Trinity

“trinity”• Trinity refers to God as being

of one substance but three persons

• The word “trinity” does not appear in the bible

• It was coined at the end of the 2nd century by Tertullian

• During the 1st century, the understanding of the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit did not exist

“trinity” cont.• An early statement of faith recited c. 150

that speaks of the trinity is the:• Epistula Apostolorum

– Recited by catechumens when they officially became Christians

– [I believe] In the Father, the Ruler of the Universe, And in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, In the Holy Spirit, the ParacleteIn the Holy Church,And in the Forgiveness of Sins• Paraclete refers to the one that

comforts, the one that gives you courage and gets you going

• Jesus promised, after he returned to the Father, that he was going to send the Holy Spirit

The Trinity in the Bible• Very few references in the Bible are

used to explain the Trinity (but none of them use the word “Trinity”) – 2 Corinthians 13:13 - “The grace

of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all”

– Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

– Genesis 1:26 – “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness”

Tertullian • Compared God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit to a river

– Every rives has a source= God the Father– The river flowing out from its source = Jesus– The river irrigates the land and helps crops and other plants to

grow= Holy Spirit

On the Trinity- Theologians

• The following people tried to interpret/explain the mystery of the Trinity– Plotinus – Tertullian – Origen• Read the document titled A Family Fight: Figuring Out

the Father and Son posted in iTunes U and fill-in the missing information in the worksheet

Origen • Adapted the views of Neoplatonism to

Christianity (Trinity)• Neoplatonism:

– 3 beings are at the heart of the universe: One, Mind, and soul

1. One: is the source of all being and all good, the essential element of the universe- from it arises Mind

2. Mind: the basis of all rational principles – scientific laws + philosophical concepts. Working through Mind, the One animates existence through the production of Soul

3. Soul: the principle of activity in all that exists

– The One is the reason why a “hunk of clay” can exits,

– The Mind gives the clay form– And through Soul, the clay is given life and

becomes human – God the Father= the eternal One– Christ = Mind– Holy Spirit= Soul