For since light is always in existence, it is manifest that its brightness also exists, because light is perceived to exist from the fact that it shines, and it is impossible that light should not shine. If you say, "Jesus Christ" then you MAY BE incorrect. So, part of understanding the Trinity is realizing that God is personal and relational. In using analogies, we need to acknowledge the demerits and limitations of the said analogy. From time to time, Doctors of the Church used analogies, but with care. Dr. Bruce Ware does an excellent job in his book Big Truths for Young Hearts. God is kind of like a man who is a father, a son and an uncle God is kind of like a three-leaf clover, or a triangle; one object, but three different, identifiable leaves, or sides* Each PERSON is distinct from one another. Tritheism denies that there is only one God. It should bring us to realise that we truly are finite creatures standing before a sovereign, transcendent, divine mystery. 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). Now that we know the doctrine of the trinity and its corresponding major heresies, now we are ready to look at some bad analogies for the trinity. He began to play the organ as a chorister in England, before continuing his studies in Qubec and France. 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. They say that three separate beings exist 2. The shortfall of this illustration, and others like it, is that God cannot be divided into "parts." For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father., 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Ontological means the nature or essence of something. We find it in all four Gospels. The Trinity is one of the most foundational doctrines of Christianity. When we see them as three individual spirits, (God is one Spirit John 4:24), then that is the blasphemy of polytheism which is the worship of more than one God. Unfortunately, there is a problem with this view of the Trinity. Some people think that H2O cannot exist in all three states simultaneously but that is not true. we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity,neither blending their personsnor dividing their essence. So, the egg analogy doesnt work after all. What does the Bible teach about the Trinity? | GotQuestions.org When we look at the egg as an example of the Trinity, we must view it in its entirety. If you're looking to dive deeper into God's word, here are 6 kinds of bible study tools and resources 9 Influential Female Leaders in the New Testament. We all want to experience the good life. The egg example, while not perfect or complete by any means, will still give us a basic understanding of the primary principle of Biblical Trinitarianism. These two analogies are the "water" analogy and the "egg" analogy. The Egg and I - Part Two In reality, I change my role depending on who I am interacting with. Water can exist in liquid at room temperature. But while this idea is central to the Christian faith, it is also incredibly mysterious to us. Similarly, in our aquatic analogy, water can appear in three different modes, depending on the environment, but the three are not co-existing. An egg is made up of shell, white and yolk. PDF UNDERSTANDING THE TRINITY - Andrew M. Bailey God does not morph from one person to another, nor does God exist as three separate beings. In other words, God may manifest Himself as the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. Jesus is the visual form of God. Often these analogies explicitly teach heresy. For example, triangles are not the kinds of things that are personal. We can touch the cord, but not the power it is insulating. The Trinity is a tri-unity, a unity of Three, - God the Father, Jesus, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. In one egg you have the white, the yoke, and the shell composing one full egg. The Council's definitions concerning the Trinity are really as easy as one, two, three four. All these make up one egg just as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit make up one God. I think the illustration that represents the Trinity most accurately is the egg example. It only has 1 person acting in three different roles. 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). Water Analogy God is like water, or H2O, which can exist in 3 forms. The Father is fully God; Jesus is fully God and the Holy Spirit is fully God. When we speak of someone as being a "person", we often mean an individual who is separate from other people, or we simply mean a human being. I believe that the best way to talk about the Trinity is to simply say that God is one God, who eternally exists in three Persons. Another analogy that Tim remembers, being Irish Catholic, is the analogy of the shamrock with its three parts. The beautiful depth of Gods eternal Triune nature is a sublime reality which should bring an end to our attempts to cognitively master Him. 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. Water has three states: solid, liquid, and gas. Understanding 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. God controls that light. If you say, "water" then you are incorrect. If you looked at a single cloverleaf, you wouldnt call it a shamrock. Unfortunately, an analogy from the limited realm of creation may not be sufficient in explaining Gods nature. Every kid in Sunday school thinks he knows all about God. Share your thoughts with us in the comments! The following verses attest to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). It does not imply Jesus was created if you emphasize that the Sun existed from eternity past. [Solved] Erickson discusses "God's Three-in-Oneness." What are the The Son intercedes as our High Priest before the Father. RELATED: What Does The Bible Say About Ghosts? Although the water changes forms it is still H2O. 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. To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresyTrinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity. Its hard to explain! Lastly, below is a helpful graphical chart explaining the doctrine of the Trinity I found from the Christian blog by Tim Challies found at Challies.com. Did I leave out any analogies? The shell, while important, is no longer needed. This error denies something central to God that makes Him God. 1A) Dave is a son of Graham and Lois Armstrong. The egg has a shell, the whites and a yoke. 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? Modalism is a heresy because it denies the distinction of God. Or what? This little child cannot look at one without experiencing a profound sense of wonderment and awe. This view teaches that three separate beings exist. The egg analogy is very simple but it is OK to show something as simple as an egg can be one and yet three. And whos the Holy Spirit? Unfortunately, Arianism is still around and can found within the Jehovah's Witnesses teachings. But this idea is central to the Christian faith. The Bible teaches three truths: 1 - there is one God. The apple seed alone is not an apple. The Bible reveals that each person of the Trinity has unique roles, relationships, and functions which are distinct from one another. The word trinity is not in the Scriptures, but is a word used to describe the three in one God revealed in the Bible. On a whim, I looked up the lyrics at a later time. Dont you know Jesus? 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. I did read about the shamrock analogy! Why All Analogies of the Trinity Fall Short - Joshua's Pen The mystery is in the "how" this is accomplished; something we will finally understand in heaven. However, it breaks down on the level of equality: No one keeps or eats the shell of an egg. However, Christians through the ages believe in the Trinity because the truths it represents are taught in the Bible. Its impossible to be an Orthodox Christian without professing belief in the Triune nature of God. The Trinity is a tri-unity, a unity of Three, - God the Father, Jesus, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. I'm always interested in ways to encourage you, so feel free to contact me and let me know what areas interest you! Devils see that Spirit as a tempestuious fire. You can throw away one part of an egg (e.g., shell) and still have essentially an egg. Music - The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Quebec, Canada All three persons exist at the same moment in history. 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. Light comes from God. Each side is co-equal with the others, yet, each side is necessary. 1B) This son of Graham and Lois Armstrong is Dave. The military would end up destroying themselves. He has been a member of the Royal Australian Air Force since 2007, and is now training to be an Air Force Chaplain. The Holy Trinity: Egg Analogy The Holy Trinity is GOD in three divine persons GOD the FATHER GOD the HOLY SPIRIT GOD the SON But together they makeup and are still ONE GOD Like how an egg is made up of three things but is still ONE EGG. The Egg- One egg has three parts: shell, whites, and yolk . We worship one God who exists in three persons. Explaining the Holy Trinity Using Analogies - Militant Thomist In the same way, water is all the same molecular structure, expressing itself in three different modes. But if they give us a warped idea of what they are trying to explain, they arent helpful illustrations. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. If then the sun were eternal, the day would never end; but now, for such is not really the state of the case, the day begins with the beginning of the sun, and ends with its ending. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. The three parts create a unified whole. RELATED: Did Jesus Really Rise From The Dead? There are two basic ways that people misunderstand the Trinity: 1. The egg shell is the image of the yolk and the white. As a result the water molecule must change forms. My prayer is to infuse God's character into your everyday lives with short ( 4-5") devotions and Bible Studies every Monday morning. My name is AnnMarie and I'm so glad you're here! The Trinity is a tri-unity, a unity of Three, - God the Father, Jesus, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. But, when it's heated, it turns into a gas (steam) and, when it's frozen, it turns into a solid (ice). How can we ever explain our Most High, exalted, powerful, uncontainable, and most glorious God? What happens when an egg hatches? In other words, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have a unique and unbreakable unity, and their existence together is the being that is God. The very definition of the heresy known as Modalism/Oneness is that there is one person existing in three different modes or manifestations. Among the most popular analogies for the Trinity, two in particular stand out; and most of the others resemble one of them. H2O can only ever be one form at a time. TO AVOID HERESIES, LET US LIVE BY WHAT HAS BEEN REVEALED TO US: 1. Yet, as we view the pages of the Bible, we see that God is a personal and relational God. The watermelon has a skin, pulp and seeds; the egg is shell, yolk and egg white. Our God is three in one. They are three in one egg. We define a person as one having a will and who is distinguishable from another person. Again, this analogy doesnt work because God doesnt morph, change, or become different aspects of Himself. Here are four. The Son "proceeds" from the Father, and the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father and the Son.". Jesus Person is joined to the Father by the Fathers Holy Spirit, because Gods Spirit is also Jesus Spirit - "But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. Many of us would use analogies to explain the Trinity. In Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). Admittedly, the idea of three distinct persons/expressions that are each fully God is part of the mystery. 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). Armstrong. If the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate beings, then its not really clear how someone can say that God is one or that only one God exists. And when the time comes when death is allowed to crack your shell in its final hour and your believing soul is released; the Spirit of God that holds you will carry you in His arms to your heavenly home because In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. The problem with this analogy is that no one molecule of H2O can actually exist as solid, liquid, and gas at the same time. Tritheism denies the unity of the God-head by saying there is just three different gods. Further, his dialectic is guided by the particular consideration of what true love is: a trinity of lover, beloved and the love that binds . At times God is Father, or Son, or Holy Spirit. Thankfully he isnt a cage-stage Calvinist about it all. Space consists of three things: height, width, and depth. 