Did the great prophets before the religion of Paul believe in the Trinity—that God is three in one? And where is the evidence? Please, I want your answer from the biblical texts.
Answer:
We believe in the One God, and this is what all the prophets of God believed in, as is evident in the Holy Scriptures:
Deuteronomy 6:4–5:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
And this One God:
“Having spoken in time past to the fathers by the prophets at various times and in various ways, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.”
(Hebrews 1:1–2)
So, after the era of the prophets, God spoke to mankind through His Son—God manifested in the flesh.
Now consider what Solomon says in:
Proverbs 30:2–4:
“Surely I am more stupid than any man, and do not have the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom nor have knowledge of the Holy One.
Who has ascended into heaven, or descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has bound the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if you know?”
It is clear the passage speaks of the Almighty God.
Now compare this with:
Exodus 3:13–14:
“Then Moses said to God, ‘Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they say to me, “What is His name?” what shall I say to them?’
And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’
And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”’”
Now—did you realize who these passages are talking about?
I know you may say “No.”
That’s why I want you to now compare the above with:
John 3:13:
“No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.”
So how could the prophets give us something they had not seen?
Do you know how?
By prophesying about the Messiah—a prophecy that all God’s prophets spoke of, describing His image, character, righteousness, holiness, place of birth, death, and His suffering on our behalf.
They recorded all of this, so that the New Testament became embedded within the Old, but remained veiled—until the symbols became realities, and the Son, the Word, was born, lived among us, we saw Him, and we knew Him. Then He died, rose, and ascended.
And finally, after the Son ascended into heaven, He sent us His Holy Spirit:
John 16:7:
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”
This is what simply happened.
And this is what is called “Progressive Revelation.”
God is still One—but He appeared to us in human form at a particular time for the mission of saving all mankind. After that, He sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in those who believe in Him.
This was foretold by the prophet Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 31:33:
“‘Says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’”
And also mentioned by the prophet Joel:
Joel 2:28:
“‘And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.’”
