Introduction

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." We often overlook Genesis 1:1 NASB but it is a critical synopsis to the chapter; which tells us:
1.) What God is doing? An account of the creation of heavens and earth
2.) Who God is ? One divine being.
3.) How God created the heavens and earth (Focus of our discussion)

Now if you look at this from a humanistic perspective you will have already formulated a view of God as a:
1.) Single male
2.) A Single woman
3.) Some Greek Mythical God.

Please refrain from doing so because Scriptures will reveal God to us. The Hebrew word - אֱלֹהִים (translation - elohim);even though this is the plural form of אֱל֫וֹהַּ (translation - eloah), the nearest usage is with a singular noun in verse 2 "Spirit of God". It would make no sense for this to be translated Spirit of Gods. In fact as we move to the right of the book we are assured with the concept of a monotheism doctrine of the God of Israel because elohim when referring to the God of Israel is often used with singular pronouns (see Genesis 2:2 NASB), action, and adjectives. Moreover, in Genesis 1:1 while we see אֱלֹהִים (elohim) used in reference to creation; starting in Genesis 2:4 we see it used in conjunction with the unpronounced name of God - יְהֹוָה (Yhvh). Therefore, this lines up with Jewish culture's view that: "Elohim is the name of God as the creator and judge of the universe" (link - Names of God); which allows us to see אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) as the single divine creator, while seeing a consistency in the plurality of God's function in creation.

Triune Roles of Creation

First, we see the "Spirit of God hovering over the waters"; this is important because waters is what heaven and earth was formed from, and I will argue that the Spirit of God acts by interacting within creation to actively accomplish His divine decree; an example of this is seen in verse 5 after light is created - "God Separating" the light from darkness. Surely darkness and light cannot exist in the same space (light would consume darkness). However for Time to be created, God (Spirit of God) separated the light (creation) from darkness. Secondly, in verse 2 - "God Said"; God's decree coming forth as His Word, this is an explicit action that occurs in each day of creation; starting from verse 3 to verse 26 nothing happens in creation without the Word of God coming first. Also, notice that in this event the Word of God coming forth seems active - meaning it brings light into existence (verse 3 - "and there was light"). However, we see in verse 6 that this action is also passive, because in this passage it comes across as an instruction that is fulfilled by verse 7 "God made". I will assert that the latter is the normative course in the events of all creation, even when the details of the fulfillment is absent (see Isaiah 48:3-4 NASB). Lastly, we see that God performs two actions after creation:
1.) Action of an overseer, verse 4 - "God saw that the light was good".
2.) Action of authority, verse 5 - "He (God) called".

These two actions coupled together makes up the concept of the role of headship; great examples of this would be: Genesis 4:17 NASB - Cain names the city he built. Genesis 5:3 NASB - Adam names his son Seth. Lastly we see in Genesis 6:5 NASB, God looking down upon creation, the same word we see in Genesis 1:7 - רָאָה (raah); the Lord (God) being the subject, saw the depths of the wickedness of His creation and grieved as a father would grieve over the misdeeds of a son, that which is created by his workmanship. This action also communicates a sense of transcendence, spoken from the vantage point of being outside of creation, but at the same time nothing escaping the peripheral or examination of the creator. Therefore, we see a role of God Head that has authority over His creation as a father would have authority and oversight over his son (his creation).

Conclusion:
What does this all mean in regards to the Triune God? These actions that we observe in the creation of the heavens and earth, executed by God, seems to be executed by God in three distinct roles:
1.) Word of God - decrees from which all creation comes to existence.
2.) Spirit of God - fulfills all decrees of God, by interacting/working within and upon creation.
3.) God Head - overseer of creation with all authority

These roles are seen perfectly in Genesis 1:24-25 NASB; notice that the decree is given with the earth being the subject of the action to "bring forth", but the command was fulfilled by God making the living creatures after their kind. Then we see the overseer blessing the creation, seeing that is good. At this point we are still bring this doctrine to light with some inferences that are validated by the events in creation. However we must strongly consider; if God was creating without this concept of roles, there would be no need for the narrative to mention:
1.) "God Said" - a decree for every creation.
2.) "God Made" - interacting with creation.
3.) "God saw" - overseeing creation.

