Triune God Flashcards
What is ‘the Triune God’?
The christian belief that there are 3 ‘persons’ in one God.
Tri = 3
Une = Unity
of God
What does the ‘Holy Trinity’ focus on and who are the 3 persons?
The distinctive qualities of each of the three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
*The Triune God and The Holy Trinity are essentially the same thing.
What are the 5 key beliefs outlined by the Triune God?
1) There is only ONE God.
2) Within the God there are 3 persons.
3) The three persons are all God.
4) The three persons are equal.
5) The Trinity is a mystery (cannot be fully understood) - “the mystery of faith”
What do the terms ‘Triune God’ and ‘Trinity’ show about God?
They show that God is a ‘community of persons’.
What Old Testament quote from Deuteronomy supports the christian belief in one God?
The Shema (jewish prayer) from the book of Deuteronomy.
“Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, The Lord is One” - Deuteronomy
Why do Jews not accept that God is 3 persons?
Because they do not follow the teachings of Jesus and therefore accept that “the Lord alone” is just one God made up of one person.
Why is the Baptism of Jesus considered evidence of the Holy Trinity in the Bible?
Because all 3 persons of God are present.
How are all 3 persons of God present at Jesus’ Baptism in Matthew 3?
What New Testament quote from Paul to the Galatians 4 (epistle) talks about the link between the Trinity and us?
God the Father - John the Baptist hears the voice of God saying, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased”
God the Son - Jesus is the Messiah sent from God as promised.
God the Holy Spirit - a white dove was present
New Testament:
“God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts” - Paul to the Galatians 4
Why is Jesus’ Baptism so important for christians? What does Jesus realise in this moment?
It proves God is Triune.
It is the moment Jesus realises that he is the Son of God - he still calls himself son of Man until his trial.
Why is the act of Creation considered evidence for the Trinity?
All 3 persons of God are present.
How are all 3 persons of God present in the act of creation in Gensis 1?
God the Father - “God created the heavens”
God the Son - God created the world using his ‘Words’ (e.g “Let there be light”). Jesus is the Word.
God the Holy Spirit - “wind” translates to breath, meaning Spirit of God in Hebrew.
Who are the Magisterium?
The Pope and Bishops
What do the Magisterium have the authority to do?
The authority to interpret scripture and tradition.
Where does the Magisterium’s authority come from?
When Jesus left Peter, the leader of his 12 apostle’s, to become the head of the church.
“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church”
What is the name for the authority that the Magisterium have?
Apostolic authority
Why is the current Pope and his Bishops seen as part of an unbroken direct line that goes back to Peter?
Because of apostolic succession.
How is the special authority passed on to priests?
Ordination of the priesthood - where the special charism (power) is passed on by the ‘laying on of hands’.
Why is the Catholic Church said to be conciliar?
Because the magisterium hold council meetings to discuss and make new teachings.
How are catholics advised to follow the teachings of the Magisterium?
‘Very seriously’
Why are catholics advised to take the teachings of the Magisterium ‘very seriously’?
1) Their authority comes from christ himself (Jesus to Peter)
2) The Magisterium are guided by God the Holy Spirit.
What does infallible mean and how can the Pope use it?
Infallible means without error.
The Pope can declare a doctrine or teaching infallible if he sees fit.
What are the only 2 infallible doctrines centred around?
Mary:
1) Mary as the Immaculate Conception.
2) Mary assumed (was taken) into heaven as body and soul. (She didn’t die because she had no original sin).
What is the definition of ‘eternal’?
Eternal - has always existed (no beginning or end)
What is a Creed? What is the Nicene Creed? Where was the Nicene Creed first devised?
A Creed is a statement of faith.
The Nicene Creed is a statement of catholic beliefs mostly relating to the Trinity.
Council of Nicea:
-325CE in Turkey - Nicence Creed first devised - still partly said at mass today (modified later).
What part of the Creed supports ideas about God the Father?
“I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth…”
“one God” = God is One
“the Father almighty” = God the Father
“maker of heaven and earth” = Creator
What parts of the Creed support ideas about God the Son?
“I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God” - begotten = ‘of the same nature’.
“consubstantial with the father” - consubstantial = ‘of one being’
“incarnate of the virgin mary” - emphasises Jesus’ human nature.
What part of the Creed supports ideas about God the Holy Spirit?
“I believe in the holy spirit, the Lord the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the son…. who has spoken through the prophets”
“giver of life” = breath of God (ru’ach means spirit)
“spoken through the prophets” - scripture is divinely inspired.
Why was the phrase in one section of the Nicene Creed, “who proceeds from the father of the son”, controversial?
Some christians argued that it made the holy spirit seem lesser than God the father and God the son. This would be a heresy.
What are the 2 key teachings from the Council of Nicea? THINK SON
1) The Son is *eternally *begotten from the father. (begotten = of the same nature)
2) The Son is *consubstantial with the father. (consubstantial = ‘of one being’)
What was the Coucil of Constantinople?
381CE - a meeting between bishops and the emperor of Constantine - to settle disputes about the nature of the Holy Spirit and Jesus.
What were the 2 main teachings devised from the Council of Constantinople?
1) The Holy Spirit as the Third Person of the Trinity was affirmed.
2) Jesus being not fully human was rejected.
What was eventually devised from the Council of Constantinople?
The Nicene-Constantinople Creed was devised.
This is the Creed used at mass today. (called the Nicene Creed for short)
What are the 2 examples of tradition which can be used to help understand the Trinity?
1) St Augustine of Hippo
2) Catherine La Cugna
Who was St Augustine of Hippo? What book did he produce?
A theologian who produced the book ‘On the Trinity’ - (*not Challoner house)
What passage was St Augustine’s starting point in his book?
“God is Love” - John
What does Augustine say about love? What 3 things must there be?
He says that love can’t exist on its own. There must be:
- a person who loves (lover)
- a person who is loved (beloved)
- the love itself
What does Augustine say about the Trinity?
Three Persons of the Trinity are united in love.
- The father and son love each other.
- The holy spirit unites them.
What does Augustine say about how the love within God is poured out?
He says that it is poured out into the hearts of believers by the holy spirit.
What does Augustine conclude about God?
God is relational - he can be known personally.
What quote from St Augustine’s ‘On the Trinity’ summarises his teaching nicely?
“True love is: a trinity of lover, beloved and the love that binds them together into one”
Who was Catherine La Cugna?
La Cugna was an american Catholic theologian - sadly died in 1997 of cancer (aged 44).
What is Catherine La Cugna famous for?
Re-examining Augustine’s ‘On the Trinity’ and moving away from the idea of ‘immanent theology’ - focusing on the internal life of God.
What are the 2 key teachings of La Cugna?
*think earlier units
1) The Son came to earth to bring people into relationship with the Father. (Incarnation)
2) The Holy Spirit continually guides people towards the Father in heaven. (Redemption)
What do St Augustine and Catherine LaCugna agree and disagree on?
They both agree that:
- The Trinity is united by the holy spirit.
- The Trinity is an eternal relationship.
- God is in some way relational.
They disagree about:
-How humans are involved. LaCugna focuses on how the Holy spirit guides us back to the father (inwards towards the father). Whereas, Augustine focuses on how the holy spirit pours love out (outward to us).