Dr. D. Blair Smith reminds us that the Trinity isn’t a human invention—it’s deeply rooted in the worship and life of the early church. Knowing God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit shapes every part of the Christian life, not just theological study.
The following is a transcript of the video above.
What are some common misconceptions about the Trinity?
What are some common misconceptions of the Trinity? There are many, but I can think of three. First, there’s a general misconception that’s often out there in the broader culture. This became a very popular misconception several years ago when a lot of books were written, and a movie came out based on one of those books called “The Da Vinci Code.” And it’s this idea that the Trinity is not a biblical doctrine; it wasn’t there in the earliest church, but it is more of a later development by the church. Even perhaps out of thin air at the Council of Nicaea, imposed by Constantine or by some of the elite theologians of the church. The idea here is that it’s an imposition, it’s coming from hierarchy, and it doesn’t come from the scriptures or the life of the Church. And this couldn’t be more wrong. I think an argument can be made that the Trinitarian development of the early church is actually very closely tethered to the worship of the church. That is, the church had been worshiping and praying to the Trinity, and so her theology needed to make sense and express this. And also, if you are at all tempted by this misconception, look to the early church fathers and their writings. You will see that as they think Trinitarianly and seek to express who God is as Trinity, they do so exegetically. Athanasius of Alexandria comes to mind as he is struggling to articulate who God is as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one being and three persons. He’s doing so by reasoning with the scriptures, all of the scriptures. There is not a verse here or there, but scripture interpreting scripture. So, this is one misconception. But I think it is a misconception that can be very easily handled.
A second misconception of the Trinity is one that I would bring into the domain of the evangelical and Reformed Church especially. And it’s this idea that can often be in the Church, that the Trinity or studying Trinitarian theology is something for the experts. This is something for those who are in seminary and who like to read big theological tomes. And this is a misconception because, rather, who God is as Trinity and Trinitarian theology, these are vitally connected to the church and her work, her work of worship and of discipleship. There is real practical bearing for the stuff of the church; the work of the church is found in understanding who God is as Trinity. So, in our prayers, in our confession, in our preaching, in our teaching, knowing God as Trinity will fuel and support and strengthen these activities of the church. This is not something just for the ivory tower, as it were. This is something for the life of the Church as the Church seeks to glorify her God, who indeed is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
A third misconception I would bring down to the personal level is that Christians think about the Christian life. It’s hard, I think, for many Christians to see the Trinity as connected to the Christian life. In answering this misconception, I think of a quote from John Calvin as he talked about the Trinity. He said the Trinity is not just a way of thinking about God; this is who God is. He is Trinity, he is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So in the Christian Life, as we seek to know God, we need to know him as Trinity, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And I think as we begin to know Him as Trinity, we will understand how. The Christian life, our very discipleship, is shaped by who God is as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Indeed, it is the Spirit who indwells us as Christians. It is the Spirit who unites us to the Son as Christians, and as we are united to the Son in our sanctification, we are being remade into his image by our loving Heavenly Father. Indeed, the Son invites us to take on our lips the very name that he does in prayer, which is Father. And what we find as Christians, as we understand the Trinity, is that we have a Father who loves us, who provides for us, and who protects us. So, the Trinity has an immediate bearing on the Christian and his or her life. It is not something that is merely for those who are studying theology. It is for those who are seeking to walk more faithfully with Jesus.
