There are many mysteries to our faith. In other words, God may manifest Himself as the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. He has the world and our individual lives within His supremely capable hands. Located in the heart of Quebec's historic district, it is a source of inspiration for visitors from around the world. From time to time, Doctors of the Church used analogies, but with care. All Scripture is taken from the NIV version unless otherwise specified, Author Ignace Franz, translated by Clarence A. Walworth. How would you explain the Trinity if someone asked you right now? They have a common purpose in making harmonious music, but each note is its own separate entity. Another analogy that Tim remembers, being Irish Catholic, is the analogy of the shamrock with its three parts. The scientific analogy that will be provided in a few moments is truly inadequate to describe the Holy Trinity. 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). It is still important that we have some understanding of the concept, however. It is still H20, but just different forms. At times God is Father, or Son, or Holy Spirit. The Unseen Father is in Christs mind. He completed a doctorate in 1990, looking at the question of harmonic rhythm in the organ music of J.S. There have been many attempts to explain the Trinity the relationship between God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. One day, however, the image will be clear. But if they give us a warped idea of what they are trying to explain, they arent helpful illustrations. Some think of God as H 2 O, which is sometimes a solid (ice), sometimes a liquid (water), and sometimes a gas (steam). 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. Each side is co-equal with the others, yet, each side is necessary. Another wrong illustration is using ourselves: I am one person, but also a wife, mother, and writer. 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.. 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). [Solved] Erickson discusses "God's Three-in-Oneness." What are the The white of an egg is the connection between the yolk and the shell. In the same way, water is all the same molecular structure, expressing itself in three different modes. When we use analogies, we need to indicate these things so as to not lead to heresies, A Catholic and Filipino writer interested in theology, philosophy, liturgy, politics, and law. Jesus then becomes a created being and thus less than fully God. If water is inadequate, there are a wide array of alternative analogies we can turn to in modern theological parlance. How can we explain what it means to have three persons in one being? How can God be Three in One? The Trinity for Kids - Part 2 - Prepared to Answer What Is the Trinity | Holy Trinity in the Bible | Explore God The Trinity is a tri-unity, a unity of Three, - God the Father, Jesus, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. In other words, one stuffness. However, He exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. There is one GOD in three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), 2. The three parts create a unified whole. For sure, our everyday experience does not include using our finite minds to understand the infinite! Others compare God to an egg, which is part shell, part white, part yolk. How so? Just as water changes forms so too is the trinity. In using analogies, we need to acknowledge the demerits and limitations of the said analogy. He has been a member of the Royal Australian Air Force since 2007, and is now training to be an Air Force Chaplain. Trinity Egg Analogy . In one egg you have the white, the yoke, and the shell composing one full egg. 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 Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, constructed between 1800 and 1804, is the first Anglican cathedral to have been built outside the British Isles. The Trinity are three distinct persons who exist apart from each other. The Son "proceeds" from the Father, and the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father and the Son.". . The trinity is a mystery that cannot be fully comprehended. 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? The trinity is Like a man who is a father, husband, and son. Jesus, visually seen, judges all, not the Unseen Father. Yet, the trinity is mysterious. The word God in this sense is defined as a single being, having all divine attributes. The Holy Spirit prays for us. But theres one problem: the water analogy is not the biblical picture of God. That fire keeps devils away from the saved. An explanation that is so common, and seemingly does elucidate how something can simultaneously be three and onecan it really be that bad? Love was not given to Jesus. The Unseen Father and Father that is seen existed at the same time. Jesus isn't a demigod or partially god. The Father is fully God; Jesus is fully God and the Holy Spirit is fully God. But they are one God. There is only one egg with three different parts. We worship one God who exists in three persons. The mystery is in the how this is accomplished; something we will finally understand in heaven. The Spirit white is connected to Jesus Person I will come to you (John 14:18) and the Fathers Person, We will come to him and make our abode with him (John 14:23). Have you wondered what is God like? The Holy Spirit is the shell, Jesus is the egg white, and the Father is the egg yolk. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Shively Each character of the trinity has in one another (cf. in which all 3 persons may act or speak as one. Here are a couple "usefully flawed" analogies for the Trinity. It is a miraculous invention, the egg. [4] The goal of an analogy is to draw out similarities between it and its referent in illuminating ways, not to define the referent itself. Jesus is the Holy Spirit that saves us. The Trinity is a tri-unity, a unity of Three, - God the Father, Jesus, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. It is a miraculous invention, 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 egg has a shell, the whites and a yoke. Through the brokenness of the Shell, His Son, the Spirit white pours out into our beings through our faith in what was done and believers are joined with the yolk, for it is by One Spirit we have access to God the Father (Ephesians 2:18). 