In the Bible, particularly the New Testament letters, greetings are given from God and Jesus in 20 of the 21 New Testament canonical letters. We know that God the Father and Jesus Christ are both persons, so we should expect to see their greetings, and we do in these 20 letters. (Third John does not have such a greeting or praises.) But what about the Holy Spirit and the Trinity? If the holy Spirit is a person, or if the Trinity is a real entity, we should expect to see some type of greetings from the holy Spirit, and/or the Trinity, and/or praises to the holy spirit, or Trinity, as well. But is this the case? Let’s examine the greetings in the letters to find out.

Greetings

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:7)

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:3)

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:2)

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:3)

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:2)

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:2)

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God… grace and peace to you from God our Father.” (Colossians 1:1-2)

“To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:1)

“Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:2)

“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” (1 Timother 1:2)

“Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.” (Titus 1:4)

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philemon 1:3)

“In the past God spoke… through the prophets… but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (James 1:1)

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:3)

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:2)

“Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3)

“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son” (2 John 1:2)

“To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:1)

In the New Testament letters, greetings (and praises) are given from, and to, God and Jesus, but never from the holy Spirit or the Trinity. This is significant because if the Holy Spirit was actually a person, or the Trinity was a real entity, we would see greetings from it – or them – or him. Since we never see greetings from, or praises to, the holy Spirit or the Trinity, but we do from God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, this is a strong indication the holy Spirit is not a person, and the Trinity does not actually exist. How about praises in the New Testament?

Praises (other than greetings)

“Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud him, all you people” (Romans 15:11 NKJV). This verse is a quote from Psalm 117:1, which says, “praise Yahweh.” The holy Spirit is never called Yahweh in the Bible.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord our Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3)

All Bible verses quoted from New International Version (NIV), unless otherwise noted.