The Trinity is a central Christian doctrine that affirms the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. The doctrine defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, three distinct persons sharing one essence/substance/nature. The term "Trinity" comes from the Latin word "trinus", meaning "threefold".