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. The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God. Im giving God the credit for stirring this memory, and am extremely grateful. Pingback: 3 Reasons Why Jesus Humanity Really Matters Her & Hymn, Pingback: 3 Reasons Why Jesus' Humanity Really Matters, Pingback: How Jesus Teaches Us To Be Human Her & Hymn. Now that we know the doctrine of the trinity and its corresponding major heresies, now we are ready to look at some bad analogies for the trinity. In the second instance, the truth of Gods Trinity reveals a further aspect of Gods love for His people. Light comes from God. Church Adornments & Worship: Vestment Emblems - Monastery Icons Yet it appears to be almost entirely misunderstood within contemporary evangelical circles. How can we ever explain our Most High, exalted, powerful, uncontainable, and most glorious God? 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. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:9). Modalism is a heresy because it denies the distinction of God. He wondered how it was possible that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit could be inseparable, while, in . And then theres Jesus, Gods son. The Latin word for trinity (trinitas) combines two words- unitas (unity) and trias (three). Here's a look at six explanations for why so many people truly believe 3 Ways to Experience The Good Life in Jesus. 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. We can touch the cord, but not the power it is insulating. It leads to the heresy of MODALISM which teaches that God switches to different modes. The Trinity is not 1 + 1 + 1 but more like 1 x 1 x 1. Indeed, how can an infinite God be contained in a finite human womb! Good and Bad Analogies of the Trinity - Answers . God is like H2Olike water. So cool that God imparted that song in your mind and heart before you even wrote this blog post! Therefore, in this context, God is the what and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the who. A good follow up verse to help explain is the baptism of Jesus. My intention is merely to address some common erroneous analogies, including water. Devils cannot grab ahold of them to cast them into Satans prison. I believe that the best way to talk about the Trinity is to simply say that God is one God, who eternally exists in three Persons. 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. The problem with this analogy is it denies the unity of the God-head. 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. Although the water changes forms it is still H2O. According to modalism, God does not actually exist in three persons. 1B) This son of Graham and Lois Armstrong is Dave. She would explode!" His ways are higher than ours, but isnt that a comfort?! God is one. This is a quick way to describe the doctrine of the Trinity namely, God is 1 being (the, is Gods nature, essence, being) and 3 whos (the, being Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). 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. Why analogies of the Trinity fail Youthworks Although God is transcendent, sovereign, unapproachable light, He has condescended to reveal something of Himself to His creation. So much of what we know about what God does is wrapped up in who He is. Studying the Trinity poses difficulty to us Catholics. The beautiful depth of Gods eternal Triune nature is a sublime reality which should bring an end to our attempts to cognitively master Him. All three persons exist at the same moment in history. Water at room temperature is liquid. You are an egg! The unseen Father is in Christs mind. Revelation 4:3And 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. Somewhere in the recesses of my mind lived the doctrinal truth about the Trinity. John 17). 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. Heat it up, and it turns to vapor. Basic mathematics tells us that 1x1x1 = 1.. The problem with this analogy is that no one molecule of H2O can actually exist as solid, liquid, and gas at the same time. History, lifestyle, family, music, theology, scripture, literature, the saints, church history, parenting, politics, prayer, the pope, and more. Shively, This book is now available in a published format for easy sharing and classroom use. Each PERSON is distinct from one another. Jesus loves us so much that he did not obliterate people who died, with power that set stars in the universe. For example, I would say, "God is like an egg." There are some analogies that come close. and Holy Spirit are only parts of God (egg and sun). I bet I havent sung or heard this song in years! But we cannot do that (assuming we can) with God. So if all of these explanations are heretical, what is a good analogy? There are two basic ways that people misunderstand the Trinity: 1. An essential factor lacking from those concepts is the relational quality of God. If you looked at a single cloverleaf, you wouldnt call it a shamrock. Only the Son became incarnate, took on flesh. 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 . Genesis 1:26- Let us make man in our image, in our likeness The plural us and our show more than one person was involved. Before we look at a few bad analogies that many often use to try to illustrate the trinity, we need to first understand the doctrine itself. His motto was that "There was a time when the son did not exist". Therefore it behoves us to know what He has revealed (including the Trinity), and to lovingly worship Him accordingly. Moreover, the yoke and the whites are no longer as they used to be. Unfortunately, Arianism is still around and can found within the Jehovah's Witnesses teachings. Examples of these different roles would be: The Incarnation: Only the Son became incarnate, took on flesh. But the Father is not the Son or the Spirit. Our limited intellects are unable to comprehend its reality, yet, our Scriptures and scholarly Tradition makes it known to us.