The Doctrine Of The Trinity — Part II -- By: Steve Lewis
Journal: Journal of Dispensational Theology
Volume: JODT 12:36 (Aug 2008)
Article: The Doctrine Of The Trinity — Part II
Author: Steve Lewis
JODT 12:36 (Aug 2008) p. 35
The Doctrine Of The Trinity — Part II
Bible Teacher, High Peaks Bible Fellowship
The first part of this study examined the doctrine of the Trinity from a theological perspective. It discussed many of the concepts which form the basis for a proper biblical definition of the Trinity, as well as some principles of interpretation for using the exegesis of a specific passage to construct a doctrine of systematic theology. With the preceding concepts in mind, the purpose of this study will be to analyze a key passage of Scripture to discover its contribution to the doctrine of the Trinity. This passage states: “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning” (John 15:26–27, NASB).
Overview Of John 15:26-27 From A Trinitarian Perspective
The Gospel of John as a whole contains a wide variety of Scriptural evidence for the doctrine of the Trinity and it could be described as the beginning of systematic theological thought concerning the nature of the Godhead.
Through John’s Gospel runs the richest vein in the NT for the Church’s doctrine of the trinity—a wide, deep, and subtle account of divine distinction-within-unity. In John, Father, Son, and Spirit/Paraclete are clearly distinct divine persons, who play differentiated roles in the general divine enterprise of life-giving and life-disclosing. Yet their primordial and unexplained unity is revealed and exemplified by common will, work, word, and knowledge, and by reciprocal love and glorifying. The same six phenomena that distinguish the persons—especially by subordination of Son and Spirit—also unite them. . . .
In John’s Gospel one finds “the beginning of dogmatic reflection in the strictest possible sense,” for John displays real interest in what would later be called the mystery of the holy trinity. . . .1
JODT 12:36 (Aug 2008) p. 36
Regarding John 15:26, Van Doren declared, “This verse furnishes decisive proof of the doctrine of the Trinity. Both the essential identity and the personal distinction of the Father, of the Son, and of the Spirit, are clearly stated (compare also xiv. 16, 18, 26; xvi. 7, 13; xx. You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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