The Son of God view: The Trinity

Question 1

Question: What is the Trinity?

Answer 1

Answer: The Trinity is the doctrine in Christianity that there is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Question 2

Question: How does the trinitarian view characterize the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

Answer 2

Answer: According to the trinitarian view, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct Persons (hypostases), each fully God, coexistent, coeternal, and coequal.

Question 3

Question: What key points are outlined in the Nicene Creed regarding the Trinity?

Answer 3

Answer: The Nicene Creed affirms belief in one God, declares Christ as the Son of God eternally begotten of the Father, and emphasizes the unity of Christ’s essence with the Father. It also acknowledges the role of the Holy Spirit in Christ’s incarnation and glorification.

Question 4

Question: What historical event led to the formulation of the Nicene Creed?

Answer 4

Answer: The Nicene Creed was formulated during the First Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325, convened by Emperor Constantine to address theological disputes about the nature of God’s relationship to Jesus.

Question 5

Question: How did the Nicene Creed settle the dispute over the nature of God’s relationship to Jesus?

Answer 5

Answer: The Nicene Creed affirmed the trinitarian view, asserting that Christ is the Son of God, “eternally begotten” of the Father, and of one Being with the Father.

Question 6

Question: What additional theological development followed the Nicene Creed?

Answer 6

Answer: The Chalcedonian Definition, established by the Council of Chalcedon in A.D. 451, affirmed that Christ possesses two natures (divine and human) united in one being.

Question 7

Question: What does the Chalcedonian Definition state about Christ’s nature?

Answer 7

Answer: The Chalcedonian Definition declares that Christ has two natures (divine and human) that are united without confusion, change, division, or separation.

Question 8

Question: How did the Nicene Creed describe the role of the Holy Spirit?

Answer 8

Answer: The Nicene Creed affirms belief in the Holy Spirit as the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, and is worshipped and glorified with them.

Question 9

Question: What key phrase in the Nicene Creed emphasizes Christ’s divine nature?

Answer 9

Answer: The phrase “begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father” emphasizes Christ’s divine nature and eternal relationship with the Father.

Question 10

Question: What historical significance does the Nicene Creed hold in Christianity?

Answer 10

Answer: The Nicene Creed is considered a foundational statement of Christian doctrine, particularly regarding the nature of God and the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Question 11

Question: Who convened the Council of Chalcedon, and what was its purpose?

Answer 11

Answer: The Council of Chalcedon was convened by Emperor Marcian in A.D. 451 to address theological controversies surrounding the nature of Christ’s being.

Question 12

Question: What concept does the Nicene Creed reject regarding Christ’s nature?

Answer 12

Answer: The Nicene Creed rejects the notion that Christ was made or created, affirming instead his eternal begottenness from the Father.

Question 13

Question: How does the Trinity doctrine affirm monotheism?

Answer 13

Answer: The Trinity doctrine asserts that there is one God, despite acknowledging three distinct Persons within the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Question 14

Question: What role did Emperor Constantine play in the formulation of the Nicene Creed?

Answer 14

Answer: Emperor Constantine convened the First Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 to resolve theological disputes, resulting in the formulation of the Nicene Creed.

Question 15

Question: What theological concept is emphasized in the phrase “eternally begotten” in the Nicene Creed?

Answer 15

Answer: The phrase “eternally begotten” underscores the eternal and uncreated nature of Christ’s relationship with the Father, affirming his divine origin and equality with God.

Question 16

Question: What theological concept is affirmed in the statement: “Christ is truly God and truly Man”?

Answer 16

Answer: The statement affirms the doctrine of the Incarnation, which teaches that Jesus Christ possesses both divine and human natures.

Question 17

Question: How does the statement describe the relationship between the two natures of Christ?

Answer 17

Answer: The statement emphasizes that the two natures of Christ (divine and human) are united without confusion, change, division, or separation, in what is known as the hypostatic union.

Question 18

Question: What term is used to describe the unity of the two natures in Christ?

Answer 18

Answer: The unity of the two natures in Christ is described as the hypostatic union, where both natures coexist in one Person.

Question 19

Question: How is Jesus Christ characterized in the statement?

Answer 19

Answer: Jesus Christ is characterized as “One and the same Son,” who is acknowledged as both truly God and truly Man.

Question 20

Question: What is emphasized about the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

Answer 20

Answer: The statement emphasizes the equality and eternality of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, affirming their coexistence as three Persons within the Godhead.

Question 21

Question: What theological term is used to describe the unity of the divine essence in the Trinity?

Answer 21

Answer: The term “ousia” is used to denote the one divine Substance shared by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Christian monotheism.

Question 22

Question: How does the statement affirm the unique nature of Jesus’ relationship with God?

Answer 22

Answer: The statement asserts that Jesus is the second person of the Holy Trinity, fully God and fully Man, uniquely united in the hypostatic union.

Question 23

Question: What role does Jesus play in the Trinity according to the statement?

Answer 23

Answer: Jesus is affirmed as the Son of God and the second person of the Holy Trinity, coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Question 24

Question: What doctrine of the Christian faith does the statement declare regarding Jesus?

Answer 24

Answer: The statement declares the doctrine of the Incarnation, affirming Jesus’ dual nature as both divine and human, without confusion or mixture.

Question 25

Question: What is the significance of affirming Jesus’ two natures in Christian theology?

Answer 25

Answer: Affirming Jesus’ two natures as fully God and fully Man underscores the completeness of his redemptive work and his ability to serve as the mediator between God and humanity.

Question 26

Question: According to Channing, what is the fundamental problem with the Trinitarian view of Jesus?

The Incoherence of the trinity.

Answer 26

Answer: Channing argued that the Trinitarian view of Jesus leads to “infinite confusion” because it posits Jesus as simultaneously possessing contradictory qualities, such as being both human and divine.

Question 27

Question: What does Channing argue about the compatibility of human and divine qualities in one being?

The Incoherence of the trinity.

Answer 27

Answer: Channing contends that human and divine qualities are inherently incompatible and contradictory, asserting that something cannot be both human and divine at the same time.

Question 28

Question: How does Channing illustrate the problem with the Trinitarian view of Jesus?

The Incoherence of the trinity.

Answer 28

Answer: Channing uses examples of contradictory qualities attributed to Jesus, such as being weak and almighty, ignorant and omniscient, to highlight the inherent confusion in the concept of Jesus as both human and divine.

Question 29

Question: What analogy does John Hick use to support the argument against the Trinitarian view of Jesus?

The Incoherence of the trinity.

Answer 29

Answer: John Hick likens the assertion that Jesus is both human and divine to the illogical claim that a circle drawn on paper is also a square, suggesting that such assertions lack coherent meaning.

Question 30

Question: What is the central point of Hick’s argument regarding the Trinitarian view of Jesus?

The Incoherence of the trinity.

Answer 30

Answer: Hick’s argument centers on the logical inconsistency of attributing contradictory qualities to Jesus, suggesting that the notion of Jesus being both human and divine is inherently paradoxical and devoid of meaningful explanation.

Question 31

Question: How does Hick propose to resolve the paradoxical implications of the Trinity?

The Incoherence of the trinity.

Answer 31

Answer: Hick proposes that viewing Jesus as a mere human being, rather than as both human and divine, eliminates the inherent contradictions and confusion associated with the Trinitarian concept.

Question 32

Question: According to Channing and Hick, why is it problematic to assert that Jesus is both human and divine?

The Incoherence of the trinity.

Answer 32

Answer: Channing and Hick argue that attributing both human and divine qualities to Jesus leads to conceptual confusion and logical inconsistency, as these qualities are fundamentally incompatible and contradictory.

Question 33

Question: What does Hick’s analogy of a circle and a square suggest about the Trinitarian view of Jesus?

The Incoherence of the trinity.

Answer 33

Answer: Hick’s analogy suggests that the assertion of Jesus being both human and divine is as nonsensical as claiming that a circle can simultaneously be a square, highlighting the logical absurdity of the Trinitarian doctrine.

