Unfortunately, an analogy from the limited realm of creation may not be sufficient in explaining Gods nature. Who is God? Thankfully he isnt a cage-stage Calvinist about it all. Believing in the above 3 points leads all Christians to acceptance of the doctrine of the Trinity. There are some analogies that come close. We believe in only one true God in all existence, in all places, at all times. The Holy Spirit and Son do not send the Father. Each person is fully the one God, but is also distinct. Jesus loves us so much that he did not obliterate people who died, with power that set stars in the universe. The Egg Analogy - This claims to be a good representation of the Trinity because Eggs have three distinct parts: the shell, the yolk, and the whites. Similarly, in our aquatic analogy, water can appear in three different modes, depending on the environment, but the three are not co-existing. Among the most popular analogies for the Trinity, two in particular stand out; and most of the others resemble one of them. It is still H20, but just different forms. All three persons exist at the same moment in history. The idea that the Trinity can be compared to a shamrock is largely attributed to St. Patrick. It is so important that to deny the trinity is to deny Christianity. So comparing God to water isnt really as helpful as it seems on the surface. Or, we can quote Daniel Webster; a strong Christian- I do not pretend fully to understand the arithmetic of heaven now. . Modalism teaches that one God just changes forms or modes over the course of scripture. Thanks, Ann! ), The Son Phil. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John14:2, 3). The Unseen Father would have been put into Satans prison. If you're looking to dive deeper into God's word, here are 6 kinds of bible study tools and resources 9 Influential Female Leaders in the New Testament. The analogy explains that in the same way that one shamrock can have three leaves on it, the Trinity has three Persons that constitute one God. There was no relational deficiency that prompted God to create us. A certain YouTube page created a famous video titled "St. Patrick's Bad Analogies" (which can be found here), in which the historic St. Patrick meets charming villagers who deride him based on the analogies which he uses in the process of explaining the Holy Trinity. 4 Bad Analogies for the Trinity Justin Deeter This is a bad analogy because it fails at the truth that all three persons comprise the fullness of God. Similarly, light and heat are simply creations of the sun, yet it is the heresy of Arianism to claim that the Son or Spirit are mere creations of the Father. A chicken egg consists of a shell, a yolk, and an egg white, yet it is altogether one egg. They that dont have the Holy Spirit in them will talk like the Adversary. And the Holy Spirit is not the Father or the Son. The Unseen Father and Father that is seen existed at the same time. In other words, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have a unique and unbreakable unity, and their existence together is the being that is God. This was first used by Patrick of Ireland (yes there really was a Patrick of Ireland and he was a great guy), around 400 A.D. 2. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQLfgaUoQCw. Trinity is like a Shamrock (or an Apple or an Egg). Modalism, or Sabellianism, denies the three distinct Persons of the Trinity and claims that God is one Person who appears in different modes at different timesin the Old Testament He appeared as the Father, in the Gospels He appeared as the Son, and from Pentecost onwards He appears as the Holy Spirit. The three parts create a unified whole. Modalism denies the distinction of person in the trinity. Because Gods Person is unapproachable, the Spirit White acts as insulation, for we know that it is through the Holy Spirit that God can communicate, speak through and interact with mankind. The 3 Most Common "Trinity Analogies" (and their limitations) The three most common go-to analogies for explaining the Trinity are water, an egg, and the sun. Although he is one he has different roles to different people. The egg example, while not perfect or complete by any means, will still give us a basic understanding of the primary principle of Biblical Trinitarianism. The Trinity is a tri-unity, a unity of Three, - God the Father, Jesus, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. The word Trinity comes from the Latin word trinitas which means tri-unity. TO AVOID HERESIES, LET US LIVE BY WHAT HAS BEEN REVEALED TO US: 1. God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. The military would end up destroying themselves. This analogy actually teaches the heresy of modalism. It is the Fathers desire to join His Spirit with all of us as well for He has said They shall be My sons and daughters (II Corinthians 6:18). How to Explain the Trinity to Children | Free Printable How Helpful Are Analogies of the Trinity? - Kuyperian Commentary This error denies something central to God that makes Him God. It is not existing as 3 different parts (persons) at the same time. What portion of the analogy holds true with Church Teaching? Memory, Understanding, and Will. History, lifestyle, family, music, theology, scripture, literature, the saints, church history, parenting, politics, prayer, the pope, and more. That helps explain the concept quite well- the oneness, unity of God with the distinct three persons of God- Father, Son, and Spirit. H2O can only ever be one form at a time. Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. When we look at the egg as an example of the Trinity, we must view it in its entirety. We can admit it is a mystery and accept that our incomplete knowledge cannot fully comprehend it. Here many of the creeds help us in clearly articulating the trinity. That is why Moses said. Required fields are marked *. The yolk represents Gods Person, His Being, and His Holiness which generates Light that no man can approach (I Timothy 6:16). The egg example, while not perfect or complete by any means, will still give us a basic understanding of the primary principle of Biblical Trinitarianism. Time exists as 3 things: past, present, and future. Under Arianism Jesus is less than fully God. There are three different cloves that represent the three different persons of the trinity. Take a moment and give it a try. We Christians believe it on faith. God is not made up of 3 parts like the 3 parts of the egg. Depth isnt the same thing as height and height isnt the same thing as width, yet all three together are what comprise space. The best analogy for the Trinity (hold your stones) - The Project on The trinity is like water. What happens when an egg hatches? The Trinity Guarding The Gospel But if they give us a warped idea of what they are trying to explain, they arent helpful illustrations. When we look at the egg as an example of the Trinity, we must view it in its entirety. They are equally eternal, powerful, sovereign, and worthy of worship. It can also be a liquid and called water. It is the Fathers desire to join His Spirit with all of us as well for He has said They shall be My sons and daughters (II Corinthians 6:18). Well, the egg analogy, when applied to God, suggests that only one being exists but this being exists in three different parts. 1:8-12; 1 Pet. Each part of the egg make up only one portion of the wholethe yolk is not the fullness of the egg. H2O can exist in three forms: liquid, gas and solid. We recommend you adhere these emblems to your vestments by mounting on the material with fabric glue and then stitching them . Despite its potential obscurity, Trinity Sunday is a great occasion for me to revisit an old article on the Trinity. And whos the Holy Spirit? There would be three thrones. But its all water. The Bible reveals that each person of the Trinity has unique roles, relationships, and functions which are distinct from one another. He began to play the organ as a chorister in England, before continuing his studies in Qubec and France. Copyright 2023 Christian Today. This description that all persons are fully God is called the Ontological Trinity. So God performs 3 different roles/relationships but 1 God. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)One of my Sunday School students said, "How could Jesus (God) enter Mary's stomach (womb) and be born? Its downright hard to understand. THE TRUTH IS: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three different parts or components of God, but the . What is wrong with what I said? Haydn Lea is an Associate Pastor in Queensland, and is currently studying his Master of Arts (Theology). This would make Jesus something less than fully God. For example, I would say, "God is like an egg." 3 - The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct persons. Each one is fully 100% God. Yet it appears to be almost entirely misunderstood within contemporary evangelical circles. Here are a few of the many verses giving evidence of the Trinity in the Bible: Genesis 1:1&2- In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. The Holy Spirit was an active participant in the creative process. Thought of Tim Its amazing to think that everything will be so clear when we het to Heaven! The Holy Trinity - A Scientific Analogy - The Fra Angelico Institute The mystery is in the "how" this is accomplished; something we will finally understand in heaven. That is why Moses said. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. While it captures the idea that God is one, it doesnt do such a good job of showing how God is three and one at the same time. Celebrating Easter Is About so Much More Than One Hour on Sunday. A Simple Way to Explain the Trinity - Keith Ferrin When the Bible talks about God, it may be referring to Jesus Christ in a specific instance, the Holy Spirit in another and God the Father in a third occasion. Augustine of Hippo/On The Trinity - Wikiversity Understanding the Trinity - Busy Blessed Women This view teaches that three separate beings exist. And a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. God the Father spoke from heaven and spoke of His Son, Jesus. Modalism teaches that the trinity is not three distinct persons, but just different modes that God reveals himself to human beings. I think the analogy of the Sun works well. But, when it's heated, it turns into a gas (steam) and, when it's frozen, it turns into a solid (ice). The early church labeled this view "tritheism". The egg white represents Gods Spirit. The trinity is like this man. So much of what we know about what God does is wrapped up in who He is. La da dee dee dum dum (I couldnt remember the in-between parts). The Father is fully God; Jesus is fully God and the Holy Spirit is fully God. It is the Central Mystery