A study of 1 John and Revelation 5 to prove the Holy Trinity in the Bible

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

God being in the form of a Trinity is the basic doctrine of Christianity. And, directly tied with this is the Lord Jesus being the only begotten Son of God of the Trinity. The word trinity does not appear in the Bible, but the clear revelation of it is throughout the Scriptures. According to the Bible, without belief in the revelation of the Trinity, a person does not posses eternal life with God. This will be clearly shown later in this presentation.

God is very serous about believing in Him in spirit and truth. A person must believe in God as He actually exists and not as something made up. The Trinity seems to come under attack by unbelievers more than any other doctrine of the Bible. God takes it very serious when His person is attacked.

The definition of the Trinity would be:

There is only one God who is eternally manifesting Himself in three persons, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The best section in the Bible to easily understand the Trinity is the book of 1 John. This book is loaded with verses which flow together so nicely to show the holy Trinity. In the very first verse of this letter, John establishes the humanity of the Lord Jesus. He makes it very clear that the Lord was human. He could be seen with the eyes, touched with the hands and heard with the ears. John then refers to the Lord Jesus as the “Word of Life.” The verse to show this follows:

1 John 1:1 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life”

The reason it was so important for John to establish the Lord Jesus’ humanity is understood by the next verse. In verse two, John gives a glimpse into eternity. He goes into eternity past to show the person of God. He shows that Jesus Christ was in eternity, and not only was He the “Word of Life,” but He is the source of eternal life. The World of Life in verse one, was in verse two, the source of all life in eternity.

In this verse, John also establishes the basis for the Father and Son of the blessed Trinity. The verse very distinctly shows that in eternity was the Father and the Word of Life who is the Lord Jesus. In eternity, the Eternal Life was WITH the Father.

There are two persons shown here that are with each other. The Bible teaches there is only one God. Therefore, if there is only one God, yet the Father is with the Son, one has to come to the conclusion that the Godhead has a Father and a Son. One God, yet within the Godhead are two distinct persons. This presentation does not address the holy Spirit as being part of the Trinity but only the Father and Son.

In verse three, John then goes to reinforce the idea of a distinct Father and Son. He states that our true fellowship is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. This shows that the Word of Life is the Son, the Lord Jesus. Notice, we have fellowship with the Father and Son. This is two separate persons just as the Father and Son where two separate persons in eternity. Verse three reinforces that the Father and Son are not the same, but two separate persons. But, remember there is only one God. This shows the Father and Son of the Trinity. These verses follow:

1 John 1:2 “(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

(3) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

The Bible then goes on to give an awesome warning about denying the Father and Son in the strongest possible terms. The Bible warns that those who deny the Father and Son are of antichrist. To deny the Father and Son is to be directly opposed to God. A person cannot believe in the Lord Jesus as his Savior if he denies the Trinity. We are then told to let this doctrine remain in us, and we will then continue in fellowship with the Son and the Father. According to 1 John 2:22-23, belief in the blessed Trinity is not optional but critical to having a true faith toward God. Theses verses follow:

1 John 2:22 “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

(23) Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

(24) Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.”

The Apostle John explains, in 1 John 4:9, the unique relationship between the Father and the Son. The Lord Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. In eternity, the Father and Son were in a special relationship. The Lord Jesus was always the eternally begotten Son. There was never a time when the Son did not exist as the begotten Son. This verse established another basic doctrine of the Christianity. This doctrine is that within the blessed Trinity the Lord Jesus is the only begotten Son of God.

The Lord Jesus was the only begotten Son of God from eternity and always existed as such. He did not become the only begotten Son of God when He was born, but the Father sent Him into the world as the only begotten Son of God. There never was a time when God existed without being the Father and begotten Son. The Scriptures to show this follow:

1 John 4:9 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (14) And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”

According to the Bible whosoever denies the Father, who begat and Son who was begotten are of the spirit of antichrist, 1 John 2:22,23. This is strong language, but this is how God looks upon those who reject the holy Trinity. It is very serious with God to deny the Father and Son as being part of the Godhead.

