This is the Christmas paradox. But thats not how they understood it. 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). Space Analogy God is like space. What happens when an egg hatches? Water can be ice and steam, yet they are the same element. However, it breaks down on the level of equality: No one keeps or eats the shell of an egg. 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. The God of the Bible is one God. The trinity is not a contradiction, but a paradox. You know, that bearded guy on the throne who looks something like Zeus, right? Each one is fully God. TO AVOID HERESIES, LET US LIVE BY WHAT HAS BEEN REVEALED TO US: 1. Dont become discouraged if you cant answer the question to your liking. The Father Matthew 27:45-46 (usually there is no argument that the Father is not God, since every place Jesus speaks to God, he is addressing the Father. We define a person as one having a will and who is distinguishable from another person. In reality, I change my role depending on who I am interacting with. Proof texting is when we cite a bunch of bible verses to support a theological stance. The teaching of the trinity is clearly taught in Scripture and must be preserved as such. When we think about influential New Testament leaders, most names are male. We find it in all four Gospels. The Trinity Guarding The Gospel For example, triangles are not the kinds of things that are personal. These two analogies are the "water" analogy and the "egg" analogy. Notice the distinction between persons and being. Being the brightness of the eternal Light, He Himself also is absolutely eternal. The Trinity is one of the most foundational doctrines of Christianity. This error denies something central to God that makes Him God. The Egg Analogy God is like an egg. 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. copyright 2009 by H.D. The Holy Trinity: Egg Analogy by Sharmaine Pagtakhan - Prezi THE TRUTH IS: The Father, Son, and Spirit are three different persons who are all equally one God. The mystery is in the how this is accomplished; something we will finally understand in heaven. Revelation 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. That would not be had God be three persons. In part one, we looked at what the Bible has to say about the Trinity. Each one is fully 100% God. Tritheism denies the unity of the God-head by saying there is just three different gods. [Solved] Erickson discusses "God's Three-in-Oneness." What are the The idea that the Trinity can be compared to a shamrock is largely attributed to St. Patrick. Now God can be in you by His Spirit! In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In other words, this view denies Gods oneness. 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. The Holy Spirit is the shell, Jesus is the egg white, and the Father is the egg yolk. One cannot remove the Holy Spirit and still have the God as taught in the Bible. And we know that because Hes been experiencing perfect love within Himself forever. It taught there is one nature in God, and that there are two processions, three persons, and four relations that constitute the Blessed Trinity. The problem with this analogy is that it denies the distinction of persons in the God-head. This may be my favorite verse of them all. Lost will be ashes under the feet of the righteous. When we use analogies, we need to indicate these things so as to not lead to heresies, A Catholic and Filipino writer interested in theology, philosophy, liturgy, politics, and law. Love your blogs! Eggs are one, yet comprise yolk, shell and albumen. 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. Should Women Really Keep Silent in Church? The Holy Spirit and Son do not send the Father. RELATED: Did Jesus Really Rise From The Dead? They are equally eternal, powerful, sovereign, and worthy of worship. The egg has a shell, the whites and a yoke. Perhaps youve heard the analogy that the Trinity is like H2O (the molecular symbol for water). Although the water changes forms it is still H2O. St. Augustine, one of the most important Fathers of the Church, wrote a great deal on the doctrine of the Trinity. So if all of these explanations are heretical, what is a good analogy? Homily for The Solemnity of Holy Trinity The Trinity is not 1 + 1 + 1 but more like 1 x 1 x 1. It is so important that to deny the trinity is to deny Christianity. Why analogies of the Trinity fail Youthworks God does not just change forms but exists as three persons in unity. This is perhaps the most common analogy for the Trinity. 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. In the Scripture we see "the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" (Col 1:9). They are three in one egg. 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. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit also exist eternally and concurrently. H2O can exist as a solid, a liquid and a gas but they are all still H2O. Infinite thy vast domain, everlasting is thy reign.. If one of the persons were not there, then we would not have God. Scripture however, doesnt depict God this way. I go to prepare a place for you. Each of the divine persons is GOD WHOLE AND ENTIRE, and there is one God. So whats one good way to explain what the Trinity is? God Himself explains why some things are still a mystery: For as heaven is higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9) Our human minds can never understand all of who God is and how He thinks and acts. Few topics of discussion in the Christian faith are more confusing than the idea of the Trinity. When we look at the egg as an example of the Trinity, we must view it in its entirety. This book is now available in a published format for easy sharing and classroom use. What Is the