However,barais the singular conjugation of the verb. The only way humans can know about these mysteries is because the Bible teaches them. The Trinity is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. All will play a role in the events mentioned in Revelation. We define personhood by three key characteristics: Now that you understand the critical distinction, you know that essence is what. And you know personhood is who.. 8:26), guides (John 16:13), creates (Ps. Is the Trinity a contradiction? 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 . 9:5; Col. 2:9), The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:34; 2 Cor. See if they can think of anything better, and be ready to discuss where different ideas might not quite work. The triangle illustration is easy to understand, but an imperfect analogy because: Nonetheless, a triangle illustrates how there can be a three-ness and one-ness same time. He is one in essence. Here are three I found to be really helpful. He sent Jesus to save us and then completed our salvation through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Eph. After all, so much happens in the week leading up to the resurrection of Christ. Does Matthew 28:19 Prove the Trinity? - Life, Hope & Truth These questions arealwaysasked by someone who is exploring faith in Jesus. Deity of Jesus: 10 Essentials You Need to Know! Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. These three persons are of the same substance, equal in power and glory. Its okay to admit you dont know everything. The prologue of the Gospel of John has the strongest argument for the Trinity. A Simple Way to Explain the Trinity - Keith Ferrin Within a week,, Read More Is It Normal that My 4 Year Old Can Read? Tozerputs it well in The Knowledge of the Holy. 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. The Holy Spirit is God. 104:30), sanctifies (Rom. 2:511). PDF Understanding the Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity (Godhead) - Bible Truth (eds. Is God the same as Jesus? Jesus himself spoke of the one-ness of the Godhead when he quoted the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4. For instance he: Jesus has all the features that ensure he, too, is a person. Well, we can know because God has given us his special revelation: the Bible. God is truth, so the unity that He is effecting between believers is a unity grounded in truth. Learn about Cru's global leadership team. AboutPressCopyrightContact. In brief, how we view God will profoundly impact our everyday lives. John says in the first verse of the book: "The Word was with God, and the Word was God." Here is an indication of the divinity of the Word. Elohimis the plural form of the word God. OrThe person were explaining it to will think that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are only parts of God (egg and sun). If it were the other way around and we understood God completely, how would he be the sovereign God? Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? The Trinity was present in the atonement at the cross. What is the origin of the doctrine of the Trinity? The Holy Trinity - Explained. The Trinity confuses many people. How to Teach Kids the Trinity with an Apple Object Lesson Grab an apple and share these five truths with your kids: An apple has three parts: the seeds, the flesh, and the skin. LESSON 1: THE TRINITY AIM: To teach the children in simple terms the truth of the Godhead. Many of us say it every single Sunday morning. Answer. See, each member participated in the creation, the incarnation, and redemption. So God is one what but three whos.. The early church absolutely believed and taught the belief in a God who was three-in-one. Obviously we cannot, for Scripture is clear that there is only one God: There is no other God besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. And yet, we run into the same problem again, because God isnt made up of parts. 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. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. 3:1417). In Hinduism, the trinity (Trimrti, or The Three Forms) is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The word "scripture " graphe Divide your group into three teams and give each group a sheet of butcher paper or poster. 3:3; Heb. 2:1011; Heb. Third, we have the Holy Spirit, which is also God, living in our hearts and guiding us through life. The Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. In regards to the Trinity, we use the term Person differently than we generally use it in everyday life. And that he is manifest as three Persons.. For example, it says of Christ that in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). 15:28). The prologue of the Gospel of John has the strongest argument for the Trinity. Specifically, distinguishing between Gods one essence and his three Persons. 1:2), Jesus as God (Titus 2:13), and the Holy Spirit as God (Acts 5:3-4). 2. There are two other major monotheistic world religions namely Judaism and Islam. 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. A mystery that should cause us to marvel, and wonder, and worship! . 20:23; Deut. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. The Trinity Explained in 8 Steps - Binmin Its NOT God. How do they relate? Can You Explain the Trinity to Me? - Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Check out my tips for teaching your kids about bedtime prayer. He said, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one (Mark 12:29). What is the Trinity? - Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry And God seeks people to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). (Ohand I'll send you my free guideThe Simplest Way to Study ANY Bible Passageas a "Thank you" for jumping on board!). Go ahead and start with one of the object lessons above. All three Persons of the Trinity are God. 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. The Trinity isn't some complicated distraction from the simple gospelit's actually part of the gospel. And the Trinity is an essential doctrine to our understanding of God. Simply put: without three angles, theres no triangle! The Holy Spirit descended upon Him to equip Him for His ministry. 12:711), The Father is not the Son (Matt. Learn why He did it and what it means for you. Trinity comes from two word parts: tri, meaning three, and unity, meaning as one. The concept of the Trinity is that we have God in three forms a union of three. The personhood of each member of the Trinity means that each Person has a distinct center of consciousness. 2:8-9), we can become Gods children. Most of them are less-than-helpful. How to EXPLAIN The Trinity to a New Believer - Introduction to the Godhead In this video I will introduce the godhead or the trinity in one of the easiest te. At this stage, your head may be swimming with all this new information about God! 3. And when he speaks, he refers to himself in first personas I (Deut. What is the Trinity? passage also demonstrates Jesus' early declaration of the Trinity. Each member of the Trinity is . The doctrine is critical, even if not easily comprehended. This command lists all three persons of the Trinity. Of course, if the triangle illustration were perfect, we would be able to comprehend God fully, but we cant. 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. I work hard to produce evidence-based information about school for both teachers and parents, and to produce and share resources that can help at home and in the classroom. 8:26), comprehends (1 Cor. These three persons make up the one true God. 2:10), knows (1 Cor. Read Books About The Trinity. The trouble with this one is that its a bit less visual. But dont get confused. The word "trinity" cannot be found in the Bible, but the truth is that the three of them have been there together all the way along. 5:2122; John 13:34), End-time judgment (Matt. 2:5), The Father is not the Spirit (John 14:26; John 15:26), The Son is not the Spirit (Matt. Christs resurrection is variously attributed to: Multiple verses distinguish each member of the Trinity. how to explain the trinity to a new believer - NewJeru This is great fun to see how teenagers draw a picture of God. It has been said, Try to explain the trinity and lose your mind, try to explain away the trinity and lose your soul. But he is not inferior in Gods divine essence. And certainly not if it were a contradiction. And the triangle can help us distinguish one essence from the three Persons. A simpler way to talk about the Trinity is through "God grammar.". This is a limitation on God that doesnt acknowledge that God isalwaysthe Father,alwaysthe Son, andalwaysthe Holy Spirit. Whats a Mama to say when the questions start flowing? I am fully human. . Yet most Christians have difficulty explaining the Trinity clearly and Biblically. Question & Answer: The Orthodox Presbyterian Church But is there any easy way to apprehend these exciting discoveries? using the shamrock or the three states of H 2 O to explain the . If youre wondering how to explain the Trinity to a child, keep it simple. Thats what faith is being content with our own confusion while still knowing that God is bigger than we can comprehend. If there is one passage which most clearly brings all of this together, it is Matthew 28:19: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. First, notice that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinguished as distinct Persons. .. Tertullian coined the term Trinity during the second century. 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. However, within the nature of this one God are three persons, or three centers of consciousness - the Father, the Son, and the . This triune God (or Trinity) began to allude to this aspect of His nature right in Genesis 1:26-27. The Easiest Way to Explain the Trinity | SsouthernLifestyle 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. And this teaching gives us a glimpse into the incomprehensible greatness of God. While theconceptof the Trinity is evident in the New Testament (Matt. Weve made a comparison between this object and the Trinity. 