Explanations of the trinity?

Question

I've heard that it's like water, vaper, and ice but H2O is never all three at once.
I've heard that it's like how you can be a mother, daughter, and sister but that seems like a difference in perspective.

Any easy/accurate metaphors for it?

Answer 1

It is a confused concept.

Answer 2

sorry, the water thing caught me off guard...there actually IS a temperature and pressure at which the three phases of water can co-exist. A molecule of water cannot be all three at once.

I do like the Hindu model - there's one god and really, all the names just represent a single aspect of the godhead. Why three for Christianity? Good question. The son is the flesh, the father is the creator and the holy spirit is the communicator (tells men to write the bible for instance). But again, why stop there? Why not have an all knowing god, another that's just pure compassion? Who knows.

Edit: Wright - and the parents can really just create another child or 20 - they've had enough time to produce thousands.

Answer 3

The Father was not made, nor created, nor generated by anyone. The Son is not made, nor created, but begotten by the Father alone. The Holy Spirit is not made, nor created, nor generated, but proceeds from the Father and the Son. There is, then, one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits. In this Trinity, there is nothing before or after, nothing greater or less. The entire three Persons are coeternal and coequal with one another. So that in all things, as is has been said above, the Unity is to be worshiped in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity.

Answer 4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity

In Christianity, the doctrine of the Trinity states that God is one being who exists, simultaneously and eternally, as a mutual indwelling of three persons: the Father, the Son (incarnate as Jesus of Nazareth), and the Holy Spirit. Since the 4th century, in both Eastern and Western Christianity, this doctrine has been stated as "one God in three persons," all three of whom, as distinct and co-eternal persons, are of one indivisible Divine essence, a simple being. Supporting the doctrine of the Trinity is known as Trinitarianism. The majority of Christians are Trinitarian, and regard belief in the Trinity as a test of orthodoxy. Opposing, nontrinitarian positions that are held by some groups include Binitarianism (two deities/persons/aspects), Unitarianism (one deity/person/aspect), the Godhead (Latter Day Saints) (three separate beings) and Modalism (Oneness).

In addition to teaching that God comprises three persons, the doctrine also teaches that the Son Himself has two distinct natures, one fully divine and the other fully human.

The doctrine of the Trinity is the result of continuous exploration by the church of the biblical data, thrashed out in debate and treatises, eventually formulated at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD in a way they believe is consistent with the biblical witness, and further refined in later councils and writings. The most widely recognized Biblical foundations for the doctrine's formulation are in the Gospel of John.

Answer 5

A metaphor is in itself limited to accurately describe anything. That is why it is a metaphor. To say that it is like.....so in reality there is flaws with any metaphor and therefore not accurate.

But there is definitely no "easy" metaphors. The trinitarian concept is very complex and deep and has many connotations that must be worked out Biblically and Spiritually.

Answer 6

H2O being the thing we need most to live is also made of 3 elements 2 hydrogen to one oxygen. Jesus also called himself the living water it is revered to even in the old testament water is defiantly the best metaphor

Answer 7

It is written in Matthew, Preach the Gospel to all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son & Holy Ghost.

These three bear witness in heaven, the Father, Word & Holy Spirit.

In the beginning God (Elohim, plural of Elh) created the heavens & the earth... Elohim said, "Let us make man in our image." We are a Trinity also: a body, soul & spirit. And will be an everlasting Trinity at the Resurrection raised up an everlasting body, soul & Spirit.

Jesus Christ is the Word Part of Elohim (God). The Word of God. That is the Diety of Jesus Christ. But the Word came from heaven to earth & dressed in humanity: a body, soul & spirit (like the 1st Adam before the fall). He is the Promise in Genesis to defeat the Snake & death sentence of the fall. The Seed of the Woman, born of a virgin, conceived of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is born a body, soul & spirit with out the sin nature passed on to all of us. So, Jesus is also new in His flesh and new Person, 100% human also. That as a human defeated the sneaky serpent & overcame death for us by raising from the dead. Jesus, in His resurrected body, has also been given the Most High Name, Yahweh. Every knee shall bow & tongue confess Jesus Christ is LORD to the Glory of God the Father.

Jesus in His Resurrected everlasting Body is standing at the Right Hand of God until death is completely put under His feet. Where we will say, "Death, Where is your sting?..." At Resurrection day when the rest of us, redeemed by His Blood are Resurrected to be with Him forever.

The Name of the Trinity is I AM THAT I AM, The Yahweh your Elohim One Yahweh. The El Elyon (God most High). Also, Yahweh Elohim the Father, Word/Son & Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Word of God & Son of God & Son of Mankind. In His humanity won back for us victory over death, that is fulfilled at the 1st Resurrection. The Last enemy death won't be completely defeated until death is thrown into the Lake of Fire.

Answer 8

Water is good, because the water never changes its makeup, just its form (ie Solid, Liquid, Gas)

I prefer the concept of light. Is there such a thing as white light? Yes. Does it exist as one light? Technically, no. It exists as a compound unity of equal illumination of red, green and blue spectrum. So white light does NOT exist? Of course it does. But in the form of three-in-one. Science can explain it, and we have just gotten used to it. In the eternal, such things are equally possible and exist. God is light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all. What color? I would say pure white.

In the timelessness of eternity, who knows what is possible. It's far beyond our limited space-time thinking.

Answer 9

The Trinity means that there is ONE God but in three forms, The Father, The Son(Jesus) and The Holy Spirit. Jesus is none other than God manifested in the flesh and referred to as God's son.

Answer 10

Water is not all three at once when it is being viewed by one person.

We know and accept that water is always water, right? That is H2O. It comes to us in one of three forms; liquid, vapor, solid ..... but it is still always water.

God = the water.

Kev

Answer 11

You have to take it on faith. There are no easy metaphors or analogies because it is not an easy concept. The concept of a triune God is something Key to the Christian faith, an unarguable fact. They accept it based on faith and faith alone.