[Trinity] Q&A


As a Christian, there are many things that you gradually learn about the faith. Some things are easily comprehended and others, without careful studying and research, can be difficult to understand. One of those pieces of "doctrine" is THE TRINITY.
WHAT IS THE TRINITY?
The idea behind the trinity isn't an easy concept to grasp especially if you are a new Christian (if you are, CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!!!). To make it a little simpler to understand I have boiled the confusion down to three frequently asked questions that most confused Christians have on the subject.

 Q.  How does the Trinity Work?

 A. To understand How the trinity works we first have to understand what it is. The Trinity is the doctrine that states there is one God who exists as three distinct persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Three different persons who represent one God. The doctrine is supported by three distinct truths:

  1. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are each 3 distinct persons [Philippians 1:2; Titus 2:13; Acts 5:3-4]
  2. Each distinct person is fully God [Colossians 2:9]
  3. There is only ONE God [Deuteronomy 6:4-5]
Each person has its on distinct role but they are all unified in their purpose. One part of the trinity is not the other but they all are one:
  • There is one God
  • The father is God
  • The son is God
  • The spirit is God
  • The father is not the son or the spirit
  • The son is not the father or the spirit
  • The spirit is not the father or the son
Q. Where is the Trinity explained in the Bible? 

 A. The word ‘trinity’ is not found in the bible but there are several scriptures that point to the existence of the Trinity and help to explain what it is. The doctrine is implied in the Old Testament and directly taught in the New Testament. 

 The first time we notice the idea of a Trinity is in Genesis 1:26-27 when God says " Let [US] make man...", with that word "us" being a clear indicator that the Trinity was in existence from the very start. If that's not enough for you Read John 1 also.

 The Bible also refers to all three persons as God throughout the Bible:
  • FATHER [Galatians 1:1]
  • SON [John 20:28]
  • SPIRIT [Acts 5:3-4]
They are also associated together in scripture as well:
  • [Matthew 28:19]  - This verse, the first half of what is known as “The Great Commission” is the best representation of the trinity as it includes all three persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
  • [Matthew 3:16-17] - Speaking of baptism, the baptism of Christ is so special because it is the first time in the New Testament that we see the Trinity mentioned in the same vicinity. Jesus appears as the Son, the Holy Spirit as a dove and the Father as a voice from heaven.
  • [John 1:1-2, 14, 18] - This verse is so important because it points to the fact that the Trinity has existed since the very beginning. The New testament is the first time that the Trinity is made known to us but these verses point to the fact that They were all the re in the beginning. The only Godhead that has revealed himself to man is Jesus, the Son.
Q. How do I explain this in the simplest of terms to my friends?

A. There are several ways to Go about sharing this truth.
  1. The Bible is the ultimate proof of its existence. Feel free to use the verses that have been provided throughout this post.
  2.  The Dr. Henry Morris Explanation - He explains how the universe itself is trinitarian by design. The universe is made up of there things (matter, space and time) each trinitarian in themselves. Together they make up one universe but they are each different distinct entities. Take one away and the Universe would cease to exist.
  3. The Fidget spinner Illustration - A fidget spinner has three weights that allow the spinner to rotate seamlessly. they are not the same weight but together they make one fidget spinner.
  4. The Pretzel Illustration - The pretzel is one piece of dough with three holes. Take one of the holes away and the pretzel isn't a pretzel anymore because each hole plays a role in the grand design and function of the pretzel.




Discussing the Trinity here at KI has been a very eye opening experience. The biggest thing that I am wrestling with is the breaking down of the roles of the trinity in Creation. I had always assumed that God the Father was the creator but reading John 1 ans other verses has shown me that it wasn't necessarily God the Father. 

WHAT??!! 

Yea I know it blew my mind too. Which is why I am excited to dig further into scripture ans start to piece together the unique roles of each member of the trinity. 

If you have any other questions regarding the Trinity feel free to comment and I will do my best to answer them.

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