He is three in Person. Instead, they are all identical in attributes. Stated differently, God is one in essence and three in person. It may seem like a daunting question at first, but when we think about it the truth of God's triune nature is meant to be a joy, a comfort, and a wonder to us! There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. The Holy Spirit is God, but He is not the Son or the Father. Having seen that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, that they are each fully God, and that there is nonetheless only one God, we must conclude that all three Persons are the same God. One helpful Scripture explicitly refers to the essence and personhood of the Trinity. PDF A Brief Explanation of the Trinity - TheologicalStudies.org.uk That is because it is the only religion that believes in the Trinity. ), "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. Awareness of the distinct role that each Person of the Trinity has in our salvation can especially serve to give us greater comfort and appreciation for God in our prayers, as well as helping us to be specific in directing our prayers. It is the revelation of who our Almighty Creator actually isnot just a god, but an infinite Being existing in eternity as three co-equal, infinite Persons, consubstantial yet distinct. 2:18). The verb for created isbara. It may seem that the Catholic Church and all the Protestant denominations dont have much in common, but they do have this creed to share. But secondly, Christians need to clarify that God is incomprehensible. From the 1950s to the 2000s, people wanted to see if they could make computers exhibit intelligence indistinguishable from humans. I recently had some of my kids friends ask meWhat is the Trinity? 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. Confusing them leads to misunderstanding. You can't explain the Trinity to anyone who reasons because: 1) The Bible does not support it. Show them that there are three parts: seeds, flesh, and skin. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. The Trinity Explained in 8 Steps - Binmin For example, if I say that the moon is made entirely of cheese but then also say that the moon is not made entirely of cheese, I have contradicted myself. The fact that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons means, in other words, that the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father. It is very simple: All three Persons are one God because, as we saw above, they are all the same essence. Third, notice that although the three divine Persons are distinct, we are baptized into their name (singular), not names (plural). Christs resurrection is variously attributed to: Multiple verses distinguish each member of the Trinity. If youre wondering how to explain the Trinity to a child, keep it simple. While no church is perfect, the Trinity is still the model for the churchs unity (John 1:2123). What does essence mean? It included Jesus miraculous conception in the virgin Mary (John 3:16)an act that we call the incarnation.. The Holy Trinity is depicted in the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie in Gondar, Ethiopia. Through accepting the undeserved gift of salvation (Eph. 1:2), Jesus as God (Titus 2:13), and the Holy Spirit as God (Acts 5:3-4). The only way humans can know about these mysteries is because the Bible teaches them. Lets apply these concepts to the Trinity. Learn how you can know God personally. How would you explain the Trinity? - The Gathering Community Church Mumbai Other statements may at first seem contradictory but are really not. 92:8) and third person (he, his, him) singular pronouns (1 Kings 18:39). The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. He is also referred to in third-person singular pronouns (John 14:26), He engages in actions only a person can do: He searches (1 Cor. OksoWhat about this idea of one being who exists in three persons?. Since God is one in a different way than He is three, the Trinity is not a contradiction. For instance, the Father is the first person of the Trinity. His function is superior to that of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both the New Testament and Old Testament testify that there is only one God: Unfortunately, we cannot go through each of these passages in detail. Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! Not the answer an enquiring young mind was looking for. Therefore, it is often difficult to have a concrete definition of Person as we use it in regards to the Trinity. 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). How to Explain the Trinity in 4 Steps - The Catechism Guy They had to wait another 50 year for the 381 update. He was "begotten, not made," and he was of the same substance or essence ( homoousios) as the Father. 3. However, you dont want to stop there with a student who can participate in a discussion. Baker Books, 1995, pp. ETS members all confess the Father, the Son, and the Spirit to be "one in essence, equal in power and glory.". 2. God is infinite. 9:5; Col. 2:9), The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:34; 2 Cor. This verse accurately states the doctrine of the Trinity that God is One God in three Persons. God the Holy Spirit is the warmth you feel from the sun. Deut. How to explain the trinity to a new believer pdf It's a great reminder of the three parts of the Holy 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, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and other non-Christians. How is God three? How is God one? These three-in-one are called "the Hindu triad" or the "Great Trinity" In the Hindu Puranas there is this passage: 'O ye three Lords! How can God be both one and three? Ask teenagers hard questions about the Trinity that will make them think, and dont bother trying to come equipped with the perfect answer to everything. In explaining the Trinity to your friend, begin, perhaps, with the work of salvation. To start, let me define what I mean when I say persons. Personhood is having intellect, emotions, and a will. 4 Visual Ways To Explain The Trinity To A Child. Most of them are less-than-helpful. Among the worlds religions, the Christian faith is unique. Rather than let that frustrate you, let it encourage you. Thus, they relate to each other personally the Father regards Himself as I, while He regards the Son and Holy Spirit as You. Likewise the Son regards Himself as I, but the Father and the Holy Spirit as You.. " Here God is a plural noun, said is in the . This can only be if they share one essence. 