Further, his dialectic is guided by the particular consideration of what true love is: a trinity of lover, beloved and the love that binds . This is because the H20 is changing forms in representing each person. These hand embroidered emblems are made with metallic gold-plated thread with silver content, printed on canvas. Thus the Father is in Jesus " I and My Father are One" (John 10:30), "The Father is in Me" (John 14:10) God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (II Corinthians 5:19). Under Arianism Jesus is less than fully God. Jesus would have remained in the tomb, or hell, had Jesus sinned. Here's a look at six explanations for why so many people truly believe 3 Ways to Experience The Good Life in Jesus. Each character of the trinity has in one another (cf. Again, this analogy doesnt work because God doesnt morph, change, or become different aspects of Himself. We came up with several practical implications of this doctrine. I know in the past Ive used analogies that werent the best (more on those later.) Water Analogy God is like water, or H2O, which can exist in 3 forms. God is not made up of 3 parts like the 3 parts of the egg. When we view the egg in its entirety we have the Biblical Trinity, One that is Three. If then the sun were eternal, the day would never end; but now, for such is not really the state of the case, the day begins with the beginning of the sun, and ends with its ending. H2O can only ever be one form at a time. - well, sort of. The Spirit white is connected to Jesus Person I will come to you (John 14:18) and the Fathers Person, We will come to him and make our abode with him (John 14:23). Part 2. When it comes to the Trinity, we tend to forget that an analogy is an "aptness of proportion" or a "resemblance of relations," not an identity of relations. Explaining the Holy Trinity. The yolk represents Gods Person, His Being, and His Holiness which generates Light that no man can approach (I Timothy 6:16). If you looked at a single cloverleaf, you wouldnt call it a shamrock. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each called Jehovah (or Spirit of Jehovah), given divine attributes, and, (usually there is no argument that the Father is not God, since every place Jesus speaks to God, he is addressing the Father.). How do we make sense of the Trinity? - well, sort of. In scripture we see explicit trinitarian references, especially at Jesus' baptism where the Father speaks, the Spirit descends, and the Son is in the water. I dont believe that God wishes us to be confused about the Three that are so apparent throughout the Old and New Testaments. If one of the persons were not there, then we would not have God. When we separate them we can fall into the error of tritheism, which is the worship of three individual deities as one. To put it simply, "The problem with using analogies to explain the Holy Trinity is that you always end up confessing some ancient heresy." . The Bible teaches three truths: 1 - there is one God. Son and Holy Ghost are each fully God. Depth isnt the same thing as height and height isnt the same thing as width, yet all three together are what comprise space. Every kid in Sunday school thinks he knows all about God. The apple seed alone is not an apple. So, I shot down a lot of images that seems to be pretty helpful. We might call one side A, another side B, and the other C. So, there is a distinction between each of the sides, yet, all three are the same. But the Father is not the Son or the Spirit. For example, I would say, "God is like an egg." I remember asking my Life Group last year, How have you heard the Trinity explained? I braced myself for the inevitable reply. Unfortunately, most of them actually give us the wrong idea about what the Trinity is. The problem with this analogy is that an egg yoke is of a very different substance than a shell. 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. Revelation 4:3And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. That would not be had God be three persons. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)One of my Sunday School students said, "How could Jesus (God) enter Mary's stomach (womb) and be born? So whats one good way to explain what the Trinity is? This analogy is still not perfect because each of the aspect cannot stand as egg like each of the persons in the trinity can stand as God. He is one God in three persons, all at the same time. God is not made up of 3 'parts' like the 3 parts of the egg. We worship one God who exists in three persons. Here are some common analogies that Christians have used about the Trinity: God is kind of like water which can be ice, liquid and steam. 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. Others compare God to an egg, which is part shell, part white, part yolk. 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. If youre interested into diving deeper into the topic of the Trinity, here are some valuable resources that could help. Truly, it is a Mystery. It is still H20, but just different forms. We can say that the first is egg the shell, the second is egg the albumen and the third is egg the yoke. 2A) Dave is a father of four children: three boys and a . The problem with this analogy is that it would imply that there is only one Divine Person, who eventually multiplied Himself. Dont grieve the Holy Spirit out of you. But it cant be that way with God. The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God. Unfortunately, there is a problem with this view of the Trinity. CafeLogos.orgThe Egg and i -A Simple Explanation of The Trinity This was first used by Patrick of Ireland (yes there really was a Patrick of Ireland and he was a great guy), around 400 A.D. 2. When we use analogies, we need to indicate these things so as to not lead to heresies, A