We might call one side A, another side B, and the other C. So, there is a distinction between each of the sides, yet, all three are the same. For example, triangles are not the kinds of things that are personal. This is a bad analogy because it fails at the truth that all three persons comprise the fullness of God. A good example would be an electrical cord. Who is God? An egg has a shell, white, and yolk, but these three are part of an egg or Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao but the same Philippines. Each separate being is co-equal, co-powerful and co-eternal. HO may act as water, steam, or ice, but it is still HO. He completed a doctorate in 1990, looking at the question of harmonic rhythm in the organ music of J.S. Shively Well, the egg analogy, when applied to God, suggests that only one being exists but this being exists in three different parts. Good and Bad Analogies of the Trinity - Answers . Often these analogies explicitly teach heresy. This analogy seems to make a lot of sense, but it actually reinforces a fatal misconception about the Trinity called modalism. From time to time, Doctors of the Church used analogies, but with care. Before I even began writing this post, I had an unusual song stuck in my head Holy God, we praise thy name. John introduces us to the Trinity in John 1:1- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and Word was God. Jesus, the Word, was present in Genesis 1. Therefore, there is one God, who is eternally present in three persons. I think the analogy of the Sun works well. Space consists of three things: height, width, and depth. When the Bible talks about God, it may be referring to Jesus Christ in a specific instance, the Holy Spirit in another and God the Father in a third occasion. One of the more traditional analogies is to the states of water. But based on what you know that Jesus is born so that He can save people from their wrongdoings, will you trust Him to forgive you. THE TRUTH IS: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three different parts or components of God, but the . 1B) This son of Graham and Lois Armstrong is Dave. If you need to use an analogy, then use a good one. This analogy is an invalid comparison to the Trinity and is a heresy called PARTIALISM. Devils see that Spirit as a tempestuious fire. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit also exist eternally and concurrently. For example, we know that God didnt create humanity because He bored or lonely. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength (1 Corinthians 1:25). Some who deny the Trinity claim 1+1+1=3, and therefore claim we worship three Gods. This is a quick way to describe the doctrine of the Trinity namely, God is 1 being (the, is Gods nature, essence, being) and 3 whos (the, being Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). But remember, it is much better to let Scripture teach the 3 points above which establish the doctrine of the Trinity than to rely on analogies. If one of the sides were removed, then there would be no equilateral triangle. He has been relationally fulfilled within Himself since forever. This analogy explains that the Father is like the sun. But this view, too, wont do. Tritheism denies that there is only one God. The Trinity are three distinct persons who exist apart from each other. God is much bigger and much greater than we can understand, and to be honest, I'm ok with that. The Unseen Father is in Christs mind. If you looked at a single cloverleaf, you wouldnt call it a shamrock. The analogy breaks down because I can simultaneously be a father, husband, and son to any one person. Many of us would use analogies to explain the Trinity. 1A) Dave is a son of Graham and Lois Armstrong. Jesus was standing in the Jordan River, His Father speaks from heaven above, and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him as a dove. And let us once more come to illustrations. Water can be ice and steam, yet they are the same element. But we cannot do that (assuming we can) with God. It became real to me because I have experienced His love, grace, guidance, redemption, conviction of sin, and fellowship that comes from Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In Arianism, the Son is not eternally equal with the Father, but was the Fathers first and best creation. In using analogies, we need to acknowledge the demerits and limitations of the said analogy. The Unseen Father is in Christs mind. A person distinguishes himself from others by saying me, mine, you, yours, etc. A being is the whole nature or essence of something. Humans as we are, we cannot fully understand how the three divine Persons, though really distinct from one another, are one and the same God. Indeed, how can an infinite God be contained in a finite human womb! But we can (and should) have a solid foundation to explain this core belief of our faith. Modalism denies the distinction of person in the trinity. Jonathon serves as a lay pastor at Gospel Life Church in New Braunfels, TX and currently works as the IT Manager for a non-profit ministry. THE TRUTH IS: From the very beginning, the Blessed Trinity Father, Son, and Spirit was there. Yet others have thought that H20 (water) shows us the Trinity since H20 can be three things: solid (ice), liquid (running water) and vapor (steam). Unfortunately, no analogy is perfect. In order to accomplish this union with God and man, He allowed His Shell to be broken with the weight of our sins to cleanse our souls so His holiness can approach, for God cannot look upon sin (Habakkuk 1:13). The water analogy of the Trinity follows this line of reasoning: water can be a solid (ice/frozen water), liquid, and gas (water vapor), and yet all three forms are still water (H 2 O), and likewise, God manifests Himself in 3 different ways in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. But theres one problem: the water analogy is not the biblical picture of God. I write to see memory and language wrestle with reality. Some have used examples such as water, watermelons and eggs; the principle behind those illustrations is that even though each thing is one, it is also three. While each person is distinct, they are never separate from one another. There have been many attempts to explain the Trinity the relationship between God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. He is married to Shamsa Lea, is the father of Amira, and loves running, boxing and studying history and theology. What makes it hard is that all of our analogies and metaphors fall short of capturing what the Trinity