12:711), The Father is not the Son (Matt. And yet, we run into the same problem again, because God isnt made up of parts. Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? 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. 13:14; 1 Pet.1:2), In the story of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1025), When Jesus promises the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:48), Peters sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:33; Acts 3839), Peter and apostles answer the high priest (Acts 5:3032), During Stephens heavenly vision at his stoning (Acts 7:5556), In Peters sermon to the gentiles in Caesarea (Acts 10:3638; Acts 4448), When Peter reports to the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:1518), When Peter speaks at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:811), During Pauls interaction with Jewish leaders in Rome (Acts 28:2531), Pauls epistles (Rom. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. There are two other major monotheistic world religions namely Judaism and Islam. God the Father, Jesus His Son, with the Holy Spirit, they are three in one! The technical term in case youre interested for this wrong way of thinking about God is calledmodalism. Best Age To Teach The Trinity To A Child. The Trinity - God and authority in Christianity - BBC Bitesize That may sound intimidating but dont worry Ill unpack that definition below. Understanding the Doctrine of the Trinity (+ Free Printable) One God? We cannot compete, in simplicity, with people who are inventing religions. Therefore, there is one God with one divine nature and three divine Persons. EitherThe person were explaining it to will think that God simply changes from one to the other at different times and under different circumstances (water). 10:57), The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. He realized Scripture alone is the only way we know about the Trinity (1 Cor. Begin and end with your object lesson, and be comfortable with the imperfect teaching. At Jesus baptism, when Christ came up out of the water, the Spirit descended in the appearance of a dove. In Hinduism, the trinity (Trimrti, or The Three Forms) is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is crucial for properly understanding what God is like, how He relates to us, and how we should relate to Him. AboutPressCopyrightContact. In brief, how we view God will profoundly impact our everyday lives. The Trinity was present in the atonement at the cross. Do Trinity Crafts/Printables. They are not merely modes or manifestations of the same person (as Oneness theology incorrectly asserts) who sometimes acts as Father, sometimes as Son, and sometimes as Spirit. Why not plan on studying verses in each section to prove to yourself that the Bible does claim that God is a Trinity? In this case, "immanent" means "the action remaining within an agent.". But what does it mean that God is gracious? Question: How do you explain the Trinity? Therefore, we must always endeavor to deepen our worship of God in truth as well as in our hearts. John says in the first verse of the book: "The Word was with God, and the Word was God.". 55:8-9). The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 31:3; John 3:16; 1 John 4:8), Righteous (Ps. For example, since the Father sent the Son into the world (John 3:16), He cannot be the same person as the Son. Jesus (the Son) is God. What a challenge! Ive already done your research at my local library. 10:2831), In Johns writings (1 John 4:1314; Rev. Gods attributes are not parts of his singular divine essence. Every time the wordElohim(plural) is used throughout the Old Testament referring to the one, true God, it is used with a singular conjugation of the verb. 2. This is great fun to see how teenagers draw a picture of God. Whether an object is a rock or a triangle, we can classify it based on its objective characteristics. As youll see explained more deeply in one of the videos below, you can think of it this way: I am a human being. The Nicene and Reformed Doctrine of the Trinity - CBE Egg A single egg is made up of the yolk, the whites, and the shell. In the early 2000s, people began using a new approach called "deep . 9:18; Matt. Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. So a closer look at the fact that God is one in essence but three in person has helped to show why the Trinity is not a contradiction. 8:26), comprehends (1 Cor. 2:5), The Father is not the Spirit (John 14:26; John 15:26), The Son is not the Spirit (Matt. Find resources for personal or group Bible study. Ironically, not much is known about his death; even the year when he passed away is up for debate. Now lets go a little deeper and consider the triangles three corners (angles). In regards to the Trinity, we use the term Person differently than we generally use it in everyday life. Errr, not quite. In fact, would Jesus have us baptize in the name of a mere creature? What is Gods essence? If each Person of the Trinity is distinct and yet fully God, then should we conclude that there is more than one God? He is an extension of the sun and brings the sun directly to the world. But dont get confused. The answer must be no, because the Bible also indicates that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons. Christ through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God.. Have a great discussion about it! also 1:18). How is God different? These questions arealwaysasked by someone who is exploring faith in Jesus. If we can understand more precisely what is meant by essence and person, how these two terms differ, and how they relate, we will then have a more complete understanding of the Trinity. What Is The Best Way To Explain The Trinity To A New Believer This post is full of Bible facts for kids that will spark the imagination, encourage lots of good questions, and even inspire some Bible reading. 2:17). Within Gods one, undivided being is an unfolding into three personal distinctions. A simpler way to talk about the Trinity is through "God grammar.". The Father sent Jesus into the world (John 3:16; Gal. And these three Persons are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For example, it says of Christ that "in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). After all, each of these illustrate the idea that God is made up of parts, and thats not really true. What Is the Doctrine of the Trinity? - Blue Letter Bible In this blog post, we will discuss how schools and parents can help girls to, Read More Navigating Girl Drama: 20 Ways Schools and Parents Can Help Calm the StormContinue, Ill never forget the moment I watched in amazement as my newly-turned 4 year old sounded out her first few CVC words. Each person of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) really IS God. 