In Christian Trinity, are the Father, Son & Holy Spirit equal?

Comparing attributes of the persons in the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Christianity holds that God is One, but that three distinct "persons" constitute the one God: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Trinity as comparable to the three parts of an individual human being: mind, spirit, and will. They are three distinct aspects, yet they are inseparable and together constitute one unified human being. Saint Augustine, Early Church Thinker

The table below lists unique attributes found in person(s) of the Trinity, which are not found across all three persons.

1. FATHER only True God
FATHER Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God [Father], and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent JOHN 17:3	SON Is the Son 'Only True God'?	HOLY SPIRIT Is the Holy Spirit 'Only True God'?
2. FATHER greater than all
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all JOHN 10:29	Is the Son greater than all?	Is the Holy Spirit greater than all?
3. FATHER gives authority
Then Jesus came to them and said, " All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me [by Father] MATTHEW 28:18	Can the Son give authority?	Can the Holy Spirit give authority?
4. FATHER who sends others
By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him [Father] who sent me JOHN 5:30	Can the Son send others?	Can the Holy Spirit send others?
5. FATHER knows of Last Hour
But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father MARK 13:32	Does the Son know the Hour?	Does the Holy Spirit know the Hour?
6. SON has a Will
Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours [Father] be done LUKE 22:42	Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my [Jesus] will, but yours be done LUKE 22:42	Does the Holy Spirit have a Will?
7. SON cries 'My God. Why have you forsaken me?'
Can the Father be forsaken?	About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' MATTHEW 27:46	Can the Holy Spirit be forsaken?
8. SON says 'My God and your God. My Father and your Father'
Does the Father have a Father?	Jesus said 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God' JOHN 20:17	Does the Holy Spirit have a Father?
9. SON a man who heard from God
Is the Father a man?	As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man [Jesus] who has told you the truth that I heard from God JOHN 8:40	Is the Holy Spirit a man?
10. SON prays to God
Does the Father pray to God?	One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God LUKE 6:12	Does the Holy Spirit pray to God?
11. SON at right-hand of God
Is the Father standing with God?	But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God ACTS 7:55	Is the Holy Spirit standing with God?
12. SON receives Authority
Does the Father receive Authority?	Then Jesus came to them and said, " All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me MATTHEW 28:18	Does the Holy Spirit receive Authority?
13. SON can do nothing
Can the Father do nothing?	By myself I [Jesus] can do nothing; JOHN 5:30	Can the Holy Spirit do nothing?
14. SON learns to pray to Father
Is the Father taught how to pray?	[Jesus said] This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done' MATTHEW 6:9-13	Is the Holy Spirit taught how to pray?
15. SON sent by God
Is the Father sent by God?	Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God [Father] sent me' JOHN 8:42	Is the Holy Spirit sent by God?
16. SON tempted by Satan
Can the Father be tempted by Satan?	Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil MATTHEW 4:1	Can the Holy Spirit be tempted by Satan?
17. SON asked to worship Satan
Can the Father worship Satan?	All this I will give you, he said, if you [Jesus] will bow down and worship me [Satan] MATTHEW 4:9	Can the Holy Spirit worship Satan?
18. SON has family: mother, step-father and siblings
Does the Father have a family?	Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? MATTHEW 13:55	Does the Holy Spirit have a family?
19. SON prays to be saved
Does Father pray to be saved?	And being in anguish, he [Jesus] prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground LUKE 22:44	Does Holy Spirit pray to be saved?
20. SON 'a curse' for us
Is the Father a curse?	Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole' GALATIANS 3:13	Is the Holy Spirit a curse?
21. SON is born
Was the Father born?	This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph MATTHEW 1:18	Was the Holy Spirit born?
22. SON dies accursed death
Does the Father die?	For it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole [to die] GALATIANS 3:13	Does the Holy Spirit die?
23. SON killed by humans
Is the Father killed by humans?	Then Pilate set Barabbas free for them; and after he had Jesus whipped, he handed him over to be crucified MATTHEW 27:26	Is the Holy Spirit killed by humans?
24. HOLY SPIRIT can impregnate
Can the Father impregnate?	Can the Son impregnate?	but before they [Mary and Joseph] came together, she [Mary] was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit MATTHEW 1:18
25. HOLY SPIRIT cannot speak of his own (authority)
Can the Father speak of own?	Can the Son speak of own?	But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He [Holy Spirit] will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears JOHN 16:13
26. HOLY SPIRIT came 'like a dove (bird)'
Can the Father come like a bird?	Can the Son come like a bird?	...and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove LUKE 3:22
27. HOLY SPIRIT Blasphemy never forgiven
Can blaspheming Father be forgiven?	Can blaspheming Son be forgiven?	Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin MARK 3:28-29

Author: Guest • Updated: 24 Dec 2018

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