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. But it is possible to go deeper. We are dealing with fact. Egg A single egg is made up of the yolk, the whites, and the shell. The doctrine of the Trinity is the belief that there is one God who has revealed Himself in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 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 doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Theologian R.C. Ironically, not much is known about his death; even the year when he passed away is up for debate. Is referred to in the second person (you; Ps. Yet he also proclaimed, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live (1 Cor. Therefore, the Holy Spirit must be distinct from the Father and the Son. God addressed in the second person singular (you): 2 Sam. For example: The Nicene Creed is recited during every service of Holy Communion . The idea that God is somehow three and one starts onPage 1and never changes. But first, lets cover the basics. As long as a shape has those three angles that add up to 180 degrees, it doesnt matter what the angles degrees are. also 1:18). Matthew 3:16. 92:8) and third person (he, his, him) singular pronouns (1 Kings 18:39). Three separate beings, all rolled into one entity. 11:3336). So, in this article, we will look at where the term originated. It is the same thing in three different forms. How To Explain the Trinity to Muslims - Bellator Christi 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. That leaves us with the modern definition of the word mystery. So even if the Bible did call the Trinity a mystery it would only be saying it was unknown to the one not illuminated, i.e. Just as ONE egg has THREE different parts - the shell, the white, the yoke - ONE God has THREE different . Through accepting the undeserved gift of salvation (Eph. I think the major problem involves not distinguishing two different features of God. Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? How to explain the Trinity to a new believer - Quora Question: How do you explain the Trinity? He realized Scripture alone is the only way we know about the Trinity (1 Cor. . That is ok when it comes to rocks and triangles. Of course we are speaking by analogy here, for we cannot understand this in a physical way about God. 2. This explains how God can be both one and three. The problem with this is that it reflects a heresy called modalism. 3:19; Eph. understand the doctrine of the Trinity. But I hope you have learned that the Trinity is not contradictory. 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. 55:8-9). However, the biblical doctrine of the Trinity does not rest on one verse of Scripture, but is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. Its a mystery the Bible teaches. Further, we should allow the fact that God is triune to deepen our worship. The three-ness and one-ness are two different features. ), "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. 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. Faith is recognizing that we dont have all the answers and deciding that its okay to keep believing and growing. What is a functional order or subordination? It means that a Trinity member submits himself to one or both of the other members. know that I recognise only one God. 139:711; Jer. The three members of the unholy trinity are Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. As Christians, we derive our concept of person from the relations in the Trinity. On the other hand, we must say that the Persons are real, that they are not just different ways of looking at the one being of GodThe only way it seems possible to do this is to say that the distinction between the persons is not a difference of "being" but a difference of "relationships." I am also Keith Ferrin. 4:4; Col. 1:15), Eternal (John 1:1-3; 17:5; Col. 1:16-17; Jude 25), Omnipresent (Matt. Because humankind is limited, God will always exceed our knowledge and understanding (Isa. How can God be both one and three? The Trinity: Easy As 1, 2, 3? - ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry But each member had a different function. If you are teaching young children, these object lessons are both the perfect starting and stopping point. Because these features make up the singular essence or nature of a triangle. How to Explain the Trinity to an Unbeliever The Village Church - Flower Mound 118K subscribers 36K views 5 years ago The Trinity is confusing even to most Christians, so we want to pull the. 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. Several analogies help us apprehend the Trinity. 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. Omnibenevolence (Jer. If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals. 1. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. We should not think of God as like a pie cut into three pieces, each piece representing a Person. 12:28; Rom. Fill this out to make sure you don't miss a thing! (So I won't send you any.) 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.. 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. (Heavy sigh.) Understanding the Trinity - Busy Blessed Women 45:5-6, New Testament: Mark 12:29; John 5:44; Eph. Teaching the Trinity to Students Youth Pastor Theologian 55 years on I've yet to hear or read an explanation of the Trinity that makes sense. In other words, Christianity is unique among all other worldviews. The substance of God is God, not a bunch of ingredients that taken together yield deity. We will never sell your information, for any reason. Why? Two biblical teachings confirm the doctrine of the Trinity: How is that possible? Third, notice that although the three divine Persons are distinct, we are baptized into their name (singular), not names (plural). This is one of the books of the Torah. To understand more fully what God is like is a way of honoring God. 4 Visual Ways To Explain The Trinity To A Child. 