Catechism Question 6
Is there more than One True God?
No, there is only one true God. He eternally exists as the Trinity, one God in Three Persons – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct Persons, but are one in being, power, and glory.
Focus and Purpose of this Question
In this question we are discussing the Being of God, and specifically that there is only One God, but that the One True God is the Trinity.
The doctrine of the Trinity is an absolute essential of the Christian faith, separating it from false understandings of God. It is important that we understand both that there is only one God – not many – and that this One God eternally exists as Three distinct Persons – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This distinction of the the Three Persons in the One God is both real (they are not just modes or titles, or different ways of looking at the same Person) and eternal (the Father, Son, and Spirit have always existed, and thus the Son and Spirit were not created by the Father).
Additional Questions:
How many Gods are there?
Is there more than One God? How many Persons are there in the One True God?
Are the Father, Son and Holy Spirit three different God’s?
Scripture References:
Deuteronomy 4:35, 39
You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other… 39 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.
Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
1 Corinthians 8:4–6
We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
2 Corinthians 13:14
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Matthew 3:16–17
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
Ephesians 4:4-6
There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Questions for Further Discussion:
What does it mean to say that there is only One True God? What about all of the gods of other religions?
When we say we believe in the Trinity, does that mean that we believe in Three Gods? Why not?
How can we say that God is One Being, but Three Persons? Humans are one being in one person, so how can we say God is One Being in Three Persons?
Why is it important to say that god is Triune? If God was only One Being in One Person, could He be relational and self-sufficient at the same time? Why not?
Additional Information:
This question is based on question 25 of the Heidelberg Catechism, questions 5 and 6 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and Question 3 of the New City Catechism. Any resources you find on the Heidelberg, Westminster Shorter or New City Catechisms will have a good discussion on this question.
For additional information, see the teaching “The Trinity – One God in Three Persons” (August 25, 2019) by Bret Hicks, and “The Trinity – The Divine Community” (May 5, 2013), “Great Expectations – God Will Be With Us” (December 16, 2012), and “The Holy Spirit: The Empowering Presence of God” (August 24, 2008).
Suggested Worship Song:
Holy, Holy, Holy (by Reginald Heber, 1826)
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!