It is a miraculous invention, the egg. Why All Analogies of the Trinity Fall Short - Joshua's Pen 2:5-6; Col. 1:15-17, 2:9; Heb. 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. Here's a look at six explanations for why so many people truly believe 3 Ways to Experience The Good Life in Jesus. I write to see memory and language wrestle with reality. God controls that light. Share your thoughts with us in the comments! Every kid in Sunday school thinks he knows all about God. When we look at the egg as an example of the Trinity, we must view it in its entirety. 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. Church Adornments & Worship: Vestment Emblems - Monastery Icons Homily for The Solemnity of Holy Trinity None of the 3 are less divine than the others. The Son was begotten by the Father IN ETERNITY, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. I think the illustration that represents the Trinity most accurately is the egg example. The military would like to have that power. Therefore, in this context, God is the what and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the who. They that dont have the Holy Spirit in them will talk like the Adversary. A single molecule cannot simultaneously exist in three different states. The trinity is a like a Three-Leaf Clover. Each of the persons is that supreme reality, viz., the divine substance, essence or nature. (Lateran Council IV), 4. There are two basic ways that people misunderstand the Trinity: 1. From time to time, Doctors of the Church used analogies, but with care. Therefore, in this context, God is the what and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the who. Yet there is still only one God we serve. Further, his dialectic is guided by the particular consideration of what true love is: a trinity of lover, beloved and the love that binds . For them, a person is someone who could relate to another. Which ones have you heard? The visual form of God seperated from Jesus on the cross. But we cannot do that (assuming we can) with God. 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). There would be three thrones. Modalism denies the distinction of person in the trinity. , 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you., For further reading on the Trinity, I would recommend James Whites, Lastly, below is a helpful graphical chart explaining the doctrine of the Trinity I found from the Christian blog by Tim Challies. There's a simple reason they don't work: The Trinity, as such, isn't like anything in creation. This is one of the reasons we say that "God is LOVE". In humans, our spirits are designed to operate with and be united to the soul which is the person of anyone and so it is with our Egg. Why analogies of the Trinity fail Youthworks Admittedly, the idea of three distinct persons/expressions that are each fully God is part of the mystery. As we examine the scriptural witness we see three truths that make up the doctrine of the trinity. This analogy is an invalid comparison to the Trinity and is a heresy called PARTIALISM. RELATED: What Did Jesus Really Look Like? He was with God in the beginning. 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. 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. In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9) 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). Christians believe, then, that only one God exists but this God exists as a unity of three persons: a Trinity. 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. And we know that because Hes been experiencing perfect love within Himself forever. The Trinity is not 1 + 1 + 1 but more like 1 x 1 x 1. Tritheism denies that there is only one God. Since these bad analogies tend to lead to a heresy, we will examine the main three areas of heresy concerning the trinity. The Trinity is like an egg. 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. We can touch the cord, but not the power it is insulating. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:9). As a result, this analogy can easily lead to tritheism in which there are three different gods which might share some like substance. It leads to the heresy of MODALISM which teaches that God switches to different modes. If one of the sides were removed, then there would be no equilateral triangle. Some who deny the Trinity claim 1+1+1=3, and therefore claim we worship three Gods. Shively, This book is now available in a published format for easy sharing and classroom use. Holy Trinity: Some Analogies to Help Us Comprehend To put it simply, "The problem with using analogies to explain the Holy Trinity is that you always end up confessing some ancient heresy." . He taught that the son was at one point created by God the father. These three Persons are all equally God and all equally Persons. The Holy Spirit and Son do not send the Father. Space consists of three things: height, width, and depth. He has one essenceone substance. He cares for his creation and his people. Space Analogy God is like space. 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 Latin word for trinity (trinitas) combines two words- unitas (unity) and trias (three). We all want to experience the good life. The problem with this analogy is that an egg yoke is of a very different substance than a shell. Just like an egg, none of the parts are co-equal, nor are all of the parts necessary for the egg to exist. They've always led to error and have been rejected by the church. 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). I and My Father are One (John 10:30). But they are one God. H2O is a combination of two particles (atoms) of hydrogen and one particle of oxygen and this compound can exist as water (liquid), ice (solid) and vapour (gas). 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. We can admit it is a mystery and accept that our incomplete knowledge cannot fully comprehend it. An explanation that is so common, and seemingly does elucidate how something can simultaneously be three and onecan it really be that bad? This analogy denies the distinction of the God-head. Bach, and has released two previous CDs, one . This is because the H20 is changing forms in representing each person. He is married to Shamsa Lea, is the father of Amira, and loves running, boxing and studying history and theology. Or, we can quote Daniel Webster; a strong Christian- I do not pretend fully to understand the arithmetic of heaven now. . I did read about the shamrock analogy! Arianism denies the deity of each person in the trinity. 1. Music - The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Quebec, Canada 2A) Dave is a father of four children: three boys and a . Instead, each person is co-equal, co-powerful and co-eternal. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. and Holy Spirit are only parts of God (egg and sun). According to modalism, God does not actually exist in three persons. (Which I just found out is in error). Blessings! There have been many attempts to explain the Trinity the relationship between God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. For example, an equilateral triangle (a triangle with three equal sides) has three sides. 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. Water Analogy - God is like water, or H2O, which can exist in 3 forms. Each separate being is co-equal, co-powerful and co-eternal. La da dee dee dum dum (I couldnt remember the in-between parts). It is so important that to deny the trinity is to deny Christianity. Afterall, we can get rid of a few of its parts - for instance the shell - and still scramble an egg. "The Egg and i - A Simple Explanation of The Trinity" - cafe Logos If you say, "Jesus Christ" then you MAY BE incorrect. Yet, the trinity is mysterious. How to Explain the Holy Trinity to a Child: 3 Important Teaching Tips The mystery is in the how this is accomplished; something we will finally understand in heaven. In Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). So under modalism, God acts as the Father in the Old Testament, the son in the Gospels, and the Spirit in Acts and the Epistles. That is heaven in a person. It does not represent 3 persons existing simultaneously. The word Trinity comes from the Latin word trinitas which means tri-unity. Analogies that we present would always be insufficient as none of them would equate to the incomprehensible beauty of God. Eggs are one, yet comprise yolk, shell and albumen. The Holy Spirit prays for us. 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. There are three different cloves that represent the three different persons of the trinity. As John 1:18 says, Jesus is "the only begotten God, in the bosom of [God] the Father.". God is not made up of 3 'parts' like the 3 parts of the egg. Do you know why I keep saying God is like an egg (or H2O) but God is not like an egg (or H2O)? It is not important merely for the sake of tradition, or because the word itself is taught in the Bible (. A good follow up verse to help explain is the baptism of Jesus. When we view the egg in its entirety we have the Biblical Trinity, One that is Three. Each one is fully 100% God. Yet we do not have three gods but ONE God. This analogy seems to make a lot of sense, but it actually reinforces a fatal misconception about the Trinity called modalism. So, part of understanding the Trinity is realizing that God is personal and relational. My intention is merely to address some common erroneous analogies, including water. Yet the orthodox view is that each person of the Trinity is fully divine. I and My Father are One (John 10:30). The problem with this analogy is that it teaches that God has three components: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is not existing as 3 different parts (persons) at the same time. In using analogies, we need to acknowledge the demerits and limitations of the said analogy. This means there is a sense in which all 3 persons may act or speak as one. And the Holy Spirit is not the Father or the Son. The Council's definitions concerning the Trinity are really as easy as one, two, three four. We recommend you adhere these emblems to your vestments by mounting on the material with fabric glue and then stitching them . The Trinity is foundational and at the heart of our Christian faith. To become the people we were always created to be. For those, like myself, who are not from a highly-liturgical denomination, it may come as a surprise that June 11 was Trinity Sunday. 1 Corinthians 8:6: Yet for us there is but one 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. Did I leave out any analogies? My prayer is to infuse God's character into your everyday lives with short ( 4-5") devotions and Bible Studies every Monday morning. The idea that the Trinity can be compared to a shamrock is largely attributed to St. Patrick. It falls into the heresy of tri-theism. I'm always interested in ways to encourage you, so feel free to contact me and let me know what areas interest you! I bet I havent sung or heard this song in years! Some think of God as H 2 O, which is sometimes a solid (ice), sometimes a liquid (water), and sometimes a gas (steam). 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. If all you had were an eggshell, you wouldnt have a very exciting breakfast. The three-leaf clover analogy is OK. The God of the Bible is one God. Despite its potential obscurity, Trinity Sunday is a great occasion for me to revisit an old article on the Trinity. Modalism, or Sabellianism, denies the three distinct Persons of the Trinity and claims that God is one Person who appears in different modes at different timesin the Old Testament He appeared as the Father, in the Gospels He appeared as the Son, and from Pentecost onwards He appears as the Holy Spirit. But understanding the Trinity is important. 