Christians n' Catholics....can you explain to me the Holy Trinity?

Question

No slang or abuse or wisecracks please..... I am NOT asking this question to provoko a slew of remarks from non-believers of the Bible.

I am seriously confused and I would like valid answers.....

Please don't use the H2O reference to me.... cause I know that though water can exist in three states, the composition never changes, while Jesus is a human being with flesh and bones, God is a spiritual being.... having different compositions.

Answer 1

The most difficult thing about the Christian concept of the Trinity is that there is no way to adequately explain it. The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. God is infinitely greater than we are, therefore we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. The Bible also teaches that there is only one God. Though we can understand some facts about the relationship of the different persons of the Trinity to one another, ultimately, it is incomprehensible to the human mind. However, this does not mean it is not true or not based on the teachings of the Bible.
The tasks of the individual members of the Trinity: The Father is the ultimate source or cause of: 1) the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11); 2) divine revelation (Revelation 1:1); 3) salvation (John 3:16-17); and 4) Jesus' human works (John 5:17; 14:10). The Father INITIATES all of these things.

The Son is the agent through whom the Father does the following works: 1) the creation and maintenance of the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17); 2) divine revelation (John 1:1; Matthew 11:27; John 16:12-15; Revelation 1:1); and 3) salvation (2 Corinthians 5:19; Matthew 1:21; John 4:42). The Father does all these things through the Son, who functions as His agent.

The Holy Spirit is the means by whom the Father does the following works: 1) creation and maintenance of the universe (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30); 2) divine revelation (John 16:12-15; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21); 3) salvation (John 3:6; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:2); and 4) Jesus' works (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38). Thus the Father does all these things by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 2

The most difficult thing about the Christian concept of the Trinity is that there is no way to adequately explain it. The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. God is infinitely greater than we are, therefore we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. The Bible also teaches that there is only one God. Though we can understand some facts about the relationship of the different persons of the Trinity to one another, ultimately, it is incomprehensible to the human mind. However, this does not mean it is not true or not based on the teachings of the Bible.

Keep in mind when studying this subject that the word "Trinity" is not used in Scripture. This is a term that is used to attempt to describe the triune God, the fact that there are 3 coexistent, co-eternal persons that make up God. Understand that this is NOT in any way suggesting 3 Gods. The Trinity is 1 God made up of 3 persons. There is nothing wrong with using the term "Trinity" even though the word is not found in the Bible. It is shorter to say the word "Trinity" than to say "3 coexistent, co-eternal persons making up 1 God." If this presents a problem to you, consider this: the word grandfather is not used in the Bible either. Yet, we know there were grandfathers in the Bible. Abraham was the grandfather of Jacob. So don't get hung up on the term "Trinity" itself. What should be of real importance is that the concept that is REPRESENTED by the word "Trinity" does exist in Scripture. With the introduction out of the way, Bible verses will be given in discussion of the Trinity.

1) There is one God: Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:5.

2) The Trinity consists of three Persons: Genesis 1:1; 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; Isaiah 6:8; 48:16; 61:1; Matthew 3:16-17; Matt 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14. In the passages in the Old Testament, a knowledge of Hebrew is helpful. In Genesis 1:1, the plural noun "Elohim" is used. In Genesis 1:26; 3:22; 11:7 and Isaiah 6:8, the plural pronoun for "us" is used. That "Elohim" and "us" refer to more than two is WITHOUT question. In English, you only have two forms, singular and plural. In Hebrew, you have three forms: singular, dual, and plural. Dual is for two ONLY. In Hebrew, the dual form is used for things that come in pairs like eyes, ears, and hands. The word "Elohim" and the pronoun "us" are plural forms - definitely more than two - and must be referring to three or more (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).

In Isaiah 48:16 and 61:1, the Son is speaking while making reference to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Compare Isaiah 61:1 to Luke 4:14-19 to see that it is the Son speaking. Matthew 3:16-17 describes the event of Jesus' baptism. Seen in this is God the Holy Spirit descending on God the Son while God the Father proclaims His pleasure in the Son. Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14 are examples of 3 distinct persons in the Trinity.

3) The members of the Trinity are distinguished one from another in various passages: In the Old Testament, "LORD" is distinguished from "Lord" (Genesis 19:24; Hosea 1:4). The "LORD" has a "Son" (Psalm 2:7, 12; Proverbs 30:2-4). Spirit is distinguished from the "LORD" (Numbers 27:18) and from "God" (Psalm 51:10-12). God the Son is distinguished from God the Father (Psalm 45:6-7; Hebrews 1:8-9). In the New Testament, John 14:16-17 is where Jesus speaks to the Father about sending a Helper, the Holy Spirit. This shows that Jesus did not consider Himself to be the Father or the Holy Spirit. Consider also all of the other times in the Gospels where Jesus speaks to the Father. Was He speaking to Himself? No. He spoke to another person in the Trinity - the Father.

4) Each member of the Trinity is God: The Father is God: John 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2. The Son is God: John 1:1, 14; Romans 9:5; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 5:20. The Holy Spirit is God: Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16 (The One who indwells is the Holy Spirit - Romans 8:9; John 14:16-17; Acts 2:1-4).

5) The subordination within the Trinity: Scripture shows that the Holy Spirit is subordinate to the Father and the Son, and the Son is subordinate to the Father. This is an internal relationship, and does not deny the deity of any person of the Trinity. This is simply an area which our finite minds cannot understand concerning the infinite God. Concerning the Son see: Luke 22:42; John 5:36; John 20:21; 1 John 4:14. Concerning the Holy Spirit see: John 14:16; 14:26; 15:26; 16:7 and especially John 16:13-14.

