is used with a plural verb or pronoun (Gen 1:26; 3:22; 11:7).

Certain variants of Elohim are plural—a feature visible in the original Hebrew even when English translations would indicate that they are singular. For example, in Ecclesiastes 12:1 (“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth”), the original is literally “thy Creators.” “Maker” in Isaiah 54:5 (“For thy Maker is thine husband”) should be translated “Makers.”

2. The triune conversations in Isaiah.

Isaiah 6:8 is a reference to the Trinity. In Isaiah 48:16, the “Son” is speaking about the “Lord GOD” (the Father) who sent him and the “Holy Spirit.” In Isaiah 63:9–10 one finds references to the Trinity as well.

3. The conversation between the Father and the Son in the Psalms (Pss 2:2–3, 7; 110:1).

1. The baptism of Christ (Matt 3:16–17).

2. The temptation of Christ (Matt 4:1).

3. The teachings of Jesus.

The Greek word in John 14:16 translated “another” is allos, meaning another of the same kind. Heteros is the Greek word for another of a different kind. It is never used in referring to the Trinity (See also John 14:26).

4. The baptismal formula (Matt 28:19–20).

5. The apostolic benediction (2 Cor 13:14).

1. The Father is God (John 6:44; Rom 1:7; 1 Pet 1:2).

2. The Son is God (Isa 9:6; John 1:1; 20:28; Titus 2:13; Heb 1:8).

3. The Spirit is God (Acts 5:3–4; Heb 9:14).

Holy, Holy, Holy

Reginald Heber, the great songwriter, put the doctrine of the Trinity in poetic form when he wrote the beautiful hymn:

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty,
    Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
    Holy, Holy, Holy, merciful and mighty,
    God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.