Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 6 of 107

How many persons are there in the Godhead?

A.There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

Which Bible passages support this answer?

The Westminster Assembly attached these Scripture proofs to answer 6. Read them together and ask what each one shows about the answer.

  1. 1 John 5:7

    For there are three that testify, (NET)

  2. Matthew 28:19

    Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (NET)

What does this answer mean?

God is one, and there are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost (the Holy Spirit). The answer guards both truths at once. The three are one God, the same in substance, which means they share one divine being. They are also equal in power and glory, so no person of the Trinity is less God than another.

What can we ask our children?

  1. What are the names of the three persons of God?
  2. Is the Son less important than the Father? What does the answer say?
  3. Where in Matthew 28:19 do we hear all three names together?

Can I print this question?

Yes. Every printable here is free for home, church and co-op use. Press Print on any of these pages for a clean sheet.

Text: The Shorter Catechism, constitutional text of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Public domain (1647). Proof references: Scripture proofs added by the Westminster Assembly, as transcribed by The Westminster Standard. Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible; see permissions.

Checked against a second edition on November 15, 2026. Explanation and questions by Household Theology Press. Last updated November 15, 2026.