Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  1000 God  »  1500 God, the Trinity  »  1510 Trinity, the  »  1513 Trinity, mission of the persons

All three persons of the Trinity co-operate in God's work of salvation. For this purpose, the Father sends the Son and the Holy Spirit to redeem his people on earth and to live in and among them.

The Son and the Holy Spirit do God's work on earth

In the OT, the LORD alone is Saviour

Isaiah 43:11 See also Psalm 19:14; Psalm 78:35; Isaiah 43:3; Isaiah 49:26; Isaiah 60:16; Jeremiah 14:8; Hosea 13:4

In the NT, the Son is the Saviour

Matthew 1:21 See also Luke 2:11; John 4:42; Galatians 3:13; Galatians 4:5; Titus 2:13; Titus 3:6

In the OT, the LORD lives among his people

Exodus 29:45 See also Psalm 135:21; Isaiah 57:15; Ezekiel 43:7; Joel 3:17; Zechariah 2:10-11

In the NT, the Spirit lives in the church

1 Corinthians 3:16 See also John 14:17; Romans 8:9,11; 2 Timothy 1:14

Father and Son in the mission of Jesus Christ

The Father sends the Son

Galatians 4:4 See also Matthew 10:40; Mark 12:6; John 3:16-17; John 7:28; John 8:42; 1 John 4:9

The Son reveals the Father

John 8:38 See also John 1:18; John 15:15; John 17:6,26; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3

The Son does the Father's work

John 5:19 See also John 4:34; John 5:17; John 9:3-4; John 10:37; John 14:10

The Son speaks the Father's words

John 12:49-50 See also John 3:34; John 8:28; John 14:24; John 17:8

The Father testifies to the Son

John 5:37 This refers to God's testimony to his Son in the OT Scriptures. See also John 5:32; John 8:18; 1 John 5:9

The sending of the Holy Spirit

The Father gives the Spirit

Luke 11:13 See also Acts 5:32; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Galatians 3:5; Ephesians 1:17; 1 John 4:13

The Son gives the Spirit

John 16:7 See also Matthew 3:11 pp Mark 1:8 pp Luke 3:16; John 1:33; John 20:22

The Father sends the Spirit through Jesus Christ

John 14:16-17 The varied terminology about who sends the Spirit reflects the close co-operation between and the shared activity of the three persons. See also John 14:26; John 15:26; Acts 2:33

The three persons share the work of salvation

The incarnation

Luke 1:35

Jesus Christ's baptism

Matthew 3:16-17 pp Mark 1:10-11 pp Luke 3:21-22

Jesus Christ's ministry

Acts 10:38 See also Luke 10:21; John 3:34

The work of redemption

1 Peter 1:2 See also 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 1:3-14; Ephesians 2:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Titus 3:4-6

Commissioning the disciples

John 20:21-22 See also Acts 1:7-8

Jesus Christ's exaltation

Acts 7:55 See also Acts 5:31-32

Proclaiming the gospel

Acts 2:38-39

Building the church

Ephesians 2:22 See also 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

See also

2318  Christ as prophet
2351  Christ, miracles
2354  Christ, mission
2363  Christ, preaching & teaching
3130  Holy Spirit, Counsellor
3242  Holy Spirit, baptism with
3257  Holy Spirit, gift of
3296  Holy Spirit in the world
6510  salvation
6720  redemption