These actions of God comes across to me as instructions being issued and fulfilled by different roles within one God. We must consider what God is revealing of Himself, but the immediate following passage (verse 26) brings these observations together

Persons of God Eternal Existence

So we see three different roles being executed in creation:
1.) The Word of God - decreeing all things into existence.
2.) The Holy Spirit of God - interacting within creation to fulfill the eternal decrees.
3.) God Head - overseeing with authority over all creation.

Moreover, things become clear for us in verse 26, the narrative of this passage refers to God in the First Person Plural, as the decree is spoke to make man "In Our Image", and "according to Our likeness". This reveals to us that our existence, in regards to the image and likeness (some characteristics) of God plural, eternally existed as God before creation; this is why we can refer to the distinct God roles as persons. This is why in creation we see God functioning as a Father would by naming and overseeing his creation. How do we know this? In Genesis 5:3 NASB Seth, the son of Adam, is created in the likeness of his Father, and according to Adam's image; obviously Adam's existence must precede the son, whom he created, for the son to be made in his likeness and image. This must be so in Genesis 1:26 NASB as well; meaning in the framework of God's knowledge, the begotten Son Jesus Christ existed as His eternal decree - As the Word of God (2 Corinthians 4:4 NASB, Colossians 1:15 NASB) before all creation, but also a decree to take on flesh entering into creation not as spirit but as man; hence the pattern we see of the Word of God coming before all things in creation, it holds true even for God's existence within creation as the Messiah (Isaiah 55). Therefore, we can restate that God is acting as three distinct persons as one creator: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. However we should not forget that even though plural persons in God is truth; God being one divine being is truth as well - meaning even though He acts as 3 persons, all the persons eternally exist as one God being. In fact verse 27 reminds us that God is one divine being because the narrative switches to a past-tense voice and God is referred to in the Third Person Singular noun form. Another observation is that the transliterated word used in verse 27 is - adam; this word could mean a single man, mankind/human beings, or Adam. However, God qualifies this with saying - "in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them". The "him" let us know that God is referring to the creation of adam, a single man; and from a single man (one being) God made the persons of male and female. I believe this helps us understand the mystery that stomps so many Christians and non-Christians - How can one God be three distinct persons that are fully God? or How can the Father and Son be distinct persons, but equally God? Well if we translate verse 27, holding firm to the distinction that God is not created, but man is; verse 27 would read - God created mankind in His own image, in His image He created Adam; male and female He created them. Indeed mankind came into existence by creating one man (Adam), through man God created woman; therefore male and female were the same being (equally man - mankind), but two distinct persons. In Genesis 2:18 God decrees that man is in need of a helper (ezer), one who is equal - bone of bone and flesh of flesh, but fulfills different role as man (mankind). God deems the unity of these distinct persons, male and female, one flesh (Genesis 2:24 NASB), God being the head of the union (Trinitarian). So Genesis 1:27 NASB illustrates how three distinct persons has eternally existed as God through the creation of mankind, and that is functioning as one being acting in distinct roles as individual persons.

Patriarch Encounters with the Word and Triune God

Now that we have seen the correlation of these triune roles to the eternal persons of God. Many will still fail to see the correlation of Jesus existing as the Word of God, this is a major stumbling stone to many, but we must remember what Jesus said in John 8:58 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."; the "I am" portion of this statement is Jesus equating Himself to the God being, meaning his existence is not confined to any particular thing, for any particular time. So as "I am" Jesus also precedes all creation, just as the Word of God - "God said", preceded all creation; which is why Jesus says "before Abraham was born". Therefore, it should not surprise us that the very First act of God towards Abram was: Genesis 12:1 NASB "Now the Lord said to Abram..." - A decree for Abram to be set apart; a promise that through one man "all the families of the earth will be blessed"; a promise to "make you a great nation". Just as Adam's creation foreshadow Christ with the decree of God, so is it with the decree to Abram. However, we see explicitly the Word of God coming to Abram in Genesis 15:1 in a vision - "After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying". The fact that the subject of this sentence - "word of the Lord" performs two separate actions:
1.) came in a vision - visual
2.) saying - verbal

Should tell us that this is something more than Abram hearing a voice, or seeing a string of characters; Abram saw and heard the eternal person of God; referring to Himself as a "shield" for Abram. Allow me to linger on this for a while; יְהוָ֜ה (YHVH) appeared o Abram again in Genesis 17:1 right before changing His name to Abraham (sign of his service and blessing of the Lord). Which leads to a significant encounter in Genesis 18:1-15 NASB as we see three men that bow to and dialogs with as יְהוָ֜ה (YHVH) - Genesis 18:2-5 NASB -
"When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, 3and said, "My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by. 4Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; 5and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant." And they said, "So do, as you have said."

