If you only had an apple core, you wouldnt pack it in your lunch. The Trinity is not 1 + 1 + 1 butmore like 1 x 1 x 1.You can throw away one part of an egg (e.g., shell) and still have essentially an egg. One of the more traditional analogies is to the states of water. Why Analogies And Illustrations Of The Trinity Fail 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? This is a place to find encouragement and hope from God's Word as you move through your busy life. We believe that it is a revelation that comes from Christ Himself. The yolk represents Gods Person, His Being, and His Holiness which generates Light that no man can approach (I Timothy 6:16). They are three in one egg. This is the one I used long ago when trying to explain the Trinity to a group of 1st-5th graders. 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. Scripture however, doesnt depict God this way. In the second instance, the truth of Gods Trinity reveals a further aspect of Gods love for His people. The Holy Spirit and Son do not send the Father. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQLfgaUoQCw. We also know that God didnt create humanity out of loneliness or boredom. Indeed, how can an infinite God be contained in a finite human womb! How can we ever explain our Most High, exalted, powerful, uncontainable, and most glorious God? 4 Bad Analogies for the Trinity Justin Deeter The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each called Jehovah (or Spirit of Jehovah), given divine attributes, and are distinguished from one another. They've always led to error and have been rejected by the church. He is one God who expresses Himself in three modesFather, Son, and Spirit. Some who deny the Trinity claim 1+1+1=3, and therefore claim we worship three Gods. He has been a member of the Royal Australian Air Force since 2007, and is now training to be an Air Force Chaplain. The Egg and I - Part Two However, it breaks down on the level of equality: No one keeps or eats the shell of an egg. Dont grieve the Holy Spirit out of you. The watermelon has a skin, pulp and seeds; the egg is shell, yolk and egg white. Do you know why I keep saying God is like an egg (or H2O) but God is not like an egg (or H2O)? 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. The Unseen Father is in Christs mind. Jesus then becomes a created being and thus less than fully God. 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. How so? 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. The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the primary tenants of the Christian faith. An analogy illustrates that in a similar way, one shamrock can have three leaves on it, and the trinity has three persons that comprise one God. This is because the H20 is changing forms in representing each person. The Trinity is like waterand other bad analogies Haydn Lea is an Ordained Minister, and is currently serving as an Air Force Chaplain in Adelaide. 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. The problem with this analogy is that an egg yoke is of a very different substance than a shell. Intercession: The Son intercedes as our High Priest before the Father. St. Augustine, one of the most important Fathers of the Church, wrote a great deal on the doctrine of the Trinity. The visual form of God seperated from Jesus on the cross. THE TRUTH IS: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three different parts or components of God, but the three are all equally one God. What is wrong with what I said? They are three in one egg. This is why Jesus said, He who has seen Me, has seen the Father (John 14:9). Arius was condemned by the council of Nicea in 325 AD. In this analogy, God is compared to a man. Water has three states: solid, liquid, and gas. Therefore, in this context, God is the what and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the who. The word God in this sense is defined as a single being, having all divine attributes. Among the most popular analogies for the Trinity, two in particular stand out; and most of the others resemble one of them. The idea that the Trinity can be compared to a shamrock is largely attributed to St. Patrick. is not). The problem with this analogy is that no one molecule of H2O can actually exist as solid, liquid, and gas at the same time. 1:8-12; 1 Pet. The Bible teaches three truths: 1 - there is one God. Its all one person, simply functioning in three different roles. A, distinguishes himself from others by saying me, mine, you, yours, etc. A. is the whole nature or essence of something. 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. 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. Yet, as we view the pages of the Bible, we see that God is a personal and relational God. Which ones have you heard? If you say, "Jesus Christ" then you MAY BE incorrect. Tritheism denies the unity of the God-head by saying there is just three different gods. (It is also why the Jews had an issue with Jesus calling Himself God.). When we speak of someone as being a "person", we often mean an individual who is separate from other people, or we simply mean a human being. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit also exist eternally and concurrently. The sun comprises the sun itself, its light and its heat. . The doctrine of the Trinity tells us that there's ONE GOD who is THREE distinct PERSONS existing as a community of self-giving and loving relationships with each other. There is only one egg with three different parts. Three persons is false. Music - The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Quebec, Canada Therefore, there is one God, who is eternally present in three persons. I go to prepare a place for you. 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). He also knows how to perfectly love us. 