The doctrine of the Trinity

[evangelist6589]

Just spent a little while writing a letter trying to explain the doctrine of the Trinity. Not an easy one to explain but I did my best in a page and a half and I try not to go much more than that in a letter to a apostate. I sure wish there was a good gospel tract that did the job better for me. Does anyone know of any?

How do you explain the trinity? Cal and Armin should be united in this doctrine so I doubt there will be much debate here. I used Wayne Grudem's systematic theology to aide me in explaining the doctrine to this apostate. I know he will read my letter since we spoke on the phone and built some level of a relationship. The systematic theology summarizes the doctrine, while a good book on the topic may give me more depth than necessary to write a summary letter.

Please explain the doctrine so I will see if I missed something.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Are you a friend?
Are you a student?
Are you a husband/wife?
Are you a son/daughter?

So, from the questions above, are you four people or one person?

*These questions can vary and you can add to the list. We are many things to different people, but we are only one person.

 

[HankD]

Are you a friend?
Are you a student?
Are you a husband/wife?
Are you a son/daughter?

So, from the questions above, are you four people or one person?

*These questions can vary and you can add to the list. We are many things to different people, but we are only one person.

Actually CBT this is not an accurate representation of the Trinity and is called modalism because it does not present a plurality of persons or a distinction of the persons of the Trinity.

The simplest English sentence defining the Trinity is - God is three distinct persons in one divine essence.

The closest scripture to this definition is 1 John 5:7 which is not considered apostolic by most "authorities" however I do accept it as the inspired scripture through John the Apostle.


HankD

 

[convicted1]

Some things are truly hard to explain...

God is God the Father....
God is God the Son...
God is God the Holy Spirit...

These three are One...1 John 5:7...

Yet, Jesus is the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, Counsellor, King, and so on...


Some things just are a little to hard to to truly express to the lost....

 

[JonC]

Personally I do not believe in Christian apostasy. The person is either in Christ or he is not (and should be treated in that manner). If I were to argue the doctrine of Trinity, I suppose I'd simply provide passages that explained the Godhead. It took the church quite a long time to develop the doctrine, and I don't think that there is an easy answer if someone wanted to understand all aspects.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Actually CBT this is not an accurate representation of the Trinity and is called modalism because it does not present a plurality of persons or a distinction of the persons of the Trinity.

The simplest English sentence defining the Trinity is - God is three distinct persons in one divine essence.

The closest scripture to this definition is 1 John 5:7 which is not considered apostolic by most "authorities" however I do accept it as the inspired scripture through John the Apostle.


HankD

Hank, I realize that all analogies break down if pushed too far.

The example is only to show that all of us are many things to different people, but we are only one being.

 

[annsni]

Hank, I realize that all analogies break down if pushed too far.

The example is only to show that all of us are many things to different people, but we are only one being.

Yet the Father is not the Son nor is the Son the Holy Spirit. I am all at once a daughter, a wife and a sister.

 

[HankD]

Hank, I realize that all analogies break down if pushed too far.

The example is only to show that all of us are many things to different people, but we are only one being.

Understood.

HankD

 

[evangelist6589]

Personally I do not believe in Christian apostasy. The person is either in Christ or he is not (and should be treated in that manner). If I were to argue the doctrine of Trinity, I suppose I'd simply provide passages that explained the Godhead. It took the church quite a long time to develop the doctrine, and I don't think that there is an easy answer if someone wanted to understand all aspects.

Works based salvation is another gospel Gal 1:8-9. Regardless I am trying to explain the trinity with him in my letter.

 

[Greektim]

Just spent a little while writing a letter trying to explain the doctrine of the Trinity. Not an easy one to explain but I did my best in a page and a half and I try not to go much more than that in a letter to a apostate. I sure wish there was a good gospel tract that did the job better for me. Does anyone know of any?

How do you explain the trinity? Cal and Armin should be united in this doctrine so I doubt there will be much debate here. I used Wayne Grudem's systematic theology to aide me in explaining the doctrine to this apostate. I know he will read my letter since we spoke on the phone and built some level of a relationship. The systematic theology summarizes the doctrine, while a good book on the topic may give me more depth than necessary to write a summary letter.

Please explain the doctrine so I will see if I missed something.

Read your boy Grudem on this. He uses 3 simple statements which is how I teach my 10th graders:

God is 3 persons
Each person is fully God
There is 1 God

Each statement is confirmed in Scripture. It is how you formulate the conclusion that describes or defines the Trinity.

