Question about the Holy Trinity for college class- please respond as soon as possible

[namax91]

I have to say a little bit about my religious beliefs. Would it be correct, in regard to the Holy Trinity, to say that God directly revealed himself to the world in the person of Jesus, 2000 years ago, and continues to reveal himself through the Holy Spirit? I want to ensure I’m making an accurate statement. Many thanks in advance, and I’ll be sure to pray for anyone who answers!

 

[Jon_S_1]

I have to say a little bit about my religious beliefs. Would it be correct, in regard to the Holy Trinity, to say that God directly revealed himself to the world in the person of Jesus, 2000 years ago, and continues to reveal himself through the Holy Spirit? I want to ensure I’m making an accurate statement. Many thanks in advance, and I’ll be sure to pray for anyone who answers!

That sounds like a simple way to put it. If there are pressing questions regarding the Trinity from your class just remember this.

God is 1
God manifests to man in 3 persons
This is a great mystery of Faith.

 

[hazcompat]

…We, however, as we indeed always have done and more especially since we have been better instructed by the Paraclete, who leads men indeed into all truth), believe that there is one only God, but under the following dispensation, or oikonomi’a, as it is called, that
this one only God has also a Son, His Word, who proceeded[4] from Himself, by whom all things were made, and without whom nothing was made. Him we believe to have been sent by the Father into the Virgin, and to have been born of her–being both Man and God, the Son of Man and the Son of God, and to have been called by the name of Jesus Christ; we believe Him to have suffered, died, and been buried, according to the Scriptures, and, after He had been raised again by the Father and taken back to heaven, to be sitting
at the right hand of the Father, and that He will come to judge the quick and the dead; who sent also from heaven from the Father, according to His own promise, the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete,[5] the sanctifier of the faith of those who believe in the Father, and in the Son, and in the Holy Ghost.

ewtn.com/library/PATRISTC/ANF3-17.TXT

Peace

 

[empther]

Some comments about the Trinity:

There is only one Divine Substance. All three Persons fully have the Divine Substance.

Then how can there be three Persons? Aquinas says the Divine Persons are distinguished from each other only by relationship, not substance.

To God the Father we attribute knowledge. This knowledge is infinite. But only God can be infinite. Therefore, the Son is the knowledge. “In the beginning was the Word”.

The Father and Son love each other with an infinite love. But only God can be infinite. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is Love.

Of course, we don’t have on of the Persons acting exclusively in a particular action. When God does something, all three Persons are doing it.
So I guess the answer to your question is that all three Persons simulataneously manifest God to man.

That’s not satisfactory, I’m sure, but this side of Heaven it’s about all we can know.

 

[renkell]

I firmly believe there is NO “Trinity.” There are soooo many scriptures to back this, but I will just go with a couple. Before I even get to the verses, think about this; Why would GOD ever use the word “Son” if he was talking about himself? When GOD speaks about him and the Son being one, the first thing I think of is a dad saying that about his son. When you get married, you are considered one with your spouse. Doesn’t mean you are the same person.

Mat. 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Gal’ilee to the Jordan to John, in order to be baptized by him. 14 But the latter tried to prevent him, saying: “I am the one needing to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?” 15 In reply Jesus said to him: “Let it be, this time, for in that way it is suitable for us to carry out all that is righteous.” Then he quit preventing him. 16 After being baptized Jesus immediately came up from the water; and, look! the heavens were opened up, and he saw descending like a dove God’s spirit coming upon him. 17 Look! Also, there was a voice from the heavens that said: "This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.

If you can reason on the text you read within the bible, it is very clear. Why does GOD say that we must go through the Son to get to him? I don’t think it’s very reasonable to think he meant you have to go through “Him” to get to “Him”

 

[empther]

I firmly believe there is NO “Trinity.” There are soooo many scriptures to back this, but I will just go with a couple. Before I even get to the verses, think about this; Why would GOD ever use the word “Son” if he was talking about himself? When GOD speaks about him and the Son being one, the first thing I think of is a dad saying that about his son. When you get married, you are considered one with your spouse. Doesn’t mean you are the same person.

