Title: vbase
Author: Vern Poythress

Class 2, Sept. 20, 2026

The Trinity: The Basics from the Bible
Vern S. Poythress, Lansdale Presbyterian Church

I. What is the Trinity? God is three persons. Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19.
II. There is only one true God. Deut. 6:4 (see Mark 12:29); Deut. 4:35, 39; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; James 2:19.
III. Each person is God
	A. The Father is God. 1 Cor. 8:6; Rom. 1:7; 15:6; 1 Cor. 1:3; 15:24; 2 Cor. 1:2-3; Gal. 1:3; 2 Cor. 13:14.
	B. The Son is God. John 1:1; 1:3; 20:28; 1 Cor. 8:6; Phil. 2:6; Col. 1:16-17; 2:9; Joel 2:32; Rom. 10:13, 9; John 8:58; Ex. 3:13-14.
	C. The Spirit is God. Acts 5:3-4; Heb. 1:6; Acts 1:16; 2 Sam. 23:1-3; 1 Cor. 2:9-11.
	D. The Spirit is a person. Acts 5:3; John 16:13; Rom. 8:26-27; Eph. 4:30; John 14:16.
IV. The persons are distinct from one another. Matt. 3:16-17.
	A. The Father is distinct from the Son. John 1:1; Gal. 4:4; John 17:1-5.
	B. The Father is distinct from the Spirit. John 14:26; 15:26; 14:16-17.
	C. The Son is distinct from the Spirit. John 14:16; 14:26; 15:26.

V. Confessional formulations
The Apostles' Creed. https://www.bibles.net/the-full-text-of-the-apostles-creed/
The Nicene Creed. https://www.bibles.net/the-full-text-of-the-nicene-creed/
Both are printed in the back of the Trinity Hymnal.

Westminster Shorter Catechism QQ. 5-6:
Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one?
A. There is but one only, the living and true God.
Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A. There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

Westminster Confession of Faith 2.3:
 In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost: the Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.

(For full text, see https://www.pcaac.org/bco/westminster-confession/.)

Class Title: God in three Persons: Who is God, how does he work in history to save us, and how does he work in us?

Description:

In this class we study what the Bible says about the Trinity, and how it impacts us. How does the Trinity impact what it means for us to be children of God, disciples, displays of God's grace, saved, serving, and praying? You can grow in knowing God and in serving him, as you see the wonder of who is he and what he is doing. He is the God who is Trinity and who works in you as Trinity. Step away from self-centeredness and stand in awe of God.
	Jesus Christ himself states how people obtain eternal life: "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (John 17:3). You have to know God. There is no other way to eternal life--that is, living forever in communion with God. Do you know him? The words of Christ imply that you can know God. If you are a follower of Christ, you already do know God, because you know "Jesus Christ whom you have sent." In this saying of Jesus, who is "you"? It is "the only true God," whom we also know as "the Father" (17:1). Jesus Christ is distinct from the Father, who has sent him. This distinction shows one aspect of the Trinity. You already know the Trinity. The Bible teaches us more.

This Class
Poythress, Vern. https://frame-poythress.org/special-lectures-and-sunday-school-lessons/#Trinity

Resources

Short:
Perman, Matt. "Understanding the Trinity: A Christian Core Belief," CRU, https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/core-christian-beliefs/understanding-the-trinity.html.
Wells, David F. What Is the Trinity? P&R Publishing, 2012.
Westminster Confession of Faith 2.3:
 In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost: the Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.

Medium:
Owen, John. "Brief Declaration and Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity." https://www.ccel.org/ccel/owen/trinity.html

Book length:
Letham, Robert. The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship. Revised and Expanded. P&R Publishing, 2019. 
Poythress, Vern S. Knowing and the Trinity: How Perspectives in Human Knowledge Imitate the Trinity. P&R Publishing, 2018. frame-poythress.org/ebooks/.
Poythress, The Mystery of the Trinity: A Trinitarian Approach to the Attributes of God. P&R Publishing, 2020. frame-poythress.org/ebooks/.
Sanders, Fred. The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything. 2nd ed. Crossway, 2017.