So, I shot down a lot of images that seems to be pretty helpful. It is not existing as 3 different parts (persons) at the same time. The Trinity is foundational and at the heart of our Christian faith. Each one is fully 100% God. The word Trinity comes from the Latin word trinitas which means tri-unity. An egg is made up of shell, white and yolk. So, in God, there are three distinct persons. If you say, "Jesus Christ" then you MAY BE incorrect. In one of his sermons, he wrestled with the passage in Scripture recounting Jesus' Baptism. Also, the egg is made up of three distinct and unalike parts. Analogies for the Trinity exist to explain the unexplainable. If water is inadequate, there are a wide array of alternative analogies we can turn to in modern theological parlance. Yet, as we view the pages of the Bible, we see that God is a personal and relational God. Its downright hard to understand. It falls into the heresy of tri-theism. 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). 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. They all exist as fully God, with none of them lacking in any attribute or aspect that defines God. Stars were made on the froth day. What happens when an egg hatches? His motto was that "There was a time when the son did not exist". This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. If one of the sides were removed, then there would be no equilateral triangle. But the Bible is CLEAR in its teaching. 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). I bet I havent sung or heard this song in years! It is still H20, but just different forms. There are some analogies that come close. God is like an egg in that He is 3-in-1 God the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. Yet we do not have three gods but ONE God. Arius was condemned by the council of Nicea in 325 AD. The Gospel is theperson, work, and message of Jesus Christ that provides salvation to all repentant believers. Or, we can quote Daniel Webster; a strong Christian- I do not pretend fully to understand the arithmetic of heaven now. . This is the one I used long ago when trying to explain the Trinity to a group of 1st-5th graders. But, when it's heated, it turns into a gas (steam) and, when it's frozen, it turns into a solid (ice). I go to prepare a place for you. Now God can be in you by His Spirit! As a doctrine (belief), the trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three separate and distinct persons united in one being- God. Water can be frozen and is called ice. Should Women Really Keep Silent in Church? 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). So, part of understanding the Trinity is realizing that God is personal and relational. These three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - exist together in complete unity, with no separation, as one divine being. In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9) When discussing God, especially in regards to his nature, being and persons, a simple statement to articulate the Trinity is: God is 1, *. Water Analogy God is like water, or H2O, which can exist in 3 forms. Jesus, visually seen, judges all, not the Unseen Father. As a result, this analogy actually teaches modalism. Arianism clearly denies the deity of the three persons. The visual form of God seperated from Jesus on the cross. Our limited intellects are unable to comprehend its reality, yet, our Scriptures and scholarly Tradition makes it known to us. Each PERSON is distinct from one another. Water Analogy - God is like water, or H2O, which can exist in 3 forms. Born in England in 1961, Benjamin Waterhouse Benjamin Waterhouse has been the organist of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity since 2000. copyright 2009 by H.D. Did I leave out any analogies? This view, also known as "modalism", was rejected by the early church. The scientific analogy that will be provided in a few moments is truly inadequate to describe the Holy Trinity. We worship one God who exists in three persons. When we view the egg in its entirety we have the Biblical Trinity, One that is Three. How can we ever explain our Most High, exalted, powerful, uncontainable, and most glorious God? I and My Father are One (John 10:30). Im giving God the credit for stirring this memory, and am extremely grateful. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Son "proceeds" from the Father, and the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father and the Son.". I did read about the shamrock analogy! Its all one person, simply functioning in three different roles. This may be my favorite verse of them all. Jesus is fully God. 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 Unseen Father and Father that is seen existed at the same time. And then theres Jesus, Gods son. One day, however, the image will be clear. But having lots 6 Bible Study Tools To Help You Dive Deeper. The Latin word for trinity (trinitas) combines two words- unitas (unity) and trias (three). God created us for community, since God is communal and we were created in His image. I dont believe that God wishes us to be confused about the Three that are so apparent throughout the Old and New Testaments. No analogy is perfect, but we want to be careful of using wrong ones that may confuse people. , 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you., For further reading on the Trinity, I would recommend James Whites, Lastly, below is a helpful graphical chart explaining the doctrine of the Trinity I found from the Christian blog by Tim Challies. John introduces us to the Trinity in John 1:1- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and Word was God. Jesus, the Word, was present in Genesis 1. Each character of the trinity has in one another (cf. Few if any have every tried to teach the heresy of Tritheism, but it needs to be mentioned anyway. La da dee dee dum dum (I couldnt remember the in-between parts). For example, triangles are not the kinds of things that are personal. We can touch the cord, but not the power it is insulating. A chicken egg consists of a shell, a yolk, and an egg white, yet it is altogether one egg. This