This verse clearly reveals the First and Second Persons of the Trinity, Jesus
Christ coming out of the water and His Father’s voice from heaven. The
Holy Spirit, the Third Person, is revealed as a dove, descending from
heaven onto Christ.
Jesus Christ as the Second Person of the Trinity is equal to the Father:
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be
called Emmanuel, which means, God with us...” (St. Matt. 1:23).
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God” (St. John 1:1).
“The Father and I are one” (St. John 10:30).
“...the Father is in me and I am in the Father” (St. John 10:38).
“…whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (St. John 14:9).
The Jews, when hearing these words of Christ, understood their
significance and for this reason sought to stone Him to death, “because you,
being a man, make yourself God” (St. John 10:33).
The Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and the Son as the Third
Person of the Trinity, will be a living teacher of truth:
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate (Holy
Spirit)” (St. John 14:16).
“...the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you
everything” (St. John 14:26).
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he
will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will
declare to you the things that are to come” (St. John 16:13).
Rather than being simply an impersonal “active force”, the Holy Spirit is a
personal guide, directing the Church in its decisions:
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