of our Christian faith. However, it breaks down on the level of equality: No one keeps or eats the shell of an egg. The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the primary tenants of the Christian faith. Relationship Analogy (Husband/Son/Father) God is like a person with different relationships just as a man can be a Dad, but also someones Son, and also someones Husband. His motto was that "There was a time when the son did not exist". In trying to describe what they saw in the pages of the Bible, the early church decided to use the word person to describe the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And then theres Jesus, Gods son. Holy Trinity, the downtown Greek Orthodox church that was partially destroyed by fire 11 years ago, was a special place for 57-year-old Georgiou. They are three in one egg. When they used the word person, they didnt mean it in the same way that we do today. The teaching of the trinity is clearly taught in Scripture and must be preserved as such. Sending of another: The Father sends the Son, and both the Father and Son send the Holy Spirit. So if all of these explanations are heretical, what is a good analogy? But based on what you know that Jesus is born so that He can save people from their wrongdoings, will you trust Him to forgive you. Explaining the Trinity | Catholic Answers Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:9). The idea that the Trinity can be compared to a shamrock is largely attributed to St. Patrick. Here's a look at six explanations for why so many people truly believe 3 Ways to Experience The Good Life in Jesus. A good example would be an electrical cord. God is much bigger than what we can understand yet He is close enough to us so that we can know some things about Him, though not completely and not everything. Im giving God the credit for stirring this memory, and am extremely grateful. The unseen Father is in Christs mind. Few if any have every tried to teach the heresy of Tritheism, but it needs to be mentioned anyway. However, keep in mind that the one being. But Jesus makes it clear in John 10:30- I and the Father are One. The Greek word for one means one thing, not one person. They are united in their essence (spirit, nature) but not identical persons. We came up with several practical implications of this doctrine. The Holy Trinity Easy as One, Two, Three | by John K Adams Jesus is fully God. Unfortunately, there is a problem with this view of the Trinity. Each side is co-equal with the others, yet, each side is necessary. None of the 3 are less divine than the others. Father, Son, Holy Sprit : 3 persons, 1 great relationship, Copyright 2023 Fervr | Terms of Service. Yet there is still only one God we serve. This analogy sounds pretty good, but it is fatally flawed in that is describes the Son and Spirit as creations of the Father. These hand embroidered emblems are made with metallic gold-plated thread with silver content, printed on canvas. The Trinity is like an egg. ANALOGY OF CHARACTERS. This is the Christmas paradox. Lost will be ashes under the feet of the righteous. Finally, I would suggest that the mere fact that we cannot understand the full depth of the Trinity (even with our myriad of analogies) has implications. The following verses attest to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). When we think about influential New Testament leaders, most names are male. The analogy breaks down because I can simultaneously be a father, husband, and son to any one person. I know in the past Ive used analogies that werent the best (more on those later.) Like modalism, the "three beings" view was rejected by the early church. The Holy Spirit is the shell, Jesus is the egg white, and the Father is the egg yolk. Now God can be in you by His Spirit! Unfortunately, most of them actually give us the wrong idea about what the Trinity is. Stars were made on the forth day. In the same way, water is all the same molecular structure, expressing itself in three different modes. The Holy Trinity, one of the five Dogmas of the Church, is an extraordinary and unfathomable mystery. Revelation 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. That would not be had God be three persons. When we see them as three individual spirits, (God is one Spirit John 4:24), then that is the blasphemy of polytheism which is the worship of more than one God. The Father is fully God; Jesus is fully God and the Holy Spirit is fully God. The Holy Spirit and Son do not send the Father. This is a place to find encouragement and hope from God's Word as you move through your busy life. If God has existed for all eternity in a perfectly loving Triune relationship, then it shows He is completely self-sufficient and requires no further relationship in order to complete or satisfy Himself. Though I find the video to be hilarious and often . I dont know how our majestic God feels about being compared to watermelons and eggs, but He is also a loving Father, and like any father, I believe God would seek to provide simple explanations so His little children can understand. When we separate them and view them as individual deities, that is the error of tritheism, which is the worship of three individual gods as one. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John14:2, 3). One popular and simple illustration of the Trinity is the egg. So cool that God imparted that song in your mind and heart before you even wrote this blog post! Therefore, we would rightly say, within the Ontological Trinity, there is no variation or distinction made. 3:15; John 17:1-4, The Holy Spirit Acts 5:3-4; John 14:16-17, 26; John 16:7-13. His ways are not my ways! Some who deny the Trinity claim 1+1+1=3, and therefore claim we worship three Gods. There's a simple reason they don't work: The Trinity, as such, isn't like anything in creation. The egg shell is the image of the yolk and the white. This is why Jesus said, He who has seen Me, has seen the Father (John 14:9). 2. How so? God is like H2Olike water. He explains why the doctrine of the Trinity is essential to the gospel even if it seems abstract or confusing, highlights why all analogies and metaphors are of limited value when thinking about the Godhead, and responds to the . Jesus was standing in the Jordan River, His Father speaks from heaven above, and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him as a dove. It is a miraculous invention, the egg. Genisis 1:17, KJV. If the sun exists, there is also day; if nothing of this be manifest, it is impossible that the sun should be there. Light comes from God. Since these bad analogies tend to lead to a heresy, we will examine the main three areas of heresy concerning the trinity. The Holy Spirit is Christs spirit in us guiding us into all truth. The trinity is Like a man who is a father, husband, and son. That is heaven in a person. It is still important that we have some understanding of the concept, however. The shell, while important, is no longer needed. For example, triangles are not the kinds of things that are personal. This analogy is an invalid comparison to the Trinity and is a heresy called PARTIALISM. It should bring us to realise that we truly are finite creatures standing before a sovereign, transcendent, divine mystery. Scripture however, doesnt depict God this way. A good follow up verse to help explain is the baptism of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 8:6: Yet for us there is but one God.. Jesus is the Holy Spirit that saves us. Space consists of three things: height, width, and depth. Do you know why I keep saying God is like an egg (or H2O) but God is not like an egg (or H2O)? But the Bible is CLEAR in its teaching. We worship one God who exists in three persons. Light comes from God. Learn how your comment data is processed. Water has three states: solid, liquid, and gas. The trinity is not a contradiction, but a paradox. One of the more traditional analogies is to the states of water. The apple seed alone is not an apple. God is Great, I always try to figure out how to explain it to my Sunday school kids and they get confused which i get, how would you explain it to them? Misunderstanding 1: The transforming trinity Augustine's typical dialectic is to move from the exterior realities of creation to the interior reality of the human soul where he hoped to encounter God in the image of God, damaged as it is by the fall. 2A) Dave is a father of four children: three boys and a . Matthew 3:16-17- As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. If the Sun existed from eternity past then so were the light rays from the Sun. The Son intercedes as our High Priest before the Father. This analogy explains that the Father is like the sun. We have the creeds for just that reason. Discover the richness of the old yet living 2,000-year-old religion which built the West. How would you explain the Trinity if someone asked you right now? But remember, it is much better to let Scripture teach the 3 points above which establish the doctrine of the Trinity than to rely on analogies. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each called Jehovah (or Spirit of Jehovah), given divine attributes, and are distinguished from one another. No analogy is perfect, but we want to be careful of using wrong ones that may confuse people. Why All Analogies of the Trinity Fall Short - Joshua's Pen Seven Simple Facts About the Trinity - biblequery.org To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresyTrinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity. A, distinguishes himself from others by saying me, mine, you, yours, etc. A. is the whole nature or essence of something. Unfortunately, no analogy is perfect. show me your glory. Tritheism denies that there is only one God. Explaining the Holy Trinity. One is a musical chord with three notes. This is the one I used long ago when trying to explain the Trinity to a group of 1st-5th graders. There is one GOD in three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), 2. The analogy breaks down because the three cloves are overly distinct and cannot represent the unity of God. He has been a member of the Royal Australian Air Force since 2007, and is now training to be an Air Force Chaplain. All Scripture is taken from the NIV version unless otherwise specified, Author Ignace Franz, translated by Clarence A. Walworth. One thing that Ive found helpful is using the Trinity to illustrate truths we know about God. It does not represent 3 persons existing simultaneously. They say that three separate beings exist, 2. There have been many attempts to explain the Trinity the relationship between God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. And when the time comes when death is allowed to crack your shell in its final hour and