Many, primarily the Jews, say that the Holy Spirit and Jesus are not mentioned in the Old Testament. Of course, the word “trinity” does not appear anywhere in the Bible, just as “rapture” does not appear, but that does not preclude the validity of either term.

The phrases “Spirit of God” and “the Spirit of the Lord” occur forty-three times in the Old Testament. In addition to this, the Spirit of God is inferred many, many more times. For example the phrase “my Spirit” is found over two dozen times in the Old Testament. The phrase “Holy Spirit” is found three times in the Old Testament. (Psalm 51:11, Isaiah 63:10 and 63:11).

The concept of God as our Heavenly Father is also found in the Old Testament. “Look down from heaven, and behold . . . Doubtless thou art our father.” (Isaiah 63:15-16) “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)

We know from the grammar in Genesis 1:26 that there were at least two persons (we know there were three) at the Creation when the Lord said, “Let us make man in our image.”

The name “Jesus” is the Greek version of “Jeshua.” This name, “Jeshua” in Hebrew, does not appear in the Old Testament, but the word jeshua does appear. Jeshua means salvation (Strong’s H3444). I am reminded of Simeon who was assured that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. When Simeon saw Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the Temple he said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” (Luke 2:29-30)

The name of Jesus means salvation. The word “jeshua,” or salvation, is found seventy-eight times in the Old Testament.

My favorite Old Testament mention of the Son of God is found in Proverbs 30:4-5. Agur, the son of Jakeh, asks a series of questions:

• "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?
• "who hath gathered the wind in his fists?
• "who hath bound the waters in a garment?
• "who hath established all the ends of the earth?
• "what is his name?”

Of course, we know that the person is the Most High God. But, Agur asks one more question:

• “What is his son's name, if thou canst tell?”

As noted before, the answer is given (but not directly) seventy-eight times in the Old Testament. The answer is Jeshua, our salvation.

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit have been there in the Old Testament all the time. May the Lord be praised forever!