Part 4: The Trinity Test. A.The early Christian creeds teach the doctrine of the Trinity B.The doctrine of the Trinity originated at the Council of Nicaea.

Part 4: The Trinity Test

A. The early Christian creeds teach the doctrine of the Trinity

B. The doctrine of the Trinity originated at the Council of Nicaea in AD 325

C. The doctrine of the Trinity is rooted in Scripture

D. Both A and C




D. Both A and C

The Trinity TestQuestion 1:





D. Both A and C




D. Both A and C



The Bible teaches that…

• The Father is God







God the Father knew you and chose you long ago…

1 Peter 1:2 (NLT)

God the Father knew you and chose you long ago…

1 Peter 1:2 (NLT)


• The Father is God• The Son (Jesus) is God






• The Father is God• The Son (Jesus) is GodYou must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

Philippians 2:5-6 (NLT)

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

Philippians 2:5-6 (NLT)


• The Father is God• The Son (Jesus) is God• The Holy Spirit is God






• The Father is God• The Son (Jesus) is God• The Holy Spirit is GodThen Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit… You weren’t lying to us but to God!”

Acts 5:3-4 (NLT)

Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit… You weren’t lying to us but to God!”

Acts 5:3-4 (NLT)


• The Father is God• The Son (Jesus) is God• The Holy Spirit is God• There is One God






• The Father is God• The Son (Jesus) is God• The Holy Spirit is God• There is One God “Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other.”

Isaiah 45:22 (NLT)

“Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other.”

Isaiah 45:22 (NLT)

A. Jesus claimed to be GodB. The disciples believed Jesus

to be God, though Jesus never claimed to be God himself

C. The Roman emperor Constantine declared Jesus to be divine

D. Both B and C




D. Both B and C






D. Both B and C




D. Both B and C



Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”“You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I AM!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

John 8:54-59 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”“You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I AM!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

John 8:54-59 (NIV)

God replied, “I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS IS. Just tell them, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Exodus 3:14 (NLT)

God replied, “I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS IS. Just tell them, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Exodus 3:14 (NLT)

The Jewish leaders surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is what I do in the name of my Father…. The Father and I are one.”Once again the Jewish leaders picked up stones to kill him. Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many things to help the

The Jewish leaders surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is what I do in the name of my Father…. The Father and I are one.”Once again the Jewish leaders picked up stones to kill him. Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many things to help the

people. For which one of these good deeds are you killing me?”They replied, “Not for any good work, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, have made yourself God.”…“Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. But if I do his work, believe in what I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will realize that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

John 10:24-25, 30-33, 37-38 (NLT)

people. For which one of these good deeds are you killing me?”They replied, “Not for any good work, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, have made yourself God.”…“Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. But if I do his work, believe in what I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will realize that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

John 10:24-25, 30-33, 37-38 (NLT)

A. Jesus was God taking on the appearance of a human

B. Jesus was God born as a human

C. Jesus was a mortal man that the Spirit of God entered at his baptism

D. None of the above

















In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make…So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.

John 1:1-3, 14 (NLT)

In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make…So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.

John 1:1-3, 14 (NLT)

Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

Isaiah 7:14 (NLT)

Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

Isaiah 7:14 (NLT)

A. God the Father became Jesus and then became the Holy Spirit

B. God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are three separate persons

C. Before the incarnation, only God the Father existed. Then the Son (Jesus) was born, and then the Holy Spirit was sent at Pentecost.

D. Both B and C




D. Both B and C






D. Both B and C




D. Both B and C



Wrong View of the Trinity…

Modalism – the false belief that God is a single person who appears in different modes or forms (also called Sabellianism)

Problem – Ignores the Scriptural truth that God exists as the Father, Son and Spirit, as individual persons, all at the same time


Modalism – the false belief that God is a single person who appears in different modes or forms (also called Sabellianism)

Problem – Ignores the Scriptural truth that God exists as the Father, Son and Spirit, as individual persons, all at the same time

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

Matthew 3:16-17 (NLT)

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

Matthew 3:16-17 (NLT)

A. The word Trinity is found in the Bible

B. The doctrine of the Trinity is a contradiction and must be accepted by faith

C. The Trinity is a mystery that goes beyond our understanding


















A. God is the total life-force of all living things

B. God is a personC. The Trinity teaches that there

are three godsD. None of the above















Polytheism – the belief in more than one God

Problem – Ignores the Scriptural truth that there is one and only one God


Polytheism – the belief in more than one God

Problem – Ignores the Scriptural truth that there is one and only one God

A. Jesus was the first creation of God the Father

B. Jesus appeared in the Old Testament as the archangel Michael

C. Jesus was fully God and fully man

D. Both A and C




D. Both A and C






D. Both A and C




D. Both A and C




Arianism – The belief that Jesus was not fully divine, but was a superior created being

Problem – Ignores the Scriptural claims of divinity of Jesus and nullifies the sacrifice on the Cross


Arianism – The belief that Jesus was not fully divine, but was a superior created being

Problem – Ignores the Scriptural claims of divinity of Jesus and nullifies the sacrifice on the Cross

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

John 1:1-4 (NLT)

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

John 1:1-4 (NLT)

For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

Colossians 2:9 (NLT)

For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

Colossians 2:9 (NLT)

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,the only Son of God,eternally begotten of the Father,God from God, Light from Light,true God from true God,begotten, not made,of one being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.For us and for our salvationhe came down from heaven:by the power of the Holy Spirithe became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,and was made man.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,the only Son of God,eternally begotten of the Father,God from God, Light from Light,true God from true God,begotten, not made,of one being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.For us and for our salvationhe came down from heaven:by the power of the Holy Spirithe became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,and was made man.

A. The Father is the greatest member of the Trinity

B. The Son is the greatest member of the Trinity

C. The Holy Spirit is the greatest member of the Trinity


















Part 4: The Trinity Test

Part 4: The Trinity Test. A.The early Christian creeds teach the doctrine of the Trinity B.The doctrine of the Trinity originated at the Council of Nicaea.

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