The Hebrew word translated "God" throughout the Old Testament is Elohim, a plural noun pointing to more than one almighty Being—essentially "Gods." However, it is normally singular in usage when referring to the true God of Israel, being paired in such cases with singular verbs and adjectives. Where such passages are quoted in the New Testament, the Greek word used to translate the term is the singular Theos, meaning God.

To use an example mentioned earlier, we have a comparable example in American English of a noun being plural in form but singular in usage—the national name United States. While the plural form represents a true plurality of states, singular usage shows the constituent states to form a unit. We might say, "The United States is going to intervene," but not—since the country's early years—"The United States are . . ."

Thus there is one United States made up of a plurality of states that are united. Similarly, there is , one God consisting of more than one divine Being. Indeed, in two telling places in the book of Genesis, rather than using the singular pronouns "Me" or "My," God uses the plural pronouns "Us" or "Our" (Genesis 1:26 Genesis 1:26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.
American King James Version×; Genesis 3:22 Genesis 3:22And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
American King James Version×). The New Testament reveals two Beings as God—God the Father and the Word, the One who became Jesus Christ (John 1:1-3 John 1:1-3 [1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
American King James Version×, John 1:14 John 1:14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
American King James Version×).

Christ's title the Word refers to His position as the One who speaks and acts on the Father's behalf (compare John 8:26-28 John 8:26-28 [26] I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. [27] They understood not that he spoke to them of the Father. [28] Then said Jesus to them, When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.
American King James Version×; John 12:49-50 John 12:49-50 [49] For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. [50] And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatever I speak therefore, even as the Father said to me, so I speak.
American King James Version×; John 14:10 John 14:10Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak to you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works.
American King James Version×). Numerous passages refer to Jesus Christ as God (Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah 9:6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
American King James Version×; John 20:27-28 John 20:27-28 [27] Then said he to Thomas, Reach here your finger, and behold my hands; and reach here your hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. [28] And Thomas answered and said to him, My LORD and my God.
American King James Version×; 1 Timothy 3:16 1 Timothy 3:16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
American King James Version×; Titus 2:13 Titus 2:13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
American King James Version×; Hebrews 1:8-9 Hebrews 1:8-9 [8] But to the Son he said, Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. [9] You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
American King James Version×).

The plural aspect of God is often taken as evidence supporting the doctrine of the Trinity, which maintains that God is three distinct persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) in a single being. Yet this idea runs counter to reason and sound logic.

More importantly, this doctrine is unscriptural. Again, God—that is, the God family—at present comprises God the Father and God the Son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is never listed in Scripture as a third person who is also God. For instance, the apostle Paul says we are to be aspiring to understand the "mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:2-3 Colossians 2:2-3 [2] That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; [3] In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
American King James Version×). There is no mention here of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture shows that the Holy Spirit is not a person, but rather is the power, mind, life and shared essence of God (compare Luke 24:49 Luke 24:49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father on you: but tarry you in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high.
American King James Version×; Acts 1:8 Acts 1:8But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come on you: and you shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth.
American King James Version×; Romans 15:13 Romans 15:13Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
American King James Version×; Romans 8:27 Romans 8:27And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
American King James Version×; 1 Corinthians 2:16 1 Corinthians 2:16For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
American King James Version×; John 4:24 John 4:24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
American King James Version×; John 5:26 John 5:26For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself;
American King James Version×; John 6:63 John 6:63It is the spirit that vivifies; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life.
American King James Version×).

Furthermore, contrary to the Trinitarian view that the Father and Son are coequal in authority (along with the Holy Spirit), Jesus Christ not only said, "My Father . . . is greater than all" (John 10:29 John 10:29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
American King James Version×), but He also said, "My Father is greater than I" (John 14:28 John 14:28You have heard how I said to you, I go away, and come again to you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said, I go to the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
American King James Version×; see also 1 Corinthians 11:3 1 Corinthians 11:3But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
American King James Version×; 1 Corinthians 15:27-28 1 Corinthians 15:27-28 [27] For he has put all things under his feet. But when he said all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. [28] And when all things shall be subdued to him, then shall the Son also himself be subject to him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
American King James Version×).

The Trinity doctrine has done much to obscure the clear truth of Scripture that God is a family. God is the name of the Father, and God is also the name of the Son—as well as of both of Them together. Moreover, God intends for this family name to also be the name of other sons He is in the process of bringing to glory, as the rest of this booklet explains (Ephesians 3:14-15 Ephesians 3:14-15 [14] For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, [15] Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
American King James Version×; Hebrews 2:10 Hebrews 2:10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
American King James Version×).

Irenaeus, a second-century bishop, was right when he observed: "There is none other called God by the Scriptures except the Father of all, and the Son, and those who possess the adoption [i.e., sonship as God's children]" (Against Heresies, Book 4, preface; compare Book 3, chap. 6). Note that there is no hint here of a Trinitarian formula in this early time period. That doctrine wasn't formulated until much later.

Regrettably, in the centuries since it was introduced, the Trinity doctrine has misled millions of people about who and what God really is. By presenting God as three divine persons who are simultaneously one, and as a closed group of three, this teaching blinds people to the truth of the Bible that God is a family—a family into which many others have the opportunity to enter!

Again, that family presently consists of two divine Beings, the Father and Christ, but with more to come who will likewise bear the family name. Indeed, the human family was meant as a lesser model or type of this greater spiritual reality. Marriage is another aspect of this, as it is God's intention for those who are added to His family to enter a divine marriage relationship with Jesus Christ, the human covenant being patterned after the higher, God-plane relationship (compare Ephesians 5:22-23 Ephesians 5:22-23 [22] Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.
American King James Version×; Revelation 19:7-9 Revelation 19:7-9 [7] Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. [8] And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. [9] And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.
American King James Version×).

To learn more about what the Bible has to say on these matters, be sure to download or request our free booklets Jesus Christ: The Real Story, Who Is God? and Marriage and Family: The Missing Dimension.