2 - The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are each God. Now, as youve probably guessed, this analogy also breaks down. The white of an egg is the connection between the yolk and the shell. We can admit it is a mystery and accept that our incomplete knowledge cannot fully comprehend it. When we look at the egg as an example of the Trinity, we must view it in its entirety. The problem here is it describes each part of the Trinity as 1/3 parts of the overall egg. Father, Son, and Spirit are each fully God (their own egg)- not fractions of one. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength (1 Corinthians 1:25). Jesus would have remained in the tomb, or hell, had Jesus sinned. In some ways, it resembles the tritheism view (Misunderstanding 2). Many of these analogies have the best of intentions, but God cannot be described in a way we can fully comprehend or rationalize. Similarly, people have used the example of the apple in the same way- skin, flesh, and seeds. Well the issue is, the water analogy is akin to the heresy of Modalism. A man might be a father to his children, a husband to his wife, and son to his parents. When they used the word person, they didnt mean it in the same way that we do today. Haydn Lea is an Associate Pastor in Queensland, and is currently studying his Master of Arts (Theology). The visual form of God seperated from Jesus on the cross. Below is a compilation of the verses that reference all 3 persons of the one God. The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the primary tenants of the Christian faith. All of the above Bad Analogies would perhaps do more harm than good if used in explaining the Trinity. This is why Jesus said, He who has seen Me, has seen the Father (John 14:9). Wow! FOR CENTURIES, the Church had fought against heresies on the Trinity. If youre interested into diving deeper into the topic of the Trinity, here are some valuable resources that could help. Jesus loves us so much that he did not obliterate people who died, with power that set stars in the universe. Its all one person, simply functioning in three different roles. There have been many attempts to explain the Trinity the relationship between God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. But this view, too, wont do. [4] The goal of an analogy is to draw out similarities between it and its referent in illuminating ways, not to define the referent itself. Unfortunately, most of them actually give us the wrong idea about what the Trinity is. and Holy Spirit are only parts of God (egg and sun). Memory, Understanding, and Will. This may be my favorite verse of them all. Now God can be in you by His Spirit! In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9) The God of the Bible is one God. Jesus was standing in the Jordan River, His Father speaks from heaven above, and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him as a dove. The idea of God as three-in-one is indeed a mysterious concept, one that is difficult to understand. MULTIPLICATION ANALOGY. What is wrong with what I said? We came up with several practical implications of this doctrine. Depth isnt the same thing as height and height isnt the same thing as width, yet all three together are what comprise space. If youve been involved in ministries for children or young people, questions about the Trinity have most likely come up. Common, yes. Montreal was home to two Trinity churches built in 1865 It can also be a liquid and called water. Just as water changes forms so too is the trinity. This little child cannot look at one without experiencing a profound sense of wonderment and awe. Yet the orthodox view is that each person of the Trinity is fully divine. Here are eight bible characters that you might not know about, but should. We have the creeds for just that reason. But you cannot be broken when your faith is in Jesus, for the Spirit of the Son that lives in us and gives us the voice through which we cry Abba, Father, (Galatians 4:6,) this Spirit of the Father that dwells within you is there to strengthen, protect and guard your person. Each person is fully God (Phil 2; Acts 5:3-4). How to Explain the Trinity to Children | Free Printable This is a place to find encouragement and hope from God's Word as you move through your busy life. The Trinity Guarding The Gospel The early church labeled this view "tritheism". No analogy is perfect, but we want to be careful of using wrong ones that may confuse people. Son and Holy Ghost are each fully God. The analogy explains that in the same way that one shamrock can have three leaves on it, the Trinity has three Persons that constitute one God. Now were going to look at how some people often misunderstand the Trinity. The Father is fully God; Jesus is fully God and the Holy Spirit is fully God. God is much bigger and much greater than we can understand, and to be honest, I'm ok with that. Trinity Analogies that End Up as Heresies - Medium 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.). Each of the persons is that supreme reality, viz., the divine substance, essence or nature. (Lateran Council IV), 4. We can think of it this way: the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. This analogy is an invalid comparison to the Trinity and is a heresy called PARTIALISM. 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. Starting with the three biblical affirmations, ask your kids to show you how these examples support or deny what the bible teaches about the Trinity. 