 

[Greektim]

Yet the Father is not the Son nor is the Son the Holy Spirit. I am all at once a daughter, a wife and a sister.

Which is exactly why modalism has been deemed heresy for hundreds of years. Good post.

 

[HankD]

Yet the Father is not the Son nor is the Son the Holy Spirit. I am all at once a daughter, a wife and a sister.

True so its still modalism because though you are a daughter, wife and sister simultaneously you only one person.

HankD

 

[evangelist6589]

Read your boy Grudem on this. He uses 3 simple statements which is how I teach my 10th graders:

God is 3 persons
Each person is fully God
There is 1 God

Each statement is confirmed in Scripture. It is how you formulate the conclusion that describes or defines the Trinity.

I was referencing the condensed version of his systematic theology but I do have the full version in electronic form.

 

[Revmitchell]

An egg has three distinct elements.

The shell, the white, the yolk.

The shell has its own uses and is neither the white nor the yolk.

The yolk, has its own distinct uses apart from the others and is neither the shell nor the white.

The white has its own distinct uses and is neither the shell nor the yolk.

Yet without one of those elements there is no egg.

Neither do we say there are eggs because of the three distinct elements.

It is always one single egg.

 

[Yeshua1]

Are you a friend?
Are you a student?
Are you a husband/wife?
Are you a son/daughter?

So, from the questions above, are you four people or one person?

*These questions can vary and you can add to the list. We are many things to different people, but we are only one person.

That would be Modualism though, as you would have one God in three diffferent roles, while Trinitarians hold to one God, but in 3 seperate and disticntive Persons!

 

[Yeshua1]

I was referencing the condensed version of his systematic theology but I do have the full version in electronic form.

There is but One God, so use the verses that show where the father/Jesus/Holy Spirit all called God, yet Jesus and Ftaher and Spirit are seperated!

Look to Isaiah, where God knows of no other gods, He alone is Saviour, yet Jesus called that very title!

John in His Gospel bent over backwords in the Greek Construction to tell us that while both Father and Jesus were and are very God of very God, both are distinct and not the same persons!

 

[percho]

What is the necessity of Trinity?

What does Trinity protect or protect against? Why does, "hear-you ! Israel Yahweh Elohim-of·us Yahweh one," need to be understood as Trinity?
Deut. 6:1 Interlinear Scripture4all.org

'Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God Jehovah one. YLT I took out, "is," and moved, "one."

BTW I am Presbyterian/Baptist SBC type and I still ask this.

 

[Greektim]

What is the necessity of Trinity?

What does Trinity protect or protect against? Why does, "hear-you ! Israel Yahweh Elohim-of·us Yahweh one," need to be understood as Trinity?
Deut. 6:1 Interlinear Scripture4all.org

'Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God Jehovah one. YLT I took out, "is," and moved, "one."

BTW I am Presbyterian/Baptist SBC type and I still ask this.

Your interlinear translation is wrong. Or stupid at the very list. Unhelpful for sure.

What is the necessity in understanding God as revealed by God?

What is the necessity to understanding creation and redemption in Trinitarian roles?

What is the necessity to understanding our propensity for relationship being created in the image of a relational God?

Great in every respect I'd say.

 

[Greektim]

An egg has three distinct elements.

The shell, the white, the yolk.

The shell has its own uses and is neither the white nor the yolk.

The yolk, has its own distinct uses apart from the others and is neither the shell nor the white.

The white has its own distinct uses and is neither the shell nor the yolk.

Yet without one of those elements there is no egg.

Neither do we say there are eggs because of the three distinct elements.

It is always one single egg.

This is flawed b/c these 3 elements of the egg are only part of the egg. Jesus is not partly God but fully God, as the Father and Spirit are fully God. Thus these illustrations break down.

 

[evangelist6589]

I'd expect Cal and ARMIN to agree on this doctrine. Anyways lots of helpful replies. I am gonna choose the best to modify and add to my letter. I not only used a condensed Grudem systematic theology but also the CrossWay ESV SBC which was helpful as well.

This man believes in works salvation and also denies the trinity. He is no JW nor Mormon but of another cult. Interesting the church does preach hard on sin and emphasizes repentance very hard, but they also add a List of works to salvation including how one dresses when they attend church.