Similarly, people have used the example of the apple in the same way- skin, flesh, and seeds. And we know that because the Persons of the Godhead have perfectly blessed and exalted each other for all eternity. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength (1 Corinthians 1:25). Paul explains our finite understanding of beliefs like the Trinity as looking into a poor-quality mirror- a distorted image; dim and unclear. Rather, He created us in order to bless us. While it captures the idea that God is one, it doesnt do such a good job of showing how God is three and one at the same time. The word Trinity comes from the Latin word trinitas which means tri-unity. Because God is utterly unique, all comparisons will fail at some point. This is just as bad as the Water analogy and leads to the same error. If the sun exists, there is also day; if nothing of this be manifest, it is impossible that the sun should be there. Thought of Tim Its amazing to think that everything will be so clear when we het to Heaven! 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. The white of an egg is the connection between the yolk and the shell. 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. Modalism teaches that one God just changes forms or modes over the course of scripture. The Father is fully God; Jesus is fully God and the Holy Spirit is fully God. 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). The word God in this sense is defined as a single being, having all divine attributes. The problem with this analogy is that it denies the distinction of persons in the God-head. 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). All three persons exist at the same moment in history. Many of these analogies have the best of intentions, but God cannot be described in a way we can fully comprehend or rationalize. Dont become discouraged if you cant answer the question to your liking. 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.) Lost will be ashes under the feet of the righteous. Instead, each person is co-equal, co-powerful and co-eternal. Lost will be burned up. 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 mystery is in the "how" this is accomplished; something we will finally understand in heaven. Here are eight bible characters that you might not know about, but should. There was no relational deficiency that prompted God to create us. For sure, our everyday experience does not include using our finite minds to understand the infinite! But common sense is intuition based on day-to-day experience. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. The unseen Father is in Christs mind. 3 - The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct persons. What makes it hard is that all of our analogies and metaphors fall short of capturing what the Trinity actually is. God does not play three roles.. 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. 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. These hand embroidered emblems are made with metallic gold-plated thread with silver content, printed on canvas. In the Scripture we see "the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" (Col 1:9). It is not important merely for the sake of tradition, or because the word itself is taught in the Bible (. A certain YouTube page created a famous video titled "St. Patrick's Bad Analogies" (which can be found here), in which the historic St. Patrick meets charming villagers who deride him based on the analogies which he uses in the process of explaining the Holy Trinity. 2A) Dave is a father of four children: three boys and a . Below is a compilation of the verses that reference all 3 persons of the one God. And whos the Holy Spirit? There is only one egg with three different parts. When you encounter a person or group who denies the Trinity, it is merely a matter of walking through these 3 points, to see where they diverge from Biblical teaching. Genisis 1:17, KJV. God is not made up of 3 'parts' like the 3 parts of the egg. Blessings! Matthew 3:16-17- As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Some people think that H2O cannot exist in all three states simultaneously but that is not true. Yeah its definitely a hard thing to understand, let alone explain to little ones ! One is a musical chord with three notes. 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). I think the illustration that represents the Trinity most accurately is the egg example. The word trinity is not in the Scriptures, but is a word used to describe the three in one God revealed in the Bible. Our God is three in one. , 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you., For further reading on the Trinity, I would recommend James Whites, Lastly, below is a helpful graphical chart explaining the doctrine of the Trinity I found from the Christian blog by Tim Challies. The problem with this analogy is that an egg yoke is of a very different substance than a shell. The Holy Spirit prays for us. His ways are higher than ours, but isnt that a comfort?! Father, Son, Holy Sprit : 3 persons, 1 great relationship, Copyright 2023 Fervr | Terms of Service. This is a bad analogy because it fails at the truth that all three persons comprise the fullness of God. It should bring us to realise that we truly are finite creatures standing before a sovereign, transcendent, divine mystery. Each one is fully God. We believe in only one true God in all existence, in all places, at all times. 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. God is not made up of 3 parts like the 3 parts of the egg. This is a place to find encouragement and hope from God's Word as you move through your busy life. An egg is made up of shell, white and yolk. Now God can be in you by His Spirit! 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. But understanding the Trinity is important. Time exists as 3 things: past, present, and future. Devils see that Spirit as a tempestuious fire. This is the one I used long ago when trying to explain the Trinity to a group of 1st-5th graders. The Council's definitions concerning the Trinity are really as easy as one, two, three four. So while its tough to make sense of the Trinity, the Trinity actually helps us make sense of so many things we believe. If the Sun existed from eternity past then so were the light rays from the Sun. In this episode, Fred Sanders discusses what it really means to say that God is a Trinitythree persons in one God. 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. 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. 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. Shively, This book is now available in a published format for easy sharing and classroom use. Cool it down, and itll eventually freeze into a solid. This is a worse analogy than the egg because it is more analogous to the heretical doctrine of Modalism/Oneness than for the Trinity. 1:8-12; 1 Pet. The Father hears their intercessory prayers. He taught that the son was at one point created by God the father. Trinity Egg Analogy . 