Though the word “Trinity” does not appear in the Bible, by presenting the Father, Son, and Spirit all doing what no one else ever does, the Gospel of John gives us the raw material on which this doctrine is based. Observing what God says and does helps us to know him, and observing which actions are done by which members of the Godhead helps us to see which roles they play.
| Action | Father | Son | Spirit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Give life | 5:21, 26; (6:33); 17:3 | 5:21, 25–26, 40; 6:33; 17:3 | 3:6, 8; 6:63 |
| Proclaim future | 1:33 | 13:19, 26, 36–38; 14:3, 29; 16:1–4, 16–28, 32; 20:18 | 16:13 |
| Indwell believers | 14:23 | 14:20, 23; (15:4–7); 17:23, 26 | 14:17 |
| Teach | 6:45; 7:16, 17; 8:28 | 7:14; (8:2); 8:20; 13:13–14 | 14:26 |
| Testify to Jesus | 5:32, 37; 6:27; 8:18 | 8:12–14, 18 | 15:26 |
| Glorify Jesus | 5:22–23; 8:50, 54; 13:31–32; 17:1, 22 | (1:14); 2:11; 13:31–32; 17:5, 24 | 16:14 |
Actions Common to Father and Son
| Action | Father | Son |
|---|---|---|
| Glorify the Father | 4:23; 12:28; 13:31–32 | (2:16); (9:3–4); 11:40; 12:28; 13:31–32; 14:13; 17:1, 4–5 |
| Give the Spirit | 3:34; 14:16 | (4:10–14); (7:37–39); 20:22 |
| Send the Spirit | 14:26 | 15:26; 16:7 |
Actions Common to Son and Spirit
| Action | Son | Spirit |
|---|---|---|
| Be given by the Father | 3:16 | (4:10–14);14:16 |
| Be sent by the Father | 3:17; 4:34; 5:23–24, 36; 6:29, 57; 7:28–29, 33; 8:16, 26, 29, 42; 9:4; 10:36; 11:42; 12:44–45; 13:20; 15:21; 17:3, 8, 18, 23, 25; 20:21 | 14:26; 15:26 |
| Speak not from himself | (5:19); 5:30; (6:38); 7:16; 12:49–50 | 16:13 |
| Speak only what he hears | 3:32; (3:34); (5:30); 8:26, 40; 12:50; 15:15 | 16:13 |
| Convict | 3:19–20; 4:16, 18; (5:27); (8:7); 8:34, 40; 11:40; 12:7–8; 13:8 | 16:7–11 |
| Be received | 1:12 (cf. 1:10–11) | 7:39 (cf.14:17) |
| Disclose what belongs to God | 1:18 | 16:13–14 |