They begin by claiming that the Father of Jesus Christ is the one true God taught in the Old Testament. These are all qualities of personhood. In fact, would Jesus have us baptize in the name of a mere creature? The word, which, etymologically, means something like 'the tripleness', is used to refer collectively to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Council of Nicaea in 325 stated the crucial formula for that doctrine in its confession that the Son is of the same substance [homoousios] as the Father, even though it said very little about the Holy Spirit. In his interpretation of the idea of God, Arius sought to maintain a formal understanding of the oneness of God. 42 people found it helpful jerriemaesibugone Answer: Holy trinity is confusing for some christians and non-christians alike because they have different kind of beliefs depending on their religions and some elders are very strict when it comes to beliefs (God) Explanation: Advertisement Still have questions? For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9), Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! Neither the word Trinity nor the explicit doctrine appears in the New Testament, nor did Jesus and his followers intend to contradict the Shema in the Hebrew Scriptures: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4). Likewise, after the Son returned to the Father (John 16:10), the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit into the world (John 14:26; Acts 2:33). B.S., Psychology and Criminal Justice, Illinois State University. We cannot think of the Holy Trinity as a sum of three parts (1 + 1 + 1 = 3), but instead, show how each part multiplies the others to form a wonderful whole (1 x 1 x 1 = 1). He is the way God revealed Himself to us in a way we could understand. And in John 16:13-15 we see that although there is a close unity between them all, the Holy Spirit is also distinct from the Father and the Son. We need to just remember that He is our God. If you wanted to get as close as possible to answer the question, Who is God?, I believe it would be most fitting to start with the doctrine of the Trinity. Theologian R.C. Trinity, in Christian doctrine, the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. The Holy Spirit is God, but He is not the Son or the Father. The trinity is the belief the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the same entity. The earliest Christians, however, had to cope with the implications of the coming of Jesus Christ and of the presumed presence and power of God among themi.e., the Holy Spirit, whose coming was connected with the celebration of Pentecost. Why is it important to tell our stories? The Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. Thus, the New Testament established the basis for the doctrine of the Trinity. What does essence mean? The Catechism explains, "The Father is that which the Son is, the Son that which the Father is, the Father and the Son that which the Holy Spirit is, i.e. Mao Zedong: Reader, Librarian, Revolutionary? Trinity means three, so when we discuss the Holy Trinity we mean the Father (God), Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit (sometimes referred to as the Holy Ghost). For example, you are one being and one person. God has revealed himself to us. My gift to you. The first tendency recognized the distinctness among the three, but at the cost of their equality and hence of their unity (subordinationism). Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? The doctrine of the Trinity has historically been described with seven biblical statements found through a systematic approach of studying the whole of Scripture: God is one, the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God, the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father. The Trinity expresses the belief that God is one being made up of three distinct persons who exist in co-equal essence and co-eternal communion as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Abstract. Of all the orthodox doctrines, it is right that the one closest to describing God is the one most difficult to understand. For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. He's one man, but has three different functions.Unsurprisingly, this fails to encompass all that the Trinity is, either. But these statements dont really help answer the questions, Why is the Trinity so confusing?. It's like the three stages of water: ice, liquid and vapour. His theological definition is this: "The one eternal God who created all things exists eternally three times over as Father, Son and Spirit, who are inseparably united." Simple, right? , arn from other The story goes that St Patrick used a shamrock as an illustration for the pagan Irish who were finding it hard to grasp the idea: a shamrock has three leaves, but is one sprig. So God is one what but three whos.. In the baptism of Jesus, we see the Father speaking from heaven and the Spirit descending from heaven in the form of a dove as Jesus comes out of the water (Mark 1:10-11). Each of the persons is distinct from the other in relation (Economic Trinity), yet each is identical in essence (Ontological Trinity). Reincarnation B.) The concept of Holy Trinity goes like this, when you are looking at a single object, but using three (3) different angles, you are seeing different views of a single thing. Is the Trinity a contradiction? How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. In Christ we can know God, be fully united with him, and actually communicate with him, but full comprehension of his essence is not a part of the promise. While God has certainly made himself known, approachable in Christ, and comprehensible to some degree, the Bible does not claim man will be able to understand him fully and wholly. D. It allows the reader to He is interpreted as younger than the Father. The popularity of tanning rose in the early twentieth century, when bronzed skin signaled a life of leisure, not labor. And likewise with the Holy Spirit. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Trinity-Christianity, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Trinity. 5, 2023, learnreligions.com/how-can-god-be-three-things-712158. The doctrine of the Trinity is considered to be one of the central Christian affirmations about God. JSTOR is part of ITHAKA, a not-for-profit organization helping the academic community use digital technologies to preserve the scholarly record and to advance research and teaching in sustainable ways. impossible challenge for the Essence means the same thing as being. Thus, since God is only one essence, He is only one being, not three. M.P.A., University of IllinoisSpringfield. Meanwhile, Jesus is the Son of God, but also God. Ibid, p. 255. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the provided link on any marketing message. His wife, Aset, took their son, Heru, into hiding, and Heru eventually returned to reclaim the earthly throne. They are personal forms of existence other than a difference in being. Genesis 1:26, Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19. If math and psychology don't help explain the Holy Trinity, maybe this will: God is God. Some refer to Him as the Godhead. That left Mary without Asets divine powersand outside the Christian Trinity. Under the influence of subsequent Neoplatonic philosophy, this tradition became central in speculative theology. Sometimes the Spirit is treated more like a force than a Person. Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. No problem and sorry for the late reply I was answering other questions and wasn't paying attention to my notification, Why is the concept of Holy Trinity confusing for some Christians and non Christians alike. Updates? Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School - School Newsletter 28th April 2023 Please click here to learn how. 3. But the Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He (see John 14:26; 16:7-15; Acts 8:16). How is God three? Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. The Holy Spirit is designed to speak to us. Greetings, Kia ora, Kia orana, Talofa, Ml e lelei, Namaste, Ni Hao, Bula, Hola, Kumusta. It's difficult to comprehend how one God may exist in three forms. However, the Holy Spirit isn't a person. But the essence is not a fourth "thing" over and above the three persons of the Trinity. Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. But my favorite act of serving God is revealing his truth in written format. But he avoids contradiction with this statement because he means that in one sense it was the best of times, but in another sense it was the worst of times. Understanding the Trinity: How Can God Be Three Persons in One? Those three parts impact our thoughts and decisions in different ways. It's like a three leaf clover: one entity, but with three parts. A perfect illustration, no? For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. This analogy ignores the personal distinctions within God and mitigates them to mere roles. Ka There is no mediating figure in God. Then they reject Genesis 1:27 that says that God is male and female and we were created like Them. Their trinity god is 3 males. Many non-Christians and new Christians often struggle with the idea of the Holy Trinity, where we break up God into the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Step 2. SPO I z T A T M S A A VEDA IH K K S H S N U T U Y L V P M A H I N A M I SH O A T V Q N A M R N 20 OTA Q D H V T A NE ACTIVITY 2: FACT OR BLUFF GH V B E A RCD S U G P R H I H M M M A I S M A A H F Y L T J I P J U K H L H H S A A K N I N G NA T A KM J H K B L S A> V R V SS N M A A O W D K K Y Q Y Y T H X, how do the basic tenets of Buddhism help achieving nirvana?. It just doesn't add up (sorry). What does the Bible teach about the Trinity? | GotQuestions.org How do we receive His grace? Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. But he is also the King, reigning over us. According to the theology of the Gospel According to John, the divinity of Jesus Christ constituted the departure point for understanding his person and efficacy. Write your answer in your answer sheet. In other words, you have contradicted yourself if you affirm and deny the same statement. School Newsletter 28th April 2023. The Trinity Is Unique Among Monotheistic Religions. JSTOR, the JSTOR logo, and ITHAKA are registered trademarks of ITHAKA. To use theological terms when answering, Why is the Trinity so confusing?, God is both immanent and transcendent. Indeed, he was responsible for articulating the 'orthodox' vision of God with theological and philosophical originality that truly laid the foundations upon which the way of pondering the Trinitarian mystery in the East was established. The Doctrine of the Trinity Is Confusing Because Its True. Rather, the being of each Person is equal to the whole being of God.[1] The divine essence is not something that is divided between the three persons, but is fully in all three persons without being divided into parts., Thus, the Son is not one-third of the being of God, He is all of the being of God. Well, not so much, as the above analogies suggest. The relationship between essence and Person, then, is as follows. This approach is known as Modalism the idea that God merely represents himself in three different forms, but isn't three distinct persons. Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? He communicates to most of them in form of Light and a pure white dove, which is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. While I believe that this is a helpful definition, it should be recognized that Grudem himself is offering this as more of an explanation than definition of Person. Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. A part of Maat was the complementary male and female principles, both in the universe and in human society. Phew. introduction in the play He is three in Person. The fact that the Holy Spirit is a Person, not an impersonal force (like gravity), is also shown by the fact that He speaks (Hebrews 3:7), reasons (Acts 15:28), thinks and understands (1 Corinthians 2:10-11), wills (1 Corinthians 12:11), feels (Ephesians 4:30), and gives personal fellowship (2 Corinthians 13:14). Early Christians believed that Jesus used the phrase "in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" in Matthew 28:19 to make the first reference to the Trinity. Just type in your email address below. They are different Persons, not three different ways of looking at God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. One God, but his 3 personas are united. If God was to give us true information about himself, it would be fitting that some of it would be very confusing. If God is three Persons, does this mean that each Person is one-third of God? Tertullian's View of the Trinity - Reformation 21 How about H2O in its three forms: ice, liquid and vapour. