In Summary The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity

1. In Summary The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity • The Teaching of the ‘Holy Trinity’ is the foundational teaching of the Christian faith. All other teachings flow from this teaching. • The Christian God is a Trinity -- 3 in 1; thus, we say 3 “Persons” in 1 God • The 3 “Persons” of the Holy Trinity are separate but equal. • The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity is strictly monotheistic (one God).

2. In Summary The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity • The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is clearly founded in scripture -- each has a will, each speaks and each is called ‘God’. • We can only believe in the Holy Trinity through the light of faith (the gift of faith). • Creation gives us glimpses as to how God can be 3 in 1 (analogies of fire, the clover, musical chord, etc.).

3. The Holy Trinity

5. The Holy TrinityThe Trinity is monotheistic • The doctrine of the Trinity is strictly monotheistic -- ONE God. • The Trinity is not teaching that there are three gods, but that there are three persons that comprise one God.

6. Analogies for The Trinity Flame (Father) Light (Christ) Heat (Holy Spirit) 3 Leaf Clover Of St. Patrick

7. HEIGHT LIQUID WIDTH PRESENT PAST SOLID DEPTH GAS FUTURE T I M E S P A C E M A T T E R Analogy of the Trinity • Perhaps the best analogy of the Trinity is found in creation. • “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made… (Rom. 1:20).

8. Trinity Trinas = 3 Unitas = unity/one

9. Musical Chord 3 Notes = 1 Chord Wazzzzzup!

11. There is a famous story of St. Augustine and a boy by the sea. Augustine sees him trying to “move” the sea into a hole in the sand through the use of a shell. “Impossible!” St. Augustine said. The boy replied, “How is my trying to do this any more difficult Than you trying to figure out the Trinity?” The seal of Pope Benedict has a shell on it.

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13. The TrinityThe Central Mystery of the Christian Faith • “The Trinity is THE source of the other mysteries of the faith…it is the most fundamental and essential teaching in ‘the hierarchy of the truths of faith.’ CCC • “The Trinity is a mystery of faith…hidden in God, which can never be known unless it is revealed by God. To be sure, God has left traces of his Trinitarian being in his work of creation and in his Revelation throughout the Old Testament. But his inmost Being as Holy Trinity is a mystery that is inaccessible to reason alone…or before the Incarnation of God’s Son…” CCC 237

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16. The Word of God

17. "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God." John 1: 1

18. "And the WORD was made flesh and dwelt among us." John 1: 14

19. The Word of God (Logos) Dwelling Among Us Creation/Nature Law Ark of Covenant Scriptures The Word of God (Logos) Dwelling Among Us People of God Eucharist & The Church Jesus Mary

20. Catechism 257 • "O blessed light, O Trinity and first Unity!” God is eternal blessedness, undying life, unfading light. God is love: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God freely wills to communicate the glory of his blessed life. Such is the "plan of his loving kindness," conceived by the Father before the foundation of the world, in his beloved Son: "He destined us in love to be his sons" and "to be conformed to the image of his Son," through "the spirit of sonship.” This plan is a "grace [which] was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began," stemming immediately from Trinitarian love. It unfolds in the work of creation, the whole history of salvation after the fall, and the missions of the Son and the Spirit, which are continued in the mission of the Church.” Blessed Elizabeth of the Holy Trinity

22. Catechism 266 "Now this is the Catholic faith: We worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity, without either confusing the persons or dividing the substance; for the person of the Father is one, the Son's is another, the Holy Spirit's another; but the Godhead of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, their glory equal, their majesty coeternal" (Athanasian Creed; DS 75; ND 16).

23. The Trinity • Belief in the Trinity is ultimately an act of faith -- and faith is a gift from God. • Thus, the only way we believe in God as Trinity is by the gift of God -- namely, by the light of faith.

24. How is the Trinity derived from scripture? • We see in the Old Testament, scripture that demonstrate a plurality concerning God. • “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…’” (Gen. 1:26). • “And a mighty wind swept over the waters…” -- Genesis

25. How is the Trinity derived from scripture? • We see that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are each called God • The Father: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,” (Phil. 1:2). • The Son: “But of the Son He says, ‘Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever…’” (Heb. 1:8). See also, John 1:1,14. • The Holy Spirit: ”But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4“…Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God,” (Acts 5:3-4).

26. How is the Trinity derived from scripture? …continued • We see that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit each speak: • The Father: “and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased,” (Matt. 3:17). • The Son: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:16). • The Holy Spirit: “And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them,” (Acts 13:2)

27. How is the Trinity derived from scripture? • We see that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit each have a will: • The Father: “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life,” (John 6:40). • The Son: “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done,” (Luke 22:42). • The Holy Spirit: “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills,” (1 Cor. 12:11)

28. In Summary The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity • The Teaching of the ‘Holy Trinity’ is the foundational teaching of the Christian faith. All other teachings flow from it. • The Christian God is a Trinity -- 3 in 1; thus, we say 3 “Persons” in 1 God • The 3 “Persons” of the Holy Trinity are separate but equal. • The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity is monotheistic (one God).

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30. In Summary The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity • The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is clearly founded in scripture -- each has a will, each speaks and each is called ‘God’. • We can only believe in the Holy Trinity through the light/gift of faith. • Creation gives us glimpses as to how God can be 3 in 1 (analogies of fire, the clover, musical chord, etc.).