*trinity Flashcards
Monotheism and the Trinity
Christians believe there is only one God (monotheism) but that he has revealed himself as three people (the Trinity).
The Trinity
God is believed to have revealed himself as three persons (the Trinity):
God the Father is also often called the Creator.
God the Son took human form as Jesus, who is divine and human.
God the Holy Spirit inspired the apostles at Pentecost and is believed to be the active presence of God in the world today, in the Church and in individual persons.
Does the Trinity contradict monotheism?
If there were many gods, God could not be all-powerful.
In fact, Christians believe that God is three separate persons, but still just one God.
For some Christians, belief in the Trinity is confusing because it appears to contradict belief in one God.
One God as a Trinity of Persons
Catholics are monotheistic, meaning that they believe there’s only one God. This one God is believed to have revealed himself as three persons (the Trinity): the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
God in people’s lives
Belief in the Trinity helps Catholics to understand the ways in which God is present in their lives:
God the Father is also often called the Creator.
God the Son took human form as Jesus, who is divine and human.
God the Holy Spirit inspired the apostles at Pentecost and is believed to be the active presence of God in the world today.
The Trinity in quote
‘Christians are baptised in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…. The faith of all Christians rests on the Trinity.’ [CCC 232]
(CCC = Catechism of the Catholic Church, a summary of Catholic beliefs and teachings).
The Trinity as one?
For some Christians, belief in the Trinity is confusing because it appears to contradict belief in one God.
If there were many gods, God could not be all-powerful.
In fact, Christians believe that God is three persons, but just one God.
Some have described the persons of the Trinity as being three persons with one shared ‘substance’, meaning that they are three persons with one shared divine nature.
Analogies
Some Christian writers have tried to describe the Trinity using analogy (by comparing it to something else).
St Patrick said that the Trinity is like a shamrock, which has three clear parts to it, but is only one leaf.
Others have pointed to the three forms of H2O: ice, water and steam
God as Three Persons in Scripture
Roman Catholics believe that the idea of God as three persons in one is supported by scripture.
God the Father
God the Father is seen in the Old Testament as the Creator in the Book of Genesis (and references to God as Creator can be found elsewhere, e.g. in the Psalms) and as the Lawgiver in the Books of Exodus and Deuteronomy, among others.
God the Father is also seen in the New Testament, for example at Jesus’ baptism and at his Transfiguration.
God the Son
Catholics believe that Isaiah’s prophecies (9:6-7) refer to Jesus as Son of God, describing a child who will be Mighty God and Prince of Peace.
The idea that Jesus is the Son of God is seen in the New Testament:
E.g. at the annunciation when the Angel Gabriel tells Mary she has conceived God’s son.
E.g. when the voice of God the Father refers to Jesus as his son at his baptism.
God the Holy Spirit
Roman Catholic teaching says that the Spirit that surrounds the unformed world at the moment of creation is the Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ baptism
Some Catholics think that all three persons of the Trinity are present in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ baptism, for example in Mark 1:9-11.
One in three
Catholics believe there is only one God. This is known as monotheism.
God is believed to have revealed himself as three persons (the Trinity): the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Expressions of this can be found in creeds, such as the Nicene Creed, which set out what a community believe.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Belief in the Trinity helps Catholics to understand the ways in which God is present in their lives:
God the Father is also often called the Creator.
God the Son took human form as Jesus, who is both divine and human.
God the Holy Spirit inspired the apostles at Pentecost and is believed to be the active presence of God in the world today, in the Church and in individual persons.
