Trinity comes from two word parts: tri, meaning three, and unity, meaning as one. The concept of the Trinity is that we have God in three forms a union of three. God the Father, Jesus His Son, with the Holy Spirit, they are three in one! 4:4). First of all I want to tell you that the Trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He realized Scripture alone is the only way we know about the Trinity (1 Cor. 10:2831), In Johns writings (1 John 4:1314; Rev. Both the New Testament and Old Testament testify that there is only one God: Unfortunately, we cannot go through each of these passages in detail. Nonetheless, while recognizing the distinct roles that each Person has, we should never think of their roles as so separate that the other Persons are not involved. Assign each group with one of the Godheads: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), or the Holy Spirit. 15:16), inspires, intercedes (Rom. 1:318; 1 Pet. Fortunately, the most popular analogy of the Trinity is the triangle. The personhood of each member of the Trinity means that each Person has a distinct center of consciousness. 9:18; Matt. One of the problems is that most of us myself included are tempted to move too quickly to analogies that only help explainaspectsof the Trinity. We also see this evidenced in how the Son and Father sent the Spirit into the world (John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7). In explaining the Trinity to your friend, begin, perhaps, with the work of salvation. Founder & Teacher, desiringGod.org. They have eternally (John 17:5, 24) sought to glorify each other (Phil. We hate SPAM. These verses make it impossible to deny their individuality and deity. The doctrine of the Trinity is the belief that there is one God who has revealed Himself in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity consists of one being revealed in three distinct persons. We begin with a brief discussion of the doctrine in historical context, explaining more fully the nature of the problem it raises. 32:39), Has personal traits, such as the ability to communicate (John 14:31), He has intellect (John 2:25), emotions (John 11:35), and a will (John 6:38), Has intellect (John 14:26; 1 Cor. This is one possibility of explaining it. The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. 5:2), Miracles (Ex. Christ took Gods punishment, and wrath meant for us because of our sins (Heb. 2. Each person of the Trinity is equally and fully God, distinct from the others, and yet they remain just one God. What Is the Economic and Immanent Trinity? - Zondervan Academic These questions arealwaysasked by someone who is exploring faith in Jesus. Rather, each person of the Trinity has all of the attributes of God, and no one Person has any attributes that are not possessed by the others. Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustine, and Jerome mention it. Each Person of the Trinity is distinct, 8. This is a limitation on God that doesnt acknowledge that God isalwaysthe Father,alwaysthe Son, andalwaysthe Holy Spirit. (Ohand I'll send you my free guideThe Simplest Way to Study ANY Bible Passageas a "Thank you" for jumping on board!). Use the links below to jump to a specific section: The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One God? That is why any discussion of the Trinity is based on Scripture (Ps. To understand more fully what God is like is a way of honoring God. To this day, this scripture inspires the language we use to baptize people across Christian denominations. The triangle illustration is easy to understand, but an imperfect analogy because: Nonetheless, a triangle illustrates how there can be a three-ness and one-ness same time. I think the major problem involves not distinguishing two different features of God. . God is spirit (John 4:24). But that doesnt mean the concept isnt clearly taught. Third, we have the Holy Spirit, which is also God, living in our hearts and guiding us through life. As Hebrews 9:14 declares. Its probably the most classic Trinity object lesson, but its not my favorite. There are two other major monotheistic world religions namely Judaism and Islam. In addition to these texts, the others we mentioned above make clear that the Personhood of the Holy Spirit is distinct from the Personhood of the Son and the Father. They are all eternal. The Trinity isn't some complicated distraction from the simple gospelit's actually part of the gospel. For instance, the Trinity does not mean that: Instead, we need to clearly distinguish two categories (Persons and essence). The substance of God is God, not a bunch of ingredients that taken together yield deity. Because humankind is limited, God will always exceed our knowledge and understanding (Isa. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. You may feel like you are drinking from a fire hydrant. How To Explain St. Patrick's Day To A Child, From Fun To Facts - MSN A mystery that should cause us to marvel, and wonder, and worship! But Keith Ferrin is noteveryhuman being.. This is great fun to see how teenagers draw a picture of God. 42. However, the biblical doctrine of the Trinity does not rest on one verse of Scripture, but is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. Omnipotence (Jer. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. They are three real persons, not three roles God plays. God is the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. 