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 Trinity is a tri-unity, a unity of Three, - God the Father, Jesus, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. But this idea is central to the Christian faith. As a doctrine (belief), the trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three separate and distinct persons united in one being- God. Under Arianism Jesus is less than fully God. We can touch the cord, but not the power it is insulating. This analogy is an invalid comparison to the Trinity and is a heresy called PARTIALISM. The Trinity is like an egg. It is still important that we have some understanding of the concept, however. An explanation that is so common, and seemingly does elucidate how something can simultaneously be three and onecan it really be that bad? It falls into the heresy of tri-theism. 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). Notice the distinction between persons and being. Required fields are marked *. She would explode!" . If one of the sides were removed, then there would be no equilateral triangle. To return to my Life Group anecdote, after our discussion I asked why does it even matter?. The past is not the present and the present is not the future, yet all three together is what we call time. Jesus Person is joined to the Father by the Fathers Holy Spirit, because Gods Spirit is also Jesus Spirit - "But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. As a result the water molecule must change forms. The Trinity is distinct in their roles and individuality, but united in their attributes of love, mercy, holiness, knowledge, etc. Some people falsely claim the Trinity is a form of . That is why Moses said. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This is why Jesus said, He who has seen Me, has seen the Father (John 14:9). The problem with this analogy is it denies the unity of the God-head. All of the above Bad Analogies would perhaps do more harm than good if used in explaining the Trinity. 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. Here are eight bible characters that you might not know about, but should. Devils cannot grab ahold of them to cast them into Satans prison. As John 1:18 says, Jesus is "the only begotten God, in the bosom of [God] the Father.". The problem with this analogy is that it also leads to the heresy of MODALISM. Each person is fully the one God, but is also distinct. Did I leave out any analogies? But God is the eternal Light, which has neither had a beginning, nor shall ever fail. Now God can be in you by His Spirit! Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:13). This is a worse analogy than the egg because it is more analogous to the heretical doctrine of Modalism/Oneness than for the Trinity. Analogies of the Trinity. The Holy Trinity: Egg Analogy by Sharmaine Pagtakhan - Prezi Yet others have thought that H20 (water) shows us the Trinity since H20 can be three things: solid (ice), liquid (running water) and vapor (steam). My interview: https://www.readlotswritelot.com/wp/podcast/episode-21-john-k-adams/, More from Catholicism for the Modern World, https://www.readlotswritelot.com/wp/podcast/episode-21-john-k-adams/. Can you think of some Bible verses to back up your explanation? The Bible reveals that each person of the Trinity has unique roles, relationships, and functions which are distinct from one another. He cares for his creation and his people. If youre interested into diving deeper into the topic of the Trinity, here are some valuable resources that could help. We wont find the word Trinity in the Bible, but the concept is shown in many verses. None of the 3 are less divine than the others. For instance, we know that God is perfectly loving. Thankfully he isnt a cage-stage Calvinist about it all. All these make up one egg just as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit make up one God. Yet the orthodox view is that each person of the Trinity is fully divine. This analogy explains that the Father is like the sun. There was no relational deficiency that prompted God to create us. But remember, it is much better to let Scripture teach the 3 points above which establish the doctrine of the Trinity than to rely on analogies. Water at room temperature is liquid. Analogies that we present would always be insufficient as none of them would equate to the incomprehensible beauty of God. Others compare God to an egg, which is part shell, part white, part yolk. 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). That is a holding pen for final judgment. Each one is fully 100% God. copyright 2009 by H.D. It became real to me because I have experienced His love, grace, guidance, redemption, conviction of sin, and fellowship that comes from Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Or, we can quote Daniel Webster; a strong Christian- I do not pretend fully to understand the arithmetic of heaven now. . Modalism denies the distinction of person in the trinity. We can always rebut these claims with another equation: 1 x 1 x 1=1. 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. Hello busy women! THE TRUTH IS: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three different parts or components of God, but the . Eggs are one, yet comprise yolk, shell and albumen. But while this idea is central to the Christian faith, it is also incredibly mysterious to us. There are three different cloves that represent the three different persons of the trinity. "The Egg and i - A Simple Explanation of The Trinity" - cafe Logos Is the Trinity like H2O, an egg, or a triangle? - Fervr In the same way is God being the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.. We believe in only one true God in all existence, in all places, at all times. The Trinity are three distinct persons who exist apart from each other. Thought of Tim Its amazing to think that everything will be so clear when we het to Heaven! These three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - exist together in complete unity, with no separation, as one divine being. But it cant be that way with God. 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. How Helpful Are Analogies of the Trinity? - Kuyperian Commentary HO may act as water, steam, or ice, but it is still HO. Dr. Bruce Ware does an excellent job in his book Big Truths for Young Hearts. 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. He is married to Shamsa Lea, is the father of Amira, and loves boxing and studying Theology. 