Errr, not quite. These are all qualities of personhood. That leaves us with the modern definition of the word mystery. 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. Our mind distinguishes each of the three leaves (the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost), but at the same time recognizes they are one shamrock. While there are some illustrations which are helpful, we should recognize that no illustration is perfect. First, we have God. And that knowledge can feel liberating. And the Trinity is an essential doctrine to our understanding of God. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. These definitions express three crucial truths: (1) The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, (2) each Person is fully God, (3) there is only one God. We exist to worship God. The ancient church fathers at first simply acknowledged the Trinity without feeling the need to explain a theology of that understanding. Its okay for them to have a very limited understanding of God. Divide your group into three teams and give each group a sheet of butcher paper or poster. Here we will summarize some of the fruits of their labor. 92:8) and third person (he, his, him) singular pronouns (1 Kings 18:39). Ignore the urge to tie everything up with a nice little bow. Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. I think the major problem involves not distinguishing two different features of God. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. But he is not inferior in Gods divine essence. To confess that the Father, Son, and Spirit are equal in power of course means that one does not rule over the other in any way. 4:15), dying for our sins (1 Cor. The Trinity. 7:28; Ps. Two biblical teachings confirm the doctrine of the Trinity: How is that possible? If each Person of the Trinity is distinct and yet fully God, then should we conclude that there is more than one God? The Father and the Son are God almighty, omnipotent God. 40:18; Rom. In his second letter to the Corinthians, he bids farewell to them: "May the grace of the Lord Jesus, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Learn how you can know God personally. If it were the other way around and we understood God completely, how would he be the sovereign God? I might end with sharing a few analogies from nature. Go ahead and start with one of the object lessons above. A beautiful mystery. And all three members of the Trinity were involved. When he has gone further in his "explanation" of the Trinity than many have gone, he admits, "I am far from asserting this as any . Often it is objected that If Jesus is God, then he must have prayed to himself while he was on earth. But the answer to this objection lies in simply applying what we have already seen. Jesus dying on the Cross is one of the most important parts of His story. 3 in 1: A Picture of God This one is for anyone interested in using the apple object lesson. 3:17; 17:5; Luke 10:22; John 3:35; 10:15; 12:28; 17:1-26; 1 Tim. First of all I want to tell you that the Trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In other words, Christianity is unique among all other worldviews. know that I recognise only one God. Therefore each of the Persons into whose name we are to be baptized must be deity. We can never completely understand the Trinities one essence and three Persons. He realized Scripture alone is the only way we know about the Trinity (1 Cor. He is one in essence. What we have seen so far provides a good basic understanding of the Trinity. Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. 11:3336). This is just an egg, or an apple, or H2O. Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach. This leads us to investigate more closely a very helpful definition of the Trinity which I mentioned earlier: God is one in essence, but three in Person. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. The best way to teach the Trinity to ANYONE who is confused is with an object lesson. God the Holy Spirit is the warmth you feel from the sun. They are different Persons, not three different ways of looking at God. There would only be a contradiction if we said that God is three in the same way that He is one. Omnipotence (Jer. 1:17; Dan. A Christian would still be expected to understand it. The Trinity is like an egg. The Trinity is the perfect loving community of three Persons. Clearly, he appreciated a plurality within the Godhead. That is why any discussion of the Trinity is based on Scripture (Ps. 12:32; 28:19; Luke 3:22), There is one God and three Gods (a contradiction), God is one person and three persons (a contradiction), God has one nature and three natures (a contradiction), There is a functional order within the Trinity, Bowman, R Jr. The Biblical Basis of the Doctrine of the Trinity. Blue Letter Bible, https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/bowman_robert/trinity/trinity.cfm#trin_1 Accessed: 1/20/2022. the one who is not a Christian. Then share them with another Christian or genuine seeker. But analogies cannot entirely explain the mystery of God. 4:47), In Hebrews (Heb. Have a great discussion about it! He is beyond us. Why, if they are ALL God? Trinity may be a new term for you and can be confusing even for Christians to explain to others. We begin with a brief discussion of the doctrine in historical context, explaining more fully the nature of the problem it raises. Being Gods child, we can worship the Father and Jesus through the Spirit (John 4:2324; Phil. This is one of the books of the Torah. The doctrine of the Trinity is considered to be one of the central Christian affirmations about God. This can only be if they share one essence. As a result, Jesus death covered or atoned for our sins (2 Cor. You cant find an earthly match for this concept. We are referring to two different features of God: (1) his singular essenceor natureand (2) three Persons. 3. The Holy Spirit was moving or hovering over the face of the waters (Gen. 1:2). 1. The Bible teaches the Trinity beginning with the days of creation. But how can finite humans know anything about Gods infinite essence? But its not a mystery that can or should! Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? God is like the skin because He protects us. God the Father, Jesus His Son, with the Holy Spirit, they are three in one! The word Trinity is never explicitly mentioned in the Bible; however, countless scriptures mention all three forms of God. The personhood of each member of the Trinity means that each Person has a distinct center of consciousness. 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. One God? Among the worlds religions, the Christian faith is unique. And confusing ones. The Trinity was present in the atonement at the cross. Many other verses concurrently list the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity - Explained. So God is one what but three whos.. Neither should we think of the Persons as being defined by attributes added on to the being of God. 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. This is one possibility of explaining it. 2:34; Heb. In regards to the Trinity, we use the term Person differently than we generally use it in everyday life. For instance, the Trinity does not mean that: Instead, we need to clearly distinguish two categories (Persons and essence). It's so simple, it fits on one page. And certainly not if it were a contradiction. Theologians have pointed out that if it were not true, the Bible would be unreliable, Christ would not be divine, and His death on the cross would not atone for our sins, being merely the death of a martyr. 3:19; Eph. 4; 14; Jon. Conclusion: Scripture teaches the Trinity. Is God the same as Jesus? Orthodox Christian theology has always affirmed that the one true God is triune in nature. "Economic" has to do with the history of salvation, and discusses the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the sending and mission of salvation. 4 Visual Ways To Explain The Trinity To A Child. 5:21), making it possible for us to have a relationship with God. As long as a shape has those three angles that add up to 180 degrees, it doesnt matter what the angles degrees are. However, the Bible teaches us enough about these mysteries that we can apprehend them. It starts with a whisper. That is ok when it comes to rocks and triangles. Remember, the nature or essence of an entity is the property or attributes that make it what it is. Another serious error people have made is to think that the Father became the Son, who then became the Holy Spirit. 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. Look at what the Bible clearly shows: that there is one God ( Deuteronomy 6:4) that the Father is called God ( Ephesians 4:6 ), that Jesus (the Son) is called God ( Titus 2:13) and existed with God before creation ( John 1:1; 17:4) and the Holy Spirit is attributed . The Father is not one-third of the being of God, He is all of the being of God. The relationship between essence and Person, then, is as follows. In other words, there is one God who exists as three distinct Persons. But the Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He (see John 14:26; 16:7-15; Acts 8:16). The early church absolutely believed and taught the belief in a God who was three-in-one. More posts you may like r/TrueChristian Do Trinity Crafts/Printables. Ive been thinking about it a lot, doing some research to see how people smarter than I have explained the Trinity, and come to a better understanding of the Trinity andhow to explain the Trinity in simpler terms. Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. Rather than let that frustrate you, let it encourage you. 1:3), Demonstrated divine sovereignty over nature (Matt. Thats why they wrote words like we find inJob 11:7-8, "Can you fathom the depths of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? Three separate beings, all rolled into one entity. What is the essence of a triangle? Before anything was created he begat his Logos as a person distinct from himself. Yet most Christians have difficulty explaining the Trinity clearly and Biblically. 139:711; Jer. Use Objects As Visual Aids. The important difference between complexity and incomprehension: If Christianity was something we were making up, of course, we could make it easier. 3:6. . 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! ), "If God was small enough for my brain to fully understand, He wouldnt be big enough to save me!, The authors of the Bible understood this. Each of the persons is distinct from the other in relation (Economic Trinity), yet each is identical in essence (Ontological Trinity). 4. God is infinite. Then, ask them to write words on the poster that make up the character of God. The substance of God is God, not a bunch of ingredients that taken together yield deity. The apple one is kind of cool. For example, it says of Christ that in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). In the early 2000s, people began using a new approach called "deep . Unfortunately, there are many illustrations which are not simply imperfect, but in error. This triune God (or Trinity) began to allude to this aspect of His nature right in Genesis 1:26-27. Third, notice that although the three divine Persons are distinct, we are baptized into their name (singular), not names (plural). 5:2), Miracles (Ex. Answer. The doctrine of the Trinity states that God exists as one God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. As Christians, we derive our concept of person from the relations in the Trinity. For example: One of the most common mistakes people make is to think of the Holy Spirit as some force ala Star Wars. But the Holy Spirit is most assuredly a person. Subjection and subordination do not mean inequality. 1:2), Jesus as God (Titus 2:13), and the Holy Spirit as God (Acts 5:3-4). Matthew 12:28. For instance, the Father is the first person of the Trinity. His function is superior to that of the Son and the Holy Spirit. To start, let me define what I mean when I say persons. Personhood is having intellect, emotions, and a will. The Trinity consists of one being revealed in three distinct persons. Thats the one we think of as the Father. "It has been said that there have been four centuries when the church's understanding of the person of Christ has been most under attack. The Trinity is like an egg or apple. Now we will turn our attention to showing the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are persons.. He was "begotten, not made," and he was of the same substance or essence ( homoousios) as the Father. This doctrine is absolutely essential to New Testament Christianity. Paul unequivocally taught Jesus is God (Col. 2:9). As a mom to three kids under 8, an instructional coach, and a former classroom teacher, I know a thing or two about how public schools REALLY work and the challenges we face in the United States. In Hinduism, the trinity (Trimrti, or The Three Forms) is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. And yet, we run into the same problem again, because God isnt made up of parts. He exists as a Trinity. 