The Doctrine of the Trinity teaches that within the unity of
the one Godhead there are three separate persons who are coequal in
power, nature, and eternity. This doctrine is derived from the
clear teaching of Scripture, and is not a man-made doctrine as some
(such as the Jehovah's Witnesses) have claimed. Let us briefly
examine some of the New Testament evidences for this important
doctrine.
1. _The Incarnation._ The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ as
described in the accounts in Matthew and Luke show that the
doctrine of the Trinity was not a later invention of theologians.
Luke records what an angel said to Mary: "The _Holy Spirit_ will
come upon you, and the power of the _Most High_ will overshadow
you. So the holy one to be born will be called the _Son of_ God"
(Luke 1:35).
Since other passages of Scripture reveal that the term "Most
High" refers to God the Father, we have in Luke a concrete instance
of the Holy Spirit, the Father, and the Son all being mentioned
together in the supernatural event of the Incarnation.
2. _The Baptism of Our Lord._ When Jesus Christ was baptized,
the heavens opened and the _Holy Spirit_ "descended on him in
bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: 'You are _my
Son,_ whom I love; with you _I am_ well pleased'" (Luke 3:21-22).
In these verses we see the Son being baptized, the Spirit
descending upon Him, and the Father bearing testimony.
3. _Discourses of Christ._ In John 14--16 Christ speaks of the
persons of the Trinity in His Upper Room Discourse. Jesus declared
to the disciples, "And _I_ will ask _the Father,_ and he will give
you _another Counselor_ to be with you forever -- _the Spirit_ of
truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor
knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in
you" (John 14:16-17). Our Lord here prays to the Father for the
Spirit, and His emphasis on triunity is quite apparent. In John
14:26 and 15:26 Christ uses the same formula, mentioning the three
persons of the Deity and indicating their unity, not only of
purpose and will but of basic nature....
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