Catholic and Filipino writer interested in theology, philosophy, liturgy, politics, and law. Here are eight bible characters that you might not know about, but should. The trinity is a like a Three-Leaf Clover. That is why Moses said. The problem with this analogy is that it teaches that God has three components: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God controls that light. This is a quick way to describe the doctrine of the Trinity namely, God is 1 being (the what is Gods nature, essence, being) and 3 whos (the whos being Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). I'm always interested in ways to encourage you, so feel free to contact me and let me know what areas interest you! This little child cannot look at one without experiencing a profound sense of wonderment and awe. Hi Im not a theologian and I dont disagree with what you say but when you state that we know the persons of the Trinity have perfectly loved for eternity etc how do we know? Time Analogy God is like time. 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. Water Analogy - God is like water, or H2O, which can exist in 3 forms. Just like an egg, none of the parts are co-equal, nor are all of the parts necessary for the egg to exist. But based on what you know that Jesus is born so that He can save people from their wrongdoings, will you trust Him to forgive you. This is not an exhaustive list: For further reading on the Trinity, I would recommend James Whites The Forgotten Trinity, Wayne Grudems Systematic Theology and online articles by CARM.org. Examples of these different roles would be: The Incarnation: Only the Son became incarnate, took on flesh. He has one essenceone substance. God is NOT like H2O in that He does not need the right pressure and temperature to exist as three persons. See the depths of Catholicism for yourself! Well, the egg analogy, when applied to God, suggests that only one being exists but this being exists in three different parts. In this analogy, God is compared to a man. Or, we can quote Daniel Webster; a strong Christian- I do not pretend fully to understand the arithmetic of heaven now. . Water can exist in liquid at room temperature. copyright 2009 by H.D. H2O can exist in three forms: liquid, gas and solid. We define a person as one having a will and who is distinguishable from another person. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQLfgaUoQCw. There have been many attempts to explain the Trinity the relationship between God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This analogy explains that the Father is like the sun. in that He is not made up of three parts one part () the Father, another part () Jesus Christ and a third part () the Holy Spirit. Copyright 2023 Christian Today. Often these analogies explicitly teach heresy. Another wrong illustration is using ourselves: I am one person, but also a wife, mother, and writer. My intention is merely to address some common erroneous analogies, including water. There is what is called the 'triple point' the combination of pressure and temperature at which H2O can exist simultaneously in all three states: solid, liquid and gas. The Gospel is theperson, work, and message of Jesus Christ that provides salvation to all repentant believers. However, Christians through the ages believe in the Trinity because the truths it represents are taught in the Bible. The military would end up destroying themselves. But if modalism is true, and the Trinity really is like water, then the story of Jesus (the Son) praying to the Father as recorded in the Bible seems like an awfully strange masquerade. If youve been involved in ministries for children or young people, questions about the Trinity have most likely come up. Dr. Bruce Ware does an excellent job in his book Big Truths for Young Hearts. The three distinct notes come together to make one beautiful sound. Jesus Person is the image of Gods Person (Hebrews 1:3), and the Invisible Spirit of the Father that is in Him - God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (II Corinthians 5:19). 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.) Hello busy women! Sadly, theres something "rotten" about this egg analogy. I go to prepare a place for you. The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the primary tenants of the Christian faith. It may not appear to agree with common sense. 1:8-12; 1 Pet. In one egg you have the white, the yoke, and the shell composing one full egg. The shortfall of this illustration, and others like it, is that God cannot be divided into "parts." The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, constructed between 1800 and 1804, is the first Anglican cathedral to have been built outside the British Isles. Before I even began writing this post, I had an unusual song stuck in my head Holy God, we praise thy name. As a doctrine (belief), the trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three separate and distinct persons united in one being- God. ANALOGY OF CHARACTERS. The Father is fully God; Jesus is fully God and the Holy Spirit is fully God. Although God is transcendent, sovereign, unapproachable light, He has condescended to reveal something of Himself to His creation. Did I leave out any analogies? The analogy breaks down because I can simultaneously be a father, husband, and son to any one person. Dont you know Jesus? 1B) This son of Graham and Lois Armstrong is Dave. The Trinity is not 1 + 1 + 1 butmore like 1 x 1 x 1.You can throw away one part of an egg (e.g., shell) and still have essentially an egg. Many of us would use analogies to explain the Trinity. Therefore, there is one God, who is eternally present in three persons. Shively For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father., 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresyTrinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity. There is only one egg with three different parts. John introduces us to the Trinity in John 1:1- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and Word was God. Jesus, the Word, was present in Genesis 1. Armstrong. The early church labeled this view "tritheism". 