Catholic Beliefs in the Trinity

Question 1

Explain what is meant by the Trinity?

Answer 1

The belief that there is only one God - monotheism
God has 3 natures - can be understood in 3 ways:
God the Father
God the Son , Jesus
God the Holy Spirit
Typified by the shamrock - one plant with 3 different actions
Typified by water - ice, water and steam

Question 2

Explain the role of God the Father?

Answer 2

Creator/sustainer of heaven and earth - genesis

Transcendent- beyond the world

Question 3

Explain the role of God the Son?

Answer 3

Jesus is our role model
Came to earth and showed what God wants
Incarnation- God in human form
Immanent- God active in the world
“My Son my beloved Son”: he has always existed and is one with God
The Spirit is with Jesus at baptism showing they are together

Question 4

Explain the role of the Holy Spirit?

Answer 4

God working through each one of us in the Church
Encouraging us to do the right thing
Immanent - God active in the world 
Often described as a dove 
Pentecost 
Strength and guidance

Question 5

Quotes to learn for the Trinity

Answer 5

” Go therefore make disciples of all the nations, baptise them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
“This is my Son the beloved with whom I am well pleased” Matthew 3:16-17
“And because you are children God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts crying Abba Father” Galatians 4:6

Question 6

What is the Nicene Creed?

Answer 6

A Creed is a summary of things you believe in
Credo - Latin for I believe
The church had conflicts about the identity of Jesus and role of the Holy Spirit
Was Jesus fully human or fully divine or both?
There were heresies
Docetism said he was God who appeared in disguise as a human
Arianism denied Jesus is fully God
So the official church agreed the Nicene Creed to confirm beliefs of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - it has one paragraph on each summarising beliefs

Question 7

What does the Nicene Creed tell us about the Father?

Answer 7

Christians are monotheistic 
God is almighty - omnipotent
Father - he is loving and caring
He is the creator and designer
C - Creator 
M - Monotheistic 
O - Omnipotent 
L - Loving “
T - Transcendent

Question 8

What does the Nicene Creed tell us about the son?

Answer 8

Jesus is Son of God
Shares the qualities and natures of God
He is eternal
He has always existed
He is the incarnation - fully God and fully human
He was crucified and rose from the dead
He ascended to heaven with the father 
He will return to judge the living and the dead

Question 9

What does the Nicene Creed tell us about Holy Spirit

Answer 9

Also referred to as the lord
Proceeds from the father and the son - he is the same
He is equal to them and worry of worship