6) The tasks of the individual members of the Trinity: The Father is the ultimate source or cause of: 1) the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11); 2) divine revelation (Revelation 1:1); 3) salvation (John 3:16-17); and 4) Jesus' human works (John 5:17; 14:10). The Father INITIATES all of these things.

The Son is the agent through whom the Father does the following works: 1) the creation and maintenance of the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17); 2) divine revelation (John 1:1; Matthew 11:27; John 16:12-15; Revelation 1:1); and 3) salvation (2 Corinthians 5:19; Matthew 1:21; John 4:42). The Father does all these things through the Son, who functions as His agent.

The Holy Spirit is the means by whom the Father does the following works: 1) creation and maintenance of the universe (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30); 2) divine revelation (John 16:12-15; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21); 3) salvation (John 3:6; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:2); and 4) Jesus' works (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38). Thus the Father does all these things by the power of the Holy Spirit.

None of the popular illustrations are completely accurate descriptions of the Trinity. The egg (or apple) fails in that the shell, white, and yolk are parts of the egg, not the egg in themselves. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not parts of God, each of them is God. The water illustration is somewhat better but still fails to adequately describe the Trinity. Liquid, vapor, and ice are forms of water. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not forms of God, each of them is God. So, while these illustrations may give us a picture of the Trinity, the picture is not entirely accurate. An infinite God cannot be fully described by a finite illustration. Instead of focusing on the Trinity, try to focus on the fact of God's greatness and infinitely higher nature than our own. "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" (Romans 11:33-34)

Answer 3

Dear Friend,

Trinity is a theological term used to define God as an undivided unity expressed in the threefold nature of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

As a distinctive Christian doctrine, the Trinity is considered as a divine mystery beyond human comprehension to be reflected upon only through scriptual revelation.

The Trinity is a biblical concept that expresses the dynamic character of God, not a Greek idea pressed into Scripture from philosophical or religious speculation.

Even though the word Trinity does not appear in Scripture, the trinitarian structure appears throughout the New Testament to affirm that God Himself is manifested through Jesus Christ by means of the Spirit.

To understand the concept from a human stand point, I have always used the illustration of a chicken egg. The chicken egg in itself is "one," but... is made up of three parts, the shell, the white, and the yolk. The Trinity is three persons in One. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

I hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely in Christ Jesus,

lostnsavd...

Answer 4

1 X 1 X 1 = 1

Answer 5

I'm sorry you don't like the H2O reference. Romans 1:20 indicates that the Creation speaks of the Godhead (3 representations of God). The most important aspect of God is His wisdom and character, which is shared by all 3 manifestations. The bottom line is that Jesus is just as much God as God the Father as is The Holy Spirit. I think that if you asked each One every question in the universe, you would get the same answer from all three.

Answer 6

The Trinity is one universal and three particulars, where the particulars are not separated by time or space. Technically, the Trinity is one ousia, three hypostases, three pragmata, and three prosopa. Ousia ("essence") is an abstract category in all created beings, and includes all of the attributes that all members of a category hold in common. The Platonic ousia is regarded as ontologically real. The Aristotelian Christians, however, maintained that the ousia is abstract, except in the case of God (because God is beyond space and time). Pragma ("thing") is a particular individual. Hypostases is the process of instantiation from ousia to pragma. Prosopon ("mask" or "person") is a collection of personal attributes. Additionally, the Trinity is one dynamis (potential) and one energeia (actualization).

It sounds confusing. People don't usually realize that the Trinity was not a doctrine intended for mass consumption. It was a philosophical conclusion based on centuries of debate, and was intended to resolve complex theological issues. Even the Latin-speaking Christians of the day had a hard time understanding it (because of their unfamiliarity with Greek philosophy).

I should also specify that the ancient Church was always Trinitarian. While most people associate the Trinity with the Council of Nicea, all they did was standardize the terminology and put the whole thing into a precise statement.

Why the Trinity is not polytheism: God is one essence, one will, one power, one energy, and one nature.

Why the Trinity is not Sabellian: God is three beings with three separate sets of personal attributes (i.e. self-identities).

Answer 7

Not a Christian, but I believe the argument goes something like this.

God exists, the Holy Ghost exists, and Jesus Christ exists. All three are God, and God is all three. The original God was Yhwh, the God of the Jews, but he is now three separate but the same entity. God is in heaven, the Holy Ghost (according to Catholics is the spirit of God in the Holy Catholic Church,) and is God's presence on Earth, Jesus was the Son of God, and the spirit of God in a human body. All three are the same spiritual entity with three different functions.
I'm no Theology major, though, so I could be completely wrong.

Answer 8

The trinity was a truce that was come up from the Niacin council when they couldn't get together on If Jesus was the father as well as the son. Some believed, and correctly so that Jesus was not the same as God the father. and some thought he was the same person. There is a God the eternal father, Jesus his only begotten son, and the Holy Ghost. They are three separate personages with the same goal in mind. Which is our, (the spirit children of God the father) exultation into heaven with the father and his son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost.

Answer 9

The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit also called by some as The Holy Ghost. This is the Holy Trinity.

Answer 10

This is not meant to be a wise-crack. I believe in the Bible, and if you actually read it, you'll find that the trinity is not supported by the Bible.

The Bible clearly states God's qualities- love, justice, wisdom, power, mercy, patience etc, but why would it leave out such an important aspect of his identity if it were really so that God, Jesus and the holy spirit were all equal?

Why does it show instead that Jesus is not equal to God, and the holy spirit is God's power?

If it were a Biblical teaching, why can't the "Christians" explain it? Why are their attempts to explain it even more confusing than the dictionary definition of the trinity? They even contradict one another in their explanations of it.

The Bible is clear on this one- Jehovah is the Almighty God.
Jesus is his Son, and not equal to him. The holy spirit is God's power, the most powerful thing in the universe.