THE HOLY TRINITY (CHRISTIANITY) Flashcards
What do Christians believe about God?
There are three distinct persons within the oneness of one God. This is called the Trinity
God the Father:
1) continues to care for us
2) Christians believe that he created us, the world, and the heavens
3) judges whether we go to heaven or hell
4) He is all- powerful. Sustains and rules everything
God the Son:
1) rose on the third day
2) born of the Virgin Mary
3) saviour, redeemer
4) performs miracles
5) came to earth in the form of Jesus
God the Holy Spirit:
1) Invisible power
2) helper and guider
3) part of God that works within the world today
What are the three persons that make up God?
Father, Son, Holy Spirit
Why do we want to avoid taking about the parts of the Trinity?
He is all three of those things simultaneously
What is the Nicene Creed?
A Christian statement of belief about God
Where does the word ‘Creed’ come from?
The Latin word credo, meaning ‘I believe’
Why was the Nicene Creed established?
The early Christians had lots of disagreements about the identity of Jesus
What does the Nicene Creed state?
One God, expressed through three persons
Explain how Jesus’ Baptism demonstrates the importance of the Trinity
It shows the Trinity working together. Jesus is the Son, the Father exists alongside Jesus, and the Holy Spirit communicates with John.
The Great Commission
The Great Commission was when Jesus said to travel and convert people to Christianity. This shows the importance of the Trinity because he says their names as a source of authority.
What did the early Christian theologian, Tertullian say about the Trinity?
“It is by all means to be believed, because it is absurd.”
What is Tertullian trying to say about the nature of Christianity?
We need to have faith in the religion. It doesn’t have to make sense, we just need to believe and trust God.
How is the Trinity demonstrated in Worship?
1) They repeat the Nicene Creed
2) They cross themselves when they enter a Church
3) Baptisms and marriages are performed in the name of the Trinity
Does the Trinity make sense?
1+1+1=1. The Trinity seems to be illogical as three persons cannot be the same as each other but not the same. Christians argue that the Trinity is a mystery as it defies true human understanding. This because God is transcendent.
What does ‘‘prorsus credibile est, quia ineptum este’’ mean and who said it?
'’it is by all means to be believed, because it is absurd’’ An early Christian theologian called Tetullian said this
What is The Trinity not?
It is not three separate Gods, rather three individuals who together make up God; three qualities of God
Where does the belief in the Trinity come from?
The specific word ‘Trinity’ is not mentioned in the Bible. It is expressed in the Nicene Creed. This is a Christian statement of belief about God.
What does the Nicene Creed state?
‘We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth…’
We believe in one Lord, …
Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one Being with the Father …
We believe in the Holy Spirit, …
the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets’
Matthew 3:13-17
‘As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”.
In Matthew 3:13-17, who is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
God the Father is the voice; God the Some is Jesus; and God the Holy Spirit is the dove
Matthew 28: 19
‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’.
John 14:26
‘The Helper is the Holy Spirit. The Father will send Him in my place. He will teach you everything and help you remember everything I have told you’.
Where else id the Trinity demonstrated?
1) Matthew 3:13-17
2) Matthew 28: 19
3) John 14:26
How is the Trinity reflected in the Christian worship and belief today?
- Churches will look grand to admire the creation of the Father
- There will be a cross to remember Jesus’ death
- Churches will have stained glass windows that often show the Holy Spirit is a dove
- When one is baptised on his dipped in the water three times to represent the Trinity. The priest will say ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen’
- Roman Catholic priests wing the incense thurible three times
- Pentecostal Christians believe that the Holy Spirit visits them in worship through speaking in tongues. This is based on the Pentecost in the Bible where the Holy Spirit came to the disciples in tongues of fire