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). The mystery is in the how this is accomplished; something we will finally understand in heaven. Love was not given to Jesus. This analogy actually falls prey to the same error of modalism. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:9). To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresyTrinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity. But its all the same person, operating in three roles or functions. So, the egg analogy doesnt work after all. Here are a couple "usefully flawed" analogies for the Trinity. The military would like to have that power. The Unseen Father and Father that is seen existed at the same time. The egg analogy fails because it denies that each person of the Trinity is of the same eternal essence. In the same way, water is all the same molecular structure, expressing itself in three different modes. Cool it down, and itll eventually freeze into a solid. The Holy Spirit prays for us. Studying the Trinity poses difficulty to us Catholics. The Father hears their intercessory prayers. This little child cannot look at one without experiencing a profound sense of wonderment and awe. You can throw away one part of an egg (e.g., shell) and still have essentially an egg. Similarly, light and heat are simply creations of the sun, yet it is the heresy of Arianism to claim that the Son or Spirit are mere creations of the Father. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14). There would be three thrones. But you cannot be broken when your faith is in Jesus, for the Spirit of the Son that lives in us and gives us the voice through which we cry Abba, Father, (Galatians 4:6,) this Spirit of the Father that dwells within you is there to strengthen, protect and guard your person. 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. Similarly, people have used the example of the apple in the same way- skin, flesh, and seeds. Your email address will not be published. The Holy Trinity: Egg Analogy The Holy Trinity is GOD in three divine persons GOD the FATHER GOD the HOLY SPIRIT GOD the SON But together they makeup and are still ONE GOD Like how an egg is made up of three things but is still ONE EGG. ORDER from Barnes and NobleAmazon.com or wherever fine books are soldISBN-13: 978-1978167643Return to Cafe Logos Homepage | Bite-Sized Bible Bites. A single molecule cannot simultaneously exist in three different states. Devils see that Spirit as a tempestuious fire. Each one is fully 100% God. And we know that because Hes been experiencing perfect love within Himself forever. Finally, I would suggest that the mere fact that we cannot understand the full depth of the Trinity (even with our myriad of analogies) has implications. Modalism, or Sabellianism, denies the three distinct Persons of the Trinity and claims that God is one Person who appears in different modes at different timesin the Old Testament He appeared as the Father, in the Gospels He appeared as the Son, and from Pentecost onwards He appears as the Holy Spirit. They suggest that only one God exists but this God transforms or morphs into each of the different persons Let's begin with the second view. Perhaps youve heard the analogy that the Trinity is like H2O (the molecular symbol for water). Or have you ever tried to teach kids about the Trinity? Likewise we cannot have the Father or His Spirit without the Son I am the Way the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except by Me- John 14:6. When we see them as three individual spirits, (God is one Spirit John 4:24), then that is the blasphemy of polytheism which is the worship of more than one God. One thing that Ive found helpful is using the Trinity to illustrate truths we know about God. Each one is fully 100% God. . If the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate beings, then its not really clear how someone can say that God is one or that only one God exists. Unfortunately, an analogy from the limited realm of creation may not be sufficient in explaining Gods nature. Indeed, how can an infinite God be contained in a finite human womb! 1 Corinthians 8:6: Yet for us there is but one God.. The word God in this sense is defined as a single being, having all divine attributes. Analogies of the Trinity. Have you wondered what is God like? We Christians believe it on faith. Or what? Jesus was standing in the Jordan River, His Father speaks from heaven above, and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him as a dove. Haydn Lea is an Ordained Minister, and is currently serving as an Air Force Chaplain in Adelaide. God is much bigger and much greater than we can understand, and to be honest, I'm ok with that. We can think of it this way: the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. show me your glory. Genesis 1:26- Let us make man in our image, in our likeness The plural us and our show more than one person was involved. Jesus is the Holy Spirit. Discover the richness of the old yet living 2,000-year-old religion which built the West. The white of an egg is the connection between the yolk and the shell. These two analogies are the "water" analogy and the "egg" analogy. Each part of the egg make up only one portion of the wholethe yolk is not the fullness of the egg. Like modalism, the "three beings" view was rejected by the early church. The scientific analogy that will be provided in a few moments is truly inadequate to describe the Holy Trinity.