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. The New Testament lists all three Persons of the Trinity simultaneously, 6. Just like anything else, some kids have to work hard for what comes easily to, Read More 15 Powerful Self Esteem Activities for Kids to Do at Home and in SchoolContinue. There will always be some level of mystery to this, but when you talk about the being/nature/essence as God and the persons/expressions as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit I think we get at least a little bit closer to beginning to comprehend something we can never fully comprehend. God the Holy Spirit. Secondly I'd like you to read this verse with me from the Bible. God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. While no church is perfect, the Trinity is still the model for the churchs unity (John 1:2123). For instance he: Jesus has all the features that ensure he, too, is a person. Christs resurrection is variously attributed to: Multiple verses distinguish each member of the Trinity. After understanding the difference between essence and personhood, most objections evaporate! From our understanding of the Trinity (a social being), we recognize that a person is a relational being, not just someone with a mind, a will, and . First, we have God. So, in this article, we will look at where the term originated. Christ through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God.. Why? . A rumor is started, and it spreads like wildfire. Below are several of the most popular ones. Each person of the Trinity is equally and fully God, distinct from the others, and yet they remain just one God. That is where I go back to the starting point I mentioned above. We hate SPAM. While the three members of the Trinity are distinct, this does not mean that any is inferior to the other. This verse accurately states the doctrine of the Trinity that God is One God in three Persons. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. After all, theyre good questions. Baker Books, 1995, pp. 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). We then turn to the most important strategies that have been developed by Christians to resolve this problem. Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. 19:26). . And we can delight in praying to the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit (John 14:1314; Eph. This is girl drama, and it can be extremely harmful to girls both mentally and emotionally. 2:11), speaks (Mark 13:11), testifies (Acts 20:23), reveals (1 Cor. Thats what faith is being content with our own confusion while still knowing that God is bigger than we can comprehend. Its okay to admit you dont know everything. But I hope you have learned that the Trinity is not contradictory. But Christianitys God is unique. That definition is a mouthful. Answer: Jesus came to lead us into relationship with the Father and that required the sacrifice of his own life because of our rebellion. 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. For example: God the Father is a person. . To understand more fully what God is like is a way of honoring God. Geisler, N. L., and R. E MacKenzie, R. E. Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: agreements and differences. That isGod is three Persons in onethe Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 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. The origin of the doctrine of the Trinity is the Bible . In fact, kids who have been in church for many years will probably have already heard one of these illustrations. To contemplate the Trinity is to lift up your heart and to "set your mind on the things above" (Col. 3:2). The three members of the unholy trinity are Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. We believe God is one in essence. 119; Prov. Looking for a great childrens Bible? But first, lets cover the basics. 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. God is one in a certain way (essence) and three in a different way (person). However, let me highlight some of the most significant passages that confirm monotheism: Are you interested in learning more about the Godhead? Are these just three different ways of looking at God, or simply ways of referring to three different roles that God plays? Within Gods one, undivided being is an unfolding into three personal distinctions. Lets apply what weve learned to the Trinity based on the graphic. Simply put: without three angles, theres no triangle! The next time you (or I) are asked to explain the Trinity, you could start with a 1-sentence definition and then unpack that definition. The Holy Trinity is 'the Center of Everything.'. The Hebrew word for God isElohim. "After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him.". 2:1011; Heb. Here is an indication of the divinity of the Word. Only older children will grasp the in one concept of H20. That's the one we think of as the Father. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. If you are a Christian, why not memorize some of this blogs verses? How can we pack more meaning and deeper, Read More Holy Week for Kids: How to Teach Beyond Easter SundayContinue, Not every child is born with tons of self esteem. The Trinity is a mystery beyond our comprehension (Isa. 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. It is crucial for properly understanding what God is like, how He relates to us, and how we should relate to Him. Answer. In John 1:1 it is affirmed that Jesus is God and, at the same time, that He was with God- thereby indicating that Jesus is a distinct Person from God the Father (cf. This is a limitation on God that doesnt acknowledge that God isalwaysthe Father,alwaysthe Son, andalwaysthe Holy Spirit. You can help us reach children and their families to know Jesus. He is three in Person. Why not plan on studying verses in each section to prove to yourself that the Bible does claim that God is a Trinity?