Trinity | Holy Trinity in the Bible | Explore God THE TRUTH IS: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not simply names designating modalities of the divine being, for they are really DISTINCT from one another: He is not the Father who is the Son, nor is the Son he who is the Father, nor is the Holy Spirit he who is the Father or the Son. (CCC 254), 3. Martyn Iles Removed as Managing Director of Australian Christian Lobby by Board, Seven Types of Rest to Restore Your Body, Mind and Spirit, 8 witnesses testified against Hillsong founder Brian Houston in court case, wife Bobbie reveals, Why you feel guilty for not going to church, Samaritan's Purse sends 52-bed field hospital to Turkey. show me your glory. Sending of another: The Father sends the Son, and both the Father and Son send the Holy Spirit. The Cathedral - The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Quebec, Canada This is why Jesus said, He who has seen Me, has seen the Father (John 14:9). 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. Time exists as 3 things: past, present, and future. Music - The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Quebec, Canada Modalism teaches that one God just changes forms or modes over the course of scripture. Many of us would use analogies to explain the Trinity. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQLfgaUoQCw. Yet, as we view the pages of the Bible, we see that God is a personal and relational God. We can think of it this way: the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. Here are 8 Bible Characters Who Should Be More Famous. In the same way is God being the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.. Augustine's typical dialectic is to move from the exterior realities of creation to the interior reality of the human soul where he hoped to encounter God in the image of God, damaged as it is by the fall. Yet we do not have three gods but ONE God. HO may act as water, steam, or ice, but it is still HO. The angel answered (Mary), The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High (referring to the Father, italics mine) will overshadow you. 1A) Dave is a son of Graham and Lois Armstrong. When we tend to make an analogy about the trinity we are forced to diminish one of the three trinitarian truths in order to make the analogy work. Here are four. Jesus is fully God. For those, like myself, who are not from a highly-liturgical denomination, it may come as a surprise that June 11 was Trinity Sunday. in that while water can change into vapour or ice, Jesus cannot change into the Father or the Holy Spirit. Or what? 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. Does that make sense? 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). At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. 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 trinity is an essential doctrine to the Christian faith. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)One of my Sunday School students said, "How could Jesus (God) enter Mary's stomach (womb) and be born? Each person is fully the one God, but is also distinct. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. The Trinity is not 1 + 1 + 1 but more like 1 x 1 x 1. Our God is three in one. What does that really mean? 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. Although he is one he has different roles to different people. Truly, it is a Mystery. 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). 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. THE TRUTH IS: From the very beginning, the Blessed Trinity Father, Son, and Spirit was there. we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity,neither blending their personsnor dividing their essence. He wondered how it was possible that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit could be inseparable, while, in . Your email address will not be published. Yet it appears to be almost entirely misunderstood within contemporary evangelical circles. Do you know why I keep saying God is like an egg (or H2O) but God is not like an egg (or H2O)? This is a bad analogy because it fails at the truth that all three persons comprise the fullness of God. Devils see that Spirit as a tempestuious fire. Similarly, people have used the example of the apple in the same way- skin, flesh, and seeds. So, part of understanding the Trinity is realizing that God is personal and relational. Explaining the Trinity | Catholic Answers As a result, this analogy actually teaches modalism. So God performs 3 different roles/relationships but 1 God. The Latin word for trinity (trinitas) combines two words- unitas (unity) and trias (three). The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the primary tenants of the Christian faith. The Trinity is established by 3 Biblical truths, . It is the Central Mystery of our Christian faith. The Trinity is Like an Egg How the analogy goes: The Trinity is like an egg. We believe in only one true God in all existence, in all places, at all times. Water can exist in liquid at room temperature. Rather, He created us in order to bless us. Some who deny the Trinity claim 1+1+1=3, and therefore claim we worship three Gods. The Trinity is like waterand other bad analogies But theres one problem: the water analogy is not the biblical picture of God. Well, the egg analogy, when applied to God, suggests that only one being exists but this being exists in three different parts. Some people have suggested using an egg to explain how God can be both one and three. Not just for explaining it to others, but to bolster our own faith and see how each One works in our lives. God has revealed some mysteries from the Old Testament in the New Testament (the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the coming of the Messiah, salvation by grace through faith, etc.) For the Trinity, instead of using the formula 1+1+1, we use 1x1x1. The white of an egg is the connection between the yolk and the shell. Another wrong illustration is using ourselves: I am one person, but also a wife, mother, and writer. What is the best analogy of the Holy Trinity? - Quora 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. 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). For example, an equilateral triangle (a triangle with three equal sides) has three sides. This description that all persons are fully God is called the Ontological Trinity. Can you think of some Bible verses to back up your explanation? 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). Ontological means the nature or essence of something. God does not play three roles.. He is married to Shamsa Lea, is the father of Amira, and loves running, boxing and studying history and theology. There's a simple reason they don't work: The Trinity, as such, isn't like anything in creation. The 3 Most Common "Trinity Analogies" (and their limitations) The three most common go-to analogies for explaining the Trinity are water, an egg, and the sun. Bach, and has released two previous CDs, one . As a result, this analogy can easily lead to tritheism in which there are three different gods which might share some like substance. He taught that the son was at one point created by God the father. God is not made up of 3 'parts' like the 3 parts of the egg. In Arianism, the Son is not eternally equal with the Father, but was the Fathers first and best creation. To help you out, here is a comical and silly video that teaches about these bad analogies. In the same way, there is a God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.. The Trinity for Kids - Part 2 - Prepared to Answer Three Gods or one? If youre interested into diving deeper into the topic of the Trinity, here are some valuable resources that could help. It can also be a liquid and called water. Thanks, Ann! It is still H20, but just different forms. Unfortunately, Arianism is still around and can found within the Jehovah's Witnesses teachings. A man might be a father to his children, a husband to his wife, and son to his parents. Matthew 3:16-17- As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. The Bible reveals that each person of the Trinity has unique roles, relationships, and functions which are distinct from one another. Share your thoughts with us in the comments! This is the error of Arianism (not to be confused with Aryanism, which is also bad). One thing that Ive found helpful is using the Trinity to illustrate truths we know about God. When we view the egg in its entirety we have the Biblical Trinity, One that is Three. Stars were made on the froth day. Water Analogy God is like water, or H2O, which can exist in 3 forms. Jesus Person is the image of Gods Person (Hebrews 1:3), and the Invisible Spirit of the Father that is in Him - God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (II Corinthians 5:19). We wont find the word Trinity in the Bible, but the concept is shown in many verses. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:9). Thus the Father is in Jesus " I and My Father are One" (John 10:30), "The Father is in Me" (John 14:10) God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (II Corinthians 5:19). To return to my Life Group anecdote, after our discussion I asked why does it even matter?. I think the analogy of the Sun works well. He was with God in the beginning. It leads to the heresy of MODALISM which teaches that God switches to different modes. The egg analogy is very simple but it is OK to show something as simple as an egg can be one and yet three. The egg (or apple) fails in that the shell, white, and yolk are parts of the egg, not the egg in themselves, just as the skin, flesh, and seeds of the apple are parts of it, not the apple itself. This is a place to find encouragement and hope from God's Word as you move through your busy life. How to Explain the Holy Trinity to a Child: 3 Important Teaching Tips To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresyTrinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity. I did read about the shamrock analogy! It's impossible to be an Orthodox Christian without professing belief in the Triune nature of God. For them, a person is someone who could relate to another. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,, , Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9) So "son" = "Dave". Heat it up, and it turns to vapor. From time to time, Doctors of the Church used analogies, but with care. The egg white represents Gods Spirit. The best analogy for the Trinity (hold your stones) - The Project on In contrast to the Ontological Trinity, there is the Economic Trinity. This analogy denies the distinction of the God-head. Im giving God the credit for stirring this memory, and am extremely grateful. Although he is one man who is simultaneously a husband, a father, and a student, he would consider it Modalism to suggest that this is a good Trinitarian analogy. I know in the past Ive used analogies that werent the best (more on those later.) Further, we can label each of the sides. And let us once more come to illustrations. Jesus then becomes a created being and thus less than fully God. There are three different cloves that represent the three different persons of the trinity. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength (1 Corinthians 1:25). But it cant be that way with God. The Holy Spirit is Christs spirit in us guiding us into all truth. In one of his sermons, he wrestled with the passage in Scripture recounting Jesus' Baptism. Adorn your liturgical vestments with classic images from the Monastery Icons collection. On a whim, I looked up the lyrics at a later time. Well the issue is, the water analogy is akin to the heresy of Modalism. 