13: Trinity | Putting the Fun In, Faith and Finances: 5 Steps to Get Started. They are equal in power, love, mercy, justice, holiness, knowledge, and all other qualities. What Is the Economic and Immanent Trinity? - Zondervan Academic 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. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. But Christianity's God is unique. The wordTrinitymeansthree-in-one. For example, it says of Christ that "in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). 23:2324). 3:16; 2 Pet. Firstly, we agree that finite humankind is limited. The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to the Christian faith. If we were to translate it . For instance, the Trinity does not mean that: Instead, we need to clearly distinguish two categories (Persons and essence). While not a typical conversation starter, this question is one of the most important we can ask in life. Show them that there are three parts: seeds, flesh, and skin. God the Father sent God the Holy Spirit to conceive Jesus (God the Son) in the virgin Marys womb (Matt. The Trinity expresses the belief that God is one being made up of three distinct persons who exist in co-equal essence and co-eternal communion as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit . Then study the pronouns used in Scripture point to the Trinity: This one-ness is Gods one divine essence (Heb 1:3). Heres how the triangle analogy can help: Consider a triangle with me. 3. Ask them to draw it on the page. Ignore the urge to tie everything up with a nice little bow. The Father is God. Within Gods one, undivided being is an unfolding into three personal distinctions. He was "begotten, not made," and he was of the same substance or essence ( homoousios) as the Father. I think it is because they lack at least two pieces of information: The main confusion is that many people dont get this distinction. How is God different? For instance: Additionally, all three members of the Trinity participate together in several critical events. 18:20; Matt. The Best Way to Explain the Trinity to Kids - The Purposeful Mom Object Lessons on the Trinity for a Child or New Believer, The Difference Between Teaching the Trinity to a Child vs. a Teenager, Books that Explain the Trinity to a Child, Navigating Girl Drama: 20 Ways Schools and Parents Can Help Calm the Storm, Is It Normal that My 4 Year Old Can Read? We Reflect God's Personhood and Relations. Thus, as Wayne Grudem writes, When we speak of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together we are not speaking of any greater being than when we speak of the Father alone, the Son alone, or the Holy Spirit alone.[2]. 42. OksoWhat about this idea of one being who exists in three persons?. Be cool with leaving the gathering with more questions than answers. This verse accurately states the doctrine of the Trinity that God is One God in three Persons. Then I'll share an activity using the Celtic Trinity Knot to explain the Trinity to children along with the love that exists between each of its Persons and us. But that doesn't mean the concept isn't clearly taught. One illustration to beware of is the one which says, I am one person, but I am a student, son, and brother. Hes the one who walked the Earth blamelessly, performing miracles, and extending mercy and love. But they are eternally subordinate in their roles to him (1 Cor. Its three things, but all are complete on their own. Because of Gods nature, several mysteries exist within our faith. At the risk of sounding too physical, essence can be understood as the stuff that you consist of.. 15:19), God is called Father (John 17:1; John 3; 20:17; 1 Cor. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. 4:15), dying for our sins (1 Cor. That's the one we think of as the Father. 5:510; 1 Cor. PDF A Brief Explanation of the Trinity - TheologicalStudies.org.uk After all, theyre good questions. We just covered Gods one divine essence. It is understandable that our finite minds cannot grasp an infinite God. Principle #3: Order. It starts with a whisper. The Trinity Is Unique Among Monotheistic Religions Christianity is a "monotheistic" religion. Its a devotional book. Each person of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) really IS God. 28:20; Col. 3:11), Omnibenevolent (John 13:34; Rom. There are two men in their 20s who came to faith in Christ in recent weeks through the ministry of our church. 7:28; Ps. What does the Bible teach about the Trinity? | GotQuestions.org But that doesnt mean the concept isnt clearly taught. Jesus is the one whose life we try to copy. Lets apply what weve learned to the Trinity based on the graphic. Before anything was created he begat his Logos as a person distinct from himself. The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. It was God who took the initiative to save humankind. Ive already done your research at my local library. The Trinity. Our fellowship with God should be enhanced by consciously knowing that we are relating to a tri-personal God! Our Triune God - Grace To You Remember, the nature or essence of an entity is the property or attributes that make it what it is. 1:318; 1 Pet. You cant find an earthly match for this concept.