The doctrine of the Trinity has been debated for centuries, and one major issue is the use of the word “person” to describe the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Many Christians are surprised to learn that this word is not biblical, nor is it necessarily faithful to Scripture. Instead, it is a human term, drawn from pagan and philosophical sources, that risks distorting the truth about God.
- The Word “Person” Is Absent from the Bible
The Scriptures never call the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit “persons.” The Bible teaches that God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4), yet revealed through Father, Son, and Spirit (Matthew 28:19). But nowhere does it use the term persona or its equivalent. The language of “person” entered theology through Greek and Latin philosophy, not through God’s Word.
- The Pagan Roots of “Persona”
The Latin word persona originally referred to the mask of an actor in a pagan play—a role someone put on for performance. Over time it came to mean “identity” or “role.” By importing this term into Christian theology, the Church Fathers used pagan vocabulary to describe divine reality. This creates confusion: God is not an actor wearing three masks or roles, but the living Creator revealed through His Word and Spirit.
- Why “Person” Is Not a Fit Biblical Term
When modern people hear “person,” they think of separate beings with individual minds and wills. This causes many to imagine the Trinity as three separate gods—something Scripture firmly rejects. Using “person” risks pulling Christians away from biblical monotheism into philosophical speculation. The Bible calls Jesus the Son of God, the Spirit the Spirit of God, and the Father the one true God—but never uses “person” as the category.
4 Examples That Show Why “Person” Misleads
Example 1 – The Masked Actor
In ancient Rome, an actor put on different masks (personae) to play several roles in a play. When Christians say God is three “persons,” the pagan roots of the word suggest God is playing roles, switching masks. But Scripture shows God is authentic, not pretending—He truly is Father, Son, and Spirit, not roles in a performance.
Example 2 – The Three Friends
Imagine three friends sitting at a table. This is how many think of the Trinity when they hear “three persons.” But that gives the impression of three separate gods having a meeting. Scripture insists, however, that God is one Being, not three beings cooperating together.
Example 3 – The Courtroom Witness
In modern English, a “person” is a legal individual with rights. If you say the Trinity has three “persons,” many picture three individuals signing contracts together. This is a human, legal framework, not a biblical revelation of God.
Example 4 – The Family Portrait
Some say “three persons in one God” is like three people in a family photo. But this reduces God to a collection of beings sharing a group identity. The Bible never presents Him this way—He is one Lord, and His Spirit and His Word (the Son) are His own eternal self-expression, not separate “persons” sitting in a photo.
Direct Bible Verse Comparisons
- One God Alone
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)
Saying “three persons” risks hearing “three gods,” which contradicts the Shema’s clear statement of singularity.
- The Son as the Word of God
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
John calls Jesus the Word, not a separate “person.” The imagery is of God’s self-expression, not another being.
- The Spirit as God’s Own Spirit
“And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2)
The Spirit is described as God’s own presence and power, not another individual person acting beside Him.
- The Father as the One True God
“This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)
Jesus distinguishes Himself as the one sent by the Father, but He calls the Father the only true God—never one “person” among three.
Conclusion
The word “person” is not a biblical term. It comes from pagan theater and later philosophical speculation, and it often misleads Christians into thinking of God as three separate individuals. Scripture presents God more faithfully: the one true God who is Father, who reveals Himself through His Word (the Son), and who is present through His Spirit. To stay true to the Bible, Christians must use biblical terms, not imported words that twist the picture of God.