Question about the Trinity

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Oct 19, 2024
1,858
450
83
#61
What makes the Athanasian Creed very special is really if you think about it it is really just a combination of the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed. Though the Nicene Creed is indeed good also for expressing the trinity doctrine, I find that the Athanasian Creed is a little bit more thorough and the inclusion of the essence of the Apostle's Creed really makes it the most definitive statement of faith in Christianity.
I still prefer the version of the Creed I shared because it is comprehensive and well-attested with biblical references gleaned from reading the Bible through so many times (making notes in the margins :^)
 

SonJudgment

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2024
957
453
63
#62
I still prefer the version of the Creed I shared because it is comprehensive and well-attested with biblical references gleaned from reading the Bible through so many times (making notes in the margins :^)
Where did you post that? Also mindful trying not to stray too far from the trinity doctrine aspect since that is the topic and question of the OP. Apologies to the OP for digressions derived from replies.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,602
13,861
113
#63
I provided Scriptural support for my opinion, but you did not for yours, so whose view do you think is more biblically based?

Re the Trinity, I prefer the following explanation:

The OT Shema (DT 6:4) teaches that God is one, and the NT also affirms that there is one God (EPH 4:6, 1TM 2:5). However, the NT teaches that God relates to believers in three ways simultaneously: as the Father, as the Son and as the Holy Spirit (1 x 1 x 1=1).

The Father/Parenthood of God is indicated in Jesus’ model prayer (MT 6:9), throughout the Gospel of John (3:35, 5:17-18, etc.), and in the epistles of Paul (RM 4:11, 8:15, PHP 2:11). God the Father and Christ’s Sonship are discussed in Hebrews 1:1-4. The Son of God also is mentioned by John (JN 1:14, 3:16, etc.) and by Paul (RM 1:4, GL 2:20, 1THS 1:10). The Holy Spirit is mentioned in three successive chapters in John (JN 14:26, 15:26, 16:13), frequently in the book of Acts (ACTS 1:5, 2:4, 9:17, 13:2, 19:2), and in many of Paul’s letters (RM 8:4-26, 1CR 6:19, EPH 4:30) as well as in some of the other epistles (2PT 1:21, JUDE 20).

It might be helpful to discern which aspect of the triune God is the subject of various biblical statements. These divine aspects or “persons” may be distinguished by role: God the Father as creator or initiator (GN 1:1), God the Son as Messiah or mediator (1TM 2:5), and God the Spirit as indweller (RM 5:5). For example, 1 John 4:7 says love comes from (is initiated by) God (the Father), Galatians 5:22 says that love is a fruit of the (indwelling) Spirit, and Ephesians 3:18 speaks of the (mediating) love of Christ (RM 5:8, EPH 2:18).

We can denote these distinctions by the use of three prepositions: God the Father is over all creation (EPH 4:6), God the Son is Immanuel or with humanity (MT 1:23), and the Holy Spirit is within all believers (EPH 1:13). A single passage that comes closest to indicating this distinction is Ephesians 3:14-19, in which Paul prays to the Father that through His Spirit of love Christ would dwell in believers’ hearts (also see 1CR 8:6).
I agree with the above.

When the Bible uses masculine words for God, it should be understood that only God the Son is human and had a sexual orientation while on earth.
While I don't doubt that Jesus the man had a sexual orientation, the term you need here is 'gender', as in male/female, and He is male.

GN 1:26-27 states that both male and female were created in God’s image, referring not to androgyny but to personality
Gender is not merely personality but physical... right down to every cell in our bodies. Further, "personality" is rather limiting when it is used to encompass "image of God".

and Jesus said (in MT 22:30 & 19:11-12) that there is no marriage and thus no need for sexuality in heaven.
Let's be careful not to add to what Jesus said, even if it is a reasonable conclusion.

Actually, since the creation also manifests God (RM 1:20, cf. JN 1:1-3 & PS 33:6, in a sense God may be viewed as a “Quadity”. As Paul told the Athenians (ACTS 17:28), “In Him we live and move and have our being.” God as Creation is throughout physical reality (called “panentheism”). However, since this mode of revelation is impersonal, it has rightly been de-emphasized by most Christian denominations.
You've taken this too far. Creation provides evidence for God, and God is present everywhere, but panentheism is a heretical view, for God is wholly distinct from creation.
 
Oct 19, 2024
1,858
450
83
#64
Denial of any part of the Athanasian Creed means denial of Christianity and puts one outside of the Christian faith, which faith is the only means to attain salvation. Therefore denial of any contents of the Athanasian Creed will certainly result in eternal damnation guaranteed.
Hell is implied in every point of the Creed I shared, but I wonder if I should make it explicit. Hmmm.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,602
13,861
113
#65
Well the problem you will run into very quickly is that the Athanasian Creed is a complete summary of the scriptures and the Christian faith, so denial of any part of the contents of the Athanasian Creed is definitely going to get one sent to hellfire everlasting.
Frankly, regardless of how well or poorly the Athanasian creed presents the Christian faith, it is ultimately irrelevant. One need never have read nor heard it and still be saved. Scripture doesn't say, "Believe in the creed and be saved", but rather, "Believe in the One He has sent."
 