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. So whats one good way to explain what the Trinity is? Perhaps youve heard the analogy that the Trinity is like H2O (the molecular symbol for water). In the same way, there is a God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.. To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresyTrinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity. 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. This analogy sounds pretty good, but it is fatally flawed in that is describes the Son and Spirit as creations of the Father. The Trinity is Like an Egg How the analogy goes: The Trinity is like an egg. Many of these analogies have the best of intentions, but God cannot be described in a way we can fully comprehend or rationalize. He began to play the organ as a chorister in England, before continuing his studies in Qubec and France. Augustine of Hippo/On The Trinity - Wikiversity . They have a common purpose in making harmonious music, but each note is its own separate entity. But we cannot do that (assuming we can) with God. Does that make sense? According to modalism, God does not actually exist in three persons. 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. The analogy explains that in the same way that one shamrock can have three leaves on it, the Trinity has three Persons that constitute one God. For instance at the baptism of Christ, the Father, Son and Spirit are all distinctly present and interacting (Matthew chapter 3 verses 16-17). The Father is fully God; Jesus is fully God and the Holy Spirit is fully God. - well, sort of. When we separate them we can fall into the error of tritheism, which is the worship of three individual deities as one. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength (1 Corinthians 1:25). In Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). Furthermore, this trinity is related to a shamrock, an apple, or an egg. Here are 8 Bible Characters Who Should Be More Famous. Jesus is the Holy Spirit that saves us. I can only shake my head when He does these things! Unfortunately, there is a problem with this view of the Trinity. 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). 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. But this view, too, wont do. Jesus, visually seen, judges all, not the Unseen Father. 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. Armstrong. Your email address will not be published. We Christians believe it on faith. However, Christians through the ages believe in the Trinity because the truths it represents are taught in the Bible. Born in England in 1961, Benjamin Waterhouse Benjamin Waterhouse has been the organist of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity since 2000. Take a moment and give it a try. In the same way, water is all the same molecular structure, expressing itself in three different modes. Infinite thy vast domain, everlasting is thy reign.. The analogy explains that in the same way that one shamrock can have three leaves on it, the Trinity has three Persons that constitute one God. When discussing God, especially in regards to his nature, being and persons, a simple statement to articulate the Trinity is: God is 1, *. 3 - The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct persons. The trinity is like water. 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). Share your thoughts with us in the comments! This is perhaps the most common analogy for the Trinity. This analogy denies the unity of the God-head. When we separate them we can fall into the error of tritheism, which is the worship of three individual deities as one. Further, we can label each of the sides. The Egg Analogy - This claims to be a good representation of the Trinity because Eggs have three distinct parts: the shell, the yolk, and the whites. Explaining the Trinity | Catholic Answers 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. All Rights Reserved. Only the Son became incarnate, took on flesh. Yeah its definitely a hard thing to understand, let alone explain to little ones ! Light comes from God. The Holy Spirit is like the heat that the sun produces, unseen yet powerful and effective in making the sun felt. Or have you ever tried to teach kids about the Trinity? Podcast: Common Misconceptions about the Trinity (Fred Sanders) Every kid in Sunday school thinks he knows all about God. Now that we know the doctrine of the trinity and its corresponding major heresies, now we are ready to look at some bad analogies for the trinity. Modalism is a heresy because it denies the distinction of God. In part one, we looked at what the Bible has to say about the Trinity. Have you wondered what is God like? For sure, our everyday experience does not include using our finite minds to understand the infinite! In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9) Though I find the video to be hilarious and often . 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. God is not made up of 3 parts like the 3 parts of the egg. We can think of it this way: the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresyTrinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity. Three Gods or one? 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). The problem with this analogy is that an egg yoke is of a very different substance than a shell. 3:15; John 17:1-4, The Holy Spirit Acts 5:3-4; John 14:16-17, 26; John 16:7-13. 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. Answer (1 of 25): Cynics assert that the idea of the Holy Trinity is a logical impossibility. Afterall, we can get rid of a few of its parts - for instance the shell - and still scramble an egg. The wonders and ways of God may not be apparent or fully known at present, but we can still marvel at His supremacy and worship Him in wonder- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Common, yes. Each one is fully God. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him to equip Him for His ministry. I think the analogy of the Sun works well. Somewhere in the recesses of my mind lived the doctrinal truth about the Trinity.
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