Mat. 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Gal’ilee to the Jordan to John, in order to be baptized by him. 14 But the latter tried to prevent him, saying: “I am the one needing to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?” 15 In reply Jesus said to him: “Let it be, this time, for in that way it is suitable for us to carry out all that is righteous.” Then he quit preventing him. 16 After being baptized Jesus immediately came up from the water; and, look! the heavens were opened up, and he saw descending like a dove God’s spirit coming upon him. 17 Look! Also, there was a voice from the heavens that said: "This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.

If you can reason on the text you read within the bible, it is very clear. Why does GOD say that we must go through the Son to get to him? I don’t think it’s very reasonable to think he meant you have to go through “Him” to get to “Him”

Amazing ignorance! :bigyikes:

There is no sign this person has tried to find understanding. Conclusions have already been made.

 

[renkell]

Amazing ignorance! :bigyikes:

There is no sign this person has tried to find understanding. Conclusions have already been made.

I only seek to know the truth of Gods word. If there is scripture that says otherwise, please by all means show me.

 

[renkell]

Amazing ignorance! :bigyikes:

There is no sign this person has tried to find understanding. Conclusions have already been made.

If you would kindly explain why what I said is ignorant, I would be much obliged.

 

[spring01]

I do also want to align my understanding of the Trinity. This has been haunting me for years. I was explaining Trinity to non-Christian friends when they asked me about the issue. I purposely tried to avoid any theological terms and bible verses as much as I can.

I believe first that there is God (as per old testament), who is full of jealousy, and very strict in teaching the human how to behave. God was like a dictator over human, because back then, human were short-minded and very low in intellectual level. So, like any lower-educated nation these days, the first way to successfully manage the people is though dictatorship.
Soon later, God saw this dictatorship can not work forever. Human mind are designed to improve. So, when the human population increased, God became one of them as Jesus, so He could teach the human about love and humility (New testament).
Later, God saw this “human form” cannot stay for long, because all of his disciples were not naturally smart and brave people. Even after He died on cross, the disciples were in hiding for their lives. So, God became the Spirit that lives in the heart of the disciples. This Spirit then become the living proof that God exists to this day, because, like God, it never dies.

Please correct me if my explanation is not catholic / not correct.

 

[Jon_S_1]

I do also want to align my understanding of the Trinity. This has been haunting me for years. I was explaining Trinity to non-Christian friends when they asked me about the issue. I purposely tried to avoid any theological terms and bible verses as much as I can.

I believe first that there is God (as per old testament), who is full of jealousy, and very strict in teaching the human how to behave. God was like a dictator over human, because back then, human were short-minded and very low in intellectual level. So, like any lower-educated nation these days, the first way to successfully manage the people is though dictatorship.
Soon later, God saw this dictatorship can not work forever. Human mind are designed to improve. So, when the human population increased, God became one of them as Jesus, so He could teach the human about love and humility (New testament).
Later, God saw this “human form” cannot stay for long, because all of his disciples were not naturally smart and brave people. Even after He died on cross, the disciples were in hiding for their lives. So, God became the Spirit that lives in the heart of the disciples. This Spirit then become the living proof that God exists to this day, because, like God, it never dies.

Please correct me if my explanation is not catholic / not correct.

This is perhaps the most anti catholic view of God I have seen.

God is none of the things you describe. God is love God IS. Without God there is nothing. As God said in Exodus, I AM.

I would highly encourage you to study the nature of God as we understand it. God does not change his mind or his plan He does not act as a human. To say he does is the opposite of God. Even as God became man in Christ he never sinned.

One must realize that the God who created the universe from nothing is far more superior to us, this is why the Trinity is hard to understand but nonetheless well within the realm of God’s abilities.

Check out this video from Fr Barron

youtube.com/watch?v=W_Yjue8MXAI