John then ends his epistle by summing up the first coming of the Lord Jesus. This is found in 1 John 5:20. He writes that the Lord Jesus came to give us an understanding of God, and that we might have a relationship with the Son. He then says that the Son is the true God and eternal life.

This verse is a direct tie in with how he opened the epistle. He opened it by stating that the Lord Jesus was the eternal life who was with the Father in eternity. In eternity are the Father and the Son. Two very distinct persons are identified, although there is only one God. The verses to show this follow:

1 John 5:20 “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

1 John 1:2 “(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)”

In John’s second epistle, he once again emphasizes that believing in the Lord Jesus requires faith that He came in the flesh: coming in the flesh would include that He was the eternal life which was with the Father. A person who denies that the Son was with the Father in eternity is a deceiver and of the spirit of antichrist. This is how strong the language of the Bible is about those who deny the holy Trinity.

John exhorts to abide in the doctrine of Christ. Whosoever believes in the Lord Jesus as the only begotten Son of God has both the Father and Son. The person who does not believe the in holy Trinity has not God. This person has been deceived. To have saving faith, one must believe that from within the holy Trinity, the Father sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. The verses to show this follow:

2 John 1:7 “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

(8) Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

(9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”

1 John 4:9 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (14) And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”

The Bible even gives a visual picture of the holy Trinity. The book of Revelation gives a glimpse into heaven. In chapter four, the throne of God is described with the angelic beings and elders around it. God has only one throne in heaven, and He alone is sitting on it. God is being praised and worshipped as He is sitting on His throne. These Scriptures follow:

Revelation 4:10 “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, (11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

The next chapter focuses on the Lamb getting ready to bring judgment on the earth by opening the seven seals of judgment. All of heaven is watching this event. All heaven focuses on the Lamb as He is about to open the seals of judgment.

At this point, the Bible now gives a beautiful picture of the holy Trinity. The Lamb is placed in the very midst of the throne of God. He then comes forth out of the midst of the throne and takes of the book of the seven seals out of the right hand of Him who is seated on the throne.

The Lord Jesus is in the very midst of the throne of God, but also on the throne is the Father who has the book. The Lord Jesus come forth from the throne and takes the book from the Father. There is the visual picture of the holy Trinity. The Father and Son are one on the throne, yet the Son comes forth out of the Father and takes the book.  God is so wonderful that He even gives us a picture to understand the Father and Son in the blessed Trinity. The verses to show this follow:

Revelation 5:5 “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

(6) And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (7) And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.”

The idea of the Father and Son both being on the throne and the Son coming forth out of the Father from the throne can also be viewed as the Son being in the bosom of the Father. The word bosom means the center. The Son came from the bosom of the Father. One can see this with the Son in the midst of the Father as they were both on the throne. The Son then came forth from the bosom of the Father. The verse to show this follows:

John 1:18 “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

The books of 1 John and Revelation alone reveal the holy Trinity. There are dozens and dozens of additional Scriptures which reinforce this teaching. This presentation will lay a solid foundation to establish that with the one true God is the Father and begotten Son. True faith requires believing in the Father and Son, and that the Father sent his only begotten Son to be the Savior of the world. This is the only faith that God will accept.

The Scriptures used in this presentation follow. If you read them uninterrupted, you will see how clear the holy Trinity is. These Scriptures give absolute proof of the Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity was not invented by man, but it is revealed in the Bible.

1 John 1:1 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life

(2) (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

(3) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

1 John 2:22 “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

(23) Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

(24) Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.”

1 John 4:9 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (14) And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”

1 John 5:20 “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

2 John 1:7 “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

(8) Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

(9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”

Revelation 4:10 “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, (11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Revelation 5:5 “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

(6) And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (7) And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.”

John 1:18 “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

By John McTernan
Defend and Proclaim the Faith

Blog: John McTernan’s Insights at www.johnmcternan.name