FAQ ID # 5806 - My friend and I were discussing the Trinity. I am trying to learn about it and find it confusing. She does not believe it. God is the highest, only God and it is blasphemy to God to say Jesus and Holy Spirit are co-equal. Why does Jesus say, only the Father knows when he will come to earth again. If he is part of the Godhead, why wouln't he know. Thankyou for your help

FAQ ID # 5806

Last Update : 2007/12/31
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Question / Issue

My friend and I were discussing the Trinity. I am trying to learn about it and find it confusing. She does not believe it. God is the highest, only God and it is blasphemy to God to say Jesus and Holy Spirit are co-equal. Why does Jesus say, only the Father knows when he will come to earth again. If he is part of the Godhead, why wouln't he know. Thankyou for your help

Answer / Solution

The Scripture does say that Jesus didn't know, only the Father... "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that day (Judgment Day - Rev 22:11) and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heave, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the day of Noah." - Mt 24:35-37. This shows us not that Jesus lacked perfect knowledge (omniscience), rather that He submitted Himself to the Father within His 'Triunity' with the Father and the Holy Spirit. God the Son was essentially stating that it is the Father's place to know when to send the Son.

The Lord also gives us a picture of a Jewish wedding where the son (the groom) after being betrothed to the bride, would go back to his father's house to prepare a place, an addition to his father's house, for him and his bride to live. Jesus said, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that were I am, there you may be also." - Jn 14:3 This was bridegroom talk! Jesus (The Bridegroom) was promising his return for his bride (the church), thus looking forward to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb - Rev 19:7, a 7 year celebration, symbolic of the 7 day wedding celebration which was customary to a Jewish wedding. The son would wait for the father's word. He couldn't go get his bride until his father gave him the green light.

God the Father is the 1st Person of the Trinity. God the Son is the 2nd Person of the Trinity, and God the Holy Spirit is the 3rd Person of the Trinity. There is what is referred to theologically as The Doctrine of Procession, which is that the Father sent and commissioned the Son, and the Son sent and commissioned the Holy Spirit. The order is never reversed. The Son never sends the Father, and the Holy Spirit never sends the Son.

It may be helpful to read in the Gospel of John, chapters 14, 16 & 17 to get a better view of this unity Jesus had with the Father, and yet this ranking within the godhead. While praying to the Father for the disciples and future believers, Jesus said, "I do not ask on behalf of these (the disciples) alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You , Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me." - Jn 17:20-21

It can be very difficult to wrap your mind around this truth of God's triunity, but here are some definitions for you to grow in your understanding of Him.

1. While there is one God, there are three eternally distinct and equal persons in the godhead, existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. They are referred to as "Persons" because They relate to one another, and to us, in personal ways.
3. Each is distinct from the other, yet the three are united as one God.

You can read more about the Trinity at the following site - http://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-Bible.html

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