Most Christians today use the term “Trinity” when referring to the 3 parts of God in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
It is the cornerstone of the Catholic faith.
However, the term “Trinity” NEVER appears in the bible.
The bible uses the term “Godhead” when referring to the what most Christians call the “Trinity” today. I prefer the term Godhead because:
1) It’s biblical
2) Separates us from the Catholic term for Trinity.
The Catholics use the term “Trinity” in a different way than bible believing Christians, so while I can and do use the term “Trinity” every so often with people (for ease of use), I much prefer using “Godhead” to convey the three parts of God.
In this study I will first define who and what the Godhead is, and then show why and how it is different than the Catholic concept of the Trinity.
Godhead
The Godhead is GOD, in three parts.
1) The Father (John 6:27)
2) The Son (John 20:26-28) (John 10:30)
3) The Holy Ghost (Acts 5:3-4)
All three of these parts are ONE person!
(9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Col. 2:9
(19) Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered,
Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should
have known my Father also.
John 8:19
(7) If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from
henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
(8) Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
(9) Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast
thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;
and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
(10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?
the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father
that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
(11) Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else
believe me for the very works’ sake.
John 14:7-11
We, “mankind,” was likewise created in the image of the Godhead (Body, Soul and Spirit), 3 in 1:
(26) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen. 1:26
Notice how God refers to himself in the plural in the above verse. It’s not the only time. Even Jesus refers to himself in the plural:
(15) And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it
becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Matthew 3:15
Like man, God is made of three parts:
1) The Father – SOUL
2) The Son – BODY
3) The Holy Ghost – SPIRIT
Watch this video by Dr. Peter S. Ruckman for more info on this aspect of God (and us): You Are NOT Your Body
While Jesus does sometimes refer to him and the father as being separate (John 14:28) this is only Jesus in his fleshly body (Jesus was physically present as the body of God long before he was born on earth). But all three parts have been around since the very beginning:
(1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
(2) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the
face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Gen. 1:1-2
(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.
(2) The same was in the beginning with God.
(3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made
that was made.
John 1:1-3
(14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld
his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace
and truth.
John 1:14
Just as the Godhead is three in one, the term appears only THREE times in ONE bible (Acts 17:29, Romans 1:20, Col. 2:9).
For more information on the Godhead, including its distinctions, basis and attributes, please listen to the following sermon by Dr. Gene Kim: Trinity
**Note:
Even though terms like “Trinity” and “Rapture” are NOT biblical terms and can have negative implications, I also understand that we live in a world where they are used and understood by a large group of people and therefore I would not separate myself from a local church or a person that uses these terms. But I do think it’s important to study and acknowledge those implications and why they could be a stumbling block for others.