Stars were made on the forth day. If the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate beings, then its not really clear how someone can say that God is one or that only one God exists. 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. Tritheism denies that there is only one God. This is a bad analogy because it fails at the truth that all three persons comprise the fullness of God. Son and Holy Ghost are each fully God. A good follow up verse to help explain is the baptism of Jesus. When we separate them we can fall into the error of tritheism, which is the worship of three individual deities as one. When we look at the egg as an example of the Trinity, we must view it in its entirety. The trinity is not a contradiction, but a paradox. The Trinity is distinct in their roles and individuality, but united in their attributes of love, mercy, holiness, knowledge, etc. The Trinity for Kids - Part 2 - Prepared to Answer When we look at the egg as an example of the Trinity, we must view it in its entirety. 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). If the sun exists, there is also day; if nothing of this be manifest, it is impossible that the sun should be there. Common, yes. Explaining the Holy Trinity. It is still H20, but just different forms. H2O can only ever be one form at a time. Time Analogy God is like time. There are two basic ways that people misunderstand the Trinity: 1. If water is inadequate, there are a wide array of alternative analogies we can turn to in modern theological parlance. You are an egg! If you need to use an analogy, then use a good one. The Trinity is Like an Egg How the analogy goes: The Trinity is like an egg. 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. So, the egg analogy doesnt work after all. For them, a person is someone who could relate to another. 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). Good and Bad Analogies of the Trinity - Answers . THE DISTINCTION AND UNITY of the Trinity is not for us to fully understand because it is a supernatural mystery. 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). 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. In one egg you have the white, the yoke, and the shell composing one full egg. Here's a look at six explanations for why so many people truly believe 3 Ways to Experience The Good Life in Jesus. Therefore, in this context, God is the what and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the who. How would you explain the Trinity if someone asked you right now? Water can be ice and steam, yet they are the same element. To help you out, here is a comical and silly video that teaches about these bad analogies. God is Great, I always try to figure out how to explain it to my Sunday school kids and they get confused which i get, how would you explain it to them? Unfortunately, there is a problem with this view of the Trinity. I did read about the shamrock analogy! Our limited intellects are unable to comprehend its reality, yet, our Scriptures and scholarly Tradition makes it known to us. It is still important that we have some understanding of the concept, however. There is one GOD in three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), 2. And then theres Jesus, Gods son. God is NOT like H2O in that He does not need the right pressure and temperature to exist as three persons. You can also catch up with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok 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. The more I reflect on Easter, the more Ive realized how much its become a consumeristic holidayeven Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Further, we can label each of the sides. The best analogy for the Trinity (hold your stones) - The Project on 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. Water has three states: solid, liquid, and gas. If one of the persons were not there, then we would not have God. The Bible teaches three truths: 1 - there is one God. Modalism denies the distinction of person in the trinity. This analogy is an invalid comparison to the Trinity and is a heresy called PARTIALISM. These things are referred to as the Economic 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. 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! Do you know why I keep saying God is like an egg (or H2O) but God is not like an egg (or H2O)? He also knows how to perfectly love us. PART OF A WHOLE. These two analogies are the "water" analogy and the "egg" analogy. The Trinity Guarding The Gospel Although he is one he has different roles to different people. Yet, as we view the pages of the Bible, we see that God is a personal and relational God. Yet we do not have three gods but ONE God. Again, this analogy doesnt work because God doesnt morph, change, or become different aspects of Himself. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQLfgaUoQCw. That fire keeps devils away from the saved. In this episode, Fred Sanders discusses what it really means to say that God is a Trinitythree persons in one God. I know in the past Ive used analogies that werent the best (more on those later.) Jesus isn't a demigod or partially god. He got married there in 1965, and his four . But Jesus makes it clear in John 10:30- I and the Father are One. The Greek word for one means one thing, not one person. They are united in their essence (spirit, nature) but not identical persons. All of the above Bad Analogies would perhaps do more harm than good if used in explaining the Trinity. Genesis 1:26- Let us make man in our image, in our likeness The plural us and our show more than one person was involved. The Son is not the Father or the Spirit. For example, I would say, "God is like an egg." His ways are not my ways! Arianism denies the deity of each person in the trinity. Arius was condemned by the council of Nicea in 325 AD. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:13). Is the Trinity like H2O, an egg, or a triangle? - Fervr Each character of the trinity has in one another (cf. How do we make sense of the Trinity? Many of us would use analogies to explain the Trinity. God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. CafeLogos.orgThe Egg and i -A Simple Explanation of The Trinity The Trinity is one of the most foundational doctrines of Christianity. And for a mere mortal to have dared invent it and be able t. 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. But Hes God too, right? 1B) This son of Graham and Lois Armstrong is Dave. But its all water. Adorn your liturgical vestments with classic images from the Monastery Icons collection. Basic mathematics tells us that 1x1x1 = 1.. The Son was begotten by the Father IN ETERNITY, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. This analogy actually falls prey to the same error of modalism. The egg white represents Gods Spirit. Here are a few common illustrations: The Egg- One egg has three parts: shell, whites, and yolk. This book is now available in a published format for easy sharing and classroom use. In Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). I think the analogy of the Sun works well. Here are a couple "usefully flawed" analogies for the Trinity. The egg shell is the image of the yolk and the white. However, Christians through the ages believe in the Trinity because the truths it represents are taught in the Bible. When discussing God, especially in regards to his nature, being and persons, a simple statement to articulate the Trinity is: God is 1, *. God Is Like An Egg - vtaide.com What does that really mean? In an attempt to explain the Trinity, there are some bad examples people use, and some better ones. An essential factor lacking from those concepts is the relational quality of God. No analogy is perfect, but we want to be careful of using wrong ones that may confuse people. God controls that light. Dont you know Jesus? Intercession: The Son intercedes as our High Priest before the Father. That is why Moses said. 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 sun comprises the sun itself, its light and its heat. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14). Unfortunately, most of them actually give us the wrong idea about what the Trinity is. Some people think that H2O cannot exist in all three states simultaneously but that is not true. They are equally eternal, powerful, sovereign, and worthy of worship. Arianism is named after the heretic Arius. In the second instance, the truth of Gods Trinity reveals a further aspect of Gods love for His people. So much of what we know about what God does is wrapped up in who He is. Water can be frozen and is called ice. We can touch the cord, but not the power it is insulating. Therefore, there is one God, who is eternally present in three persons. You are an egg! The shell, while important, is no longer needed. Your email address will not be published. The Council's definitions concerning the Trinity are really as easy as one, two, three four. The white of an egg is the connection between the yolk and the shell. 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.. 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. Devils see that Spirit as a tempestuious fire. We also know that God didnt create humanity out of loneliness or boredom. They say that three separate beings exist, 2. The watermelon has a skin, pulp and seeds; the egg is shell, yolk and egg white. Many of these analogies have the best of intentions, but God cannot be described in a way we can fully comprehend or rationalize. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. There are three different cloves that represent the three different persons of the trinity. The Trinity is foundational and at the heart of our Christian faith. In other words, God may manifest Himself as the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. Shively, This book is now available in a published format for easy sharing and classroom use. The early church labeled this view "tritheism". He can even be all three at the same time. The egg analogy fails because it denies that each person of the Trinity is of the same eternal essence. Both are one. Augustine of Hippo/On The Trinity - Wikiversity Understanding 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. They are unified in one divine being. But if they give us a warped idea of what they are trying to explain, they arent helpful illustrations. Music - The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Quebec, Canada La da dee dee dum dum (I couldnt remember the in-between parts). The very definition of the heresy known as Modalism/Oneness is that there is one person existing in three different modes or manifestations. But understanding the Trinity is important. But in the Godhead, each Person is fully and completely God unto Himself (even as they are all one God). Here are four. The trinity is a like a Three-Leaf Clover. In the same way, there is a God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.. Jesus, visually seen, judges all, not the Unseen Father. Jesus is the visual form of God. Well, the egg analogy, when