When we look at the egg as an example of the Trinity, we must view it in its entirety. 1. They say that three separate beings exist, 2. Yet there is still only one God we serve. If the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate beings, then its not really clear how someone can say that God is one or that only one God exists. It is not existing as 3 different parts (persons) at the same time. True, we humans are image bearers but nothing in creation serves as an analogy for the Trinity because the Trinity is a doctrine of special (biblical) revelation not nature or reason. This little child cannot look at one without experiencing a profound sense of wonderment and awe. However, it breaks down on the level of equality: No one keeps or eats the shell of an egg. Blessings! Homily for The Solemnity of Holy Trinity The egg white represents Gods Spirit. Now, as youve probably guessed, this analogy also breaks down. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John14:2, 3). For example, triangles are not the kinds of things that are personal. The Son "proceeds" from the Father, and the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father and the Son.". Some people think that H2O cannot exist in all three states simultaneously but that is not true. This error denies something central to God that makes Him God. While it captures the idea that God is one, it doesnt do such a good job of showing how God is three and one at the same time. Thus, the Father Himself is not God, nor is the Son, nor is the Holy Spirit, but combining the three, there is one God. Jesus, visually seen, judges all, not the Unseen Father. In order to accomplish this union with God and man, He allowed His Shell to be broken with the weight of our sins to cleanse our souls so His holiness can approach, for God cannot look upon sin (Habakkuk 1:13). Do you know why I keep saying God is like an egg (or H2O) but God is not like an egg (or H2O)? H2O can only ever be one form at a time. But Hes God too, right? Jesus Person is the image of Gods Person (Hebrews 1:3), and the Invisible Spirit of the Father that is in Him - God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (II Corinthians 5:19). Sure enough, one member answered Well Ive heard that the Trinity is like water: water can be liquid, gas (steam), or solid (ice), but its still the same water. Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Ontological means the nature or essence of something. I dont know how our majestic God feels about being compared to watermelons and eggs, but He is also a loving Father, and like any father, I believe God would seek to provide simple explanations so His little children can understand. The Egg Analogy - This claims to be a good representation of the Trinity because Eggs have three distinct parts: the shell, the yolk, and the whites. 4 Bad Ways to Explain the Trinity (and 1 Good One) This analogy actually teaches the heresy of tritheism. The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the primary tenants of the Christian faith. But you cannot be broken when your faith is in Jesus, for the Spirit of the Son that lives in us and gives us the voice through which we cry Abba, Father, (Galatians 4:6,) this Spirit of the Father that dwells within you is there to strengthen, protect and guard your person. The Spirit white is connected to Jesus Person I will come to you (John 14:18) and the Fathers Person, We will come to him and make our abode with him (John 14:23). The trinity is not a contradiction, but a paradox. Many of these analogies have the best of intentions, but God cannot be described in a way we can fully comprehend or rationalize. We believe in only one true God in all existence, in all places, at all times. Is the Trinity like H2O, an egg, or a triangle? - Fervr Only the Son became incarnate, took on flesh. God Himself explains why some things are still a mystery: For as heaven is higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9) Our human minds can never understand all of who God is and how He thinks and acts. Explaining the Holy Trinity. Yet we do not have three gods but ONE God. How can God be Three in One? The word God in this sense is defined as a single being, having all divine attributes. in that He is not made up of three parts one part () the Father, another part () Jesus Christ and a third part () the Holy Spirit. Scripture however, doesnt depict God this way. I believe that the best way to talk about the Trinity is to simply say that God is one God, who eternally exists in three Persons. Haydn describes himself as a five-point Calvinist, but he recognises that many faithful Christians disagree. copyright 2009 by H.D. This was first used by Patrick of Ireland (yes there really was a Patrick of Ireland and he was a great guy), around 400 A.D. 2. The shortfall of this illustration, and others like it, is that God cannot be divided into "parts." The analogy breaks down because the three cloves are overly distinct and cannot represent the unity of God. Another analogy that Tim remembers, being Irish Catholic, is the analogy of the shamrock with its three parts. This is a quick way to describe the doctrine of the Trinity namely, God is 1 being (the, is Gods nature, essence, being) and 