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. This explains how God can be both one and three. The problem with this is that it reflects a heresy called modalism. Therefore the doctrine of the Trinity being confusing is evidence for its legitimacy. The belief as so defined was reached only in the 4th and 5th centuries AD and hence is not . Learn Religions. The belief in The Trinity is a central doctrine of Christianity. Doctrine of Holy Trinity explained. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Within Gods one, undivided being is an unfolding into three personal distinctions. So that's what AGW is all about! Gods essence is His being. Second, notice that each Person must be deity because they are all placed on the same level. Throughout the Bible, we are taught that God is one thing. Over time, the worship of Aset spread to Greeks and Romans, particularly among women. Since the Father and Son are both already in Heaven, God will continue to communicate to us, his people by the Holy Spirit. These 'modes' are consecutive, temporary, and never co-exist, thus denying the distinctiveness of the three persons of the Trinity. It should be a comfort embraced, not Scripture to be altered (as the cults do), when we run into truths of God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that rise above human logic. Trinity, in Christian doctrine, the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. At the risk of sounding too physical, essence can be understood as the stuff that you consist of.. Get your fix of JSTOR Dailys best stories in your inbox each Thursday. It is perhaps the most important doctrine in all of Christianity. Getyour copy of The Ultimate Guide to Christian Singleness and access to all of our eBooks. Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. Wrong again. Therefore, if the doctrine of the Trinity describes God in the most detail, it would also seem fitting that the doctrine of the Trinity would be most confusing to humans. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 5 Things God Will Show You When Someone Is Being Deceitful, 3 Signs God Is Saying, Its Time to Let Go of Those Regrets, 7 Reasons Most Men Should Not Pursue Singleness, 4 Odd Signs Youve Truly Heard the Voice of God. Seven comedy moments you might have missed, Three of Jesus' commands we might have been getting wrong, How did Judas Iscariot die? If there is one passage which most clearly brings all of this together, it is Matthew 28:19: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. First, notice that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinguished as distinct Persons. It's completely free - my gift to you. They are the different natures of God, who is one being. Your Identity in Christ: How God Sees You. Proponents of this way of thinking believe that God first manifested himself as Father, then as Jesus, then as the Holy Spirit. There are two other major monotheistic world religions namely Judaism and Islam. create tension? What is the Trinity? It is one God in three persons: Father, Son, Holy Well this one falls short, too. BBC - Religions - Christianity: The Trinity Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are. Should we give up attempting to explain the Trinity and just accept that our language will never be able to fully embody all that God is? Explore answers to life's biggest questions. We need you. Trinity | Definition, Theology, & History | Britannica peoples' experiences? Matt Perman is the director of career navigation at The Kings College NYC, a blogger, and an author. What can their hairstyles tell us about their lives? Learn how you can know God personally. That's one reason why at times the Spirit may appear to be a person. The question as to how to reconcile the encounter with God in this threefold figure with faith in the oneness of God, which was the Jews and Christians characteristic mark of distinction from paganism, agitated the piety of ancient Christendom in the deepest way. The doctrine of the Trinity is so important because it, perhaps, describes the very essence of God more than any other doctrine. It just doesn't compare to the complexities of the Trinity. [Solved] 1. Why is the concept of Holy Trinity confusing for some How is God one? It may not be the cleanest or most satisfying answer to say that we cannot fully understand God, so we need to learn to accept it, but it is part of the answer. A. Historically, it's led Christians to believe that each person of the Trinity is only part God, only becoming fully God when they come together. Asar was a revered king who was murdered by a usurper but became king of the afterlife, or spiritual realm. An ordinary man may indeed have a wife, children and a father, but he changes his role depending on whom he is interacting with. How can God be both one and three? We can see clearly here that God is talking about sending His spirit to talk to us. It is confusing because, you are seeing three (3) different people or symbols. The words 'the Trinity' are the English equivalent of the Latin word Trinitas, which was coined by the early Christian writer Tertullian. And now the Sovereign Lord and his Spirit have sent me with this message." The roles of father and son fit Asar and Heru, Williams writes. He is Our Father who desires to be with his children intimately, but he is also in heaven reigning over the earth (Matthew 6:9). Give a pastor a personal discipleship library. Understanding the Holy Trinity - Learn Religions Wayne Grudem explains: But if each person is fully God and has all of Gods being, then we also should not think that the personal distinctions are any kind of additional attributes added on to the being of God . The doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies.