Protestants, Please Explain The Trinity

[adstrinity]

I am posting this in three places in this forum for the three divisions of Christianity. I would like only those Christians addressed to please answer how they OR THEIR CHURCH explain/define this mystery. I do not want why the other side(s) are wrong, finger pointing, or any uncharitable posts or undertones of any kind, especially from those who are wont to do so.

Thank you.

 

[Zenas]

One God, three personalities–Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All three coextensive with one another, of the same substance, and none of the three was ever created.

 

[SIA]

I am posting this in three places in this forum for the three divisions of Christianity. I would like only those Christians addressed to please answer how they OR THEIR CHURCH explain/define this mystery. I do not want why the other side(s) are wrong, finger pointing, or any uncharitable posts or undertones of any kind, especially from those who are wont to do so.

Thank you.

Read the New Testament, more precisely the Gospels in their completeness. God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is all over and throughout them.

 

[Syele]

How can I explain the Trinity to my children?

The word Trinity is not found in the Bible. But, by the late second century the church was using it to describe a biblical concept — literally, tri-unity, or “three in one.”
This does not mean three Gods. Instead, Christians have a unique view of God, one that comes about because they believe both the Old and New Testaments.
There are six basic biblical steps to understanding the Trinity:

1. There is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4). The Hebrew language has two words that are translated “one” — Yachid and Echad. Yachid means an absolute one. Echad refers to a united one. Echad is the word used of God in the Old Testament — God is a united One.
2. The Father is God (2 Peter 1:17).
3. The Son is God (John 8:58).
4. The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3,4).
5. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are distinct individuals (John 14:26).
6. Therefore, there are three Persons in the one Godhead.
   Since the Trinity is completely unique, no analogy really fits.

 

[Sublime_Prince]

Not all protestants have the same definition and view of the trinity. It varies greatly between denominations.

 

[Syele]

Not all protestants have the same definition and view of the trinity. It varies greatly between denominations.

greatly? Can you post some examples? I cant think of any unless you are referring to people who don’t believe in the Trinity at all.

 

[Mudcat]

I am posting this in three places in this forum for the three divisions of Christianity. I would like only those Christians addressed to please answer how they OR THEIR CHURCH explain/define this mystery. I do not want why the other side(s) are wrong, finger pointing, or any uncharitable posts or undertones of any kind, especially from those who are wont to do so.

Thank you.

Its like a three piece band…Rush comes to mind.
You remove one musician and you are no longer listening to Rush.
So God, IMO in that respect is like a three piece band.
3 parts to play…one band.

Evangelically,

Mudcat

 

[TriuneUnity]

I am posting this in three places in this forum for the three divisions of Christianity. I would like only those Christians addressed to please answer how they OR THEIR CHURCH explain/define this mystery. I do not want why the other side(s) are wrong, finger pointing, or any uncharitable posts or undertones of any kind, especially from those who are wont to do so.

Thank you.

The Lutheran Church states:

The Synod believes and teaches that “the three persons of the Trinity are co-equal and co-eternal, one God” because this is what we find taught in the Holy Scriptures, God’s inspired and errorless Word. Both Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, together with God the Father, are named in Scripture with divine names (“God,” “Lord”), are described as having divine attributes (eternal existence, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, etc.), are depicted as carrying out divine works (creating, forgiving, judging, preserving) and are accorded glory, honor and worship which are worthy of God alone.

Otherwise, we would use the Nicene, Apostles, and particularly the Athanasian.

 

[Sublime_Prince]

greatly? Can you post some examples? I cant think of any unless you are referring to people who don’t believe in the Trinity at all.

Lutheran :“We teach that the one true God. is the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, three distinct persons, but of one and the same divine essence, equal in power, equal in eternity, equal in majesty, because each person possesses the one divine essence.” (LCMS)

reformed/ presbyterian: “We trust in the one triune God.”

Anglican:“There is only one God, the Creator of the universe, who has three ‘persons’ or aspects, inseparable yet unique parts of the whole.” (ECUSA)

United Methodist:“With Christians of other communions we confess belief in the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” (UMC)

World Methodist: “We believe in the one living and true God… Within this unity there are three persons of one essential nature, power and eternity–the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (WC)

Baptist:“The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.” (SBC)

Church of Christ “We believe in one all-powerful God of love. We believe in God’s only son, Jesus Christ. We believe in the holy spirit”.

 

[Syele]

Lutheran :“We teach that the one true God. is the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, three distinct persons, but of one and the same divine essence, equal in power, equal in eternity, equal in majesty, because each person possesses the one divine essence.” (LCMS)

reformed/ presbyterian: “We trust in the one triune God.”

Anglican:“There is only one God, the Creator of the universe, who has three ‘persons’ or aspects, inseparable yet unique parts of the whole.” (ECUSA)

United Methodist:“With Christians of other communions we confess belief in the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” (UMC)

World Methodist: “We believe in the one living and true God… Within this unity there are three persons of one essential nature, power and eternity–the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (WC)

Baptist:“The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.” (SBC)

Church of Christ “We believe in one all-powerful God of love. We believe in God’s only son, Jesus Christ. We believe in the holy spirit”.

The Trinity is not that easy of a concept to explain. Those don’t appear contradictory at all to me, they just seem like different people trying to verbalize something difficult to verbalize.

 

[sola_scriptura]

Not all protestants have the same definition and view of the trinity. It varies greatly between denominations.

You’re statement isn’t exactly true. Sure there are some exceptions, but many protestants holds to almost all of the same creeds the Latin church holds to. The biggest areas of disagreement is the role of Peter, intercession and patronage, and Mariology (typically anyway). I’m reformed (Presbyterian) and I generally agree with theologians like Karl Barth on Mariology and John Calvin in soteriology. I hold firm to the reformation principal of sola fide & (obviously) sola scriptura.

The Holy Trinity is the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. I believe God exists in three persons, but in one being. God has a single divine nature. I hold to the Council of Chalcedon.

 

[dok]

One way to think of the Trinity is to consider something like the game of baseball.

Is baseball a sport? Yes, of course.

Is it a social environment in which habits for interaction with other people are learned and practiced? Yes, obviously.

Is it a business or an enterprise that requires management, promotion, and some level of efficiency? Yes, any game needs some management.

So the game of baseball is three distinct things, then?

No, it’s only one thing, but has different features and natures depending on which of its aspects you’re considering. It responds differently depending on what questions you ask it. One thing, three natures.

 

[mozart-250]

Lutheran :“We teach that the one true God. is the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, three distinct persons, but of one and the same divine essence, equal in power, equal in eternity, equal in majesty, because each person possesses the one divine essence.” (LCMS)

reformed/ presbyterian: “We trust in the one triune God.”

Anglican:“There is only one God, the Creator of the universe, who has three ‘persons’ or aspects, inseparable yet unique parts of the whole.” (ECUSA)

United Methodist:“With Christians of other communions we confess belief in the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” (UMC)

World Methodist: “We believe in the one living and true God… Within this unity there are three persons of one essential nature, power and eternity–the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (WC)

Baptist:“The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.” (SBC)

Church of Christ “We believe in one all-powerful God of love. We believe in God’s only son, Jesus Christ. We believe in the holy spirit”.

Sounds to me that they are all saying the same thing although maybe the Lutheran one goes into the greatest detail.

 

[ralphinal]

Sounds to me that they are all saying the same thing although maybe the Lutheran one goes into the greatest detail.

No big surprise as they have one of the more fleshed-out theologies.

By and large, Protestants and Catholics agree on the Trinity.

I have yet to see any Trinitarians who did not.

 

[nsper7]

I am posting this in three places in this forum for the three divisions of Christianity. I would like only those Christians addressed to please answer how they OR THEIR CHURCH explain/define this mystery. I do not want why the other side(s) are wrong, finger pointing, or any uncharitable posts or undertones of any kind, especially from those who are wont to do so.

Thank you.

As an Anglican (not really Protestant, but probably so according to some Roman Catholics), we merely look back to the Apostles’ and Nicene Creed.

 

[sola_scriptura]

As an Anglican (not really Protestant, but probably so according to some Roman Catholics), we merely look back to the Apostles’ and Nicene Creed.

As a reformed protestant I agree with you (we also hold to the Apostles & Nicene Creeds). We \also hold to the creedal statement of the Council of Chalcedon (as do all Catholics & Anglicans). That counsel established the fundamental doctrine of the Trinity & it is ascribed to by Christians universally (accept very few denominations who rebel for rebellions sake & not true theological disagreement).

 

[Publisher]

You offered a phrase in your OP…“Mystery”…“Holy Mystery”…it is something which we simply cannot qualify nor explain…I am content to not try…no matter what I say would be wrong…it is beyond my comprehension.

 

[Rulkiewicz]

I am posting this in three places in this forum for the three divisions of Christianity. I would like only those Christians addressed to please answer how they OR THEIR CHURCH explain/define this mystery. I do not want why the other side(s) are wrong, finger pointing, or any uncharitable posts or undertones of any kind, especially from those who are wont to do so.

Thank you.

The bible teaches that the one God who revealed Himself in the Old Testament as Jehovah revealed himself in His Son, Jesus Christ. Thus Jesus Christ was and is God. In other words, Jesus is the one true God manifested in flesh, for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (John 1:1-14; I Timothy 3:16; Colossians 2:9).

While fully God, Jesus was also fully man, possessing a full and true humanity. He was both God and man. Moreover, the Holy Spirit is God with us and in us. Thus God is manifested as Father in creation and as the Father of the Son, in the Son for our redemption, and as the Holy Spirit in our regeneration.

 

[sola_scriptura]

You offered a phrase in your OP…“Mystery”…“Holy Mystery”…it is something which we simply cannot qualify nor explain…I am content to not try…no matter what I say would be wrong…it is beyond my comprehension.

Nicely said!!

Blessings