I and the Father are one.”
John 10:30 (ESV)
One of the unique doctrines of Christianity is the Trinity. The belief that there is only one God. But within that one God, there are three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Spirit.
Nowhere in the Scripture do we find this doctrine explicitly stated. But it is implied throughout the New Testament. And nowhere more clearly than in the gospel of John.
In John 10:30, Jesus claimed that he and the Father are one. Taken in isolation, this could be taken to claim that they are a single person. But, given the context, it is clear that there is some distinction between them.
One, Yet Distinct
In John 10:25, Jesus referred to the work he does in his Father’s name. Then, in John 10:28-29, Jesus claimed first that no one could snatch his sheep from his hand, followed by saying no one could snatch them from the Father’s hand. They are one, yet distinct.
This oneness yet distinctness is also found in John 1:1, “the Word [Jesus] was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:18 refers to “the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” And John 10:38, 14:10-11, and 17:21 all refer to the Father being in the Son and the Son being in the Father.
Jesus also makes it clear that the Father is greater than he is. In John 10:29, Jesus said, “My Father . . . is greater than all.” In John 14:28, Jesus said, “The Father is greater than I.” John 5:27, 7:28, 14:10, and 17:2 all refer to authority granted to the Son from the Father. John 7:17, 8:28, 12:49, and 14:10 all refer to the words Jesus speaks as being what the Father had given to him. And 33 times in the gospel of John, Jesus refers to the one who sent him.
The doctrine of the Trinity, at least concerning the Father and Son, while not explicitly defined in the gospel of John, is clearly supported. The Father and Son are one. The Father and Son are distinct. And the Father is greater than the Son.
We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made.
Nicene-Constantinople Creed