SonJudgment

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2024
957
453
63
#66
Hell is implied in every point of the Creed I shared, but I wonder if I should make it explicit. Hmmm.
Frankly, regardless of how well or poorly the Athanasian creed presents the Christian faith, it is ultimately irrelevant. One need never have read nor heard it and still be saved. Scripture doesn't say, "Believe in the creed and be saved", but rather, "Believe in the One He has sent."

Lol whether implicit or explicit, indeed, if one is not a Christian they will definitely perish in the eternal hellfire. Denial of the trinity doctrine is denial of being a Christian and so implicitly the only outcome guaranteed to them is hellfire everlasting. Since the Athanasian Creed perfectly describes the Christian faith denial of any part of the contents of the Creed identifies one as being either a pagan or a heretic in grave error and so the only explicit guarantee for them is all hellfire everlasting.
 
Oct 19, 2024
1,858
450
83
#67
I agree with the above.


While I don't doubt that Jesus the man had a sexual orientation, the term you need here is 'gender', as in male/female, and He is male.


Gender is not merely personality but physical... right down to every cell in our bodies. Further, "personality" is rather limiting when it is used to encompass "image of God".


Let's be careful not to add to what Jesus said, even if it is a reasonable conclusion.


You've taken this too far. Creation provides evidence for God, and God is present everywhere, but panentheism is a heretical view, for God is wholly distinct from creation.
I appreciate your comments, but I learned that the X/Y chromosomes determined one's sex, as in male/female. Also, pantheism is the heresy; panentheism merely acknowledges God's omnipresence. If God is "wholly distinct" from creation, then how is it being sustained?
 
Oct 19, 2024
1,858
450
83
#68
Frankly, regardless of how well or poorly the Athanasian creed presents the Christian faith, it is ultimately irrelevant. One need never have read nor heard it and still be saved. Scripture doesn't say, "Believe in the creed and be saved", but rather, "Believe in the One He has sent."
Yes, which implies the need to believe in the Scripture that communicates the Gospel of the One who sent it/Him.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,602
13,861
113
#71
I appreciate your comments, but I learned that the X/Y chromosomes determined one's sex, as in male/female. Also, pantheism is the heresy; panentheism merely acknowledges God's omnipresence. If God is "wholly distinct" from creation, then how is it being sustained?
I'm well aware of the distinction between pantheism and panentheism, and also that both are heretical views of creation. The latter conflates the created with the creator.

Were God not wholly distinct from creation, He could not be the Creator. John 1:3 says of Christ and the creation, "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made", and Colossians 1:17 adds "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
 
Nov 1, 2024
1,197
384
83
#72
I appreciate your comments, but I learned that the X/Y chromosomes determined one's sex, as in male/female. Also, pantheism is the heresy; panentheism merely acknowledges God's omnipresence. If God is "wholly distinct" from creation, then how is it being sustained?
Panentheism is just as pagan as pantheism is
 

SonJudgment

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2024
957
453
63
#73
No, it doesn't, as I already demonstrated.
Lol not even remotely close. Again the Athanasian Creed perfectly describes both the trinity doctrine and the Christian faith, denial of any point of the Athanasian Creed means you don't actually have the Christian faith which you will definitely never be saved. You is used here in impersonal way, meaning even if I were foolish enough to abandon Christianity and join you, I wouldnn't change the Christian faith, I would just end up in the everlasting hellfire. That's why when you're baptised it's in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and if it's not you better take a hard look at the cult trying to baptize you.

I appreciate your comments, but I learned that the X/Y chromosomes determined one's sex, as in male/female. Also, pantheism is the heresy; panentheism merely acknowledges God's omnipresence. If God is "wholly distinct" from creation, then how is it being sustained?
The others are actually correct about panentheism. To not get digressed too far and try to keep it somewhat to the topic, panentheism would make God into basically an impersonal force rather than a personal God or elsewise you'd be adding the world, which is of course the enemy of God, as one of the persons of the trinity, so yea, panentheism is no good. This perhaps why earlier I detected hints of modalism, which it would lead to if one tries to combine it into the trinity as well as subordinationism. What you want is just good old fashioned theism where our God is the trinity in unity of the persons of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,602
13,861
113
#74
Lol not even remotely close. Again the Athanasian Creed perfectly describes both the trinity doctrine and the Christian faith, denial of any point of the Athanasian Creed means you don't actually have the Christian faith which you will definitely never be saved. You is used here in impersonal way, meaning even if I were foolish enough to abandon Christianity and join you, I wouldnn't change the Christian faith, I would just end up in the everlasting hellfire. That's why when you're baptised it's in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and if it's not you better take a hard look at the cult trying to baptize you.
You make the asinine assumption that because I disagree with your assertions about the Athanasian creed, that I reject Christian truth. When you come up with some evidence for your assumption, we'll continue the conversation.
 

