Is The Trinity Biblical?

(Last Updated: 8th November 2023)

I contend that the term trinity is not Biblical. It was concocted when the Emperor Constantine summoned a council of Bishops in Nicea (across the straits from modern Istanbul) in 325 A.D. The Bishops of the Church who were appointed without authority by Constantine himself (the Apostles having been long dead), by a decided majority, repudiated Arius (a presbyter) and produced the first draft of what is now called the Nicene Creed. It should be noted that Constantine was not a Christian, he was a sun worshiper. He was eventually “baptized” on his death-bed. However, he was too weak to be baptized by immersion (baptiso means submersion) and so they sprinkled his head and called it good. That is where the sprinkling form of baptism came from. But I digress.

I believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate individuals. Why is it important to know God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ?

John 17:3

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

• God said, Let us make man in our image, Gen. 1:26. (Plural)
• man is become as one of us, to know good and evil, Gen. 3:22. (Plural)
• This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, Matt. 3:17 (Matt. 17:5; 3 Ne. 11:7). (All three members of the Godhead were present. Was the Father speaking about himself?)
• … to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father, Matt. 20:23. (If they are the same person, why can the Father give, but Jesus cannot?)
• not as I will, but as thou wilt, Matt. 26:39. (Was Jesus praying to himself? He was obviously talking to the Father, a separate individual.)
• Jesus shall be called the Son of the Highest, Luke 1:32. (not the Highest, but the Son)
• Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove, Luke 3:22. (Separate personage)
• Son can do nothing … but what he seeth the Father do, John 5:19. (How can Jesus see the Father do something if they are the same person?)
• the Father that sent me beareth witness of me, John 8:17-18. (Separate personages. Is the Father bearing witness of Himself?)
  17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
  18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
• I and my Father are one, John 10:30.
• That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, John 17:21 (D&C 35:2) Are they all one person? Or are they one in purpose, like the Father and the Son
• a voice from heaven, saying, I have … glorified it, John 12:28.
  Was Jesus a ventriloquist? Who was Jesus talking to? Who responded and spoke to him?
  26 … if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
  27 …Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
  28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
  29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
  30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
• my Father is greater than I, John 14:28. (Two people)
• And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3 The Father sent Jesus (two different persons)
• I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, John 20:17.
  Who is Jesus ascending unto, himself?
• being by the right hand of God exalted, Acts 2:33.
  32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
  33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
  How did Jesus sit at the right hand of God the Father if he is the same person?
  Did God raise himself up?
• saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, Acts 7:55.
  How did Stephen see God the Father and Jesus standing on the right hand of Him if they are the same person? They are obviously two separate personages.
  55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
  56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
• not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, Acts 17:29.
  We have a premortal existence and are spirit children of God. Jesus likewise is a spirit child of God the Father, yet He is also the only begotten Son in the flesh.
  28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
  29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
• to us there is but one God, 1 Cor. 8:6.
  5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
  6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. [emphasis mine]
• I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Eph. 3:14.
  Now, who is the Father of Jesus Christ? Is it Jesus himself, or a separate person?
• Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Heb. 1:2.
  Yup, two people. Or is he heir of himself?
• For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7
  Again, see John 10:30 and John 17:21 (One in purpose, not one person)

Book of Mormon references:

• And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen. 2 Nephi 31:21.
• They are one God Mosiah 15:1-9
  1 And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.
  2 And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son—
  3 The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son—
  4 And they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth.
  5 And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldeth not to the temptation, but suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by his people.
  6 And after all this, after working many mighty miracles among the children of men, he shall be led, yea, even as Isaiah said, as a sheep before the shearer is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.
  7 Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.
  8 And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men—
  9 Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice.
• Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. Alma 11:44
• And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end. Mormon 7:7.
• And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen. Ether 12:41.
• 3 Nephi 11:32, 36
  32 And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.
  36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.

Doctrine and Covenants references:

• I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one. D&C 35:2
• Doctrine and Covenants 20:18-31
  18…he created man, male and female, after his own image and in his own likeness, created he them;
  19 And gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve him, the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship.
  20 But by the transgression of these holy laws man became sensual and devilish, and became fallen man.
  21 Wherefore, the Almighty God gave his Only Begotten Son, as it is written in those scriptures which have been given of him.
  22 He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them.
  23 He was crucified, died, and rose again the third day;
  24 And ascended into heaven, to sit down on the right hand of the Father, to reign with almighty power according to the will of the Father;
  25 That as many as would believe and be baptized in his holy name, and endure in faith to the end, should be saved—
  26 Not only those who believed after he came in the meridian of time, in the flesh, but all those from the beginning, even as many as were before he came, who believed in the words of the holy prophets, who spake as they were inspired by the gift of the Holy Ghost, who truly testified of him in all things, should have eternal life,
  27 As well as those who should come after, who should believe in the gifts and callings of God by the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of the Father and of the Son;
  28 Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen.
  29 And we know that all men must repent and believe on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name, and endure in faith on his name to the end, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.
  30 And we know that justification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true;
  31 And we know also, that sanctification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who love and serve God with all their mights, minds, and strength.
• Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-27
  22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
  23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—
  24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.
  25 And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son,
  26 And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning.
  27 And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen, even a son of the morning!
• Doctrine and Covenants 130:22
  The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.
• Doctrine and Covenants 137:3
  [I saw] also the blazing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and the Son.

Joseph Smith—History 1:17
When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

Articles of Faith 1:1
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
They are all Gods. They are three separate persons and members of the Godhead.

As can be plainly seen, the Jesus of the Bible is the Jesus of the Book of Mormon. They do not conflict, they are the same. The Book of Mormon is indeed a second witness of Jesus Christ. Latter-day Saints (or as many call us, Mormons) believe that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God. He is the Savior of the world, and our personal Savior. We believe that we are saved by Him because of His matchless power, love and mercy. He died for us and took upon Himself our sins. Our works do not save us, but show our love for Him. We love Him and try to be like Him by obeying His commandments.

 I have included versus from the Doctrine and Covenants, an excerpt from Joseph Smith’s vision of the Father and the Son, and our First Article of Faith.

 P.S. There are many more references that could be included, however, I feel the few I’ve mentioned are adequate.