This analogy actually teaches the heresy of modalism. St. Augustine's Analogy for Understanding the Trinity Explaining the Holy Trinity Using Analogies - Militant Thomist The Biblical Principle Of Baptism By Fire, The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything, 3 Reasons Why Jesus Humanity Really Matters Her & Hymn, 3 Reasons Why Jesus' Humanity Really Matters, How Jesus Teaches Us To Be Human Her & Hymn. There are, however, some that work better than others. I did read about the shamrock analogy! 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). On a whim, I looked up the lyrics at a later time. If water is inadequate, there are a wide array of alternative analogies we can turn to in modern theological parlance. At times God is Father, or Son, or Holy Spirit. Instead, each person is co-equal, co-powerful and co-eternal. 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. However, Christians through the ages believe in the Trinity because the truths it represents are taught in the Bible. Thought of Tim Its amazing to think that everything will be so clear when we het to Heaven! In the same way is God being the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.. One is a musical chord with three notes. The Trinity is a tri-unity, a unity of Three, - God the Father, Jesus, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. God controls that light. Now were going to look at how some people often misunderstand the Trinity. 3:15; John 17:1-4, The Holy Spirit Acts 5:3-4; John 14:16-17, 26; John 16:7-13. These three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - exist together in complete unity, with no separation, as one divine being. For instance, we know that God is perfectly loving. 7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christs gift., , according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure., , But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit; 21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.. 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. Understanding 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. Water Analogy God is like water, or H2O, which can exist in 3 forms. The Holy Spirit is the shell, Jesus is the egg white, and the Father is the egg yolk. In using analogies, we need to acknowledge the demerits and limitations of the said analogy. All three persons exist at the same moment in history. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each called Jehovah (or Spirit of Jehovah), given divine attributes, and are distinguished from one another. 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. 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. 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. Here are eight bible characters that you might not know about, but should. 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. But we cannot do that (assuming we can) with God. 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. In this analogy, God is compared to a man. How so? 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 are two basic ways that people misunderstand the Trinity: 1. There was no relational deficiency that prompted God to create us. If youve been involved in ministries for children or young people, questions about the Trinity have most likely come up. Jesus was standing in the Jordan River, His Father speaks from heaven above, and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him as a dove. These images fall short, because these components arent enough to be considered a whole on their own. Our limited intellects are unable to comprehend its reality, yet, our Scriptures and scholarly Tradition makes it known to us. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:13). 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). Among the most popular analogies for the Trinity, two in particular stand out; and most of the others resemble one of them. Before I even began writing this post, I had an unusual song stuck in my head Holy God, we praise thy name. Each PERSON is distinct from one another. While an egg has a yolk, a white and a shell to make up the whole, each part is only ever . You know, that bearded guy on the throne who looks something like Zeus, right? What portion of the analogy holds true with Church Teaching? We came up with several practical implications of this doctrine. We recommend you adhere these emblems to your vestments by mounting on the material with fabric glue and then stitching them . I bet I havent sung or heard this song in years! He cares for his creation and his people. Believing in the above 3 points leads all Christians to acceptance of the doctrine of the Trinity. He is one God who expresses Himself in three modesFather, Son, and Spirit. The watermelon has a skin, pulp and seeds; the egg is shell, yolk and egg white. Misunderstanding 1: The transforming trinity Haydn Lea is an Associate Pastor in Queensland, and is currently studying his Master of Arts (Theology). The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the primary tenants of the Christian faith. 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. Youre right, theyre all good but not perfect because only God IS perfect. I have the good one. 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? They have a common purpose in making harmonious music, but each note is its own separate entity. . The word Trinity comes from the Latin word trinitas which means tri-unity. RELATED: Did Jesus Really Rise From The Dead? John 17). The Unseen Father would have been put into Satans prison. 