However, there are ways that God has chosen to talk to us. As i understand it, the Holy Spirit is both God and not God. 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. Answer: The extremely brief answer to your question is that origin of the doctrine of the trinity is the teaching of Jesus and the New Testament (with a little bit of support from the Old Testament). The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is a very important truth to understand because the Trinity is one of the most confusing and misunderstood concepts of Christianity. Christianity was birthed out of Judaism, which is strongly monotheistic, based on the testimony of the Old Testament scriptures. This only means that Christians are bonded and unified by God's . God is like H 2 O - like water. The difference between the persons of the Holy Trinity was to be relational only. Each of the three persons in the godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) possesses the same eternal and infinite . And the verses that were said in the lesson when I was growing up in the church I grew up in, they didn't make sense. As we review the writings of Paul, we see these doctrines . 2. Also, confusions are experienced by people who don't read the bible or haven't understood the bible at all. Although early Christian theologians speculated in many ways on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, no one clearly and fully asserted the doctrine of the Trinity as explained at the top of the main entry until around the end of the so-called Arian Controversy. answered: musa79. The Trinity is so confusing because it truly describes our Lord to limited human minds. Water can exist in liquid at room temperature. C. First of all I want to tell you that the Trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Every day faithful Jews recited, "The Lord is our God, the Lord is one.". And I feel. The Babylonians used an equilateral triangle to represent this three-in-one god, now the symbol of the modern three-in-one believers." "The Hindu trinity was made up of the gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The doctrine of the Trinity can be summarized in seven statements. Because that's what happens when one tries to mix in a man-made falsehood with a scriptural truth. 'triad', from Latin: trinus 'threefold') defines God as being 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 homoousion (essence). The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. If that concept, put in basic terms, sounds confusing, the flowery language in the actual text of the doctrine lends even more mystery to the matter: 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). The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father, but each of them are . It is also true that there were ancient pagan . This supplementary document discusses the history of Trinity theories. Since the Trinity cannot be fully understood, it cannot therefore be held to be certain. Regardless of religious persuasion you've probably heard of the holy trinity. This supplementary document discusses the history of Trinity theories. 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. That's a heresy called Tritheism. And you're also probably confused as to exactly what is the holy trinity. If you are a Christian, you have to understand that fundamental fact. Posted on Sunday, August 28, 2016. God is love. To think we will ever fully understand the Trinity is to make the mistake of thinking God is fully understandable. If that concept, put in basic terms, sounds confusing, the flowery language in the actual text of the doctrine lends even more mystery to the matter: Growing up, depending on your church background, you could have heard him referred to as the Holy Ghost, as an "it," or just a "good feeling." . It says, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. First of all, Christians don't believe in three Gods. The Trinity is like H2O. Even though the word "Trinity" is not found in . The feast of the Holy Trinity is the perfect occasion to explain this great mystery to your children. When we are seeing objects or people, we are giving them characters and recognized them as different entities. Second, we don't believe that the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are three "forms" of Godlike, steam, water and ice. The concept of person, although somewhat confusing and vague, is nevertheless necessary. Simply put, the Christian doctrine of the Trinity states that God is the union of three divine persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - in one divine being. In this example, a few common analogies of the Trinity are mentioned. Stated differently, God is one in essence and three in person. Choose one or two to discuss, if desired. Keep your explanation simple and marvel at the wonder of God together. God the Father created the Son and the Holy Spirit. 1. More precisely God's dynamic self-communication. 3. This is not . This is perhaps the most common analogy for the Trinity. SHOW ANSWER. When it comes right down to it, one of the most essential doctrines of the Christian faith is that Jesus is God. While the connection between each line in the triangle represents the eternal nature of . The Trinity is not comprised of parts . God is infinite. In the Trinity theory, God is one Being but three co-equal and co-eternal Persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As it makes clear, Also, doctrine of the Trinity goes hand in hand with the doctrine of salvation (e.g., the many things that Jesus said and did have no meaning if He is not God ). Each of the persons is distinct from the other in relation (Economic Trinity), yet each is identical in essence (Ontological Trinity). And the verses that were said in the lesson when I was growing up in the church I grew up in, they didn't make sense. (5) The Father is not the Son. The concept of the Holy Spirit can be confusing. Its three equal sides perfectly capture the co-equality of the Trinity and what it means to be three different persons but a single God. But he is also the King, reigning over us. Nowhere in the bible did god ever hinted his nature to be a trinity. If that concept, put in basic terms, sounds confusing, the flowery language in the actual text of the doctrine lends even more mystery to the matter: God is infinite. Answers. The Son volunteered tocome to earth in human form, with the agreement between He and the Father that He would deliver the message and His suffering and sacrifice would be the price to atone for the sins of humankind. Our purpose here is to see in review some of the leading statements of the Magisterium, while pointing out some features of each . So powerful has the belief in the Trinity become that it is the litmus test for whether or not a person is considered to be orthodox. This passage offers a paradigm statement of the orthodox understanding of the Trinity. The Church Fathers, especially Gregory of Nyssa, proposed a significant revision of classical metaphysics. Because it is a mystery, the Holy Trinity is perplexing to some Christians and non-Christians alike. The Triangle. The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (Latin: Trinitas, lit. Each of the persons is distinct from the other in relation (Economic Trinity), yet each is identical in essence (Ontological Trinity). God has revealed himself to us. Introduction. He is beyond us. For example, you are one being and one person. And what had always confused me was that I didn't really see that written in the Bible. All persons are beings, but not all beings are persons. 