The doctrine of the Trinity is believed by many Christians, although it is not a doctrine that is able to be adequately explained or defended. Paul warned against heresies concerning the Godhead in 2 Corinthians 11 when he said, “…I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” (2 Cor. 11:3-4). In this portion of Scripture, Paul references both a different Spirit and a different Christ.
From Bible times up to the modern era, people have been preaching a different Christ and a different Spirit. Some thought Jesus was John the Baptist, some thought He was Jeremiah, and some thought He was Elijah. As time went on, people declared that Jesus came but denied His humanity. They said that flesh is bad, and therefore, Jesus could not have had flesh. This was one of the major problems that was being addressed in the book of 1 John. As the clock continued to move forward, people also denied Jesus’ deity and simply embraced His humanity.
Fast-forward to the year 2021, and you will find large groups of people declaring that Jesus is not God, nor has he ever been God. Some would say that Jesus was Michael the archangel prior to coming to earth. These people refer to themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses. They deny the doctrine of the Trinity and even the person of the Spirit. They label the Spirit as a force of God but not God or a person.
Still, you will encounter another large group of people saying that Jesus is one of many gods, as is the Spirit. They are polytheistic in nature with a bent toward the worship of a certain god or gods (being the Father, Son, and the Spirit). This group refers to themselves as Mormons. They also deny the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity. They believe that the Father is God, Jesus is God, and the Spirit is God, yet they believe that they are not all one God, but rather three gods – and you, too, can be a god one day as well. They say that there are millions or maybe even billions of gods.
If you turn your head from this group, you may find yourself staring at those who believe that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are not three distinct persons but rather one God who reveals himself in three different ways. This group would refer to themselves as modalists. The thought is that when the Bible speaks of the Father, this is simply one of God’s three forms. Then when Jesus is revealed, God simply changes forms and chooses to reveal Himself as the Son.
While defending the doctrine of the Trinity is rather simple, it can prove to be a little more difficult when done through an expositional article rather than a topical one. A topical article would take the reader through verses that talk about God as one, God as having a plurality about Himself, the Father as God, Jesus as God, and the Spirit as God. When one looks all throughout the Bible, he will find a lot of evidence to support his position for the orthodox teaching of the Trinity.
But delving into a specific verse can be helpful, as well. It leads to depth to someone’s understanding, and overtime, it will prove to yield rich benefits in the hearts and minds of believers.
As a result, 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 will be the focus of this article as it pertains to the Trinity as being witnessed in salvation.
The Father
Scripture says, “And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God” (2 Cor. 3:4-5). The context of this verse is that Paul is highlighting the differences between the Old and the New Covenants. He is seeking to tell of the way that the New is much greater than the Old.
He also, prior to this point, was telling the Corinthians of the way that they are the letter of recommendation for Paul. The work that is being done in their lives and in their hearts is all the proof that Paul needs that his message and ministry is valid.
Now Paul bolsters this claim and humbles himself by telling of the way that his sufficiency is from God and does not come from himself. In doing this, Paul highlights the work of the Father in salvation. Paul did not have anything in and of himself that recommended him to God. Prior to Paul’s conversion, he was a rebel who was storming the gates of heaven and seeking to overthrow the King of kings.
In 2 Corinthians 3:4-5, Paul speaks of his sufficiency as being from God. In doing this, he speaks of the Father’s work in salvation, specifically in that of election. The doctrine of election is dealt with extensively by Paul in Ephesians chapter 1. The Father elects people unto salvation, Paul tells us. In 2 Corinthians 3:4-5, Paul also alludes to the truth of election when he tells of the way that God has made Paul sufficient to be a minister.
The Son
But Paul does not simply mention the Father. Paul also mentions the Son. In 2 Corinthians 3:4-5, Paul tells of the way that the Father works through Christ. God’s electing of individuals is done through Christ, not apart from Christ. The cross is the power of God unto salvation. The Father works through the Son to save sinners. Christ died for sinners in order for redemption to be accomplished.
The Spirit
Finally, Paul does not cease to mention the work of the Spirit in salvation, as well. Scripture says, “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new covenant testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2 Cor. 3:6). If you remember in the book of John chapter 3, Jesus spent some time talking to a man by the name of Nicodemus.
This man was the teacher of the Jews. He was a predominant teacher – maybe even the predominant teacher. However, he failed to understand the teaching concerning the new birth. Jesus tells us that one cannot enter into the kingdom of God apart from this new birth.
The new birth is referred to as many other different things in the Bible, such as regeneration, being born again, becoming a new creation, life, etc. However the picture is painted, the new birth is at stake.
The new birth is absolutely necessary. One cannot enter into the kingdom of God apart from being born again. Ephesians chapter 2 tells us that apart from the new birth, people are actually dead in their sins. This is an interesting dynamic to visualize. There may be physical life present in an individual, but it is possible that he is spiritually dead. The spirit of a person does not merely lie dormant; it is dead – absolutely, utterly dead. There is no spiritual life inside of an unbeliever, the Bible tells us.
Therein is the great need for the Spirit of God to bring life out of death. This new life is not simply a reforming of the old. It is declared to be new and different.
Paul said, “[F]or the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” This is a vital truth that must be recognized. The letter, the law, and the commands will only condemn. The law is unforgiving; it only pronounces judgment. But the Spirit will give life. There must be a desperate need for the work of the Spirit.
In these three short verses, one can see, with the help of other Scriptures, that Paul was speaking of the three roles that the three Persons of the God-head have in salvation. The Father elects, Christ secures the election through His death, and the Spirit of God gives the new birth.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the ways that You have revealed Your work to me. Help me to see Your hand in my life more each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.