Explain the trinity

speakout · Dec 1, 2008

I am amazed that Christians are lost about this these days.

HisLittleHazelnut · Dec 1, 2008

God created several things that are three parts that make up an entity. For instance, the egg: yolk, white, shell = egg. A day: seconds, minutes, hours.
Is an egg just a yolk? Just a shell? Just a white? No. All three components are required for it to be an egg. So it is with God. God is not just the Father. He is not just the Holy Spirit. He is not just Jesus. He is all three, comprising one entity.

when_it_rains · Dec 1, 2008

I've never really got why people find it so difficult.

The Father = God. The one who made the Earth on which we live.
The Son = God in "human form", Jesus Christ. The one who came to save the people on this Earth as things went wrong, people didn't worship and obey God, and needed salvation.
The Spirit = Almost a mental picture of God. Something that is with us at all times.

Not crystal clear, but I THINK I know what I'm trying to say

E.C. · Dec 1, 2008

Three leaf clover. Three leaves, one clover. Three persons, one God.

EDIT: In a word, incomprehensible.

alfrodull · Dec 1, 2008

It's a complex question, something not even theologians can agree on. You shouldn't disparage people for not having a clear concept of their own or not sharing your interpretation.

In very basic terms, I would describe it as:

God: The law of the universe and the source of life. Perhaps existence itself.
Jesus: The redeemer of man; the physical incarnation of the will and personality of God.
The Holy Spirit: The tangible manifestation of God working in creation.

Sketcher · Dec 2, 2008

E.C. said:
Three leaf clover. Three leaves, one clover. Three persons, one God.

EDIT: In a word, incomprehensible.

I like this one.

starbead · Dec 2, 2008

I've heard it put another way: the Speaker, the Word, and the Voice.

codya517 · Dec 2, 2008

I like that one.

eugeneandbobo · Dec 2, 2008

peanut m&m:

peanut, chocolate, candy coating...all three individual, but all necessarily one thing

WileyCoyote · Dec 2, 2008

Since there are so many theologian-like answers, I'll go against the grain.

God exists in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Teufelhund · Dec 2, 2008

The trinity consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are one God, but in three persons. Which is a fairly oversimplified way of explaining 2,000 years of very complex theological arguments.

Namarie · Dec 2, 2008

My mom told me a cool one the other day. She used water to explain the trinity. God is H2O. water, steam, and ice. all three are still H2O, just in different forms.

Penumbra · Dec 5, 2008

Namarie said:
My mom told me a cool one the other day. She used water to explain the trinity. God is H2O. water, steam, and ice. all three are still H2O, just in different forms.

That one sounds like modalism.

WileyCoyote · Dec 5, 2008

Penumbra said:
That one sounds like modalism.

What's that?

Penumbra · Dec 6, 2008

WileyCoyote said:
What's that?

Modalism is a view about God and the Trinity which was declared heretical.

From an article:
"Modalism is probably the most common theological error concerning the nature of God. It is a denial of the Trinity which states that God is a single person who, throughout biblical history, has revealed Himself in three modes, or forms."

It's the denial that the Trinity is three separate persons, but instead, one person who represents himself in three different ways. The metaphor by Namarie describes three different states of the same substance- H20 is either solid, liquid, or gas at any one time. "Just different forms", as she said, is very much like modalism.

speakout · Dec 6, 2008

I think John 14 explains it well it is about receiving the Holy Spirit.

esus the Way to the Father

5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." 22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"
23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25"All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28"You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
"Come now; let us leave.

It is only when you receive the Holy Spirit when you understand, " I am in the Father, the Father is in me and I will be in you."

I know there are a lot of Christians who believe that the spirit has stopped working today and this makes it difficult for them to understand the Trinity.

buddy_holly · Dec 9, 2008

Penumbra said:
Modalism is a view about God and the Trinity which was declared heretical.

From an article:
"Modalism is probably the most common theological error concerning the nature of God. It is a denial of the Trinity which states that God is a single person who, throughout biblical history, has revealed Himself in three modes, or forms."

It's the denial that the Trinity is three separate persons, but instead, one person who represents himself in three different ways. The metaphor by Namarie describes three different states of the same substance- H20 is either solid, liquid, or gas at any one time. "Just different forms", as she said, is very much like modalism.

Is this still deemed Heretical?

Sketcher · Dec 9, 2008

buddy_holly said:
Is this still deemed Heretical?

The question is whether it is heretical at all, not whether men consider it to be or not.

According to John 1:1, where we have the Word being with God, and being God at the same time, modalism cannot be true. I appreciate being taught about modalism, I hadn't known about it before.

Penumbra · Dec 9, 2008

buddy_holly said:
Is this still deemed Heretical?

It depends who you ask I suppose. Religious beliefs around the world are very diverse, including Christianity, but the majority of the world's Christians would consider it heretical.

I used to be somewhat of a modalist before I even knew what the term meant.

DarkGreenMind · Dec 9, 2008

HisLittleHazelnut said:
God created several things that are three parts that make up an entity. For instance, the egg: yolk, white, shell = egg. A day: seconds, minutes, hours.
Is an egg just a yolk? Just a shell? Just a white? No. All three components are required for it to be an egg. So it is with God. God is not just the Father. He is not just the Holy Spirit. He is not just Jesus. He is all three, comprising one entity.

God is NOT an egg. Comparing the Creator to creature is a bad idea.

If God is one thing with three parts you must say "they" or "it", not "He".

Where does the Bible say that God is "three" ?

We hope the site problems here are now solved, however, if you still have any issues, please start a ticket in Contact Us

Explain the trinity

Well-Known Member

Coming soon with new account... find me if you can

Newbie

Well-Known Member

Senior Veteran

Born Imperishable

Junior Member

Chasing Jesus

Veteran

Contributor

Senior Veteran

Junior Member

Traveler

Contributor

Traveler

Well-Known Member

What would Jesus do for a Klondike Bar?

Born Imperishable

Traveler

DarkGreenMind

Guest

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency