The NRBC School of Theology: Systematic Theology Course 2

17. OF GOD AND THE HOLY TRINITY 2:3:
The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith

This course is based on the text, 'The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith,' with notes by Kevin Matthews. Please feel free to print these notes to allow you to study the text online/offline. This lesson may be used in other study situations if you like (eg. Groups, Bible Studies, etc).

3. In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word (or Son), and the Holy Spirit (a), of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided (b): the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father (c); the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son (d); all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar, relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on Him.

a. 1 Jn 5:7; Mt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14.
b. Ex 3:14; Jn 14:11; 1 Cor 8:6.
c. Jn 1:14,18.
d. Jn 15:26; Gal 4:6.

It is all too easy to think of the Holy Spirit as no more than a force or influence that comes from God. This is a major error of Arianism and modern day Jehovah Witnesses. Some passages of Scripture if taken alone may even appear to suggest this (eg Ezekiel 37:1-14).

17.1 The Personality of the Holy Spirit

The Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit acting as a Person (Jn 14:17,26; 15:26; 16:8,13,14). He is said to teach (Lk 12:12; 1 Cor 2:13), to witness (Acts 5:32), to speak (Acts 8:29; 28:25; Heb 3:7), to call to the ministry (Acts 8:26), to send (Acts 13:4), to intercede (Rom 8:26), to sanctify (Rom 15:16), to reveal, search, know (1 Cor 2:10,11), etc.

He has intelligence (Jn 14:26; 15:26; Rom 8:16), a will (1 Cor 12:11), affections (Is 63:10; Eph 4:30), love (Rom 15:30), etc. Men can lie to Him (Acts 5:3), tempt Him (Acts 5:9), resist Him (Acts 7:51), grieve Him (Eph 4:30), etc. People are to be baptised in His Name (Mt 28:19). He is also called the ‘Comforter’ or ‘Helper’ (Jn 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:17).

The NT Greek word for ‘Spirit’ is pneuma. This noun is neuter, meaning it was regarded as neither ‘he’ nor ‘she’, but as an it. However Jesus referred to the neuter pneuma with a masculine pronoun (Jn 16:7,8,13,14,etc). In other words, He called the Holy Spirit a ‘He’, stressing the personality of the Holy Spirit.

17.2 The Divinity of the Holy Spirit

The Names of God are given to the Holy Spirit. He is called God (Ex 17:7; cf Ps 95:8 and Heb 3:7-11; Is 6:8,9; cf Acts 28:25-27; Jer 31:33; cf Heb 10:15,16; Acts 5:3,4; 1 Cor 3:16,17; 6:19).

The Attributes of God are ascribed to the Holy Spirit (Ps 139:7-10; Is 40:13,14; Rom 11:34; 15:19; 1 Cor 2:10,11; 12:11; Heb 9:14).

The works of God are attributed to the Holy Spirit (Job 26:13; 33:4; Ps 104:30; Mt 12:28; Jn 3:5,6; Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 12:9-11; 2 Tim 3:16; cf 2 Pet 1:21; Tit 3:5).

Worship and honour are to be ascribed to the Holy Spirit (Mt 12:31,32; 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14).

The Holy Spirit is God, and in the same essence as the Father and the Son. However, He is a distinct Person. He is not the Father, and He is not the Son (Mt 12:31,32; Jn 15:26).

There are three Person’s in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and in glory.

17.3 The Eternal Procession of the Spirit

As the Son of God is what He is because of the Father, so the Holy Spirit is what He is, because of the Father and the Son. ‘The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; and the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son (Westminster Confession of Faith).’

This procession (sometimes called ‘Spiration’) is the thing which can only be said of the Holy Spirit.

While generation is the work of the Father alone, the eternal procession of the Holy Spirit is the work of both the Father and the Son.

17.4 Definition of Eternal Procession

The reason the Holy Spirit is called ‘The Spirit’, is because He is the One who is ‘breathed out’ by the Father and son. The original languages point to this meaning.

The titles of ‘The Father’, and‘The Son’, show what mutual relationship exists between the First and Second Persons. So too ‘The Spirit’ (Acts 16:6,7; 1 Cor 2:11; 2 Cor 3:3,17; Philip 1:19; 1 Pet 1:11; 4:14) indicates the relationship of the Third Person of the Trinity with the First and Second Person’s (Holy Spirit because He is the Author of all holiness).

See also Ps 104:30; Jn 14:9,16,17,26; 15:26; 16:7,14,15;Rom 8:9; Gal 4:6). The Father sends the Spirit. The Son sends the Spirit. The Father sends the Spirit in response to the Son’s request, and sends Him in the Son’s Name. The Son sends the Spirit from the Father.

17.5 The Ontological Trinity

Within the Godhead there is a definite order (Ontology - the science of being). The Father is first, the Son is second, and the Holy Spirit third. This doesn’t mean that one existed before the other, or that one is of more importance, for each is God in His own right, and equally God. It is recognition of the eternal relations within the Godhead (that is of unbegottenness, eternal generation, and eternal procession).

17.6 Economic Trinity

The Economic (Economy - organised system or method) Trinity (Economic Trinity - the method of Divine administration) has to do with the way God acts. Everything that God does springs from the Father, He is First. It comes to pass through the Son, for He is Second; and the Spirit effects it, for He is Third. All God’s works are the works of the whole Godhead (eg creation Gen 1:1; Heb 1:2; Gen 1:2; Ps 104:30).

NOTE: If you wish to email me regarding your answers to this first lesson, please copy and paste them into an email (Attachments will not be opened). I will then get back to you as soon as I can (expect a delay due to various committments).

Links to Online Texts

• 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
• 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith

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