His problem with the trinity was not so much with biblical texts, and obviously so, because he did not accept the bible in the form it is in today as the word of god. Explain the trinity how to explain the holy trinity simply. It is a way of acknowledging what the bible reveals to us about god, that god is yet. On the other hand, any one analogy taken too far will not describe the trinity accurately. Thus, the holy spirit is revealed in scripture to possess the same infinite and divine nature as does the father and the son. Then, adoring, bend the knee, and confess the mystery. And the same goes for the second person in the trinity.
May, 2019 the trinity expresses the belief that god is one being made up of three distinct persons who exist in coequal essence and coeternal communion as the father, son, and holy spirit. The holy trinity is the belief that one god exists in three persons god the son, god the father and god the holy spirit. Apr 06, 2009 from bishop barrons dvd faith clips he died and met god, and he wasnt ready. Santa trinita is a fresco by the early italian renaissance painter masaccio. Stated differently, god is one in essence and three in person.
As i said, these statements seem to contradict one another. Christians are baptized in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit mt 28. Learn about the meaning of the holy trinity and how it can be explained so you can more easily understand how god can be three beings in. Its, the best conceptual explanation of the trinity ive seen. The trinity examined in this section of the message i want to examine some of the common questions about the trinity. What the catechism of the catholic church says on the trinity. Many people struggle with understanding the trinity. Its not, a unique way to describe the trinity that ive never heard before. The early christians clearly understood, as we do today, that the father, the son, and the spirit are three divine persons who are one divine being god. Interpretation of the holy trinity by masaccio one of the iconic works of renaissance art, the holy trinity with the virgin and saint john and donors 1428 can be seen in the dominican church of santa maria novella, in florence. On it everything else depends and from it everything else derives. I dont think any orthodox christian could approve of this explanation for all the reasons outlined above and below.
When we look at the egg as an example of the trinity, we must view it in its entirety. The trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. First, in respect unto the revelation and proposal of it in the scripture, to direct us unto the author, object, and end of our faith, in our worship and obedience. A highly creative piece, andrei rublevs troitsa russian for triune or trinity hails from the summit of a morethanthousandyearold iconographic tradition. All three persons in the trinity have relational names. God the father, god the son, and god the holy spirit. Bob rice answers the questions, who or what is god. If we take a look at our self, each human is made up of a mind, a body, and a soul, and yet we are still only one person.
The christian doctrine of the trinity holds that god is one god, but three coeternal consubstantial persons or hypostasesthe father, the son jesus christ, and the holy spiritas one god in three divine persons. Each leaf represented one of the three persons, but yet it was still only one shamrock. Here is a simple and biblical way to explain the trinity. Patrick explained the doctrine of the holy trinity to his flock in ireland by using the three leaves of the shamrock. The doctrine or concept of the trinity is central to most christian denominations and faith groups, although not all. Analogy is the theologians best friend in explaining the mysteries of the faith. Explaining the holy trinity of god the father, god the son jesus and god the holy spirit will be needed at some point when explaining the god of the bible to children, muslims, jehovahs witnesses and other nonbelievers.
However, this video does that, while at the same time refutes the. The doctrine of the trinity recognizes that god is one god, coexisting in three distinct persons of the father, son and holy spirit. The difficult doctrine of the trinity explained understandably. The best conceptual explanation of the trinity ive seen. In 1774 a man named ignaz franz wrote a hymn of praise to the trinity.
Verse three may serve as an apt conclusion to this message. For years christians have struggled to give a clear explanation of the trinity. That way were providing a simple, common language and framework for everything else were going to say or any analogies we use. The holy trinity is a title for god that explains gods ultimate nature. The word trinity comes from the latin word trinitas which means triunity.
God has revealed himself in scriptureas one god eternally existing in three persons. Holy father, holy son, holy spirit, three we name you. There are three really distinct persons father, son, and holy spirit. While in essence only one, undivided god we claim you. Christians worship god in the presence of christ and with the holy spirit within them. When reading these in different places in the bible, you become aware that although god is one he is also more than onegod, jesus, and. God is described with different words in the bible, a few of which translate into english as l ord, lord, the l ord almighty, god, god almighty and so forth. As you might have surmised, it is a trinitarian interpretation of gen 18. For all of eternity, the father, son and holy spirit have always been in relationship and communication with each other, yet not as three godsas one god. Magliola, continuing the rahnerian stance, goes on to explain that the divine persons necessarily relate. It is crucial for properly understanding what god is like, how he relates to us, and how we should relate to him. Because the trinity goes beyond our earthly experiences, analogies may be helpful in understanding it. Holy trinity lesson plan the religion teacher catholic. The trinity is a triunity, a unity of three, god the father, jesus, the son of god and the holy spirit.
The three persons are distinct, yet are one substance, essence or nature. The holy trinity is simply the true name for reality. You cannot be called the son unless you have a father. 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 and how to explain the trinity in simpler terms. Scholarly theological definitions and attempted explanations of the holy trinity or blessed trinity sometimes leave christians more bewildered than enlightened. Thus, christians believe that god is father, son, and holy spirit. The mystery of the holy trinity is the most fundamental of our faith. To introduce the concept of the trinity, tap into the students prior knowledge of st. The doctrine of the holy trinity explained and vindicated. Hence the churchs constant concern to safeguard the revealed truth that god is one in nature and three in persons. Christian trinity explained in 3 minutes father, spirit, son part 1.
We can be faithful followers of god and profess our faith in the holy trinity while it remains a mystery. When i explained that we, adults and children alike, cannot fully understand everything about the mystery of the holy trinity, the class seemed satisfied. The trinity is the term employed to signify the central doctrine of the christian religion. If the doctrine of the trinity is not true, it would seem to be blasphemy to speak so freely of the father, the son, and the holy spirit in one and the same breath. It is located in the dominican church of santa maria novella, in florence. Patrick used the shamrock to teach the irish about the trinity.
When my daughter was 5 we talked about the trinity, and she explained to me that its a hard doctrine for little kids like her younger brother to understand, and that its only older kids like her who truly understand it. Explaining the holy trinity of god the father, god the son jesus and god the holy spirit will be needed at some point when explaining the god of the bible to. Oct 15, 2010 common sense would tell you that the younger a child is, the harder it is to explain the trinity in an understandable way. Yet most christians have difficulty explaining the trinity clearly. Swbat use the symbols for the trinity to explain the mystery of the trinity. You cannot be called the father unless you have a child. From bishop barrons dvd faith clips he died and met god, and he wasnt ready. Jul 29, 2016 when we take the passages that are talking about a plurality in god together, we see there are actually three persons. In our material existence, the concept that god is one god, yet exists as three distinct persons, is foreign to us.
The doctrine of the blessed trinity may be considered two ways. Recently, i had an extensive discussion with a muslim about the trinity. The doctrine of the trinity means that there is one god who eternally exists as three distinct persons the father, son, and holy spirit. Jan 23, 2006 the doctrine of the trinity is foundational to the christian faith. The holy trinity, with the virgin and saint john and donors italian. Explain the trinity explaining the holy trinity of god the father, god the son jesus and god the holy spirit will be needed at some point when presenting the god of the bible to children, muslims, jehovahs witnesses and other nonbelievers. Well actually thats not too far from the truth doug, because the trinity doctrine actually you dont find the phrase trinity so to speak in the bible but the doctrine of the godhead, where jesus said baptize in the name of the father, son and holy spirit, you can find three distinct individuals outlined in the bible. Specifically, the trinity is the doctrine that god is one in substance greek. Understanding the biblical doctrine of the trinity godhead.