Understanding the Trinity: A Biblical Perspective

The concept of the Trinity is one of the most difficult doctrines in Christianity to grasp. You won’t find the word “Trinity” explicitly stated in the Bible, and to some, it can even sound like we’re worshiping three different gods. Because of this, there are a variety of interpretations, viewpoints, and even heresies about how the Trinity works.

In this article, I’ll explain some of the main theories about the Trinity—both orthodox and heretical—explain which view I believe is biblical, and offer both Scripture and an analogy to help make this mysterious doctrine more understandable. I’ll also point out that, ultimately, our finite human minds can’t fully comprehend God. Nothing compares to Him—but He has revealed aspects of Himself that we can understand.

Where Did the Term “Trinity” Come From?

The term Trinity was officially adopted at the First Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 to describe the relationship between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The goal was to clarify biblical teaching and protect the Church from spreading confusion and heresy.

The Council described the Trinity as one God in three persons, a belief that was later emphasized in the Nicene Creed. The creed begins:

“We believe in one God, the Father Almighty... and in one Lord Jesus Christ... and we believe in the Holy Spirit.”

Despite this doctrinal foundation, many false teachings and misunderstandings about the Trinity still arose—some of which persist today.

Common Trinitarian Heresies

Here are some major heresies (false teachings) about the Trinity, as summarized by Bible Hub:

• Arianism – Teaches that the Son is the first and greatest creation of the Father, and not Himself the eternal, divine Creator.
  
  
• Modalism – Claims that God is one person who reveals Himself in different modes (Father, Son, or Spirit) rather than three distinct persons. Some versions say the Old Testament reveals God as the Father, the Gospels as the Son, and the present age as the Holy Spirit.
  
  
• Tritheism – Believes that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate gods, not one God in essence.
  
  
• Subordinationism – Says that the Son and the Spirit are inferior in nature to the Father, even if still divine to some degree.
  
  
• Macedonianism (Pneumatomachianism) – Denies the full divinity of the Holy Spirit.
  
  
• Partialism – Suggests that each person of the Trinity is only a part of God, and together they form the whole God—undermining the full deity of each person.
  
  
• Nestorianism – While more about Christ’s two natures (divine and human), this view wrongly separates Jesus’ divinity and humanity as if He were two persons.
  
  
• Apollinarianism – Teaches that Jesus’ divine nature replaced part of His human nature, making Him only partially human. Like Nestorianism, this distorts the nature of the Son and affects the integrity of the Triune relationship.
  
  

For more in-depth refutations of these heresies, you can explore further at What are the main Trinitarian heresies?.

What I Believe: The Orthodox (Biblical) View

I hold to the orthodox, biblical view of the Trinity as defined at the Council of Nicaea: one God in three persons. While some find it helpful to use the word “roles” to describe the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it's important not to take that too far (as it can lead to modalism). "Persons" is the more accurate and historical term.

In this view:

• The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct in personhood but united in essence, mind, will, and divinity.
  
  
• Each is fully God, yet there is only one God.
  
  
• Their distinctions are shown in their relationships and roles in creation, redemption, and indwelling believers.
  
  

A Helpful (but Limited) Analogy

While no analogy can perfectly capture the Trinity, one that can help our understanding is H₂O. Water (H₂O) can exist in three forms: liquid, vapor, and ice. Each form has its unique properties and functions, yet all are made of the same substance. They can coexist and interact but remain unified in essence.

Of course, this analogy falls short—God is not a molecule—but it can be a helpful picture to grasp how something can exist in three forms while still being the same in essence.

Final Thoughts

We’ll never fully grasp the Trinity on this side of eternity. God is infinite and beyond comparison. But He has revealed Himself through Scripture, and we should seek to know Him based on what He has made known.

As believers, our unity and understanding should be rooted in the clear teachings of Scripture—not personal speculation. While creeds like the Nicene Creed are helpful summaries, Scripture remains our highest authority.

Let us continue to pursue the knowledge of God humbly, remembering that while we can't understand everything about Him, we can trust what He has revealed.