The Trinity

Question 1

What is the Trinity?

Answer 1

-The Trinity is the belief that there is one God who is three persons in one.
- “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen” - The sign of the cross

Question 2

What does the nicene creed say about the Trinity?

Answer 2

-This creed is said every week at Mass by Catholic Christians. It outlines the Catholic Church’s official teaching on the Trinity.It makes it clear that there is only one God and that Jesus is the incarnate Son of God.
- “I believe in one God, The Father almighty” - Nicene Creed.

Question 3

How does the Baptism of Jesus prove the existence of the Trinity?

Answer 3

-Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.
-All three persons of the Trinity are present during this account; Jesus as the Son, the dove representing the Holy Spirit and the voice from Heaven is God the Father
- “You are my Son, with whom I am best pleased” - Bible.

Question 4

What concept did St Augustine use to prove the Trinity?

Answer 4

-St Augustine used the concept of love to help people to understand the Trinity. God the Father is the lover, God the Son is the beloved and God the Holy Spirit is the love itself.
-“God is love” - John’s Gospel in the Bible.

Question 5

How does the belief in the trinity influence a Catholic’s life?

Answer 5

They will say the sign of the cross before their prayer to show their belief and acceptance in the Trinity

Question 6

What do Jewish people believe about the Trinity?

Answer 6

-Jewish people do not believe in the idea of the trinity as they are a monotheistic religion
-They believe in the oneness of God as stated in the Ten Commandments and consider a belief in the Trinity to be at odds with this

Question 7

What proof is there to back up the Jewish view about the Trinity?

Answer 7

-The shema prayer says “Adonai Echad” which means “The Lord is one”
-the 10 commandments say “thou shall have no other God’s but me”
-The Torah states that God has various qualities like being law giver and creator but not that he is 3persons

Question 8

How does the Jewish view on the Trinity influence their lives?

Answer 8

Many Orthodox Jews will say the Shema prayer every morning and night to show their belief and respect for the one God

Question 9

Why might the Jewish view on the Trinity be weak?

Answer 9

-In Genesis God says “let us human kind on our image”
-the idea of “us” refers to the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit implying that the Trinity was also present as the beginning of time and at the point of creation