As part of my studies in theology, questions about the Trinity have been posed for reflection and response. The following is my response to the question:
Is the Trinity understandable? Is the Trinity practical?
The response is in two parts. The first part (this post) responds to the first question. The second (see the next post here) suggests how that might play out for us, very briefly.
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The Trinity is a description of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It comes from the Latin word Trinitas, first introduced by the theologian Tertullian who lived between 160 and 225AD. Tertullian was trying to explain how God is one being and yet three persons.
The Father, Son and Spirit are not three separate and independent “Gods”; nor are they three different “states” of the one God. They are three persons-in-community, living as equals with each other as one God. They are inseparable, living in unbreakable communion with one another. One cannot be isolated from another. There is no first or last, no authority over another, no conflict or rivalry. More than that, they live in and dwell in each other, so much so that they are one.
The Greek word perichoresis, meaning mutual interpenetration, best describes this “living in each other”. It expresses the eternal dance that the Trinity is engaged in whereby the Father continually envelopes and embraces the Son who continually envelops the Spirit who continually envelops the Father who continually envelops the Son, and so on. This dance, going before the dawn of time, will continue for eternity.
The Trinity is all about relationship. The Father, Son and Spirit live in communion with one another, engaged in an eternal dance where they continually envelop and penetrate one another. God is relationship without remainder.
Is the Trinity understandable? Is the Trinity practical?
The response is in two parts. The first part (this post) responds to the first question. The second (see the next post here) suggests how that might play out for us, very briefly.
-------------------------------------------------
The Trinity is a description of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It comes from the Latin word Trinitas, first introduced by the theologian Tertullian who lived between 160 and 225AD. Tertullian was trying to explain how God is one being and yet three persons.
The Father, Son and Spirit are not three separate and independent “Gods”; nor are they three different “states” of the one God. They are three persons-in-community, living as equals with each other as one God. They are inseparable, living in unbreakable communion with one another. One cannot be isolated from another. There is no first or last, no authority over another, no conflict or rivalry. More than that, they live in and dwell in each other, so much so that they are one.
The Greek word perichoresis, meaning mutual interpenetration, best describes this “living in each other”. It expresses the eternal dance that the Trinity is engaged in whereby the Father continually envelopes and embraces the Son who continually envelops the Spirit who continually envelops the Father who continually envelops the Son, and so on. This dance, going before the dawn of time, will continue for eternity.
The Trinity is all about relationship. The Father, Son and Spirit live in communion with one another, engaged in an eternal dance where they continually envelop and penetrate one another. God is relationship without remainder.
Three-in-one relationship.
Trinity.
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1 comment:
Greetings Allan
On the subject of the Trinity,
I recommend this video:
The Human Jesus
Take a couple of hours to watch it; and prayerfully it will aid you to reconsider "The Trinity"
Yours In Messiah
Adam Pastor
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