is just as bad as the Water analogy and leads to the same error. We define a person as one having a will and who is distinguishable from another person. In part one, we looked at what the Bible has to say about the Trinity. That is a holding pen for final judgment. While an egg has a yolk, a white and a shell to make up the whole, each part is only ever . Modalism is a heresy because it denies the distinction of God. It does not imply Jesus was created if you emphasize that the Sun existed from eternity past. In the same way, there is a God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.. Genisis 1:17, KJV. God does not just change forms but exists as three persons in unity. So "son" = "Dave". He completed a doctorate in 1990, looking at the question of harmonic rhythm in the organ music of J.S. But they are one God. H2O is a combination of two particles (atoms) of hydrogen and one particle of oxygen and this compound can exist as water (liquid), ice (solid) and vapour (gas). Hello busy women! 3. A, distinguishes himself from others by saying me, mine, you, yours, etc. A. is the whole nature or essence of something. Shively Rather, He created us in order to bless us. Located in the heart of Quebec's historic district, it is a source of inspiration for visitors from around the world. What portion of the analogy holds true with Church Teaching? There would be three thrones. Is He Jesus side-kick? The God of the Bible is one God. He got married there in 1965, and his four . The trinity is like water. 1A) Dave is a son of Graham and Lois Armstrong. Celebrating Easter Is About so Much More Than One Hour on Sunday. It taught there is one nature in God, and that there are two processions, three persons, and four relations that constitute the Blessed Trinity. Memory, Understanding, and Will. The shell, while important, is no longer needed. They are three in one egg. When we look at the egg as an example of the Trinity, we must view it in its entirety. This description that all persons are fully God is called the Ontological Trinity. God is like H2O in that the Bible may refer to a specific person of the Trinity but that person is still God. To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresyTrinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:9). In other words, one stuffness. However, He exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The egg white represents Gods Spirit. This analogy is still not perfect because each of the aspect cannot stand as egg like each of the persons in the trinity can stand as God. Who is God? He has been a member of the Royal Australian Air Force since 2007, and is now training to be an Air Force Chaplain. To return to my Life Group anecdote, after our discussion I asked why does it even matter?. This is a bad analogy because it fails at the truth that all three persons comprise the fullness of God. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,, , Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. Each Person in the Trinity (or the Godhead) is fully God and fully a Person. Proof texting is when we cite a bunch of bible verses to support a theological stance. Your email address will not be published. The problem with this analogy is that it would imply that there is only one Divine Person, who eventually multiplied Himself. Just as water changes forms so too is the trinity. Devils see that Spirit as a tempestuious fire. 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. It is the Fathers desire to join His Spirit with all of us as well for He has said They shall be My sons and daughters (II Corinthians 6:18). Tritheism denies that there is only one God. God is like H2Olike water. The Trinity is Like an Egg How the analogy goes: The Trinity is like an egg. This is a bad analogy because it fails at the truth that all three persons comprise the fullness of God. In humans, our spirits are designed to operate with and be united to the soul which is the person of anyone and so it is with our Egg. Jesus would have remained in the tomb, or hell, had Jesus sinned. And a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. God the Father spoke from heaven and spoke of His Son, Jesus. If the sun exists, there is also day; if nothing of this be manifest, it is impossible that the sun should be there. This is a place to find encouragement and hope from God's Word as you move through your busy life. And the Holy Spirit is not the Father or the Son. There are three different cloves that represent the three different persons of the trinity. It may not appear to agree with common sense. The meme above discourages the use of analogies in explaining the Trinity. Shively, This book is now available in a published format for easy sharing and classroom use. Haydn Lea is an Ordained Minister, and is currently serving as an Air Force Chaplain in Adelaide. We recommend you adhere these emblems to your vestments by mounting on the material with fabric glue and then stitching them . The Father is fully God; Jesus is fully God and the Holy Spirit is fully God. God has revealed some mysteries from the Old Testament in the New Testament (the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the coming of the Messiah, salvation by grace through faith, etc.) But this idea is central to the Christian faith. He has the world and our individual lives within His supremely capable hands. 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). The word trinity is not in the Scriptures, but is a word used to describe the three in one God revealed in the Bible. It does not represent 3 persons existing simultaneously. 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). Analogies that we present would always be insufficient as none of them would equate to the incomprehensible beauty of God. While each person is distinct, they are never separate from one another. 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. 