Carrying this concept over to the Trinity, it is not a contradiction for God to be both three and one because He is not three and one in the same way. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. reason to finally surrender The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to the Christian faith. These personal distinctions are modes of existence within the divine being, but are not divisions of the divine being. The Trinity Is Unique Among Monotheistic Religions. Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. The three persons of the Trinity teach Christians better about the nature of God and the roles he plays. Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. But a dog is one being and zero persons. And the Holy Spirit is also heard, not seen. For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. Satan Tempts Jesus in the Wilderness Bible Study Guide. They are three real persons, not three roles God plays. The ancient Mediterranean was full of religious expression, and Kemetic cultures concept of a divine family influenced early Christians. God is one, and God is three. Basil of Caesarea, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and St. Gregory of Nazianzus (the Cappadocian Fathers), the doctrine of the Trinity took substantially the form it has maintained ever since. Amen. Sproul cites as an example Dickens famous line, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Obviously this is a contradiction if Dickens means that it was the best of times in the same way that it was the worst of times. It is crucial for properly understanding what God is like, how He relates to us, and how we should relate to Him. [2] [3] [4] Nontrinitarian (largely part of the Restorationist branch of Christianity), who reject the . The Doctrine of the Trinity Is Confusing Because It's True It is right for every Christian to pursue knowledge of God, fully expecting to attain it. Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? What is the Concept of the Holy Trinity? Christianity is a "monotheistic" religion. His achievement Every term in this statement (God, exists, as or in, equally divine, Person) has been variously understood. Most people's problem, he says, centres ultimately on the three-in-one issue, "but that's not the big question about God". Plus you get FREE access to all of our eBooks. Why Jesus used parable story in answering the question of the Pharisees rather than to be in direct answer?, write a short journal expressing your beliefs about religion. There is no junior God. How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! It was not until later in the 4th century that the distinctness of the three and their unity were brought together in a single orthodox doctrine of one essence and three persons. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); JSTOR Daily provides context for current events using scholarship found in JSTOR, a digital library of academic journals, books, and other material.