applied to God, suggests that only one being exists but this being exists in three different parts. An egg has a shell, white, and yolk, but these three are part of an egg or Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao but the same Philippines. The yolk represents Gods Person, His Being, and His Holiness which generates Light that no man can approach (I Timothy 6:16). In Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Father is fully God; Jesus is fully God and the Holy Spirit is fully God. All three persons exist at the same moment in history. Sure enough, one member answered Well Ive heard that the Trinity is like water: water can be liquid, gas (steam), or solid (ice), but its still the same water. This may be my favorite verse of them all. Some people have suggested using an egg to explain how God can be both one and three. These hand embroidered emblems are made with metallic gold-plated thread with silver content, printed on canvas. The Holy Spirit is like the heat that the sun produces, unseen yet powerful and effective in making the sun felt. 3. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. 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 not made up of 3 parts like the 3 parts of the egg. Although the water changes forms it is still H2O. Bach, and has released two previous CDs, one . Which ones have you heard? A chicken egg consists of a shell, a yolk, and an egg white, yet it is altogether one egg. However, in some instances, the use of carefully chosen analogies may be of help for some of our brethren in learning the teachings of the Church. But, when it's heated, it turns into a gas (steam) and, when it's frozen, it turns into a solid (ice). Why All Analogies of the Trinity Fall Short - Joshua's Pen What makes it hard is that all of our analogies and metaphors fall short of capturing what the Trinity actually is. I write to see memory and language wrestle with reality. These are likewise erroneous or even heretical. Check out verse four: Holy Author, Holy Word, Holy Spirit, three we name thee; Still, one holy voice is heard; undivided God, we claim thee, and adoring bend the knee, while we own the mystery. . The God of the Bible is one God. Like modalism, the "three beings" view was rejected by the early church. A single molecule cannot simultaneously exist in three different states. The three parts create a unified whole. 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.. Modalism teaches that one God just changes forms or modes over the course of scripture. This is perhaps the most common analogy for the Trinity. show me your glory. From time to time, Doctors of the Church used analogies, but with care. It should bring us to realise that we truly are finite creatures standing before a sovereign, transcendent, divine mystery. Thanks, Ann! Analogies for the Trinity exist to explain the unexplainable. How Helpful Are Analogies of the Trinity? - Kuyperian Commentary For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength (1 Corinthians 1:25). show me your glory. In the same way is God being the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.. They are three in one egg. 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. An explanation that is so common, and seemingly does elucidate how something can simultaneously be three and onecan it really be that bad? History, lifestyle, family, music, theology, scripture, literature, the saints, church history, parenting, politics, prayer, the pope, and more. But you cannot be broken when your faith is in Jesus, for the Spirit of the Son that lives in us and gives us the voice through which we cry Abba, Father, (Galatians 4:6,) this Spirit of the Father that dwells within you is there to strengthen, protect and guard your person. And in our efforts to grasp it, weve come up with a number of analogies. The problem with this analogy is it denies the unity of the God-head. Perhaps youve heard the analogy that the Trinity is like H2O (the molecular symbol for water). 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). The Father Matthew 27:45-46 (usually there is no argument that the Father is not God, since every place Jesus speaks to God, he is addressing the Father. The problem with this analogy is that it would imply that there is only one Divine Person, who eventually multiplied Himself. Hello busy women! 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. An egg is made up of shell, white and yolk. Church Adornments & Worship: Vestment Emblems - Monastery Icons But this view, too, wont do. 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). Each one is fully God. The Trinity is a tri-unity, a unity of Three, - God the Father, Jesus, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. The problem here is it describes each part of the Trinity as 1/3 parts of the overall egg. Father, Son, and Spirit are each fully God (their own egg)- not fractions of one. Moreover, the yoke and the whites are no longer as they used to be. In the Scripture we see "the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" (Col 1:9). Yet it appears to be almost entirely misunderstood within contemporary evangelical circles. Eggs are one, yet comprise yolk, shell and albumen. Love was not given to Jesus. Also, the egg is made up of three distinct and unalike parts. 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. That helps explain the concept quite well- the oneness, unity of God with the distinct three persons of God- Father, Son, and Spirit. According to the first, just as water takes three forms (liquid, vapor, and ice), so too God takes the form of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Why is it wrong? 