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. Adorn your liturgical vestments with classic images from the Monastery Icons collection. The yolk represents Gods Person, His Being, and His Holiness which generates Light that no man can approach (I Timothy 6:16). 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. The Trinity Guarding The Gospel Unfortunately, most of them actually give us the wrong idea about what the Trinity is. This is because the H20 is changing forms in representing each person. Since these bad analogies tend to lead to a heresy, we will examine the main three areas of heresy concerning the trinity. But understanding the Trinity is important. 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. Thankfully he isnt a cage-stage Calvinist about it all. Its downright hard to understand. 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. Some people think that H2O cannot exist in all three states simultaneously but that is not true. The Holy Spirit prays for us. There are two basic ways that people misunderstand the Trinity: 1. . Trinity Egg Analogy . An explanation that is so common, and seemingly does elucidate how something can simultaneously be three and onecan it really be that bad? THE TRUTH IS: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three different parts or components of God, but the . The three distinct notes come together to make one beautiful sound. The problem with this analogy is that an egg yoke is of a very different substance than a shell. The analogy breaks down because I can simultaneously be a father, husband, and son to any one person. If God has existed for all eternity in a perfectly loving Triune relationship, then it shows He is completely self-sufficient and requires no further relationship in order to complete or satisfy Himself. . Can you think of some Bible verses to back up your explanation? It is a miraculous invention, the egg. Wow! In this episode, Fred Sanders discusses what it really means to say that God is a Trinitythree persons in one God. An egg has a shell, white, and yolk, but these three are part of an egg or Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao but the same Philippines. Here are 8 Bible Characters Who Should Be More Famous. This little child cannot look at one without experiencing a profound sense of wonderment and awe. The Son is like the light rays that visibly reveal the sun, as Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). In scripture we see explicit trinitarian references, especially at Jesus' baptism where the Father speaks, the Spirit descends, and the Son is in the water. The Trinity is established by 3 Biblical truths, . God is much bigger than what we can understand yet He is close enough to us so that we can know some things about Him, though not completely and not everything. Space consists of three things: height, width, and depth. God does not play three roles.. He began to play the organ as a chorister in England, before continuing his studies in Qubec and France. The word trinity is not in the Scriptures, but is a word used to describe the three in one God revealed in the Bible. The unseen Father is in Christs mind. - well, sort of. So "son" = "Dave". The Sun was created on the forth day. Further, his dialectic is guided by the particular consideration of what true love is: a trinity of lover, beloved and the love that binds . He is married to Shamsa Lea, is the father of Amira, and loves boxing and studying Theology. The analogy breaks down because the three cloves are overly distinct and cannot represent the unity of God. So, in God, there are three distinct persons. The problem with this analogy is that it teaches that God has three components: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father sends the Son, and both the Father and Son send the Holy Spirit. Some have taken on the task of explaining how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist as one. 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. The Son intercedes as our High Priest before the Father. The word God in this sense is defined as a single being, having all divine attributes. God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. We can always rebut these claims with another equation: 1 x 1 x 1=1. Some people falsely claim the Trinity is a form of . The trinity is like water. What is the Trinity? Living Theologically You can throw away one part of an egg (e.g., shell) and still have essentially an egg. Here are a couple "usefully flawed" analogies for the Trinity. When we view the egg in its entirety we have the Biblical Trinity, One that is Three. The mystery is in the how this is accomplished; something we will finally understand in heaven. How to Explain the Trinity to Children | Free Printable Answer (1 of 25): Cynics assert that the idea of the Holy Trinity is a logical impossibility. But if they give us a warped idea of what they are trying to explain, they arent helpful illustrations. Why Analogies And Illustrations Of The Trinity Fail Rather, He created us in order to bless us. So while its tough to make sense of the Trinity, the Trinity actually helps us make sense of so many things we believe. We worship one God who exists in three persons. This description that all persons are fully God is called the Ontological Trinity. We have the creeds for just that reason. Now God can be in you by His Spirit! Shively 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. 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. It is not important merely for the sake of tradition, or because the word itself is taught in the Bible (the word is not). The Holy Trinity, one of the five Dogmas of the Church, is an extraordinary and unfathomable mystery. For example, an equilateral triangle (a triangle with three equal sides) has three sides. Well the issue is, the water analogy is akin to the heresy of Modalism. Your email address will not be published. It is still H20, but just different forms. Before moving on I should note that providing a full theological explanation of Trinitarian doctrine is well beyond the scope of what I can do here. The word Trinity comes from the Latin word trinitas which means tri-unity. 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). Another analogy that Tim remembers, being Irish Catholic, is the analogy of the shamrock with its three parts. Revelation 4:3And 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. Copyright 2023 Christian Today. If you looked at a single cloverleaf, you wouldnt call it a shamrock. Notice the distinction between persons and being. THE TRUTH IS: From the very beginning, the Blessed Trinity Father, Son, and Spirit was there. The Bible teaches three truths: 1 - there is one God. Father, Son, Holy Sprit : 3 persons, 1 great relationship, Copyright 2023 Fervr | Terms of Service. A single molecule cannot simultaneously exist in three different states. A good follow up verse to help explain is the baptism of Jesus. Pingback: 3 Reasons Why Jesus Humanity Really Matters Her & Hymn, Pingback: 3 Reasons Why Jesus' Humanity Really Matters, Pingback: How Jesus Teaches Us To Be Human Her & Hymn. Trinity is like a Shamrock (or an Apple or an Egg). For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength (1 Corinthians 1:25). Each of the persons is that supreme reality, viz., the divine substance, essence or nature. (Lateran Council IV), 4. There is only one egg with three different parts. Yet we do not have three gods but ONE God. But God is the eternal Light, which has neither had a beginning, nor shall ever fail. The sun comprises the sun itself, its light and its heat. In the same way, there is a God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.. Holy Trinity: Some Analogies to Help Us Comprehend God controls that light. Share your thoughts with us in the comments! Matthew 3:16-17- As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Deuteronomy 6:4- Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. This verse is also the beginning of the Jewish Shema prayer; their confession of faith. We might call one side A, another side B, and the other C. So, there is a distinction between each of the sides, yet, all three are the same. We can touch the cord, but not the power it is insulating. Time exists as 3 things: past, present, and future. God is like H2O in that the Bible may refer to a specific person of the Trinity but that person is still God. Both are one. 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. Each one is fully 100% God. A chicken egg consists of a shell, a yolk, and an egg white, yet it is altogether one egg. The Egg- One egg has three parts: shell, whites, and yolk . in that while water can change into vapour or ice, Jesus cannot change into the Father or the Holy Spirit. 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.) Analogies of the Trinity. It is a miraculous invention, the egg. The visual form of God seperated from Jesus on the cross. The Unseen Father is in Christs mind. We can touch the cord, but not the power it is insulating. For the Trinity, instead of using the formula 1+1+1, we use 1x1x1. Water at room temperature is liquid. The Trinity is not real in my life because of superior knowledge or insight. They are unified in one divine being. In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9) Jesus is the Holy Spirit that saves us. Every kid in Sunday school thinks he knows all about God. 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. (Which I just found out is in error). I do not have the time or space to exhaustively demonstrate in scripture these truths, but the Biblical witness teaches these three truths consistently about God. The problem with this analogy is that it denies the distinction of persons in the God-head. Analogies often fall short. In other words, this view denies Gods oneness. Like modalism, the "three beings" view was rejected by the early church. Yet it appears to be almost entirely misunderstood within contemporary evangelical circles. Stars were made on the froth day. How to Explain the Holy Trinity to a Child: 3 Important Teaching Tips Studying the Trinity poses difficulty to us Catholics. The Father is fully God; Jesus is fully God and the Holy Spirit is fully God. Located in the heart of Quebec's historic district, it is a source of inspiration for visitors from around the world. The Father is fully God; Jesus is fully God and the Holy Spirit is fully God. But Hes God too, right? 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. The God of the Bible is one God. This analogy actually falls prey to the same error of modalism. I never thought about it in that way some of these examples Ive never heard of. Vestment Emblems. Humans as we are, we cannot fully understand how the three divine Persons, though really distinct from one another, are one and the same God. An egg is made up of shell, white and yolk. We can think of it this way: the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. The Holy Trinity - A Scientific Analogy - The Fra Angelico Institute Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:9).