The Prophecy of the Word that gives life

Therefore, it should not surprise us in Isaiah 55:11-12 NASB when God speaks of His Word in the second person singular - "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands". For this passage, along with verse 13, tells us how the prophecy of salvation of the prior verses in Isaiah 55 would be fulfilled - through the one God sends - the Word of God - Jesus Christ. Therefore, we know Jesus, as the Son, was not created or born; but always eternal with the Father as one God being; as stated in Isaiah 9:6 NASB - "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."

The Law and Prophets Spoke of the Triune God

This trinitarian language that is used in Genesis, is even revealed here in Isaiah as God speaks of the salvation that will come to Israel. Let us not consider it an accident that God says "I am He, I am the first, I am also the last." This indeed is the order that God revealed himself to Israel in salvation for us:
1.) "I am He" - The Father
2.) "I am first" - The Word of God in Creation - Jesus Christ - First born in the Resurrection .
3.) "I am also the last" - Creation coming to fruition - God working through creation - The Holy Spirit sent to us after the ascension of Christ.

Similarly, we see earlier in Isaiah 48:3 God says this in regards to Genesis 1 account of creation - "I declared the former things long ago And they went forth from My mouth, and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass"; the Father declared (He foreknew His creation), the Word of God brought the decreed creation to existence, and the Holy Spirit of God acted in creation to bring them to pass (fruition). Moreover, the language is used again in verse 13 - "Surely My hand founded the earth, And My right hand spread out the heavens; When I call to them, they stand together". I will submit to you that "My Hand" refers to the Son as the Word of God (see Deut 32:38-44 NASB), "My right hand" refers to the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 34:16 NASB, Psalms 104:30 NASB), and only the God the Father call to them - "When I call to them, they stand together"; this should bring our minds to Luke 3:21-22 NASB - "Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." It does not stop there because the trinitarian language continues in Isaiah 48:14-15 NASB "...The Lord loves him; he will carry out His good pleasure on Babylon, And His arm will be against the Chaldeans. 15"I, even I, have spoken; indeed I have called him, I have brought him, and He will make his ways successful". You have to understand the analogy of the Babylon and Chaldeans, and that is, Babylon represents a people who persecute the Israel (the elect); Chaldeans represent the same people, but in the aspect that Abraham (Israel) were once one of them; that land (people, relatives) you had to leave behind whom Christ will judge. Meaning this a major indication that this passage refers to salvation. Therefore, in regards to the Triune language we see:
1.) I - The Father
2.) Him - The Son
3.) He - The Holy Spirit.

Immediately following that passage, verse 16, "I" changes from God the Father to the The Son, and we explicitly see "The Lord God" - God The Father, "has sent Me" - The Son, "and the Holy Spirit". Hence, from the earlier passage, verse 13 - "...When I call to them, they stand together".

The Apostles Teaching of the Triune God

In the Apostle John first epistle, a matter of great importance is handle upfront, and sets the tone for this letter. That is Jesus who walked, talked, and embraced them; was with God in the beginning as the Word of God; the Word of God manifested to become flesh. John specifies the Father and Son relationship of Jesus Christ. This relationship that has made possible for us to become a new creation by Christ Life, Death, and Resurrection; is completed (is brought to pass) by our receiving of the anointing (the Holy Spirit), which John says is from the "Holy One" in verse 20. This anointing is actively working in you, "teaching you all things" allowing you to "abide in Him". If you read John 15:1-11 you will see Jesus (God) issues a imperative (command, or decree); John 15:4 "Abide in Me, and I in you". Just as in the beginning the earth could not bring forth creatures or vegetation, nevertheless it was still a command; however, just as we see in Genesis 1:24 "God made" - fulfilling His own decree through His creation. This is exactly what we see with the anointing (Holy Spirit) working in us: verse 27 "...and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him". The Holy Spirit is the helper that Christ (God) sends to work in His new creation (John 14:16-17, 25-26 NASB). Therefore, how the Triune God worked in the beginning, creating the heavens and earth, the Triune God works now in the salvation of the Children of God.