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. The Holy Spirit prays for us. 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). They are three in one egg. This is one of the reasons we say that "God is LOVE". Celebrating Easter Is About so Much More Than One Hour on Sunday. The problem with this analogy is that it teaches that God has three components: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When we view the egg in its entirety we have the Biblical Trinity, One that is Three. The watermelon has a skin, pulp and seeds; the egg is shell, yolk and egg white. Devils cannot grab ahold of them to cast them into Satans prison. - well, sort of. 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. The three distinct notes come together to make one beautiful sound. Augustine of Hippo/On The Trinity - Wikiversity To become the people we were always created to be. I remember asking my Life Group last year, How have you heard the Trinity explained? I braced myself for the inevitable reply. Discover the richness of the old yet living 2,000-year-old religion which built the West. The Son intercedes as our High Priest before the Father. This analogy is an invalid comparison to the Trinity and is a heresy called PARTIALISM. So cool that God imparted that song in your mind and heart before you even wrote this blog post! God created us for community, since God is communal and we were created in His image. But this idea is central to the Christian faith. Like modalism, the "three beings" view was rejected by the early church. All Rights Reserved. Modalism teaches that the trinity is not three distinct persons, but just different modes that God reveals himself to human beings. They all exist as fully God, with none of them lacking in any attribute or aspect that defines God. 1B) This son of Graham and Lois Armstrong is Dave. A good follow up verse to help explain is the baptism of Jesus. Jesus, visually seen, judges all, not the Unseen Father. I dont know how our majestic God feels about being compared to watermelons and eggs, but He is also a loving Father, and like any father, I believe God would seek to provide simple explanations so His little children can understand. You are an egg! 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. Which ones have you heard? But we can (and should) have a solid foundation to explain this core belief of our faith. The Unseen Father and Father that is seen existed at the same time. There are some analogies that come close. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Afterall, we can get rid of a few of its parts - for instance the shell - and still scramble an egg. It only has 1 person acting in three different roles. 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. We have the creeds for just that reason. If you only had an apple core, you wouldnt pack it in your lunch. This analogy is an invalid comparison to the Trinity and is a heresy called PARTIALISM. Hi Im not a theologian and I dont disagree with what you say but when you state that we know the persons of the Trinity have perfectly loved for eternity etc how do we know? Yet the orthodox view is that each person of the Trinity is fully divine. Each Person in the Trinity (or the Godhead) is fully God and fully a Person. One sits on the throne looking like Sardine and Jasper stone. [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. 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. Here's a look at six explanations for why so many people truly believe 3 Ways to Experience The Good Life in Jesus. It does not represent 3 persons existing simultaneously. Unfortunately, an analogy from the limited realm of creation may not be sufficient in explaining Gods nature. For example, we know that God didnt create humanity because He bored or lonely. St. Augustine's Analogy for Understanding the Trinity Instead, each person is co-equal, co-powerful and co-eternal. And for a mere mortal to have dared invent it and be able t. Shively, This book is now available in a published format for easy sharing and classroom use. Others compare God to an egg, which is part shell, part white, part yolk. To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresyTrinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity. Before I even began writing this post, I had an unusual song stuck in my head Holy God, we praise thy name. However, Christians through the ages believe in the Trinity because the truths it represents are taught in the Bible. The Father hears their intercessory prayers. The Holy Spirit prays for us. We Christians believe it on faith. 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). Jesus was standing in the Jordan River, His Father speaks from heaven above, and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him as a dove. Some people falsely claim the Trinity is a form of . Yet there is still only one God we serve. We define a person as one having a will and who is distinguishable from another person. There are two basic ways that people misunderstand the Trinity: 1. I never thought about it in that way some of these examples Ive never heard of. In Biblical Trinitarianism we can never have one without the other because they are one Spirit; each is the totality of the other which means we cannot have the Holy Spirit without the Father and the Son, We will come (into the believer through the Holy Spirit, John 14:23), and we cannot have the Son without The Father whose Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father (Matthew 10:20).
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