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. If you looked at a single cloverleaf, you wouldnt call it a shamrock. We define a person as one having a will and who is distinguishable from another person. The above picture is a famous work of art by Andrei Rubilev, the great medieval Russian painter of Orthodox icons and frescos. Love your blogs! As a doctrine (belief), the trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three separate and distinct persons united in one being- God. 6And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons., , The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all., There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Here are eight bible characters that you might not know about, but should. For example, triangles are not the kinds of things that are personal. THE TRUTH IS: The Father, Son, and Spirit are three different persons who are all equally one God. We can always rebut these claims with another equation: 1 x 1 x 1=1. When discussing God, especially in regards to his nature, being and persons, a simple statement to articulate the Trinity is: God is 1 what and 3 whos*. ANALOGY OF CHARACTERS. 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). 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. This analogy denies the unity of the God-head. The Trinity is one of the most foundational doctrines of Christianity. The Gospel is theperson, work, and message of Jesus Christ that provides salvation to all repentant believers. So if all of these explanations are heretical, what is a good analogy? We came up with several practical implications of this doctrine. 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. 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. 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). Jesus is fully God. We wont find the word Trinity in the Bible, but the concept is shown in many verses. 2 - The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are each God. Scripture however, doesnt depict God this way. The Holy Spirit prays for us. The Latin word for trinity (trinitas) combines two words- unitas (unity) and trias (three). But you cannot be broken when your faith is in Jesus, for the Spirit of the Son that lives in us and gives us the voice through which we cry Abba, Father, (Galatians 4:6,) this Spirit of the Father that dwells within you is there to strengthen, protect and guard your person. Afterall, we can get rid of a few of its parts - for instance the shell - and still scramble an egg. . Unfortunately, an analogy from the limited realm of creation may not be sufficient in explaining Gods nature. 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. The Unseen Father is in Christs mind. According to modalism, God does not actually exist in three persons. In using analogies, we need to acknowledge the demerits and limitations of the said analogy. Thus the Father is in Jesus " I and My Father are One" (John 10:30), "The Father is in Me" (John 14:10) God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (II Corinthians 5:19). But having lots 6 Bible Study Tools To Help You Dive Deeper. This little child cannot look at one without experiencing a profound sense of wonderment and awe. Revelation 4:3 And 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. I bet I havent sung or heard this song in years! My prayer is to infuse God's character into your everyday lives with short ( 4-5") devotions and Bible Studies every Monday morning. The shortfall of this illustration, and others like it, is that God cannot be divided into "parts." The egg white represents Gods Spirit. Similarly, people have used the example of the apple in the same way- skin, flesh, and seeds. in that while water can change into vapour or ice, Jesus cannot change into the Father or the Holy Spirit. How can we explain what it means to have three persons in one being? is not). The idea that the Trinity can be compared to a shamrock is largely attributed to St. Patrick. Explaining the Trinity | Catholic Answers For sure, our everyday experience does not include using our finite minds to understand the infinite! RELATED: What Does The Bible Say About Ghosts? 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. We define a person as one having a will and who is distinguishable from another person. He has the world and our individual lives within His supremely capable hands. John 17). FOR CENTURIES, the Church had fought against heresies on the Trinity. 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. 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). Devils cannot grab ahold of them to cast them into Satans prison. Its hard to explain! The word God in this sense is defined as a single being, having all divine attributes. He has one essenceone substance. Each side is co-equal with the others, yet, each side is necessary. Few if any have every tried to teach the heresy of Tritheism, but it needs to be mentioned anyway. The teaching of the trinity is clearly taught in Scripture and must be preserved as such. copyright 2009 by H.D. 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. In other words, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have a unique and unbreakable unity, and their existence together is the being that is God. To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresyTrinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity.