Many well meaning Christians believe that the Holy Spirit, which descended upon Christ during His baptism, was a distinct, separate personal Being. Trinitarian Christians also claim that Christ’s baptism was an occasion where the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were all present at the same time whereby the scene clearly delineated the three persons of the Godhead hence constituted a description of Trinity. Let re-examine to see what the Scriptures and the Inspired Testimonies reveal.

Matthew 3:13-17:

“13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Mark 1:9-11:

9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. 10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: 11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Luke 3:21-22

21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

What is significant for those who would like to use these passages as some kind of proof text for Trinity is that all three “members” (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) are present and all three in a different location, doing something different.  Jesus is getting baptized, the Spirit is descending on Him like a dove, and the Father is speaking from Heaven. The fact that the Father can speak from Heaven and address Jesus as his Son clearly shows how Jesus and the Father are two separate and distinguishable divine persons and moreover, the Holy Spirit (symbolized as a dove) is shown separate from the other two.

On a Theological level, the error that this passage is best equipped to guard us against is the heresy known as Modalism. Modalism rightly affirms that there is only one God, but wrongly asserts that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are just different manifestations or “modes” of this one true God. Historically, Modalism has asserted that God was “The Father” in the Old Testament, then became “the Son” in the Incarnation, and then after Pentecost God is revealing himself to us as “the Spirit.” In Modalism the three persons of the Trinity are actually one divine person expressing and revealing himself three different ways in different stages of history. Among the passages that rather easily refute this heresy are any passages that have the Trinity all working together but in separate roles like we have here with the Baptism of Jesus. But does the mere mentioning of the three apparently in different locations, doing different things endorse trinity doctrine?

For Seventh-day Adventists, it might be helpful to examine the Inspired commentary to better understand the scene in order to identify who or what the dove-like figure is. According to Ellen White, the dovelike form was none other than the Spirit of God the Father, manifesting in the form of a dove, emblematical of the character of Jesus (not an entirely separate individual called, “God the Holy Spirit”).

Notice the following statements:

“Never before have the angels listened to such a prayer. They are eager to bear to their loved Commander a message of assurance and comfort. BUT NO; THE FATHER HIMSELF WILL ANSWER THE PETITION OF HIS SON. DIRECT FROM THE THRONE ISSUE THE BEAM OF GLORY. The heavens are opened, and upon the Saviour’s head descends a dovelike form of purest light,–FIT EMBLEM OF HIM, THE MEEK AND LOWLY ONE. Of the vast throng at the Jordan, few except John discerned the heavenly vision. Yet the solemnity of the divine Presence rested upon the assembly. The people stood silently gazing upon Christ. His form was bathed in the light that ever surrounds the throne of God. His upturned face was glorified as they had never before seen the face of man. From the open heavens a voice was heard saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” {Desire of Ages p. 112}

“Never before had angels listened to such a prayer as Christ offered at his baptism, and they were solicitous to be the bearers of the message from the Father to his Son. But, no; direct from the Father issues the light of his glory. The heavens were opened, and beams of glory rested upon the Son of God, and assumed the form of a dove, in appearance like burnished gold. THE DOVE-LIKE FORM WAS EMBLEMATICAL OF THE MEEKNESS AND GENTLENESS OF CHRIST. While the people stood spell-bound with amazement, their eyes fastened upon Christ, from the opening heavens came these words: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The words of confirmation that Christ is the Son of God was given to inspire faith in those who witnessed the scene, and to sustain the Son of God in his arduous work. Notwithstanding the Son of God was clothed with humanity, yet Jehovah, with his own voice, assures him of his sonship with the Eternal. In this manifestation to his Son, God accepts humanity as exalted through the excellence of his beloved Son. {2SP 60.2}

“Never had angels listened to such a prayer. They were solicitous to bear to the praying Redeemer messages of assurance and love. But no; the Father himself will minister to his Son. Direct from the throne proceeded the light of the glory of God. The heavens were opened, and beams of light and glory proceeded therefrom and assumed the form of a dove, IN APPEARANCE LIKE BURNISH GOLD. THE DOVE-LIKE FORM WAS EMBLEMATICAL OF THE MEEKNESS AND GENTLENESS OF CHRIST. {YI March 1, 1874, par. 4}

“The divinity of Christ was as a hidden treasure. At times when he was upon earth, divinity flashed through humanity, and his true character was revealed. The God of heaven testified to his oneness with his Son. At his baptism the heavens were opened, and the GLORY OF GOD IN THE SIMILITUDE OF A DOVE LIKE BURNISHED GOLD HOVERED OVER THE SAVIOUR, and a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” {E.G. White, YI Aug 22, 1895}

“When Christ bowed on the banks of Jordan after His baptism and offered up prayer in behalf of humanity, the heavens were opened; and the Spirit of God, LIKE A DOVE OF BURNISHED GOLD, encircled the form of the Saviour; and a voice came from heaven which said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” {Child Guidance 525.3}

Note: Above, we have several statements, all depicting the same baptismal scene in Scripture but with slight variations. According to these statements, the dove-like form as described as “purest light”, or “like burnished gold” hovering over Christ represents none other than the Father Himself: “THE FATHER HIMSELF WLL ANSWER THE PETITION OF HIS SON DIRECT FROM THE THRONE ISSUE THE BEAM OF GLORY.” What is notable in these statements is that this dove-like figure is described as being “emblematic of the meekness and gentleness of Christ’s character,” “fit emblem of Him, the meek and lowly One.” Did you catch this? The “dove-like” figure was a symbol or an emblem of Christ’s character-not another God Being. The understanding of the appearance of a dove being an entirely different individual (aka God the Holy Spirit) however is absent from either the scripture nor the Testimonies.

Holy Spirit is the omnipresence of either the Father or the Son in their own Spirit:

Psalms 51:11 “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Psalms 139: 7-10 “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”

“BY THE SPIRIT the Father and the Son will come and MAKE THEIR ABODE WITH YOU. [John 14:23 quoted]” — (E.G. White, BEcho, Jan 15, 1893)

While Christ was on earth, garbed in HIs humanity, He forfeited his omnipresence, which is one of the primary attributes of His divinity.

“Jesus revealed no qualities, and exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith in Him. His perfect humanity is that which all His followers may possess, if they will be in subjection to God as He was.” {DA 664.4}

But the Father was still omnipresent by His own Spirit. It is the Father’s Spirit that descended upon Christ as the Spirit of Prophecy testifies. After Christ’s ascension however, the “Comforter” Which is the Spirit of Christ, comes through the medium of Christ’s own Spirit.

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” Jn 14:18

“If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and WE will come unto him, and make OUR abode with him.” Jn 14:23

“I[Christ] in them, and thou[Father] in me” Jn 17:23

“It is not essential for you to know and be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is. CHRIST TELLS US THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE COMFORTER, AND THE COMFORTER IS THE HOLY GHOST, “the Spirit of truth, which the Father shall send in My name.” “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” [John 14:16, 17]. THIS REFERS TO THE OMNIPRESENCE OF THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, CALLED THE COMFORTER. Again Jesus says, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth” [John 16:12, 13]. (Original letter written to Brother Chapman from Petoskey, Michigan, June 11, 1891) Manuscript Releases vol.14 p. 179 {14MR 179.2}

“In giving His commission to His followers, Christ did not tell them they would be left alone. He assured them that He would be near them. HE SPOKE OF HIS OMNIPRESENCE IN A SPECIAL WAY. Go to all nations, He said. Go, to the farthest portion of the habitable globe, but know that MY PRESENCE WILL BE THERE. Labor in faith and confidence, for the time will never come when I shall forsake you.” {ST August 12, 1903 par. 6}

“Cumbered with humanity, CHRIST could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The HOLY SPIRIT IS HIMSELF, divested of the personality of humanity, and independent thereof. HE WOULD REPRESENT HIMSELF AS PRESENT IN ALL PLACES BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT, AS THE OMNIPRESENT.” — (E.G. White, Lt119, Feb 18, 1895)

“I testify to my brethren and sisters that the church of Christ, enfeebled and defective as it may be, is the only object on earth on which He bestows His supreme regard. While He extends to all the world His invitation to come to Him and be saved, He commissions His angels to render divine help to every soul that cometh to Him in repentance and contrition, and HE COMES TO US PERSONALLY BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT into the midst of His church.” {Lt2d-1892.7} (published also in Testimonies to Ministers, p.15)