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. Jesus, visually seen, judges all, not the Unseen Father. The Holy Spirit is the shell, Jesus is the egg white, and the Father is the egg yolk. And for a mere mortal to have dared invent it and be able t. 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). God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. Your email address will not be published. All of the above Bad Analogies would perhaps do more harm than good if used in explaining the Trinity. 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. 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. Notice the distinction between persons and being. ORDER from Barnes and NobleAmazon.com or wherever fine books are soldISBN-13: 978-1978167643Return to Cafe Logos Homepage | Bite-Sized Bible Bites. I go to prepare a place for you. The three parts create a unified whole. 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. Analogies of the Trinity. We also know that God didnt create humanity out of loneliness or boredom. The watermelon has a skin, pulp and seeds; the egg is shell, yolk and egg white. It is the Central Mystery of our Christian faith. Some think of God as H 2 O, which is sometimes a solid (ice), sometimes a liquid (water), and sometimes a gas (steam). . The Son "proceeds" from the Father, and the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father and the Son.". The shell, while important, is no longer needed. To put it simply, "The problem with using analogies to explain the Holy Trinity is that you always end up confessing some ancient heresy." . Intercession: The Son intercedes as our High Priest before the Father. The Sun was created on the forth day. In the second instance, the truth of Gods Trinity reveals a further aspect of Gods love for His people. The analogy breaks down because I can simultaneously be a father, husband, and son to any one person. Although he is one man who is simultaneously a husband, a father, and a student, he would consider it Modalism to suggest that this is a good Trinitarian analogy. For those, like myself, who are not from a highly-liturgical denomination, it may come as a surprise that June 11 was Trinity Sunday. That is why Moses said. 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. Therefore it behoves us to know what He has revealed (including the Trinity), and to lovingly worship Him accordingly. The egg analogy is very simple but it is OK to show something as simple as an egg can be one and yet three. 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 it also leads to the heresy of MODALISM. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,, , Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. This view, also known as "modalism", was rejected by the early church. There are many mysteries to our faith. 3:15; John 17:1-4, The Holy Spirit Acts 5:3-4; John 14:16-17, 26; John 16:7-13. We all want to experience the good life. Holy Trinity, the downtown Greek Orthodox church that was partially destroyed by fire 11 years ago, was a special place for 57-year-old Georgiou. As a result the water molecule must change forms. Part 2. An egg has a shell, white, and yolk, but these three are part of an egg or Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao but the same Philippines. We can think of it this way: the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. If one of the sides were removed, then there would be no equilateral triangle. Unfortunately, Arianism is still around and can found within the Jehovah's Witnesses teachings. I remember asking my Life Group last year, How have you heard the Trinity explained? I braced myself for the inevitable reply. The Holy Spirit prays for us. 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! 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. It is still important that we have some understanding of the concept, however. He can even be all three at the same time. My prayer is to infuse God's character into your everyday lives with short ( 4-5") devotions and Bible Studies every Monday morning. The Trinity is pretty weird: the Father (or Mother), Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are in some sense distinct from one another, but are all unified in another sense. Thankfully he isnt a cage-stage Calvinist about it all. One popular and simple illustration of the Trinity is the egg. They all exist as fully God, with none of them lacking in any attribute or aspect that defines God. If you need to use an analogy, then use a good one. These three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - exist together in complete unity, with no separation, as one divine being. Jesus then becomes a created being and thus less than fully God. They are equally eternal, powerful, sovereign, and worthy of worship. Water has three states: solid, liquid, and gas. This analogy explains that the Father is like the sun. God controls that light. The Holy Spirit is the shell, Jesus is the egg white, and the Father is the egg yolk. According to modalism, God does not actually exist in three persons. In other words, one stuffness. However, He exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is Like an Egg How the analogy goes: The Trinity is like an egg. Our limited intellects are unable to comprehend its reality, yet, our Scriptures and scholarly Tradition makes it known to us. Modalism denies the distinction of person in the trinity. John 17). 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). He is one God in three persons, all at the same time. Does that make sense? H2O can exist as a solid, a liquid and a gas but they are all still H2O. Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. On a whim, I looked up the lyrics at a later time. What we can understand and accept is that God exists eternally as one divine nature, substance, or essence, comprising three co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial personsthe Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. What portion is erroneous? The Bible reveals that each person of the Trinity has unique roles, relationships, and functions which are distinct from one another. Born in England in 1961, Benjamin Waterhouse Benjamin Waterhouse has been the organist of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity since 2000. 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. That is why Moses said. This analogy denies the unity of the God-head. An essential factor lacking from those concepts is the relational quality of God. The Trinity is established by 3 Biblical truths, . That is a holding pen for final judgment. They that dont have the Holy Spirit in them will talk like the Adversary. Some have taken on the task of explaining how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist as one. To return to my Life Group anecdote, after our discussion I asked why does it even matter?. 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). In contrast to the Ontological Trinity, there is the Economic Trinity. La da dee dee dum dum (I couldnt remember the in-between parts). 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.
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