Are God, Jesus, and the holy Spirit a Trinity? – Romans
In our series about what is stated concerning God, Jesus, and the holy Spirit, and whether there is any evidence of the Trinity doctrine, in the various books of the New Testament, we will examine the book of Romans.
“Romans is theologically the most important of all the epistles written by Paul, and it contains his most comprehensive and logical presentation of the gospel . . . this foundational New Testament book”—Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts, page 380
Since this is the case, we would expect to at least find some evidence of the Trinity doctrine, if it is true, in this important book of Romans.
Notice the relationship between the two – God and Jesus. How about the holy Spirit, how does it play a role?
Romans 1:1 – “Paul” is “a slave of Jesus Christ . . . and set apart for the gospel of God” (NAB)
Romans 1:3 – regarding his Son
Romans 1:4 – “Established as Son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness through the resurrection of the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord” (NAB). Jesus was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord – Jesus is God’s Son – separate and distinct from the father.
Romans 1:7 – “from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (NIV). It is admitted by Trinitarians that, “two divine persons are in view here . . . the Lord Jesus Christ . . . is shown to be another person besides the Father” (The Forgotten Trinity, p 157). But, why isn’t the letter also from the holy Spirit if the Trinity doctrine is true? Because the holy Spirit is not a person. “God” is shown in this verse to be the “Father,” and not “the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 1:8 – I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all
Romans 1:9 – God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his son
Romans 2:16 – when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ
Romans 3:21-22 – The righteousness of God… given through faith in Jesus Christ
Romans 3:24 – All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus – the channel to and from God is Jesus
Romans 3:25 – God presented Christ, who died, as a sacrifice of atonement.
Romans 3:26 – He did it… so as to be… the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus – obviously, Romans was written over 20 years after Jesus’ resurrection.
Romans 5:1 – We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ – God is the ultimate one.
Romans 5:5 – “The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us” (NAB). Even though many translations call the holy Spirit “who” here, it is clear from the Greek that “that,” or “which” is intended. This verse makes it clear that the holy Spirit is not a person.
Romans 5:8 – God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us – Jesus, not God, died for us
Romans 5:9 – how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him
Romans 5:10 – While we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his son
Romans 5:11 – We also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ – we always have to go through Jesus to God
Romans 5:15 – How much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the one man, Jesus Christ
Romans 5:17 – How much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision… through the one man Jesus Christ – God’s gifts and provisions flow through Jesus.
Romans 6:4 – Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of God the father
Romans 6:9 – Since Christ was raised from the dead… – Jesus died, God brought him back to life
Romans 6:10 – He (Jesus) lives to God
Romans 6:11 – We are alive to God in Christ Jesus
Romans 6:23 – The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
Romans 7:4 – Christ… Who was raised from the dead in order that we might bear fruit for God
Romans 7:25 – Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord
Romans 8:3 – “God has done this by sending his own Son” (NAB). – The sender is greater than the one sent, as Jesus said: “No sender is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the one who sent him” (John 13:16 NAB).
Romans 8:11 – If the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead
Romans 8:16,26,27 – “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God . . . the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will” (NAB). These verses use the pronoun “it” to describe the holy Spirit. “It” is not a person.
Romans 8:29 – Those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son – Almighty God exclusively has the ultimate power to foreknow the future
Romans 8:32 – He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all – God gave Jesus, therefore, God is greater
Romans 8:34 – “Christ Jesus who died… Who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” – Christ, at the right hand of God, intercedes for us with God, so Jesus can’t be God
Romans 8:39 – From the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord
Romans 9:5 – “Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised” (NIV). Translations like this one render the Greek in a way that makes Jesus “God over all.” However, this statement contradicts the Trinity doctrine itself, by making Jesus supreme over all, even God and the Holy Spirit. “In this Trinity . . . None is greater, or less, than another. But the whole three persons are . . . coequal” (Athanasian Creed). Even worse, this translation contradicts the Bible itself: “Supreme over the nations is Yahweh, supreme over the heavens his glory” (Psalm 113:4 NJB). “One God and Father of all, who is over all” (Ephesians 4:6). the Bible says that it is God the Father who is over all, not the Messiah. The “Lord” “God” is referred to in the Bible as having “his Messiah” (Revelation 11:15; 12:10). The NIV translators admit that the Greek of Romans 9:5 can also be translated as, “the Messiah. God who is over all be forever praised” (NIV marginal reading). The NAB renders it similarly, and explains the reason in its footnote on the verse: “Paul’s point is that God who is over all aimed to use Israel, which had been entrusted with every privilege, in outreach to the entire world through the Messiah.”
Romans 10:9 – If you declare…”Jesus is Lord,” and believe… That God raised him from the dead
Romans 14:9 – Christ died and return to life – God didn’t die, Jesus did.
Romans 14:18 – Anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God
Romans 15:5 – May the God who gives endurance… Give you the same attitude… that Christ Jesus had.
Romans 15:6 – You may glorify the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Romans 15:7 – As Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God
– all these scriptures show God and Jesus to be two separate beings, never the same.
Romans 15:16 – To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles… And offering acceptable to God
Romans 15:17 – I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God
Romans 15:18 – What Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God
Romans 16:20 – The God of peace will soon crush Satan… The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you
God and Jesus are presented throughout Romans as separate and distinct, but working in perfect harmony, with God the father as superior and Jesus the son as subordinate. The holy Spirit is not identified as a person. There is no mention of a Trinity.