The Doctrine of the Trinity

The Doctrine of the Trinity

Understanding the Faith, 4.6

Let's Review...

• There is only one God

• The Father is God

• The Son is God

• The Holy Spirit is God

• The Father is not the Son

• The Son is not the Holy Spirit

• The Holy Spirit is not the Father

Let's Review...

• There is only one God

• The Father is God

• The Son is God

• The Holy Spirit is God

• The Father is not the Son

• The Son is not the Holy Spirit

• The Holy Spirit is not the Father

There is only one God

Deut. 6:4 says, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."

There is only one God

Deut. 6:4 says, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."

What is this belief called?

There is only one God

Deut. 6:4 says, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."

What is this belief called?

--> Monotheism

There is only one God

Deut. 6:4 says, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."

What is this belief called?

--> Monotheism: "the belief that there is but one God" (Theopedia)

There is only one God

Deut. 6:4 says, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."

What is this belief called?

--> Monotheism: "the belief that there is but one God" (Theopedia)

Other Passages

> Isaiah 44:6

> 1 Timothy 1:17

Multiple Choice

"The belief that there is only one God"

• Polytheism

• Tritheism

• Monotheism

• Pantheism

The Father is God.

The Son is God.

The Holy Spirit is God.

The Father is God.

The Son is God.

The Holy Spirit is God.

[Reading Activity ~ 5 min.]

What does this mean?

What does this mean?

• "This one God eternally exists in three persons--God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit."

• "These three persons are completely equal in attributes, each having the same nature." (Erik Thoennes)

Multiple Select

"The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all equal in..."

• Person

• Attributes

• Nature

• Mission

Multiple Choice

"The one God exists eternally in..."

• Millions of persons

• Two persons

• One person

• Three persons

The Father is not the Son.

The Son is not the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is not the Father.

The Father is not the Son.

The Son is not the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is not the Father.

--> Brief Study: Matthew 3:13-17

What does this mean?

"While each person is fully and completely God, the persons are not identical." (Erik Thoennes)

So, some beliefs to be rejected...

So, some beliefs to be rejected...

• The belief that God is only one person (monarchianism)

• The belief that "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are different names for the same God acting in different roles" (modalism)

• The belief that Jesus is not God (Arianism)

• The belief that God is three separate and distinct gods (tri-theism)

The Doctrine of the Trinity

• There is only one God

• The Father is God

• The Son is God

• The Holy Spirit is God

• The Father is not the Son

• The Son is not the Holy Spirit

• The Holy Spirit is not the Father

The Doctrine of the Trinity [Summarized]

There is only one true God (Deut 6:4).

This one God eternally exists -- one in substance, three in co-equal, co-eternal distinct persons --the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

All these three are fully and completely God, but are not three gods. The one true God subsists in three distinct persons.

Multiple Select

What are some beliefs to be rejected?

• There are three gods

• There is only one God

• God is only one person

• Jesus is NOT God

Multiple Choice

Although the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all fully and completely God, they are eternally...

• Distinct

• Disagreed

• Separated