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). Answer (1 of 12): Why is the concept of the Holy Trinity confusing for some Christians and non-Christians alike? The Son "proceeds" from the Father, and the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father and the Son.". Amen.". He is God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. A Trinity doctrine is commonly expressed as the statement that the one God exists as or in three equally divine "Persons", the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (3) The Son is God. They weren't really relating to this concept of the Trinity. First, we have God. Introduction. What we don't mean. The holy trinity is important, however the issue of threeness-in-oneness is not that Paramont. It's like a man who is a father, son and a husband: one man, three functions. Teaching of the Church. It's like the three stages of water: ice, liquid and vapour. Three persons, one God.". Resist the temptation to explain it like a theologian. The Bible is clear. Both faiths worship the same God and follow comparable ethical and . Judaism and Christianity share many ideas and behaviors. Why not try together to think of other . This seems to be a situation where the answer is C, both A and B. It cannot be done in a simple and rational manner. So the concept of the "Tri-unity" is entirely useless and needlessly confusing, and has no basis in reality or scripture. However, this is a grossly simplified and to some extent even misleading answer, so you deserve quite a bit better than that. It is confusing because, you are seeing three (3) different people or symbols. This has been clearly expressed throughout the New Testament. The Holy Spirit Is Part of the Trinity. According to The Watchmen Foundation, the acceptance or rejection of the Trinity idea tops their list as to what they consider to be a cult.If a group does not believe in the Trinity, they are considered a cult. 1. yet another for the Holy Spirit. Children's Sermon (John 16:12-15)The Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Object Lesson. It is both a separate entity and a part of God at the same time. Choose one or two to discuss, if desired. Secondly I'd like you to read this verse with me from the Bible. Most Christians and non Christians centres ultimately the concept of holy trinity on the three-in-one issue. He is beyond us. Although early Christian theologians speculated in many ways on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, no one clearly and fully asserted the doctrine of the Trinity as explained at the top of the main entry until around the end of the so-called Arian Controversy. The biggest issue with saying the concept of the Trinity, or that how it functions, is something outside the bounds of human logic is that it means that humans cannot then logically believe in the Trinity. If your child is older, he or she may have questions or want to dig deeper and that's okay! For the majority of Christian denominations, the Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost, is believed to be the third person of the Trinity, a Triune God manifested as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each entity itself being God. In the beginning was the Word (God the Son), and the Word was with God (God the Father) and the Word was God (God the Son). In this context, the three persons define who God is, while the one . All of the creedal formulations and theological jargon and . In this sense, the three persons are fully and totally open to each other as a unity, as One God. The Holy Trinity is the biblical, monotheistic doctrine that there is only one God in three distinct co-equal, co-eternal Persons: the Father, the Son ( Jesus Christ ), and the Holy Spirit; three Persons of the one nature and being. (4) The Holy Spirit is God. But a dog is one being and zero persons. Trying to "fully understand" God is like a 2-year-old trying to "fully understand" the complexities of relationships, marriage, and . Why is the identity of God so complex and confusing? Trying to "fully understand" God is like a 2-year-old trying to "fully understand" the complexities of relationships, marriage, and . It is never not God. 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. In this paper, I consider the philosophical consequences of one tradition in Trinitarian theology, which emphasizes that each of the persons of the Trinity is wholly God. Answer (1 of 12): Since the early days of the Common [Christian] Era (C. E.) it has been taught and believed that God is a "Trinity." Several Christian denomination teach that God is a Trinity and is still being taught and believed down to this very century. The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (Latin: Trinitas, lit. The triangle is perhaps one of the earliest and simplest symbols that were associated with the Trinity. These three were said by the pagans to 'agree in one.'. Because an apple is truly a three-in-one object.And unlike the symbol of a shamrock, which simply shows that something can be both three AND one, an apple can actually provide an explanation for yet another characteristic of the Trinity: the uniqueness of each divine Person. The Trinity is not comprised of parts . It is useful because it allows us to fathom the idea of relationship, from which communication stems. (1) There is only one God. God has given us this truth through His Word, and the Trinity is important simply because the doctrine is revealed in Scripture. Many have explained this concept of the Godhead. Greet children, and discuss mysteries that are hard to grasp Hello, children of God! The Trinity, sometimes referred to as the Godhead, is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Why is the Trinity so difficult to understand? Simply put, the Christian doctrine of the Trinity states that God is the union of three divine persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - in one divine being. In this view, Jesus, together with the Father and the Spirit, is the Ultimate Reality; the uncaused Cause. The belief as so defined was reached only in the 4th and 5th centuries AD and hence is not . It's like a three leaf clover: one entity, but with three parts. The central Christian affirmations ab. Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. It is confusing because, you are seeing three (3) different people or symbols. There is alot of misconception about holy trinity, much of this confusion are actually misplaced. Are there things in life that confuse you? In this context, the three persons define who God is, while the one . 'triad', from Latin: trinus 'threefold') defines God as being 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 homoousion (essence). This does not support the Trinity doctrine. The Greek triad was composed of Zeus, Athena and Apollo. The history of the Church's doctrine on the Trinity reaches back to the earliest days of Christianity. In this example, a few common analogies of the Trinity are mentioned. However, this is not the big issue about God. Simply put, the Christian doctrine of the Trinity states that God is the union of three divine persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - in one divine being. The only mention of the Holy Spirit along with God the Father and Jesus Christ is II Corinthians 13:14. Those three persons are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. When correctly understood John 1:1 supports the truth that Jesus . Nontrinitarian Christians, who reject the doctrine of the Trinity, differ significantly from mainstream Christianity in their beliefs about the Holy Spirit. The Bible does have a very high view of Jesus. This scripture is greatly misinterpreted to support the false doctrine of the Trinity, but the fact is that it actually disproves the Trinity. The word "trinity" is a term used to denote the Christian doctrine that God exists as a unity of three distinct, simultaneous persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These explanations still leave most people confused. The faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Why is the concept of Holy Trinity confusing? The concept of Holy Trinity is the best, possibly only way, to achieve that. M. So explain to me what you understand. These definitions express three crucial truths: (1) the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, (2) each Person is fully God, (3 . To think we will ever fully understand the Trinity is to make the mistake of thinking God is fully understandable. Are there things in life that confuse you? The guiding principle has been the creedal declaration that the . Love is the core of God's divine essence. Here are four. When we are seeing objects or people, we are giving them characters and recognized them as different entities. The Doctrine of Trinity. That is why, it does not so much justify its concepts, such as a person or relation, but it rather assumes them and uses in explanation of the created reality. That's the one we think of as the Father. The concept of the Trinity is that we have God in three forms - a union of three. Heat it up, and it turns to vapor. Trinity is defined as the union of three divine persons (or hypostases), the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in one divinity, so that all the three are one God as to substance, but three Persons (or hypostases as to individuality)."Many might find the whole doctrine of trinity a very confusing one, in this paper; we will look at the reasons . God the Father created the universe and heavens, for the Son to oversee. Simply put, the Christian doctrine of the Trinity states that God is the union of three divine persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - in one divine being. With regard to the Trinity, there is one being, which is God, yet there are there Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That's the heresy called Modalism. Devotional: 5 Ways the Trinity Reveals God's Love. it IS confusing and irrational. (7) The Holy Spirit is not the Father. John 1:1. They use diagrams and analogies to explain how the One true God is three. They weren't really relating to this concept of the Trinity. A. It is not the Father, no, but it is still God. The word "trinity" is a term used to denote the Christian doctrine that God exists as a unity of three distinct, simultaneous persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Done. Throughout the Bible, we are taught that God is one thing. Thanks (11) Children's Sermon (John 16:12-15)The Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Object Lesson. The Trinity starts with the concept, deeply rooted in the Jewish Scriptures, that there is only one God. Abstract. It's difficult to comprehend how one God may exist in three forms. (6) The Son is the not the Holy Spirit. One must incorporate all sorts of. Unfortunately, most of them actually give us the wrong idea about what the Trinity is. My Starting Point for Trying to Explain the Trinity. It's like three parts of an egg: the shell, the white bit and the yolk. Every term in this statement (God, exists, as or in, equally divine, Person) has been variously understood. The Christian doctrine of the Trinity affirms that while God is one, He exists as three persons: The unknown God, creator and source of all life; Jesus Christ who has revealed the Father, and the Holy Spirit, the bond of love between Father and Son, who is always at work in transforming the world according to God's . This idea of . It tries to portray the relationship of the three as a triangle with equal sides, but this is false: the real relationship is a straight line down from god to the spirit to the human Jesus as it was for David. 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.". And what had always confused me was that I didn't really see that written in the Bible. I pay special attention to Leftow's claim that the persons of the Godhead must be divine in the same sense of the word 'divine' as the Godhead itself. It taught there is one nature in God, and that there are two processions, three persons, and four relations that constitute the Blessed Trinity. Some refer to Him as the Godhead. But the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one Thus, the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; and yet there are not three Gods, but there is one God.