3 whos (the, being Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The problem with this analogy is that it teaches that God has three components: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This analogy sounds pretty good, but it is fatally flawed in that is describes the Son and Spirit as creations of the Father. There are two basic ways that people misunderstand the Trinity: 1. Before we look at a few bad analogies that many often use to try to illustrate the trinity, we need to first understand the doctrine itself. The Holy Spirit is like the heat that the sun produces, unseen yet powerful and effective in making the sun felt. The Son intercedes as our High Priest before the Father. If one of the sides were removed, then there would be no equilateral triangle. Jonathon serves as a lay pastor at Gospel Life Church in New Braunfels, TX and currently works as the IT Manager for a non-profit ministry. God is like an egg in that He is 3-in-1 God the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. Should Women Really Keep Silent in Church? I bet I havent sung or heard this song in years! 6And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons., , The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all., There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Celebrating Easter Is About so Much More Than One Hour on Sunday. I'm always interested in ways to encourage you, so feel free to contact me and let me know what areas interest you! He is one God in three persons, all at the same time. In order to accomplish this union with God and man, He allowed His Shell to be broken with the weight of our sins to cleanse our souls so His holiness can approach, for God cannot look upon sin (Habakkuk 1:13). They say that three separate beings exist 2. RELATED: The Biblical Principle Of Baptism By Fire. For instance, we know that God is perfectly loving. His being is somewhat of a mystery to us. A, distinguishes himself from others by saying me, mine, you, yours, etc. A. is the whole nature or essence of something. The Gospel is theperson, work, and message of Jesus Christ that provides salvation to all repentant believers. It does not imply Jesus was created if you emphasize that the Sun existed from eternity past. Adorn your liturgical vestments with classic images from the Monastery Icons collection. RELATED: What Did Jesus Really Look Like? Perhaps we must be content to admit that we cannot fully understand Gods nature in our finitude. The Trinity is Like an Egg How the analogy goes: The Trinity is like an egg. But we cannot do that (assuming we can) with God. . It's impossible to be an Orthodox Christian without professing belief in the Triune nature of God. For example, an equilateral triangle (a triangle with three equal sides) has three sides. In scripture we see explicit trinitarian references, especially at Jesus' baptism where the Father speaks, the Spirit descends, and the Son is in the water. However, many of our faithful, and even priests, attempted to simplify the Mystery of the Trinity and made it easier to understand by using MODELS AND ANALOGIES, giving birth to modern-day heresies/fallacies about the Trinity. The Holy Trinity: Egg Analogy by Sharmaine Pagtakhan - Prezi If you need to use an analogy, then use a good one. The yolk represents Gods Person, His Being, and His Holiness which generates Light that no man can approach (I Timothy 6:16). For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father., 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. In this episode, Fred Sanders discusses what it really means to say that God is a Trinitythree persons in one God. Just as water changes forms so too is the trinity. Although he is one man who is simultaneously a husband, a father, and a student, he would consider it Modalism to suggest that this is a good Trinitarian analogy. We can admit it is a mystery and accept that our incomplete knowledge cannot fully comprehend it. We can say that the first is egg the shell, the second is egg the albumen and the third is egg the yoke. We believe that it is a revelation that comes from Christ Himself. This may be my favorite verse of them all. THE TRUTH IS: The Father, Son, and Spirit are three different persons who are all equally one God. We can always rebut these claims with another equation: 1 x 1 x 1=1. CafeLogos.orgThe Egg and i -A Simple Explanation of The Trinity Moreover, the yoke and the whites are no longer as they used to be. Some have used examples such as water, watermelons and eggs; the principle behind those illustrations is that even though each thing is one, it is also three. If the Sun existed from eternity past then so were the light rays from the Sun. In using analogies, we need to acknowledge the demerits and limitations of the said analogy. He has been a member of the Royal Australian Air Force since 2007, and is now training to be an Air Force Chaplain. we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity,neither blending their personsnor dividing their essence. It is the Central Mystery of our Christian faith. That helps explain the concept quite well- the oneness, unity of God with the distinct three persons of God- Father, Son, and Spirit. They are equally