2. Jesus is the Holy Spirit that saves us. So under modalism, God acts as the Father in the Old Testament, the son in the Gospels, and the Spirit in Acts and the Epistles. They say that three separate beings exist 2. RELATED: The Biblical Principle Of Baptism By Fire. THE TRUTH IS: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not simply names designating modalities of the divine being, for they are really DISTINCT from one another: He is not the Father who is the Son, nor is the Son he who is the Father, nor is the Holy Spirit he who is the Father or the Son. (CCC 254), 3. So when God created us and revealed Himself to us, what He did was to invite us into the perfect goodness He has always known within Himself. The problem with this analogy is it denies the unity of the God-head. None of the 3 are less divine than the others. 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). If all you had were an eggshell, you wouldnt have a very exciting breakfast. This would make Jesus something less than fully God. The word Trinity comes from the Latin word trinitas which means tri-unity. It can also be a liquid and called water. If you need to use an analogy, then use a good one. This is not an exhaustive list: For further reading on the Trinity, I would recommend James Whites The Forgotten Trinity, Wayne Grudems Systematic Theology and online articles by CARM.org. Light comes from God. Yet the orthodox view is that each person of the Trinity is fully divine. However, keep in mind that the one being who is God is a personal being. How can we explain what it means to have three persons in one being? Yet we do not have three gods but ONE God. A good example would be an electrical cord. Yet there is only one God. This analogy seems to make a lot of sense, but it actually reinforces a fatal misconception about the Trinity called modalism. Jesus isn't a demigod or partially god. Each one is fully God. Can you think of some Bible verses to back up your explanation? We wont find the word Trinity in the Bible, but the concept is shown in many verses. 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). Thus, the Father Himself is not God, nor is the Son, nor is the Holy Spirit, but combining the three, there is one God. The Holy Spirit and Son do not send the Father. Studying the Trinity poses difficulty to us Catholics. This is perhaps the most common analogy for the Trinity. One popular and simple illustration of the Trinity is the egg. FOR CENTURIES, the Church had fought against heresies on the Trinity. Time exists as 3 things: past, present, and future. You can throw away one part of an egg (e.g., shell) and still have essentially an egg. in which all 3 persons may act or speak as one. A certain YouTube page created a famous video titled "St. Patrick's Bad Analogies" (which can be found here), in which the historic St. Patrick meets charming villagers who deride him based on the analogies which he uses in the process of explaining the Holy Trinity. (Describing God as LOVE is my favorite way of understanding the Trinity. Here are 8 Bible Characters Who Should Be More Famous. This analogy denies the distinction of the God-head. This little child cannot look at one without experiencing a profound sense of wonderment and awe. The Father hears their intercessory prayers. Now were going to look at how some people often misunderstand the Trinity. The Church should not forget that these heresies still exist in the present day and is even being taught by some priests and catechists. RELATED: What Does The Bible Say About Ghosts? Each one is fully 100% God. Time Analogy God is like time. (It is also why the Jews had an issue with Jesus calling Himself God.). Often these analogies explicitly teach heresy. The problem with this analogy is that it teaches that God has three components: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Love your blogs! The teaching of the trinity is clearly taught in Scripture and must be preserved as such. I can only shake my head when He does these things! One thing that Ive found helpful is using the Trinity to illustrate truths we know about God. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him to equip Him for His ministry. 2A) Dave is a father of four children: three boys and a . And for a mere mortal to have dared invent it and be able t. The watermelon has a skin, pulp and seeds; the egg is shell, yolk and egg white. I have the good one. Bach, and has released two previous CDs, one . The Holy Spirit prays for us. Because God is utterly unique, all comparisons will fail at some point. 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. So, the egg analogy doesnt work after all. Try starting your explanation with a simple definition and then ask for further questions: No one can completely know or understand God. Three Gods or one? What does that really mean? Jesus, visually seen, judges all, not the Unseen Father. The 3 Most Common "Trinity Analogies" (and their limitations) The three most common go-to analogies for explaining the Trinity are water, an egg, and the sun. What is the Trinity? If you only had an apple core, you wouldnt pack it in your lunch. Some people think that H2O cannot exist in all three states simultaneously but that is not true. Paul leaves the Corinthians with this blessing in 2 Corinthians 13:14- May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.. The Trinity are three distinct persons who exist apart from each other. Through the brokenness of the Shell, His Son, the Spirit white pours out into our beings through our faith in what was done and believers are joined with the yolk, for it is by One Spirit we have access to God the Father (Ephesians 2:18). Let's use an egg to explain the Holy Trinity! This means there is a sense in which all 3 persons may act or speak as one. Many of these analogies have the best of intentions, but God cannot be described in a way we can fully comprehend or rationalize. He taught that the son was at one point created by God the father. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. 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. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:13). The analogy explains that in the same way that one shamrock can have three leaves on it, the Trinity has three Persons that constitute one God.
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holy trinity egg analogy