23:2324). The Trinity was present in the atonement at the cross. God the Son is the rays of sunshine. But what does it mean that God is gracious? The Easiest Way to Explain the Trinity | SsouthernLifestyle God told Moses in the Torah to tell God's people these words: M. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." ( Deuteronomy 6:4) C. Yes, that's right. Now we will turn our attention to showing the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are persons.. *catholic, meaning universal here, and not a reference to the big C Catholic. Other references to the Trinity in the New Testament include Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 12:4-5, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2, and more. 9:14; Heb. know that I recognise only one God. Contrary to this, the passages we have seen imply that God always was and always will be three Persons. Unfortunately, it is also a doctrine that is surrounded by disagreement and controversy among believers. PDF A Brief Explanation of the Trinity - TheologicalStudies.org.uk That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. As you might expect, some people consider these mysteries as contradictions. But in response we can point out both agreement and clarification. 1:2;). This is just an egg, or an apple, or H2O. 3:3; Heb. 6:11; Gal. Even wonderful parents have kids who struggle with self esteem, despite excellent parenting and a supportive home environment. But is there any easy way to apprehend these exciting discoveries? The doctrine of the Trinity, simply stated, is as follows: The Bible teaches that there is one eternal God who is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Thats the one we think of as the Father. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! God the Fathers plan of redeeming humankind involved sending his Son into the world (John 3:16), The Son accomplished redemption for us on the cross (Heb. Subjection and subordination do not mean inequality. 5:10), Requested prayer in his name (John 14:1314) and to be honored as God (John 5:23), Begetting the human nature of Christ at the incarnation (Luke 1:35), Inspiring Scripture (2 Tim. This triune God (or Trinity) began to allude to this aspect of His nature right in Genesis 1:26-27. All three Persons of the Trinity are God. For example, it says of Christ that in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). God the Son. For example they: 5. Most Christians are puzzled by the Trinity, and therefore, cant explain it very well. There we read that " God said, 'Let us make man in our image' . In brief, how we view God will profoundly impact our everyday lives. It is understandable that our finite minds cannot grasp an infinite God. 5:7). Lets apply these concepts to the Trinity. And yet, we run into the same problem again, because God isnt made up of parts. So, the Trinity is incomprehensible. There are three Persons with one divine essence! The three most common go-to analogies for explaining the Trinity are water, an egg, and the sun. What's the Origin and History of the Trinity in the Church? The different roles refer to a functional order or functional subordination.. The answer hinges on the differences in their unique roles. Being Gods child, we can worship the Father and Jesus through the Spirit (John 4:2324; Phil. Just as ONE egg has THREE different parts - the shell, the white, the yoke - ONE God has THREE different . But Christianity's God is unique. But Christianitys God is unique. The Son and Holy Spirit are equal in deity to the Father. God is not one person who plays three different roles, as this illustration suggests. How to Talk Right(ly) About the Trinity - pursueGOD.org It is crucial for properly understanding what God is like, how He relates to us, and how we should relate to Him. 2:11), and performs miracles (Matt. The idea that God is somehow three and one starts onPage 1and never changes. Since our personal relationship is with Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit lies within us, what role does God play as Father? God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. Genesis 1:1says this: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.. Binmin Podcast 8: God & Origins | What Questions Should I Ask About My Faith, Binmin Podcast Ep. Answer: Jesus came to lead us into relationship with the Father and that required the sacrifice of his own life because of our rebellion. 4; 14; Jon. Of course, anyone can be simple if he has no facts to bother about (p. 145). 20:3; cf. But Jesus did not become less than the Father during his incarnation. But I hope you have learned that the Trinity is not contradictory. In this blog post, we are going to discuss the Holy Trinity in simple terms. I am also Keith Ferrin. Before moving on tounderstandingthe idea of one Being existing in three Persons, I will point out that theBiblical idea of the Trinity goes all the way back to the first verse in the first chapter in the first book of the Bible. He brings all light and life to the world. John says in the first verse of the book: "The Word was with God, and the Word was God.". They are equal in power, love, mercy, justice, holiness, knowledge, and all other qualities. Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. Jesus is like the flesh, because He became flesh so we could know Him better. However, the Bible teaches us enough about these mysteries that we can apprehend them. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. The Trinity confuses even adults, so when youre tasked (or inspired) to teach the Trinity to a child, teenager, or new believer, it can be overwhelming. Below are several of the most popular ones. Matt Perman is the director of career navigation at The Kings College NYC, a blogger, and an author. It's a great reminder of the three parts of the Holy Trinity! My passion is helping you not just read and study the Bible, but truly enjoy it! And confusing ones. Can You Explain the Trinity to Me? - Billy Graham Evangelistic Association What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. Jesus himself spoke of the one-ness of the Godhead when he quoted the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4. Specifically, distinguishing between Gods one essence and his three Persons. We are referring to two different features of God: (1) his singular essenceor natureand (2) three Persons. In fact, it is precisely the continuing dialogue between the Father and the Son (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; John 5:19; 11:41-42; 17:1ff ) which furnishes the best evidence that they are distinct Persons with distinct centers of consciousness. Lets start with the geometric figure of the triangle itself. Obviously we cannot, for Scripture is clear that there is only one God: There is no other God besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. Now youre gonna tell me theyre all the same but also different? But each member had a different function. But he is not inferior in Gods divine essence. After all, each of these illustrate the idea that God is made up of parts, and thats not really true. He exists as a Trinity. Of course we are speaking by analogy here, for we cannot understand this in a physical way about God. You can help us reach children and their families to know Jesus. .. " Here God is a plural noun, said is in the . Yet most Christians have difficulty explaining the Trinity clearly and Biblically. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. If we can understand more precisely what is meant by essence and person, how these two terms differ, and how they relate, we will then have a more complete understanding of the Trinity. Sigh. The late theologian Herman Bavinck has stated something very helpful at this point: The persons are modes of existence within the being; accordingly, the Persons differ among themselves as the one mode of existence differs from the other, and using a common illustration as the open palm differs from a closed fist.[4], Because each of these forms of existence are relational (and thus are Persons), they are each a distinct center of consciousness, with each center of consciousness regarding Himself as I and the others as You. Nonetheless, these three Persons all consist of the same stuff (that is, the same what, or essence). The important difference between complexity and incomprehension: If Christianity was something we were making up, of course, we could make it easier. While not a typical conversation starter, this question is one of the most important we can ask in life. Discipleship 101: How to Disciple a New Believer - Crossway That is why understanding what the Trinity is and is not asserting. Showing God in action in and through His people. Its three things, but all are complete on their own. Third, notice that although the three divine Persons are distinct, we are baptized into their name (singular), not names (plural). Sproul cites as an example Dickens famous line, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Obviously this is a contradiction if Dickens means that it was the best of times in the same way that it was the worst of times. One of the reasons Jonathan Edwards's vision of God has proved so helpful in my worship and ministry is that he does, and he doesn't, "explain" the Trinity. ). Genesis 1:1 reads: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." If we look more closely at the word we translate "God," Elohim, we see it is plural. That may sound intimidating but dont worry Ill unpack that definition below. And that knowledge can feel liberating. But a common question arises: How do the members of the Trinity differ from one another?. Think about it: Finite Christians serve an eternal and infinite God. Having seen that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, that they are each fully God, and that there is nonetheless only one God, we must conclude that all three Persons are the same God. The Trinity doctrine developed over hundreds of years and was influenced by the teachings of pagan Greek philosophers. This is very important: God is one and three at the same time, but not in the same way. Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. The answer is simple. What a challenge! 118:28, God referred to in the third person singular (he, his, him): Gen. 1:5, 10; Ex. So many things clamor to define you. God the Holy Spirit. Christ through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God.. The answer is they are gray and hard. Learn how you can know God personally. These are all qualities of personhood. passage also demonstrates Jesus' early declaration of the Trinity. 3:1617). How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. The apple one is kind of cool. But continue seeking to understand why the Trinitarian nature of God matters. The New Testament lists all three Persons of the Trinity simultaneously, 6. 12:28; Rom. Each member of the Trinity is . Learn the basics of what Christians believe. How is God different? Paul unequivocally taught Jesus is God (Col. 2:9). Before anything was created he begat his Logos as a person distinct from himself. 