Genesis 18:1-8 Abraham's three visitors

[Sif]

Hello,

In the story at the beginning of Genesis Chapter 18 Abraham is visited by three strangers. I know the Book of Genesis is part of the Jewish sacred writings but it is, obviously, the first book of the Bible for Christians. Given that in the New Testament there is the Trinity I was wondering if the fact Abraham's three visitors were a foreshadowing of the Trinity or, perhaps, the number three here is in a different context.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Hello,

In the story at the beginning of Genesis Chapter 18 Abraham is visited by three strangers. I know the Book of Genesis is part of the Jewish sacred writings but it is, obviously, the first book of the Bible for Christians. Given that in the New Testament there is the Trinity I was wondering if the fact Abraham's three visitors were a foreshadowing of the Trinity or, perhaps, the number three here is in a different context.

A traditional icon is the Icon of the Hospitality of Abraham,

While it's definitely meant to depict the scene described in Genesis, it is often understood to be a kind of icon of the Trinity as well. The Trinity cannot be directly depicted, because God can't be directly depicted (direct depictions of the Father and the Holy Spirit are, strictly speaking, inappropriate according to the Second Council of Nicea; only the Son can be directly depicted because, being also human, He has form and can be depicted as a man). So the Icon of the Hospitality of Abraham is often viewed as a kind of picture of the unity of the Trinity, their interior fellowship and communion in their Perichoresis.

So, yes, Christians often have looked at the three angelic visitors (and interestingly, the text speaks of their visit as a visit by YHVH Himself) as a theophanic manifestation of God, and a shadow, picture, or type of the Trinity in a sense.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Sif]

A traditional icon is the Icon of the Hospitality of Abraham,

While it's definitely meant to depict the scene described in Genesis, it is often understood to be a kind of icon of the Trinity as well. The Trinity cannot be directly depicted, because God can't be directly depicted (direct depictions of the Father and the Holy Spirit are, strictly speaking, inappropriate according to the Second Council of Nicea; only the Son can be directly depicted because, being also human, He has form and can be depicted as a man). So the Icon of the Hospitality of Abraham is often viewed as a kind of picture of the unity of the Trinity, their interior fellowship and communion in their Perichoresis.

So, yes, Christians often have looked at the three angelic visitors (and interestingly, the text speaks of their visit as a visit by YHVH Himself) as a theophanic manifestation of God, and a shadow, picture, or type of the Trinity in a sense.

-CryptoLutheran

Very interesting. I've always liked the art of Icons.

I certainly understand that God Himself can not really be depicted and that Icons can only depicted God the Son (Christ) has he did have a physical human body.

Christ Pantocrator is one of my favorite. Here is an image from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey

 

[ChetSinger]

Hello,

In the story at the beginning of Genesis Chapter 18 Abraham is visited by three strangers. I know the Book of Genesis is part of the Jewish sacred writings but it is, obviously, the first book of the Bible for Christians. Given that in the New Testament there is the Trinity I was wondering if the fact Abraham's three visitors were a foreshadowing of the Trinity or, perhaps, the number three here is in a different context.

I've read early Jewish sources including the Targums and Josephus that consider all three to be angels.

Christian churches have had varying ideas over the ages. My personal opinion is to agree with Justin Martyr, who in Dialog with Trypho (chapter 56) identified two of the men as angels and the third as God. Specifically, he identified the third as who we would now call the pre-incarnate Christ.

 

[Sif]

I've read early Jewish sources including the Targums and Josephus that consider all three to be angels.

Christian churches have had varying ideas over the ages. My personal opinion is to agree with Justin Martyr, who in Dialog with Trypho (chapter 56) identified two of the men as angels and the third as God. Specifically, he identified the third as who we would now call the pre-incarnate Christ.

Very interesting. Thank you

 

[Soyeong]

Hello,

In the story at the beginning of Genesis Chapter 18 Abraham is visited by three strangers. I know the Book of Genesis is part of the Jewish sacred writings but it is, obviously, the first book of the Bible for Christians. Given that in the New Testament there is the Trinity I was wondering if the fact Abraham's three visitors were a foreshadowing of the Trinity or, perhaps, the number three here is in a different context.

Hello,

You might find the book Who Ate Lunch With Abraham? to be a good read. But yes, it is a foreshadowing of the Trinity.