Can you share Bible references for the Godhead?

The concept of the Godhead is central to Christian theology, representing the nature of God as being composed of three distinct persons—God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit)—existing in one essence. This is known as the doctrine of the Trinity, which asserts that while there are three persons in the Godhead, they are united in purpose, essence, and divinity. The Bible does not explicitly use the term “Trinity,” but the truth of the triune God is evident in both the Old and New Testaments.

This article will explore Bible references for the Godhead (or the Trinity) and examine how Scripture reveals the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as distinct yet one. Through an in-depth look at both direct and indirect references, we will demonstrate how the concept of the Godhead is woven throughout the entirety of the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments.

The Godhead in the Old Testament

While the term Trinity does not appear in the Old Testament, there are references to the plurality of God that suggest the existence of multiple persons within the Godhead. These references lay the foundation for the fuller revelation of the triune God in the New Testament.

A. Genesis 1:26 (NKJV) – “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'”

This passage from the creation account is one of the earliest indications of a plural aspect within God. The use of the pronouns “Us” and “Our” suggests a conversation within the Godhead, which points to the plurality of persons in God. While God is ultimately one in essence, He is also plural in persons, which Christians interpret as a foreshadowing of the Trinity.

B. Genesis 18:1-3 (NKJV) – “Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the ground.”

In the account of Abraham’s visitation by three men (often interpreted as God Himself, represented in three persons), the narrative subtly points toward the triune nature of God. Although the passage does not explicitly explain the three figures as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the imagery aligns with Christian doctrine that God is three in one.

C. Isaiah 6:8 (NKJV) – “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.'”

In Isaiah’s vision of the throne room, God speaks in the plural, suggesting a plurality within the Godhead. The question, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” hints at the presence of multiple persons involved in God’s divine will. Though not a clear reference to the Trinity, this passage suggests the divine plurality within God.

The Godhead in the New Testament

The New Testament provides much more explicit and detailed revelations about the nature of the Godhead. The doctrine of the Trinity is clearly developed in the teachings of Jesus Christ, the apostles, and in the writings of the Gospels and Epistles.

A. Matthew 28:19 (NKJV) – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

One of the clearest and most direct passages in the New Testament that articulates the Trinity is Jesus’ Great Commission to His disciples. Jesus commands that believers be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, showing the unity of the three persons of the Godhead. The singular “name” suggests that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are united in essence and authority, but also distinct as persons.

B. John 14:16-17 (NKJV) – “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

In this passage, Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as another distinct person within the Godhead. He makes clear that the Father will send the Holy Spirit to dwell with and in the believers. This shows that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are separate persons with unique roles but united in the work of salvation.

C. John 1:1-14 (NKJV) – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”

These verses from John’s Gospel describe the Word (the Logos) as being with God and as being God—a direct reference to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This passage emphasizes the divine nature of Jesus, who existed with the Father before creation and became flesh to dwell among humanity. The distinctiveness of Jesus (the Son) from the Father is shown, while their unity in the Godhead is also affirmed.

D. John 10:30 (NKJV) – “I and My Father are one.”

In this declaration, Jesus clearly claims oneness with the Father, which emphasizes the unity of the Father and the Son within the Godhead. While Jesus and the Father are distinct persons, they share the same divine essence.

E. 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NKJV) – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”

In this apostolic blessing, Paul invokes the three persons of the Trinity: the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. This illustrates their distinct roles and the shared blessing of their unified presence and work in the lives of believers.

F. Colossians 2:9 (NKJV) – “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”

In this passage, Paul affirms the fullness of the Godhead residing in Jesus Christ. This teaches that the Son (Jesus) is fully divine, containing the full essence of God in bodily form, which is a critical element of understanding the unity of the Trinity.

The Father in the Godhead

The Father is often presented in Scripture as the source and initiator within the Godhead. He is the one who sends the Son, and through the Son, the Father’s will is carried out.

A. John 6:44 (NKJV) – “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him…”

Jesus teaches that it is the Father who sends the Son and draws people to salvation. The Father initiates the plan of redemption through the Son.

B. Ephesians 4:6 (NKJV) – “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

The Father is the ultimate source of all creation and the unifying force within the Godhead. He is above all, through all, and in all, illustrating His sovereignty and transcendence.

The Son in the Godhead

The Son, Jesus Christ, is the second person of the Godhead. He is fully God and fully man and is the means by which salvation is accomplished.

A. John 1:14 (NKJV) – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

This passage shows that Jesus is the Word (Logos) made flesh. He is distinct from the Father, yet He is fully God and was sent to reveal God to humanity.

B. Hebrews 1:8-10 (NKJV) – “But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.’ “

This passage affirms the divinity of the Son, calling Him God and showing that His reign is eternal. The Son shares the divine essence with the Father, ruling in righteousness and justice.

The Holy Spirit in the Godhead

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, sent to empower believers, convict of sin, and guide the Church in all truth.

A. John 14:26 (NKJV) – “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Jesus promises the coming of the Holy Spirit to teach and guide believers. The Holy Spirit, though distinct from both the Father and Son, operates in unity with them to bring about God’s will.

B. Acts 5:3-4 (NKJV) – “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.'”

In this passage, Peter equates lying to the Holy Spirit with lying to God, showing that the Holy Spirit is divine and part of the Godhead.

Conclusion

The doctrine of the Godhead—or the Trinity—is deeply rooted in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are presented as distinct persons who are fully divine and united in essence. The Bible teaches that while the three persons of the Godhead have distinct roles, they are inseparable in their work of creation, redemption, and sanctification. The Trinity is a mystery that Christians affirm in faith, drawing on Scripture as the primary source of understanding this profound truth.