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. Before we look at a few bad analogies that many often use to try to illustrate the trinity, we need to first understand the doctrine itself. That is why Moses said. A man might be a father to his children, a husband to his wife, and son to his parents. Or what? One popular and simple illustration of the Trinity is the egg. But common sense is intuition based on day-to-day experience. 3:15; John 17:1-4, The Holy Spirit Acts 5:3-4; John 14:16-17, 26; John 16:7-13. 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. God is much bigger and much greater than we can understand, and to be honest, I'm ok with that. But the Bible is CLEAR in its teaching. These things are referred to as the Economic Trinity. The problem with this analogy is that an egg yoke is of a very different substance than a shell. Jesus, visually seen, judges all, not the Unseen Father. For instance, we know that God is perfectly loving. If youre interested into diving deeper into the topic of the Trinity, here are some valuable resources that could help. Cool it down, and itll eventually freeze into a solid. Jesus is the Holy Spirit. St. Augustine, one of the most important Fathers of the Church, wrote a great deal on the doctrine of the Trinity. As a result, this analogy actually teaches modalism. 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. He has the world and our individual lives within His supremely capable hands. What is the best analogy of the Holy Trinity? - Quora God is like an egg - VTAide In the same way, water is all the same molecular structure, expressing itself in three different modes. In one of his sermons, he wrestled with the passage in Scripture recounting Jesus' Baptism. Now were going to look at how some people often misunderstand the Trinity. The problem with this analogy is that no one molecule of H2O can actually exist as solid, liquid, and gas at the same time. Your email address will not be published. THE TRUTH IS: The Father, Son, and Spirit are three different persons who are all equally one God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each called Jehovah (or Spirit of Jehovah), given divine attributes, and are distinguished from one another. In Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). 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. 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). The Father hears their intercessory prayers. Explaining the Holy Trinity Using Analogies - Militant Thomist In this analogy, God is compared to a man. . The yolk represents Gods Person, His Being, and His Holiness which generates Light that no man can approach (I Timothy 6:16). Light comes from God. Therefore the eternal brightness shines forth before Him, and co-exists with Him, in that, existing without a beginning, and always begotten, He always shines before Him; and He is that Wisdom which says, I was that wherein He delighted, and I was daily His delight before His face at all times.. 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. We wont find the word Trinity in the Bible, but the concept is shown in many verses. Therefore, there is one God, who is eternally present in three persons. In one egg you have the white, the yoke, and the shell composing one full egg. We believe in only one true God in all existence, in all places, at all times. The Trinity is a tri-unity, a unity of Three, - God the Father, Jesus, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. They are equally eternal, powerful, sovereign, and worthy of worship. The Trinity is one of the most foundational doctrines of Christianity. How Helpful Are Analogies of the Trinity? - Kuyperian Commentary Among the most popular analogies for the Trinity, two in particular stand out; and most of the others resemble one of them. The Unseen Father and Father that is seen existed at the same time. Unfortunately, most of them actually give us the wrong idea about what the Trinity is. Jesus is the Holy Spirit that saves us. A Simple Way to Explain the Trinity - Keith Ferrin 2. FOR CENTURIES, the Church had fought against heresies on the Trinity. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This is why Jesus said, He who has seen Me, has seen the Father (John 14:9). Basic mathematics tells us that 1x1x1 = 1.. Youre right, theyre all good but not perfect because only God IS perfect. Dont you know Jesus? They have a common purpose in making harmonious music, but each note is its own separate entity. But Hes God too, right? Here many of the creeds help us in clearly articulating the trinity. This description that all persons are fully God is called the Ontological Trinity. Required fields are marked *. In the same way, at one moment God is the Father, but at different times God morphs or transforms into the Son or Holy Spirit. Why is it wrong? Heat it up, and it turns to vapor. The Unseen Father is in Christs mind. These two analogies are the "water" analogy and the "egg" analogy. In reality, I change my role depending on who I am interacting with. But its all water. [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. I never thought about it in that way some of these examples Ive never heard of. In the first place, if we truly claim to love God, then surely we should endeavour to know Him. You can throw away one part of an egg (e.g., shell) and still have essentially an egg. . 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. This is why Jesus said, He who has seen Me, has seen the Father (John 14:9). In the same way is God being the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.. But God is the eternal Light, which has neither had a beginning, nor shall ever fail.
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