SonJudgment

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2024
957
453
63
#75
You make the asinine assumption that because I disagree with your assertions about the Athanasian creed, that I reject Christian truth. When you come up with some evidence for your assumption, we'll continue the conversation.
I don't really think you really read that which you quote considering I wrote the third and fourth sentences specifically just in case you in the personal sense of the word would try to play this game. So ironically you've actually provided evidence against your own assumption lol. So I'll just state again if you in the impersonal sense of the word, which includes all people including me, are foolish enough to deny any point of the contents of the Athanasian Creed. especially to the topic of the trinity doctrine, this means you're not a Christian and if you in the impersonal sense are out of the boundaries of the Christian faith you will end up in the eternal hellfire.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,112
4,374
113
#76
One cannot comprehend what is incomprehensible. The Profane human common traits of the One true God is reducing the living God to that of water, ice, and steam? Or a chicken egg to the one who created all of that. No one can fully understand the infinite God when they are finite. God established the meaning and plantation of His attributes to us in three ways :

by his creation = General revelation
By his word = Special revelation
and by relationship with His Son.

the rest is a Mystery that we must approach reverently and with humility. Roman chapter one and Job 40 are great explanations, and God answers to man's understanding.
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,600
3,624
113
#77
From what I understand God, Jesus, and the Holy spirit are one and the same. My own personal take on it is Jesus is the right hand of God and perhaps the Holy Spirit His left hand. To me asking if Jesus is God is like asking is God his right hand or his left? Is God his head or His toes. The question doesn't make sense because God is all His parts, He is one. Perhaps Jesus was the finite image of God we needed to comprehend His infinity. Do you think I am in any way right in this thinking?
From what i have read in the Bible. Jesus is God made manafest in the flesh.. So Jesus is God..
The Father if God made manafest in heaven.. So the Father is God..
The Holy Spirit is NOT a force or energy but God in Spirit form.. So the Holy Spirit is God..
 

SonJudgment

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2024
957
453
63
#78
Well I shall cap my participation of the topic here with this last post since it is obvious it will just become an endless attempt to move goalposts and digress into greater theology and personal squabble, which is fun and all, not complaining, but would be better served with another topic. For the OP's sake in the question about the trinity doctrine and understanding it; there is no good analogy for the trinity doctrine that does not stray into heresy. The best summary of the trinity doctrine besides literally posting the entirety of the Bible would be the Athanasian Creed which is proven through thousands of years of discourse to hold firm and is certified by all the true saints official. Though it is still highly recommended to read the entire Bible for the great benefits that it brings, for the sake of time to understand the trinity doctrine the Athanasian Creed is sufficient. With particularly the first half of the Athanasian Creed being the most relevant in most thoroughly explaining the trinity doctrine. The trinity doctrine has no analogy but is also not incomprehensible, occult, or unable to be understood. Therefore I will just merely repost the Athanasian Creed and bold it, and will red highlight the first half which pertains to the trinity doctrine. It is good, like the Creed states to think on the trinity if you want to actually attain salvation, and without which faith kept whole and undefiled one will be certain to perish everlasting. Praise Jesus.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athanasian_Creed

Athanasian Creed

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith unless every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the catholic faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father infinite; the Son infinite; and the Holy Ghost infinite. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity; to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; So are we forbidden by the catholic religion; to say, There are three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation; that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess; that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Substance [Essence] of the Father; begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the Substance [Essence] of his mother, born in the world. Perfect God; and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father as touching his Manhood. Who although he is God and Man; yet he is not two, but one Christ. One; not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh; but by assumption of the Manhood into God. One altogether; not by confusion of Substance [Essence]; but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man; so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell; rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the living and the dead. At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies; And shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire. This is the catholic faith; which except a man believe truly and firmly, he cannot be saved.
 
Nov 3, 2024
43
29
18
#79
From what I understand God, Jesus, and the Holy spirit are one and the same. My own personal take on it is Jesus is the right hand of God and perhaps the Holy Spirit His left hand. To me asking if Jesus is God is like asking is God his right hand or his left? Is God his head or His toes. The question doesn't make sense because God is all His parts, He is one. Perhaps Jesus was the finite image of God we needed to comprehend His infinity. Do you think I am in any way right in this thinking?
The trinity is hard to understand for some and even harder to convey.

The easiest way to understand it at least for me is...

GOD .....is the designer.
JESUS......is the contractor.
HOLY SPIRIT.......is the maintenance.
All the same company.

As you can tell I'm a blue collar retired type 😆........hope this helps.
 
Jul 3, 2015
61,138
30,285
113
#80
The trinity is hard to understand for some and even harder to convey.

The easiest way to understand it at least for me is...

GOD .....is the designer.
JESUS......is the contractor.
HOLY SPIRIT.......is the maintenance.
All the same company.

As you can tell I'm a blue collar retired type 😆........hope this helps.
I have heard it put like this:

GOD ~ the Father of us

Jesus ~ God as us

Holy Spirit ~ God in us

:)