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. Let's use an egg to explain the Holy Trinity! My intention is merely to address some common erroneous analogies, including water. The Father hears their intercessory prayers. For the Trinity, instead of using the formula 1+1+1, we use 1x1x1. This analogy is still not perfect because each of the aspect cannot stand as egg like each of the persons in the trinity can stand as God. The Trinity is pretty weird: the Father (or Mother), Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are in some sense distinct from one another, but are all unified in another sense. Yet God lovingly chose to create and eventually redeem us anyway (both thoroughly Trinitarian acts), at great cost to Himself. Matthew 3:16-17- As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. This analogy seems to make a lot of sense, but it actually reinforces a fatal misconception about the Trinity called modalism. I remember asking my Life Group last year, How have you heard the Trinity explained? I braced myself for the inevitable reply. All Scripture is taken from the NIV version unless otherwise specified, Author Ignace Franz, translated by Clarence A. Walworth. This analogy actually teaches the heresy of tritheism. They all exist as fully God, with none of them lacking in any attribute or aspect that defines God. They've always led to error and have been rejected by the church. Proof texting is when we cite a bunch of bible verses to support a theological stance. He has one essenceone substance. To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresyTrinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity. 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). ORDER from Barnes and NobleAmazon.com or wherever fine books are soldISBN-13: 978-1978167643Return to Cafe Logos Homepage | Bite-Sized Bible Bites. When we look at the egg as an example of the Trinity, we must view it in its entirety. The white of an egg is the connection between the yolk and the shell. Only the Son became incarnate, took on flesh. The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. There's a simple reason they don't work: The Trinity, as such, isn't like anything in creation. Over the course of church history there have been several heresies that have cropped up that deny one of these three truths. show me your glory. Before I even began writing this post, I had an unusual song stuck in my head Holy God, we praise thy name. This analogy explains that the Father is like the sun. That fire keeps devils away from the saved. 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. And we know that because Hes been experiencing perfect love within Himself forever. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. Yet it appears to be almost entirely misunderstood within contemporary evangelical circles. The concept is literally unthinkable. This is the error of Arianism (not to be confused with Aryanism, which is also bad). He is one God in three persons, all at the same time. Modalism denies the distinction of person in the trinity. Time Analogy God is like time. Check out verse four: Holy Author, Holy Word, Holy Spirit, three we name thee; Still, one holy voice is heard; undivided God, we claim thee, and adoring bend the knee, while we own the mystery. . The trinity is like this man. The Trinity is not real in my life because of superior knowledge or insight. This analogy actually falls prey to the same error of modalism. If all you had were an eggshell, you wouldnt have a very exciting breakfast. In one of his sermons, he wrestled with the passage in Scripture recounting Jesus' Baptism. The Holy Trinity, one of the five Dogmas of the Church, is an extraordinary and unfathomable mystery. Each separate being is co-equal, co-powerful and co-eternal. However, in some instances, the use of carefully chosen analogies may be of help for some of our brethren in learning the teachings of the Church. Here are a few of the many verses giving evidence of the Trinity in the Bible: Genesis 1:1&2- In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. The Holy Spirit was an active participant in the creative process. As a doctrine (belief), the trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three separate and distinct persons united in one being- God. God is not made up of 3 'parts' like the 3 parts of the egg. So whats one good way to explain what the Trinity is? As a doctrine (belief), the trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three separate and distinct persons united in one being- God. For example, an equilateral triangle (a triangle with three equal sides) has three sides. Believing in the above 3 points leads all Christians to acceptance of the doctrine of the Trinity. Water can be ice and steam, yet they are the same element. Because Gods Person is unapproachable, the Spirit White acts as insulation, for we know that it is through the Holy Spirit that God can communicate, speak through and interact with mankind. Father, Son, Holy Sprit : 3 persons, 1 great relationship, Copyright 2023 Fervr | Terms of Service. He differs from the Father, but was and still is God. Each part of the egg make up only one portion of the wholethe yolk is not the fullness of the egg. Yet there is still only one God we serve. But its all water. They that dont have the Holy Spirit in them will talk like the Adversary. 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. Some have taken on the task of explaining how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist as one. However, Christians through the ages believe in the Trinity because the truths it represents are taught in the Bible. One day, however, the image will be clear. The Holy Spirit is like the heat that the sun produces, unseen yet powerful and effective in making the sun felt. He cares for his creation and his people. For example, we know that God didnt create humanity because He bored or lonely. The problem with this analogy is that it would imply that there is only one Divine Person, who eventually multiplied Himself. If we separate them we still may have God the Egg yolk, God the Holy Spirit Egg white and God the Son, the Egg shell/image, three individual parts of an Egg, but they cannot be a Trinity, or tri-unity unless they are unified and are seen as one Egg, so to speak. 1 Corinthians 8:6: Yet for us there is but one God.. Seven Simple Facts About the Trinity - biblequery.org Yet there is only one God. True, we humans are image bearers but nothing in creation serves as an analogy for the Trinity because the Trinity is a doctrine of special (biblical) revelation not nature or reason. Haydn describes himself as a five-point Calvinist, but he recognises that many faithful Christians disagree. Our words should dissipate and be replaced instead with an awestruck adoration and wonder, as we realise the only appropriate response is to fall to our knees and humbly worship the one truly perfect, unified divine essence, comprising three diverse, co-equal and co-eternal divine persons.