actually is. In trying to describe what they saw in the pages of the Bible, the early church decided to use the word person to describe the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. However, Christians through the ages believe in the Trinity because the truths it represents are taught in the Bible. If you only had an apple core, you wouldnt pack it in your lunch. This was first used by Patrick of Ireland (yes there really was a Patrick of Ireland and he was a great guy), around 400 A.D. 2. Dr. Bruce Ware does an excellent job in his book Big Truths for Young Hearts. RELATED: What Does The Bible Say About Ghosts? The scientific analogy that will be provided in a few moments is truly inadequate to describe the Holy Trinity. The Holy Spirit is the shell, Jesus is the egg white, and the Father is the egg yolk. There is what is called the 'triple point' the combination of pressure and temperature at which H2O can exist simultaneously in all three states: solid, liquid and gas. Its downright hard to understand. To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresyTrinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity. ANALOGY OF CHARACTERS. These hand embroidered emblems are made with metallic gold-plated thread with silver content, printed on canvas. As a doctrine (belief), the trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three separate and distinct persons united in one being- God. The Trinity is established by 3 Biblical truths, . The word Trinity comes from the Latin word trinitas which means tri-unity. In this analogy, God is compared to a man. And we know that because Hes been experiencing perfect love within Himself forever. However, keep in mind that the one being. Cool it down, and itll eventually freeze into a solid. It is the Fathers desire to join His Spirit with all of us as well for He has said They shall be My sons and daughters (II Corinthians 6:18). This is one of the reasons we say that "God is LOVE". For those, like myself, who are not from a highly-liturgical denomination, it may come as a surprise that June 11 was Trinity Sunday. You know, that bearded guy on the throne who looks something like Zeus, right? God is Great, I always try to figure out how to explain it to my Sunday school kids and they get confused which i get, how would you explain it to them? The three distinct notes come together to make one beautiful sound. This may be my favorite verse of them all. This is a general rule when we study this Mystery using our human weakness since it is absolutely impossible for our human minds to comprehend the Divine. At times God is Father, or Son, or Holy Spirit. No analogy is perfect, but we want to be careful of using wrong ones that may confuse people. The Egg Analogy - This claims to be a good representation of the Trinity because Eggs have three distinct parts: the shell, the yolk, and the whites. How can we explain what it means to have three persons in one being? There are two basic ways that people misunderstand the Trinity: 1. If you say, "Jesus Christ" then you MAY BE incorrect. While it captures the idea that God is one, it doesnt do such a good job of showing how God is three and one at the same time. As John 1:18 says, Jesus is "the only begotten God, in the bosom of [God] the Father.". Or what? There is one GOD in three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), 2. Lord of all, we bow before thee. I go to prepare a place for you. Notice the distinction between persons and being. It taught there is one nature in God, and that there are two processions, three persons, and four relations that constitute the Blessed Trinity. Thankfully he isnt a cage-stage Calvinist about it all. Some think of God as H 2 O, which is sometimes a solid (ice), sometimes a liquid (water), and sometimes a gas (steam). He has not yet revealed some mysteries (what did Jesus do in His childhood, when will He return, what does the word Selah mean in the Old Testament- and so many more.). Rather, He created us in order to bless us. The doctrine of the Trinity tells us that there's ONE GOD who is THREE distinct PERSONS existing as a community of self-giving and loving relationships with each other. The Holy Trinity, one of the five Dogmas of the Church, is an extraordinary and unfathomable mystery. I did read about the shamrock analogy! How can God be Three in One? The Holy Spirit and Son do not send the Father. This would make Jesus something less than fully God. An analogy illustrates that in a similar way, one shamrock can have three leaves on it, and the trinity has three persons that comprise one God. God controls that light. This analogy denies the unity of the God-head. Water can exist in liquid at room temperature. Take a moment and give it a try. Over the course of church history there have been several heresies that have cropped up that deny one of these three truths. It does not represent 3 persons existing simultaneously. What portion of the analogy holds true with Church Teaching? - well, sort of. Analogies of the Trinity. The Spirit white is connected to Jesus Person I will come to you (John 14:18) and the Fathers Person, We will come to him and make our abode with him (John 14:23). Answer (1 of 25): Cynics assert that the idea of the Holy Trinity is a logical impossibility. And then theres Jesus, Gods son. It falls into the heresy of tri-theism. Some have used examples such as water, watermelons and eggs; the principle behind those illustrations is that even though each thing is one, it is also three. However, many of our faithful, and even priests, attempted to simplify the Mystery of the Trinity and made it easier to understand by using MODELS AND ANALOGIES, giving birth to modern-day heresies/fallacies about the Trinity. A good follow up verse to help explain is the baptism of Jesus. Each part of the egg make up only one portion of the wholethe yolk is not the fullness of the egg. You are an egg! Yet there is only one God. We can touch the cord, but not the power it is insulating. This is not an exhaustive list: For further reading on the Trinity, I would recommend James Whites The Forgotten Trinity, Wayne Grudems Systematic Theology and online articles by CARM.org. The above picture is a famous work of art by Andrei Rubilev, the great medieval Russian painter of Orthodox icons and frescos. And a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. God the Father spoke from heaven and spoke of His Son, Jesus. Only the Son became incarnate, took on flesh. How so? Haydn describes himself as a five-point Calvinist, but he recognises that many faithful Christians disagree. It is still H20, but just different forms. Afterall, we can get rid of a few of its parts - for instance the shell - and still scramble an egg. You can also catch up with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok So when God created us and revealed Himself to us, what He did was to invite us into the perfect goodness He has always known within Himself. Jesus, visually seen, judges all, not the Unseen Father. Water can be frozen and is called ice. Thought of Tim Its amazing to think that everything will be so clear when we het to Heaven! These three Persons are all equally God and all equally Persons. The Trinity is foundational and at the heart of our Christian faith. Analogies for the Trinity exist to explain the unexplainable. The concept is literally unthinkable. The white of an egg is the connection between the yolk and the shell. One cannot remove the Holy Spirit and still have the God as taught in the Bible. So while its tough to make sense of the Trinity, the Trinity actually helps us make sense of so many things we believe. When we view the egg in its entirety we have the Biblical Trinity, One that is Three. There is only one egg with three different parts. To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresyTrinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity. Holy Trinity, the downtown Greek Orthodox church that was partially destroyed by fire 11 years ago, was a special place for 57-year-old Georgiou. Some have taken on the task of explaining how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist as one. He explains why the doctrine of the Trinity is essential to the gospel even if it seems abstract or confusing, highlights why all analogies and metaphors are of limited value when thinking about the Godhead, and responds to the . Jesus is the Holy Spirit that saves us. As a result, this analogy actually teaches modalism. God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. The yolk represents Gods Person, His Being, and His Holiness which generates Light that no man can approach (I Timothy 6:16). But we cannot do that (assuming we can) with God. They are unified in one divine being. In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9) 3 - The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct persons. At the Cathedral, we recognize that there are responsibilities that come with . For example, an equilateral triangle (a triangle with three equal sides) has three sides. When we separate them and view them as individual deities, that is the error of tritheism, which is the worship of three individual gods as one. Like modalism, the "three beings" view was rejected by the early church. This is why Jesus said, He who has seen Me, has seen the Father (John 14:9). They suggest that only one God exists but this God transforms or morphs into each of the different persons Let's begin with the second view. Here are four. Being the brightness of the eternal Light, He Himself also is absolutely eternal. One thing that Ive found helpful is using the Trinity to illustrate truths we know about God. Each PERSON is distinct from one another. He has one essenceone substance. How would you explain the Trinity if someone asked you right now? Its a very common explanation within the church to try to explain how God, who clearly exhorts His followers to preserve His supreme oneness (Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 4), could also be identified with Jesus (Titus chapter 2 verse 13), and the Holy Spirit (Acts chapter 5 verses 3-4). La da dee dee dum dum (I couldnt remember the in-between parts). 5And there are varieties of ministries and the same Lord. In the same way, there is a God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.. Through the brokenness of the Shell, His Son, the Spirit white pours out into our beings through our faith in what was done and believers are joined with the yolk, for it is by One Spirit we have access to God the Father (Ephesians 2:18). The Gospel is theperson, work, and message of Jesus Christ that provides salvation to all repentant believers. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Here are a couple "usefully flawed" analogies for the Trinity. Sadly, theres something "rotten" about this egg analogy. The Trinity is one of the most foundational doctrines of Christianity. 6And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons., , The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all., There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Water can be ice and steam, yet they are the same element. show me your glory. Tritheism denies the unity of the God-head by saying there is just three different gods. What does that really mean? St. Augustine, one of the most important Fathers of the Church, wrote a great deal on the doctrine of the Trinity. But the Bible is CLEAR in its teaching. The Egg and I - Part Two May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14). It is the Fathers desire to join His Spirit with all of us as well for He has said They shall be My sons and daughters (II Corinthians 6:18). God controls that light. If one of the persons were not there, then we would not have God. Born in England in 1961, Benjamin Waterhouse Benjamin Waterhouse has been the organist of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity since 2000. Unfortunately, Arianism is still around and can found within the Jehovah's Witnesses teachings. The very definition of the heresy known as Modalism/Oneness is that there is one person existing in three different modes or manifestations. The egg white represents Gods Spirit. This is a quick way to describe the doctrine of the Trinity namely, God is 1 being (the what is Gods nature, essence, being) and 3 whos (the whos being Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). But they are one God. Water has three states: solid, liquid, and gas. This view teaches that three separate beings exist. That helps explain the concept quite well- the oneness, unity of God with the distinct three persons of God- Father, Son, and Spirit. Relationship Analogy (Husband/Son/Father) God is like a person with different relationships just as a man can be a Dad, but also someones Son, and also someones Husband. His ways are not my ways! In the same way, water is all the same molecular structure, expressing itself in three different modes. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John14:2, 3). Likewise we cannot have the Father or His Spirit without the Son I am the Way the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except by Me- John 14:6.