your believing soul is released; the Spirit of God that holds you will carry you in His arms to your heavenly home because In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. Examples of these different roles would be: The Incarnation: Only the Son became incarnate, took on flesh. He has the world and our individual lives within His supremely capable hands. The visual form of God seperated from Jesus on the cross. There is only one egg with three different parts. That is a holding pen for final judgment. Water is water, but exists in three different forms: liquid, frozen, or steam. Yet, these persons are not separate from one another. Its a very common explanation within the church to try to explain how God, who clearly exhorts His followers to preserve His supreme oneness (Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 4), could also be identified with Jesus (Titus chapter 2 verse 13), and the Holy Spirit (Acts chapter 5 verses 3-4). Its impossible to be an Orthodox Christian without professing belief in the Triune nature of God. He also knows how to perfectly love us. . From time to time, Doctors of the Church used analogies, but with care. The Trinity is not real in my life because of superior knowledge or insight. He has not yet revealed some mysteries (what did Jesus do in His childhood, when will He return, what does the word Selah mean in the Old Testament- and so many more.). God does not play three roles.. Music - The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Quebec, Canada Each separate being is co-equal, co-powerful and co-eternal. "The Egg and i - A Simple Explanation of The Trinity" - cafe Logos Here are 8 Bible Characters Who Should Be More Famous. The Council's definitions concerning the Trinity are really as easy as one, two, three four. We find it in all four Gospels. Yet others have thought that H20 (water) shows us the Trinity since H20 can be three things: solid (ice), liquid (running water) and vapor (steam). RELATED: What Does The Bible Say About Ghosts? These things are referred to as the Economic Trinity. A single molecule cannot simultaneously exist in three different states. What is the Trinity? Living Theologically Surely this is a better understanding of the water analogy! To become the people we were always created to be. This analogy is an invalid comparison to the Trinity and is a heresy called PARTIALISM. Analogies often fall short. The Egg- One egg has three parts: shell, whites, and yolk . The Holy Spirit is the shell, Jesus is the egg white, and the Father is the egg yolk. Therefore the eternal brightness shines forth before Him, and co-exists with Him, in that, existing without a beginning, and always begotten, He always shines before Him; and He is that Wisdom which says, I was that wherein He delighted, and I was daily His delight before His face at all times.. I go to prepare a place for you. Lord of all, we bow before thee. The Cathedral - The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Quebec, Canada RELATED: The Biblical Principle Of Baptism By Fire. [Solved] Erickson discusses "God's Three-in-Oneness." What are the Each one is fully 100% God. What does that really mean? Yet we do not have three gods but ONE God. We can say that the first is egg the shell, the second is egg the albumen and the third is egg the yoke. Church Adornments & Worship: Vestment Emblems - Monastery Icons Jesus Person is joined to the Father by the Fathers Holy Spirit, because Gods Spirit is also Jesus Spirit - "But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. Your email address will not be published. The Son is not the Father or the Spirit. Heat it up, and it turns to vapor. Bach, and has released two previous CDs, one . As John 1:18 says, Jesus is "the only begotten God, in the bosom of [God] the Father.". Being the brightness of the eternal Light, He Himself also is absolutely eternal. In order to accomplish this union with God and man, He allowed His Shell to be broken with the weight of our sins to cleanse our souls so His holiness can approach, for God cannot look upon sin (Habakkuk 1:13). Therefore, in this context, God is the what and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the who. It is not important merely for the sake of tradition, or because the word itself is taught in the Bible (. Jesus Person is the image of Gods Person (Hebrews 1:3), and the Invisible Spirit of the Father that is in Him - God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (II Corinthians 5:19). Adorn your liturgical vestments with classic images from the Monastery Icons collection. Each character of the trinity has in one another (cf. His ways are higher than ours, but isnt that a comfort?! For instance, we know that God is perfectly loving. Located in the heart of Quebec's historic district, it is a source of inspiration for visitors from around the world. The Church should not forget that these heresies still exist in the present day and is even being taught by some priests and catechists. And for a mere mortal to have dared invent it and be able t. in that He is not made up of three parts one part () the Father, another part () Jesus Christ and a third part () the Holy Spirit. This is a general rule when we study this Mystery using our human weakness since it is absolutely impossible for our human minds to comprehend the Divine.

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