Lesson #6—The Triune Godhead

Shorter Catechism Q & A # 6

Q. 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.

Memorize Q & A—Exposition

Each member of the Godhead is a distinctive person, yet is revealed as one God, one Authority, same in substance, equal in power and authority, as revealed in the person of the Father: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

What does it mean?

1. The Triune Witness. What does Scripture say about the Godhead [i.e., what does God say about himself?]? 1 John 5:7, Romans 1:20, Colossians 2:9–10.
2. Explain the meaning of “Person” and “Godhead.” Hebrews 1:2–3, Matthew 3:16–17, 28:18–19; 2 Cor. 13:14.

What is our practice?

The truth of the Godhead should show in our relationship to God, i.e., obedience, love, worship.

The truth of the Godhead, as Creator and Redeemer should be testified honestly in the midst of other world views, i.e., Mormons, Muslims, atheists, with love desiring their redemption.

Quotes for thought and discussion:

“The knowledge of God the Father who is the source of redemption, of God the Son who achieves redemption, and of God the Holy Spirit who applies redemption, is declared in Scripture to be eternal life. Every other conception of God presents a false god to the mind and conscience. … Inscrutable, yet not self-contradictory, this doctrine furnishes the key to all of the other doctrines such as the Deity of Christ, the incarnation, the personality of the Holy Spirit, regeneration, justification, sanctification, the meaning of the crucifixion and the resurrection, etc., cannot be understood. It thus underlies the whole plan of salvation.” (Loraine Boettner, Studies in Theology)

“The three Persons within the one and only Triune God are indeed to be distinguished but never to be separated from One Another. Those three distinguishable Persons all constitute one and the same indivisible Being—namely Almighty God. The Son is inseparable from the Father. When the Son speaks, His words are not just His but even those of the Father Who sent Him. Also the Holy Spirit is inseparable from the Father and the Son. When the Spirit speaks, He does not speak only by or from Himself—but He speaks everything He also hears from the Father and the Son. When the Son prays to the Father, the Father gives also another Comforter—viz. the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Ghost Whom the Father sends in the Name of the Son. The Son sends the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who proceeds from the Father—from the Father and to the disciples.” (Dr. Francis Nigel Lee, God Triune in the Holy Bible)

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