How would you go about explaining the Trinity to a non-believer?

Question

We as Christians have an understanding about God being 3 in 1 but how would you explain such a huge thing to somebody who doesn't understand?!

Answer 1

Liquid water-
Solid ice-
Gaseous steam-

It is all the same substance, just different forms of that substance. That is the best way to explain it.

Answer 2

That's a tough one. The Holy Spirit really came out of left field and right at the end of the Bible.
Jesus is the manifestation of God in human form, but kept denying being the Messiah, and when asked if he was the son of God, said "All men are the sons of God." Not real strong either.
I like to think of the three as the manifestation of God that we can experience. I really don't believe that there is a separate entity up there called the Holy Spirit (other than just being the spirit of God).
I guess in that way I really don't really believe in the Trinity as it is preached. I think we need to believe in the things Jesus said, and try to apply them to our lives. Not have some cosmic "belief" that in no way changes our lives.

Answer 3

Again and again I am explained to about this, and I do understand. But I cannot see what God would put my Grandmother, a christian woman, under so much pain and misery when she believed in him so strongly. She cant remember anything in her life that didn't involve the church. THAT is what I don't understand. I don't want to be invovled with any God that would pass over such pain and not even try to help her.

Answer 4

of direction. the concern is that an huge type of persons - the two Christian and non-Christian - assume God to have the comparable features - this is, the comparable nature - as organic, textile beings inclusive of ourselves. this is: maximum folk won't be able to think of a few thing exterior of their own very constrained adventure. Me? I actually have a diploma in Physics, and **because of the fact of that** i can understand the doctrine of trinity without batting an eye fixed. Is it because of the fact Physics is so complicated? nicely - no, that's not why! Physics is, certainly, an exceptionally confusing project of analysis. although, the important element approximately physics relative to this communicate is that analyzing physics teaches you that very a lot approximately nature is exterior of our own adventure and (to the layman) "nonsense" or "illogical"!!! the important factor with regards to the doctrine of trinity is that that's describing the character of a supernatural being! **Given this certainty**, a lifelike guy or woman *ought to assume* that nature to be multiple to the character of a textile (organic) being inclusive of ourselves. What we've, however - with people who've difficulty with the trinity doctrine - is "textile-worldwide-centrism". They attempt to stress the essence of the doctrine into textile words so that they could know it extra actual while - in certainty - it incredibly is understood actual (incredibly, it may) provided that it is not defined in terms of issues with a textile nature. that's my huge-unfold spiel. This includes purely the very fundamentals of the doctrine, not the full megillah. that's the section that maximum folk locate confusing yet **ought to locate somewhat trouble-free** *IF* they could draw close the thought God is a being with a nature that's not purely like the character of cloth beings or products. The spiel: ************* under i'm going to describe 2 of the main uncomplicated, standard teachings of the doctrine of trinity. till now you study them, i elect you to remember that that's describing the character of God. God isn't a rock, or an orange, or an armadillo or in line with possibility a individual. God is a supernatural being, and because he's a supernatural being his nature is *not* like the character of any organic (textile) being or merchandise. a) God is one, united, indivisible God. b) God exists as 3 separate persons or persons: the father, the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. even however God exists as 3 persons, God is *nevertheless* one, united, indivisible God. this is: all of those individuals are **the very comparable one God**. ************* - Jim, Bach Sci Physics 1989

Answer 5

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 1 explains God said let US create man in OUR image.

Genesis 2 shows how man is created from the dust (flesh)
God breathed life into him (spirit)
and man became a living soul (soul)

God created man above the animals more than flesh which returns to dust but with an eternal spirit.

The truth of God is revealed through the spirit and is only by God's revelation.

Answer 6

A belief in a one omnipotent being (God) is necessary first.
Assuming this is true.
1. Is God aware of His own existence? In other words, is it reasonable to say that God knows (intellect) himself?
2. The beauty we experience around us should indicate that God can act (will) upon that information by liking it.
3. So far, since there is only ONE God, all the knowing and loving (liking) equals Himself (intellect and will are one and the same). All intrinic and basic activity within God is God and is equal to God.
4. Without scripture, we can go no further. God is only one person here so far.
5. Scripture indicates three separate entities interacting with each other. God, Jesus, and a Holy Ghost. St. Luke, chap 1, verse 34-35 is very good example. Jesus is known as the Son of God and calls God His Father. Son of God denotes and implies a share in the Divinity. We know Jesus cannot be God all by Himself since there is only one God. He speaks often about the Holy spirit as separate from God His Father. We have a dilema here if we call Jesus God.
6. Early Church scholars propose a theory based upon the nature of a knowing and loving God as previously stated in 1 and 2.
7. Aware of His own existence, (1) God the Father produces a perfect image of Himself (2. intellect) in the form of a begotton son. The Holy Spirit (3. will) proceeds as the love between the two. All three entities are equal and mutually in love with each other as the basic intrinsic activity within God.
8. Without destroying the concept within the mind of God of one God, these three entities are acutallized in the Bible as separate persons. We attribute person to this activity since we are person and cannot be superior as a person to even Gods thoughts and actions. God still remains One God as all this activitity within God is still God and is still equal to God as persons. Acutalization in the Bible as separate beings and persons is a mystery as 3 persons in one God.

Answer 7

To a young unbeliever, I might suggest they think of it
as an apple. There is the seed, the fruit, and the rind,
but all three of these things still just make only one apple.
All three entities look different, have different duties, yet
it's still just one apple. Also, a man can be a husband,
a father, an uncle yet he's still only one person.
Hope this helps a little.

Answer 8

The Holy Trinity:

Count Chocula
Frankenberry
&
Boo Berry

Answer 9

I have written this for such a thing. I hope you see it's witness.

God tells angels to worship Him:
6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
"Let all God's angels worship him." (Hebrews 1 & Psalm 45)

God calls Jesus God:
8 But about the Son he says,
"Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,
and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
9You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy."
(Hebrews 1 & Psalm 45)

Jesus says that God is Spirit:
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4)

Jesus calls God the Father:
John 20:17
Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "

Jesus says that the Father and him are one:
30 "I and the Father are one."

Jesus calls himself 'from everlasting to everlasting ':
58"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" (John 8)

Jesus is in Daniel 7 as the Most High, having a separate set of independent actions from the Ancient of Days:
13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.

Answer 10

Good luck. Believers who debated this at the Council of Nicaea in 325 struggled with it. It is not an easy concept to get, let alone explain. I don't think most Christians fully understand it. What they understand is a garbled version of what it really means.

Perhaps you could do some research on the Council of Nicaea if you truly want to understand the concept. :)

Good luck to you! :)

Answer 11

It's like this Daddy, junior, and the spook are living in the house when one day daddy tells junior that he is going to die. Junior asks why and daddy says that its because I love you that your going to die in a most horrendous way. Then the spook enters and says that while daddy is killing you, I will come down upon you like a vulture and make the rest of the world see just what kind of god they worship. Yeah no thanks keep your gods.