This passage declares the doctrine that the One True and Living God is a Trinity. Though the term Trinity does not fully explain the mysterious character of God, it establishes the parameters of our understanding of God. This text sets the limits of our finite understanding. Trinity does not mean three beings who together are God, that is tritheism. On the other hand it is not saying that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are just three ways God reveals Himself, that is modalism. The term Trinity is used to describe the Godhead in terms of His unity and yet His diversity.

The truth that God is a Trinity defines God as one in essence and three in person. Though this is mysterious, the unity of the Godhead is expressed in terms of essence, and the diversity of the Godhead is expressed in terms of person. This is not a contradiction because it is not saying that God is one in person and at the same time three in person, or that God is one in essence and at the same time three in essence. The doctrine of the Trinity eliminates thoughts of God as just having parts, or to thoughts of God as just having roles. This passage establishes the fact that in one sense God is one, and in a different sense He is three.