55 years on I've yet to hear or read an explanation of the Trinity that makes sense. Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. Essence means the same thing as being. Thus, since God is only one essence, He is only one being, not three. 7:28; Ps. Learn why He did it and what it means for you. And God created humankind to share that love (John 17:2126; Acts 17:25). Firstly, because finite humans cant comprehend an infinite God completely, Secondly, because many people confuse Gods one, Three distinct persons are God: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Firstly, unfamiliarity between essence or nature and personhood, Secondly, practical analogies that help conceptualize the Trinity, On the one hand, there is Gods singular nature, essence, or substance, And on the other, there is Gods three Persons (Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit), The sum of the three angles must be 180 degrees, The three-ness refers to the three Persons: Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, The one-ness applies to Gods unity or his single divine essence, The Trinity is a plurality of Persons and a unity of essence, God is three whos (Persons) and one what (divine essence), The triangle corresponds to Gods essence, The three corners of the triangle correspond to the three Persons of the Trinity, A triangle is finite, and God is infinite, The corners of a triangle are not persons, Understanding of the difference between Gods one divine essence and three Persons, Old Testament: Ex. Question & Answer: The Orthodox Presbyterian Church Carrying this concept over to the Trinity, it is not a contradiction for God to be both three and one because He is not three and one in the same way. Its a clear and concise explanation that works great for kids. Now, as Fred Sanders once quipped, this doesn't mean you should begin every witnessing encounter, "God loves you . 1:2), Jesus as God (Titus 2:13), and the Holy Spirit as God (Acts 5:3-4). Understanding the Trinity: How Can God Be Three Persons in One? - Cru.org God is truth, so the unity that He is effecting between believers is a unity grounded in truth. How do we come to terms with these different ideas of God? As Benjamin Needler preached: This doctrine should establish us in the truth of the gospel For my part, I would not worship that God that I could comprehend Bless God for the clear discovery of this truth under the gospel! 4:47), In Hebrews (Heb. 92:8) and third person (he, his, him) singular pronouns (1 Kings 18:39). The Father is God. As youll see explained more deeply in one of the videos below, you can think of it this way: I am a human being. How do I explain to a non-believer that belief in the Trinity is How could we? The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. Thats what faith is being content with our own confusion while still knowing that God is bigger than we can comprehend. John 1 tells us that the Word is Yeshua - that he was with God and was God from the get go, right there at creation. This verse accurately states the doctrine of the Trinity that God is One God in three Persons. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. Its a mystery the Bible teaches. Rather, everything that one Person is involved in, the other two are also involved in, one way or another. All three members of the Trinity have these characteristics. There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. Omnibenevolence (Jer. That is where I go back to the starting point I mentioned above. Question: How do you explain the Trinity? 20:23; Deut. You can't explain the Trinity to anyone who reasons because: 1) The Bible does not support it. From the 1950s to the 2000s, people wanted to see if they could make computers exhibit intelligence indistinguishable from humans. What Is the Trinity? (Free Downloads) - Ligonier.org The three Persons are distinct, yet only constitute one name. When Jesus answered the question, What is the greatest commandment? he prefaced the answer by quoting the. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. You may be wondering how to wrap your mind around all this brand-new information! Nicene Creed: An Outline of the Trinity Doctrine He is an extension of the sun and brings the sun directly to the world. Its a devotional book. And this teaching gives us a glimpse into the incomprehensible greatness of God. Of course, if the triangle illustration were perfect, we would be able to comprehend God fully, but we cant. My Starting Point for Trying to Explain the Trinity, The Simplest but Still Clear Explanation for the Trinity, The 3 Most Common Trinity Analogies (and their limitations). 10:57), The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. What we do mean by Person is something that regards himself as I and others as You. So the Father, for example, is a different Person from the Son because He regards the Son as a You, even though He regards Himself as I. Thus, in regards to the Trinity, we can say that Person means a distinct subject which regards Himself as an I and the other two as a You. These distinct subjects are not a division within the being of God, but a form of personal existence other than a difference in being.[3]. Because of Gods nature, several mysteries exist within our faith. Lets move on to Scriptural evidence for the Trinity.
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