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. 4; 14; Jon. He sanctifies us (1 Pet. Of course, anyone can be simple if he has no facts to bother about (p. 145). How To Explain the Trinity To Your Child - 4 Creative Ways So all three members of the Trinity have unique personhood. Is God the same as Jesus? 2:2729). At the risk of sounding too physical, essence can be understood as the stuff that you consist of.. As Christians, we derive our concept of person from the relations in the Trinity. We believe God is one in essence. How to Support Gifted ReadersContinue, OurYotoplayer,Yoto Mini, and set of Yoto cards is the number one favorite toy in our household, and it has been for two years now. 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. A Christian would still be expected to understand it. We are dealing with fact. Firstly, we agree that finite humankind is limited. How can three and one refer to the same God? Then study the pronouns used in Scripture point to the Trinity: This one-ness is Gods one divine essence (Heb 1:3). As I said earlier, it means the same thing as being. The three members of the unholy trinity are Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. The different roles refer to a functional order or functional subordination.. passage also demonstrates Jesus' early declaration of the Trinity. 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. Learn why He did it and what it means for you. 11:3336). God the Fathers plan of redeeming humankind involved sending his Son into the world (John 3:16), The Son accomplished redemption for us on the cross (Heb. 8:26), guides (John 16:13), creates (Ps. The doctrine or concept of the Trinity is central to most Christian denominations and faith groups, although not all. If God is three Persons, does this mean that each Person is one-third of God? 15:16), inspires, intercedes (Rom. For example: God the Father is a person. And during his earthly ministry, Christ subjected himself to the Fathers will. The New Testament lists all three Persons of the Trinity simultaneously, 6. C.S. Lewis and Mere Christianity: The Trinity (The Three-Personal God 25:3146; 2 Cor. Weve made a comparison between this object and the Trinity. To understand more fully what God is like is a way of honoring God. The Holy Trinity - Explained. The origin of the doctrine of the Trinity is the Bible . ). Perfect for the Bible newbie or the long-time Bible reader. Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God. The Apostle Paul also affirms the doctrine of the Trinity. Finally I would end with Deuteronomy 29:29 which helps us to realize that we cannot fully comprehend God. They are three real persons, not three roles God plays. PDF UNDERSTANDING THE TRINITY - Silica Bible Chapel Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world. Lets go back to the Trinity triangle graphic, and you will see: By now you understand that the three Persons of the Trinity equally share Gods essence. There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. But that doesnt mean the concept isnt clearly taught. 8:3539; Eph. EXPLAIN THE TRINITY - How To Explain The Holy Trinity Simply In other words, Christianity is unique among all other worldviews. You can cut into an apple in front of your group. Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are. Ibid, p. 255. Let's explore each of these members. Why? After all, children deal best with concrete ideas. 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. Three separate beings, all rolled into one entity. 4:4; Col. 1:15), Eternal (John 1:1-3; 17:5; Col. 1:16-17; Jude 25), Omnipresent (Matt. And God created humankind to share that love (John 17:2126; Acts 17:25). Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. 3:17; 17:5; Luke 10:22; John 3:35; 10:15; 12:28; 17:1-26; 1 Tim. 3:6. Disclaimer: I believe Trinity. God the Son is the rays of sunshine. While the three members of the Trinity are distinct, this does not mean that any is inferior to the other. 5:510; 1 Cor. Its not unusual for teenagers to give Jesus a bunch of loving characteristics and then put words like justice and vengeance on God the Fathers poster. Specifically, distinguishing between Gods one essence and his three Persons. The Trinity is a mystery beyond our comprehension (Isa. You will and can grasp these principles. Firstly, because finite humans cant comprehend an infinite God completely, Secondly, because many people confuse Gods one, Three distinct persons are God: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Firstly, unfamiliarity between essence or nature and personhood, Secondly, practical analogies that help conceptualize the Trinity, On the one hand, there is Gods singular nature, essence, or substance, And on the other, there is Gods three Persons (Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit), The sum of the three angles must be 180 degrees, The three-ness refers to the three Persons: Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, The one-ness applies to Gods unity or his single divine essence, The Trinity is a plurality of Persons and a unity of essence, God is three whos (Persons) and one what (divine essence), The triangle corresponds to Gods essence, The three corners of the triangle correspond to the three Persons of the Trinity, A triangle is finite, and God is infinite, The corners of a triangle are not persons, Understanding of the difference between Gods one divine essence and three Persons, Old Testament: Ex. These personal distinctions are modes of existence within the divine being, but are not divisions of the divine being. Think about it: Finite Christians serve an eternal and infinite God. The Trinity. 19:714; Ps. This is a limitation on God that doesnt acknowledge that God isalwaysthe Father,alwaysthe Son, andalwaysthe Holy Spirit. But it is possible to go deeper. Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. Many other verses concurrently list the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. And when he speaks, he refers to himself in first personas I (Deut. We should not think of God as like a pie cut into three pieces, each piece representing a Person. Yes, the Spirit was sent, but this does not imply that the Holy Spirit is less than they are.