TULIP GEMS

TRINITY IN HEBREW SCRIPTURES

 

“And God said, Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness ... So God created man in HIS OWN IMAGE, in the IMAGE OF GOD created he him; male and female created he them.”  -- Genesis 1:26,27  (Emphasis mine)

 

A plurality of persons in the one true God is clearly seen in the first chapter of the Hebrew Bible.  In fact, the very Hebrew word for God -- Elohim -- indicates a plurality in the Godhead.    The “IM” in Elohim is the masculine PLURAL ending in Hebrew.

 

This plurality of persons comes to light again, both after the fall of man into sin (Genesis 3:22) and at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:6-8).  In both instances, God speaks of Himself as “US”.

 

THE ONE TRUE GOD

 

The Hebrew Prophet Isaiah tells us that the one true God exists in three (3) Persons.

 

“Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.

 

Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.”

(Isaiah 48:16,17)

 

Notice that thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says, “I am the LORD thy God”, in verse 17.  But He also said in the previous verse, “The Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me”.  This implies three in one, and agrees with Genesis (Bereshit):

 

“And God said, Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness ... So God created man in HIS OWN IMAGE, in the IMAGE OF GOD created he him; male and female created he them.”  -- Genesis 1:26,27  (Emphasis mine)

 

SHEMA ISRAEL

 

But, some might ask, what about the Shema Israel?  It says, “Hear O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is ONE.”  -- Deuteronomy 6:4  (Emphasis mine)

 

Yet former Rabbi Leopold Cohn points out, “... the most sacred Jewish book, the Zohar, comments on Deuteronomy 6:4 -- 'Hear O Israel, Jehovah our God, Jehovah is one,' saying, 'Why is there need of mentioning the name of God three times in this verse?'

 

Then follows the answer. 'The first Jehovah is the Father above.  The second is the stem of Jesse, the Messiah who is to come from the family of Jesse through David.  And the third is the way which is below (meaning the Holy Spirit who shows us the way) and these three are one.'

 

According to the Zohar the Messiah is not only called Jehovah but is a very part of the Triune Jehovah.”1  Indeed, the very same word “echad” meaning “one” is also used in Genesis, when God, in speaking of Adam and Eve, said the two would become “one” (echad) flesh.

 

Two people, now ONE (united) flesh.  So too, the LORD our God is ONE (united) LORD.  Some say that this is impossible.  My friend, nothing is impossible with God.  We can no more fully understand this mystery, than a mere insect can fully know all about us.

 

THE LORD'S BLESSING

 

God is infinite, and exists in three Persons.  He implied this again in the blessing He commanded Moses to have Aaron use when blessing Israel.

 

“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

 

The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

 

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”   (Number 6:24-26)

 

 

This corresponds with the Apostolic Blessing in the Christian era -- “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”   (2 Corinthians 13:14)

 

It is important to understand the plurality of Persons in the one true God.  Each plays a vital role in the plan of salvation.  Also, eternal life is to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.  Thus, to have eternal life, knowledge of the Trinity is an absolute must.