Question 34

Question: How does Hick’s argument challenge the traditional understanding of the Trinity?

The Incoherence of the trinity.

Answer 34

Answer: Hick’s argument challenges the traditional understanding of the Trinity by questioning the coherence of attributing contradictory qualities to Jesus, thereby calling into question the validity of the Trinitarian doctrine.

Question 35

Question: What alternative solution does Hick propose to the theological problem posed by the Trinity?

The Incoherence of the trinity.

Answer 35

Answer: Hick proposes the view that Jesus was merely a human being, devoid of divine attributes, as a resolution to the paradoxical implications of the Trinitarian doctrine.

Question 36

Question: How do theologians like Augustine and Karl Barth characterize the doctrine of the Trinity?

The trinity is a mystery to be taken on faith.

Answer 36

Answer: Augustine and Karl Barth characterize the doctrine of the Trinity as a mystery that transcends human comprehension and must be accepted on faith rather than understood through reason

Question 37

Question: According to Barth, why did he express relief at Augustine’s admission regarding the term “person” in relation to the Trinity?

The trinity is a mystery to be taken on faith.

Answer 37

Answer: Barth expressed relief at Augustine’s admission because it affirmed that human language, including terms like “person,” is inadequate to fully describe the mystery of the Trinity, emphasizing the incomprehensibility of the concept.

Question 38

Question: How do theologians like Augustine and Barth view attempts to fully understand the Trinity through reason?

The trinity is a mystery to be taken on faith.

Answer 38

Answer: Augustine and Barth reject attempts to fully understand the Trinity through reason, considering such endeavors misguided. They maintain that the Trinity is beyond human comprehension and can only be accepted through faith.

Question 39

Question: What does Barth mean when he says, “A really suitable term for it just does not exist” in reference to the Trinity?

The trinity is a mystery to be taken on faith.

Answer 39

Answer: Barth suggests that there is no adequate human language or terminology to fully capture or describe the mystery of the Trinity, indicating the limitations of human understanding in grappling with divine concepts.

Question 40

Question: How do Augustine and Barth approach the application of human reason to understanding God?

The trinity is a mystery to be taken on faith.

Answer 40

Answer: Augustine and Barth reject the application of human reason to understanding God, asserting that divine mysteries such as the Trinity transcend the limitations of human intellect and can only be apprehended through faith.

Question 41

Question: What is the foundation of Barth’s argument regarding the Trinity’s support in the Bible?

The success of Barth’s argument

Answer 41

Answer: Barth’s argument regarding the Trinity’s support in the Bible relies on the interpretation of biblical passages as affirming the triune nature of God, as understood within the Christian tradition.

Question 42

Question: What role does natural theology play in Barth’s rejection of human reason’s ability to provide knowledge of God?

The success of Barth’s argument

Answer 42

Answer: Barth rejects natural theology, which seeks to understand God through reason and observation of the natural world, believing that true knowledge of God can only be obtained through revelation and faith, rather than human reasoning.

Question 43

Question: How does Barth’s stance on natural theology influence his perspective on the Trinity?

The success of Barth’s argument

Answer 43

Answer: Barth’s rejection of natural theology underscores his emphasis on the Trinity as a divine mystery that transcends human understanding, suggesting that attempts to comprehend God through reason alone are insufficient to grasp the complexity of the Trinity.

Question 44

Question: What criteria does Barth use to evaluate the validity of the trinitarian view?

The success of Barth’s argument

Answer 44

Answer: Barth evaluates the validity of the trinitarian view based on its alignment with biblical teachings and the Christian tradition, rather than relying solely on human reason or philosophical arguments.

Question 45

Question: What implications does Barth’s rejection of natural theology have for understanding the Trinity?

The success of Barth’s argument

Answer 45

Answer: Barth’s rejection of natural theology suggests that understanding the Trinity requires a reliance on divine revelation and faith, rather than human reasoning, emphasizing the mysterious nature of the Trinity beyond human comprehension.