Of God, and of the Holy Trinity

Westminster Confession of Faith · 2.1–2.3

2.1. Of God, and of the Holy Trinity

There is but one only, living, and true God: who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute, working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will, for His own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him; and withal, most just and terrible in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.

Proof texts

Deut. 6:4 — [4] “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
1 Cor. 8:4, 6 — [4] Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” [6] yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
1 Thess. 1:9 — [9] For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
Jer. 10:10 — [10] But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.
Job 11:7, 8, 9 — [7] “Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? [8] It is higher than heaven — what can you do? Deeper than Sheol — what can you know? [9] Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.
Job 26:14 — [14] Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?”
John 4:24 — [24] God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
1 Tim. 1:17 — [17] To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Deut. 4:15, 16 — [15] “Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, [16] beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
John 4:24, with Luke 24:39
Acts 14:11, 15 — [11] And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” [15] “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
James 1:17 — [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Mal. 3:6 — [6] “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
1 Kings 8:27 — [27] “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
Jer. 23:23, 24 — [23] “Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? [24] Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.
Ps. 90:2 — [2] Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
1 Tim. 1:17 — [17] To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Ps. 145:3 — [3] Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.
Gen. 17:1 — [1] When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,
Rev. 4:8 — [8] And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Rom. 16:27 — [27] to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Isa. 6:3 — [3] And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
Rev. 4:8 — [8] And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Ps. 115:3 — [3] Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
Exod. 3:14 — [14] God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Eph. 1:11 — [11] In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Prov. 16:4 — [4] The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
Rom. 11:36 — [36] For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
1 John 4:8, 16 — [8] Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. [16] So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
Exod. 34:6, 7 — [6] The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, [7] keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
Heb. 11:6 — [6] And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Neh. 9:32, 33 — [32] “Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. [33] Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly.
Ps. 5:5, 6 — [5] The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. [6] You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
Nah. 1:2, 3 — [2] The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. [3] The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Exod. 34:7 — [7] keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

For discussion

The Assembly cited Deut. 6:4 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
35 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
WSC Q4 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
WSC Q5 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

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Leader's notes

A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): These sections teach the following propositions : 1st. There is but one living and true God. 2d. This God is a free personal Spirit, without bodily parts or passions. 3d. He possesses all absolute perfections in and of himself. 4th. He possesses all relative perfections with respect to his creatures. 5th. He is self-existent and absolutely independent, the sole support, proprietor and sovereign disposer of all his creatures. 1st. There is but one living and true God. There have been false gods innumerable, and the title god has been applied to angels (Ps. xcvii. 7), because of their spirituality and exalted excellence, and to magistrates (Ps. Ixxxii. 6), because of their authority; and Satan is called *Hhe god of this…

An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): We are here taught, — First, That there is but one God. Secondly, That he is the only living and true God. Thirdly, That he is a most pure spirit. Fourthly, That he is possessed of all possible perfections. 1. The assertion, that there is but one God, does not mean that there is hut one divine person, for it is afterwards stated, that " in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons;" but it means that the Divine Being is numerically one in nature or essence. This is affirmed in opposition to the Polytheism of heathen nations, and to the heresy of the Tritheists, who hold that there are three distinct Godheads, or that one Godhead is…

2.2. Of God, and of the Holy Trinity

God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which He hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them: He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things; and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever Himself pleaseth. In His sight all things are open and manifest; His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him contingent, or uncertain. He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands. To Him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience He is pleased to require of them.

Proof texts

John 5:26 — [26] For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
Acts 7:2 — [2] And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
Ps. 119:68 — [68] You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
1 Tim. 6:15 — [15] which he will display at the proper time — he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
Rom. 9:5 — [5] To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
Acts 17:24, 25 — [24] The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, [25] nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
Job 22:2, 3 — [2] “Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself. [3] Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?
Rom 11:36 — [36] For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Rev. 4:11 — [11] “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
1 Tim. 6:15 — [15] which he will display at the proper time — he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
Dan. 4:25, 35 — [25] that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. [35] all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
Heb. 4:13 — [13] And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Rom. 11:33, 34 — [33] Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! [34] “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
Ps. 147:5 — [5] Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
Acts 15:18 — [18] known from of old.’
Ezek. 11:5 — [5] And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the LORD: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind.
Ps. 145:17 — [17] The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.
Rom. 7:12 — [12] So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
Rev. 5:12, 13, 14 — [12] saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” [13] And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” [14] And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

For discussion

The Assembly cited John 5:26 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
19 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
WSC Q4 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
WSC Q5 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q4 · WSC Q5 · WSC Q6 · WLC Q6 · WLC Q7 · WLC Q8 · HC Q8 · BC 2.1 · BC 2.2 · BC 2.3 · BC 2.4

Leader's notes

2.3. Of God, and of the Holy Trinity

In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding: the Son is eternally begotten of the Father: the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.

Proof texts

1 John 5:7 — [7] For there are three that testify:
Matt. 3:16, 17 — [16] And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; [17] and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Matt. 28:19 — [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
2 Cor. 13:14 — [14] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
John 1:14, 18 — [14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. [18] No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
John 15:26 — [26] “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
Gal. 4:6. — [6] And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

For discussion

The Assembly cited 1 John 5:7 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
7 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
WSC Q4 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
WSC Q5 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q4 · WSC Q5 · WSC Q6 · WLC Q6 · WLC Q9 · WLC Q10 · WLC Q11 · HC Q8 · BC 2.1 · BC 2.2 · BC 2.3 · BC 2.4

Leader's notes

A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): Section III. — In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power and eternity ; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.^ The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding ; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father ;** the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.*" M 1 John V. 7; Matt. iii. 16, 17; xxviii. 19; 2 Cor. xiii. 14.— 39 John L 14, 18.— «> John XV. 26; Gal. iv. 6. Having before ^hown that there is but one living and true God, and that his essential properties embrace all perfections, this Section asserts in addition — 1st. That Father, Son and Holy…

An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): Section III. — In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity ; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.^^ The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding ; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father ;^^ the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.^" •'8 1 John V. 7. Matt. Hi. 16, 17; 1 ^^ John i. 14,18. xxviii. 19. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. \ *" John xv. 26. Gal. iv. 6. We are here taught, — First, That in the one Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Second!}/, That these three are distinguished by their…