The Blessed Trinity is a mystery, but not the works of each Person which are clearly revealed in the Bible. He told us: Seek, and you will find! (NIV Mt 7:7b) and that is what I did beginning with God the Son, Jesus Christ who taught: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (NIV Jn 14:6bc). Here are the details of my search and findings.

God the Son
Consider these verses from John’s Gospel:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father full of grace and truth (NIV Jn 1:1-2, 14)

And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. (NIV Jn 17:5)

It is plain and clear that God the Son always coexisted with God the Father and is Himself God and is also known as ‘the Word’. Now our search moves to the OT to know more about the specific role or function of the Word, remembering that ‘word’ is also used in the literal sense mostly.

Look at these verses from which it clearly emerges that ‘word’ refers to God the Son especially from the expression ‘see his word’.

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." (NIV Gen 15:1)

The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. (NIV 1Sam 3:21)

He sent forth his word to heal them and saved their life from the grave. (Ps 107:20)

He sends his word to the earth and swiftly runs his command; he sends forth his word and it melts them: at the breath of his mouth the waters flow. (Ps 147:15, 18)

But which of them has stood in the council of the Lord to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word? (NIV Jer 23:18)

Some repeated reading and pondering will enlighten us that God the Son displays God’s awesome power by doing wonderful things and is often described as the Word.

When we continue the search and compare the many verses that describe the doings of the Word, a clear idea of the role of God the Son, emerges gradually.

Again, here are some verses from the OT and NT that speak for themselves:

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.” (NIV Is 42:1)

“.. the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will …” (JB Is 55:11bc) Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. (NIV Jn 1:3, 10)

“The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.”(NIV Jn 3:35)

“The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” (NIV Jn 5:22-23, 27, 30)

Now we can say with confidence that God does everything through His Son who is the second person in the Blessed Trinity.

Our understanding is complete with the following verse that spells out the role of God the Son:

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish His work.” (NIV Jn 4:34)

God the Son is the ruler of the universe which was created through Him and for Him; our King is our Saviour who establishes justice on earth.

The function of God the Son in the Blessed Trinity, is executing the Will of God the Father, be it creation, redemption or judgment.

God the Holy Spirit
To understand the role of the Holy Spirit in the Blessed Trinity, I took the same course as in the case of God the Son―searched the Bible with genuine quest.

The scriptures are full of knowledge to completely flood all our hearts and minds; let us seek the help of the Holy Spirit to understand His work, as we ponder over these verses:

Before ever a word is on my tongue you know it, O Lord, through and through. Too wonderful for me this knowledge, too high, beyond my reach. O where can I go from your Spirit, or where can I flee from your face? (Ps 139:4,6,7)

O search me, God, and know my heart. O test me and know my thoughts. (Ps 139:23)

Let your good spirit guide me in ways that are level and smooth. (Ps 143:10b)

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?” (NIV Mk 2:8)

Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. (NIV Mk 13:11)

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (NIV Lk 1:35) Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. (NIV Lk 4:14)

“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (NIV Lk 24:49)

“But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you in all truth”. (NIV Jn 16:13)

“Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (NIV Mt 12:32)

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. (NIV Acts 5:3, 4d, 5)

We can understand from the above, that the Holy Spirit discerns truth and guides all. God’s power too comes from the Holy Spirit.

The functions of the Holy Spirit are (i) counsel God and whoever God chooses, by discerning truth, exposing falsehood and convicting guilt and (ii) custodian of God’s power conveying it to God and to whomever God chooses.

God the Father
Having understood the functions of the second and third persons in the Blessed Trinity, the function of God the Father the first person, becomes evident. This single verse completes our understanding: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.” (NIV Mt 10:29)

The function of God the Father is to will righteousness and control everything for good.

God is indivisibly ONE SUPREME SPIRITUAL BEING, Who exists in the uncreated realm called eternity. But to us humans who dwell inside the created realm called ‘time and space’, what is revealed as a finite fathoming of His infinite nature is this:

  • The awesome power wielded by God including creation, wisdom, might, prowess, healing, knowing and exactly revealing truth without colouring ―these are perceived by us as a distinct person called the Holy Spirit.
  • God’s perfection in deciding accurately or taking ‘the right decision the first time every time’ is what we perceive distinctly as the Father who wills rightly
  • His incomparably selfless and passionate love, purity and emotions like joy, grief and displeasure* and the zealous commitment that accomplishes His own Will is perceived as a personification of Agape and humility or the obedient Son Whose ‘food’ is ‘doing the Father’s Will’ even dying a criminal’s death on the cross for the love of humans (*displeasure, as used here means anger that subsides soon unlike anger that conceives hatred and lingers).