The TrinityThe Trinity

APOL 6543APOL 6543

Introducing the TrinityIntroducing the Trinity

• If I were to ask you: is God a person?

• What would you respond?

An Overview: The TrinityAn Overview: The Trinity

• The Christian doctrine of the Trinity teaches that there is ONE God who is TRI-personal– That is to say, He has

three centers of self-consciousness

The Trinity & Distinguishing ReligionsThe Trinity & Distinguishing Religions

• The Doctrine of the Trinity distinguishes Christianity from all other monotheistic religions

• Additionally, it distinguishes Christianity from all the various cults such as Jehova’s Witnesses and Mormons, e.g.

Investigating the Trinity in ScriptureInvestigating the Trinity in Scripture

• The Doctrine – and word, Trinity – is not found explicitly in the scriptures

• Rather, the Doctrine is the result of a systematic summary of the scriptural data– The fact that the word “Trinity” is not used in the

scriptures is irrelevant– What is of interest is whether or not the Doctrine

faithfully systematizes the scriptural data– Let’s briefly explore some of this for context

MonotheismMonotheism

• It should go without saying but the Bible clearly teaches that there is ONE God (monotheism)

• A few quick references for this non-revelatory opening point – Deuteronomy 6:4– Isaiah 45:5

Scriptural DataScriptural DataThe TrinityThe Trinity • As we move through scriptures,

we’ll look at two aspects that are each clearly taught in scripture and afterwards seek to articulate how we can understand it

1) Is each member of the Godhead a distinct person?

2) Is each member of the Godhead, God?

The FatherThe FatherIs a Distinct Person

•Matthew 11:27•Matthew 26:39•John 14:16-17

Is God

•Psalm 89:29•Isaiah 63:16•Matthew 6:9

The SonThe Son

Is a Distinct Person• Mark 1:9-11• John 17:1-5• John 16:7

Is God

• Colossians 1:15-19 & 2:9KURIOS – GREEK WORD FOR

YAHWEH – FOLLOW BY OT PROOF TEXT

• Romans 10:9, 13ASCRIBE TO JESUS,

CREATION

• Hebrews 1:1-3• John 1:1-3

EVEN LOSE CONTROL & CALL GOD

• Titus 2:13• John 20:28

JESUS OWN COMMENTS

• John 8:58

The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit

Is a Distinct Person

•John 14:26•Matthew 28:19•Romans 8:26-27

Is God

•Acts 5:3-4•Romans 8:9•1 Corinthians 6:11

Historical developmentHistorical development• Doctrine of the Trinity is the result of systematic

reflection on this – and other – data by the church fathers & in its formulation within the great creeds

• Key Events/Ideas– Logos Christology– Modalism– Arianism– Council of Nicaea (325 AD)– Council of Alexandria (362 AD)

cHallenges from inside tHe cHurcHcHallenges from inside tHe cHurcHregarding tHe trinityregarding tHe trinity

GnosticismGnosticism Taught that matter was evil and spirit was. Merged pagan Taught that matter was evil and spirit was. Merged pagan beliefs and dualism with Christianitybeliefs and dualism with Christianity

ModalismModalism God is one person appearing in different modesGod is one person appearing in different modes

ArianismArianism Denied that Jesus was fully GodDenied that Jesus was fully God

tHe development of doctrinetHe development of doctrine

AD33 95 170 313 325 381 451 Cross NT

Complete

ConstantineConverts

Nicea Chaceldon Constantinople

Councils

MuratorianFragment

Persecution of the Church

“Survival Mode”

Doctrine Formalized to Protect Clear Meaning

of Scripture

Gnostics Heretics

Proposing a Model to Show the Trinity Proposing a Model to Show the Trinity to be Logically Coherentto be Logically Coherent

• Most analogies are poor and tend towards heresy– Modalism, e.g.

• Class discussion

A Model for Thinking of the TrinityA Model for Thinking of the Trinity• In Greek mythology there

was a three-headed dog many of us are at least familiar with

• Although not real, and certainly I hesitate to compare God with some mythological beast, this is a tool for us to conceptualize a mysterious doctrine

The Logical Coherence of the DoctrineThe Logical Coherence of the Doctrine

• Considering the analogy for a moment

• If we could imagine that Cerberus was endowed with personhood we could see how he might have three distinct persons and yet be one entity - Cerberus

• If Cerberus were to die, his spirit would seemingly leave his body and yet remain as a triune spirit

• This model is simply offered to demonstrate that it is not logically incoherent

Philosophical Issues of “Is”Philosophical Issues of “Is”

Is of Identity versus Is of Predication

•The Trinity is God (Identity statement)

•The Father is God; The Son is God; The Holy Spirit is God (Predicative statements)

The Doctrine of the TrinityThe Doctrine of the Trinity

Functions within the Trinity•Father: source & planner of salvation•Son: achiever or means or salvation•Spirit: effecter of salvation

•God has one essence or nature (The Father, Son, & Spirit are in ‘lock-step’)•God is three persons coexisting in eternity, of the same essence