Each person of the Trinity is distinct and separate from the other two
Now that it has been shown that each member of the Trinity possesses the qualities of deity, it must be shown that each is distinct from the others so as to demonstrate that each is not simply a different presentation of the same person. A popular, but errant analogy used to understand the Trinity is that of a man who is a father, son, and husband all at the same time. Another is the different states of water: ice, water, and steam. Such analogies are used to demonstrate the doctrine of modalism, an unbiblical heresy. God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are all God, but are not the same people. God the Father is not Jesus, Jesus is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father:
- The Father and Jesus are not the same:
- To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 1:7
- Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 1:3, Philippians 1:2
- Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. – 2 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3
- Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. – Ephesians 1:2
- Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. – Ephesians 6:23
- Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Thessalonians 1:1
- [1]Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: [2]Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. – 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2
- [1]Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; [2]Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. – 1 Timothy 1:1-2
- To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. – 2 Timothy 1:2
- To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. – 2 Timothy 1:2
- Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. – Philemon 3
- James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. – James 1:1
- Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, – 2 Peter 1:2
- Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. – 2 John 3
- [32]Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. [33]But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. – Matthew 10:33
- All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. – Matthew 11:27
- Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost – Matthew 28:19
- And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. – Luke 3:22
- All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. – Luke 10:22
- [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. – John 1:1-2
- [16]For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17]For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. – John 3:16-17
- But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. – John 7:29
- [16]And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. [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. – John 8:16-18
- Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. – John 8:55
- As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. – John 10:15
- [41]Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. [42]And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. – John 11:41-42
- Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. – John 14:11
Note: Notice it does not say “I am the Father”, but rather “I am in the Father” - Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. – John 20:21
- But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, – Galatians 4:4
- My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: – 1 John 2:1
- Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. – 1 John 4:10
- Jesus and the Holy Spirit are not the same:
- Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost – Matthew 28:19
- And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. – Luke 3:22
- [31]If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. [32]There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. – John 5:31-32
- And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; – John 14:16
- But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: – John 15:26
- Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. – John 16:7
- [13]Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. – John 16:13-14
- The Father and the Holy Spirit are not the same:
- Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost – Matthew 28:19
- And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. – Luke 3:22
- But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: – John 15:26
- [26]Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. [27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God. – Romans 8:26-27