eternal, powerful, sovereign, and worthy of worship. In contrast to the Ontological Trinity, there is the Economic Trinity. For instance at the baptism of Christ, the Father, Son and Spirit are all distinctly present and interacting (Matthew chapter 3 verses 16-17). The Unseen Father and Father that is seen existed at the same time. He got married there in 1965, and his four . But in the Godhead, each Person is fully and completely God unto Himself (even as they are all one God). But if modalism is true, and the Trinity really is like water, then the story of Jesus (the Son) praying to the Father as recorded in the Bible seems like an awfully strange masquerade. What we can understand and accept is that God exists eternally as one divine nature, substance, or essence, comprising three co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial personsthe Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. When the Bible talks about God, it may be referring to Jesus Christ in a specific instance, the Holy Spirit in another and God the Father in a third occasion. This analogy is an invalid comparison to the Trinity and is a heresy called PARTIALISM. The Holy Spirit is the shell, Jesus is the egg white, and the Father is the egg yolk. Similarly, people have used the example of the apple in the same way- skin, flesh, and seeds. The military would end up destroying themselves. According to the first, just as water takes three forms (liquid, vapor, and ice), so too God takes the form of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The wonders and ways of God may not be apparent or fully known at present, but we can still marvel at His supremacy and worship Him in wonder- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! We came up with several practical implications of this doctrine. Pingback: 3 Reasons Why Jesus Humanity Really Matters Her & Hymn, Pingback: 3 Reasons Why Jesus' Humanity Really Matters, Pingback: How Jesus Teaches Us To Be Human Her & Hymn. All Rights Reserved. If you're looking to dive deeper into God's word, here are 6 kinds of bible study tools and resources 9 Influential Female Leaders in the New Testament. In other words, God may manifest Himself as the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. Modalism, or Sabellianism, denies the three distinct Persons of the Trinity and claims that God is one Person who appears in different modes at different timesin the Old Testament He appeared as the Father, in the Gospels He appeared as the Son, and from Pentecost onwards He appears as the Holy Spirit. What does that really mean? Why All Analogies of the Trinity Fall Short - Joshua's Pen The Trinity is a tri-unity, a unity of Three, - God the Father, Jesus, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. The following verses attest to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). The trinity is an essential doctrine to the Christian faith. Lost will be ashes under the feet of the righteous. Now that we know the doctrine of the trinity and its corresponding major heresies, now we are ready to look at some bad analogies for the trinity. Each one is fully 100% God. The Father hears their intercessory prayers. A man might be a father to his children, a husband to his wife, and son to his parents. Dont you know Jesus? Now were going to look at how some people often misunderstand the Trinity. Its a very common explanation within the church to try to explain how God, who clearly exhorts His followers to preserve His supreme oneness (Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 4), could also be identified with Jesus (Titus chapter 2 verse 13), and the Holy Spirit (Acts chapter 5 verses 3-4). At times God is Father, or Son, or Holy Spirit. 5And there are varieties of ministries and the same Lord. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:9). Yet it appears to be almost entirely misunderstood within contemporary evangelical circles. (Which I just found out is in error). When you encounter a person or group who denies the Trinity, it is merely a matter of walking through these 3 points, to see where they diverge from Biblical teaching. The unseen Father is in Christs mind. (It is also why the Jews had an issue with Jesus calling Himself God.). Devils cannot grab ahold of them to cast them into Satans prison. Infinite thy vast domain, everlasting is thy reign.. John 17). For the Trinity, instead of using the formula 1+1+1, we use 1x1x1. We have the creeds for just that reason. Well, the egg analogy, when applied to God, suggests that only one being exists but this being exists in three different parts. As a doctrine (belief), the trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three separate and distinct persons united in one being- God. This is perhaps the most common analogy for the Trinity. The analogy breaks down because I can simultaneously be a father, husband, and son to any one person. The idea that the Trinity can be compared to a shamrock is largely attributed to St. Patrick. The Sun was created on the forth day. If you say, "Jesus Christ" then you MAY BE incorrect. The problem with this analogy is that it would imply that there is only one Divine Person, who eventually multiplied Himself. The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. When we view the egg in its entirety we have the Biblical Trinity, One that is Three. They are three in one egg. Its hard to explain! The trinity is like this man. Copyright 2023 Christian Today. Afterall, we can get rid of a few of its parts - for instance the shell - and still scramble an egg. A single molecule cannot simultaneously exist in three different states. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. This is the one I used long ago when trying to explain the Trinity to a group of 1st-5th graders. He also knows how to perfectly love us. Similarly, in our aquatic analogy, water can appear in three different modes, depending on the environment, but the three are not co-existing. In an attempt to explain the Trinity, there are some bad examples people use, and some better ones. How would you explain the Trinity if someone asked you right now? If all you had were an eggshell, you wouldnt have a very exciting breakfast. See the depths of Catholicism for yourself! In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9) Some have taken on the task of explaining how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist as one. in that while water can change into vapour or ice, Jesus cannot change into the Father or the Holy Spirit. Common, yes. Shively, This book is now available in a published format for easy sharing and classroom use. When we view the egg in its entirety we have the Biblical Trinity, One that is Three. So if all of these explanations are heretical, what is a good analogy? Modalism is a heresy because it denies the distinction of God. Some who deny the Trinity claim 1+1+1=3, and therefore claim we worship three Gods. Yet, these persons are not separate from one another. He differs from the Father, but was and still is God. There are two basic ways that people misunderstand the Trinity: 1. Yet others have thought that H20 (water) shows us the Trinity since H20 can be three things: solid (ice), liquid (running water) and vapor (steam). in which all 3 persons may act or speak as one. The word Trinity comes from the Latin word trinitas which means tri-unity. Relationship Analogy (Husband/Son/Father) God is like a person with different relationships just as a man can be a Dad, but also someones Son, and also someones Husband. They have a common purpose in making harmonious music, but each note is its own separate entity. Music - The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Quebec, Canada Trinity is like a Shamrock (or an Apple or an Egg). Few if any have every tried to teach the heresy of Tritheism, but it needs to be mentioned anyway. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. There would be three thrones. La da dee dee dum dum (I couldnt remember the in-between parts). His ways are higher than ours, but isnt that a comfort?! I go to prepare a place for you. Starting with the three biblical affirmations, ask your kids to show you how these examples support or deny what the bible teaches about the Trinity. Every kid in Sunday school thinks he knows all about God. We also know that God didnt create humanity out of loneliness or boredom. It leads to the heresy of MODALISM which teaches that God switches to different modes. The Holy Spirit prays for us. A person distinguishes himself from others by saying me, mine, you, yours, etc. A being is the whole nature or essence of something. Good and Bad Analogies of the Trinity - Answers . Often these analogies explicitly teach heresy. But the Father is not the Son or the Spirit. . The Church should not forget that these heresies still exist in the present day and is even being taught by some priests and catechists. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength (1 Corinthians 1:25). Likewise we cannot have the Father or His Spirit without the Son I am the Way the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except by Me- John 14:6. They've always led to error and have been rejected by the church. There would be three thrones. Further, his dialectic is guided by the particular consideration of what true love is: a trinity of lover, beloved and the love that binds . The shell, while important, is no longer needed. Modalism teaches that one God just changes forms or modes over the course of scripture. They suggest that only one God exists but this God transforms or morphs into each of the different persons. Here are a few of the many verses giving evidence of the Trinity in the Bible: Genesis 1:1&2- In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. The Holy Spirit was an active participant in the creative process. The egg (or apple) fails in that the shell, white, and yolk are parts of the egg, not the egg in themselves, just as the skin, flesh, and seeds of the apple are parts of it, not the apple itself. Lost will be burned up. The three parts create a unified whole. God is one. Thus the Father is in Jesus " I and My Father are One" (John 10:30), "The Father is in Me" (John 14:10) God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (II Corinthians 5:19).
Southern Actors Over 60, Where Do Celebrities Stay In Positano, Talladega County Pistol Permit Application, Blue Ridge Parkway Rhododendron Bloom 2022, Mercy Health Bereavement Policy, Articles H