On a whim, I looked up the lyrics at a later time. I can only shake my head when He does these things! Do you know why I keep saying God is like an egg (or H2O) but God is not like an egg (or H2O)? The Holy Spirit is the shell, Jesus is the egg white, and the Father is the egg yolk. He differs from the Father, but was and still is God. The Trinity is established by 3 Biblical truths, . It leads to the heresy of MODALISM which teaches that God switches to different modes. Discover the richness of the old yet living 2,000-year-old religion which built the West. He completed a doctorate in 1990, looking at the question of harmonic rhythm in the organ music of J.S. Required fields are marked *. Lastly, below is a helpful graphical chart explaining the doctrine of the Trinity I found from the Christian blog by Tim Challies found at Challies.com. He has not yet revealed some mysteries (what did Jesus do in His childhood, when will He return, what does the word Selah mean in the Old Testament- and so many more.). The Trinity is Like an Egg How the analogy goes: The Trinity is like an egg. He began to play the organ as a chorister in England, before continuing his studies in Qubec and France. Jesus is in the form of the Holy Spirit. So comparing God to water isnt really as helpful as it seems on the surface. Here are some of them: The problem with this is that it leads to the view that God is a Trinity simply because He relates differently to us at different times. To return to my Life Group anecdote, after our discussion I asked why does it even matter?. Lord of all, we bow before thee. 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). This is why Jesus said, He who has seen Me, has seen the Father (John 14:9). 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 Son was begotten by the Father IN ETERNITY, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. Analogies that we present would always be insufficient as none of them would equate to the incomprehensible beauty of God. This is the one I used long ago when trying to explain the Trinity to a group of 1st-5th graders. Dr. Bruce Ware does an excellent job in his book Big Truths for Young Hearts. Others compare God to an egg, which is part shell, part white, part yolk. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. Here many of the creeds help us in clearly articulating the trinity. It can also be a liquid and called water. I and My Father are One (John 10:30). The angel answered (Mary), The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High (referring to the Father, italics mine) will overshadow you. There would be three thrones. Yet it appears to be almost entirely misunderstood within contemporary evangelical circles. Some people falsely claim the Trinity is a form of . What portion is erroneous? 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). There are two basic ways that people misunderstand the Trinity: 1. Each one is fully 100% God. This is a bad analogy because it fails at the truth that all three persons comprise the fullness of God. While an egg has a yolk, a white and a shell to make up the whole, each part is only ever . I think the analogy of the Sun works well. The Holy Spirit prays for us. The problem with this analogy is that no one molecule of H2O can actually exist as solid, liquid, and gas at the same time. This little child cannot look at one without experiencing a profound sense of wonderment and awe. Just like an egg, none of the parts are co-equal, nor are all of the parts necessary for the egg to exist. An analogy illustrates that in a similar way, one shamrock can have three leaves on it, and the trinity has three persons that comprise one God. These hand embroidered emblems are made with metallic gold-plated thread with silver content, printed on canvas. Perhaps we must be content to admit that we cannot fully understand Gods nature in our finitude. The word Trinity comes from the Latin word trinitas which means tri-unity. It may not appear to agree with common sense. Here are eight bible characters that you might not know about, but should. From time to time, Doctors of the Church used analogies, but with care. The divine persons are really DISTINCT from one another, and not merely different roles of God at different times. The Trinity is a tri-unity, a unity of Three, - God the Father, Jesus, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. Trinity Egg Analogy . The Biblical Principle Of Baptism By Fire, The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything, 3 Reasons Why Jesus Humanity Really Matters Her & Hymn, 3 Reasons Why Jesus' Humanity Really Matters, How Jesus Teaches Us To Be Human Her & Hymn. 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. 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). Genesis 1:26- Let us make man in our image, in our likeness The plural us and our show more than one person was involved. This analogy actually teaches the heresy of modalism. In contrast to the Ontological Trinity, there is the Economic Trinity. God does not just change forms but exists as three persons in unity. The doctrine of the Trinity tells us that there's ONE GOD who is THREE distinct PERSONS existing as a community of self-giving and loving relationships with each other. Your email address will not be published. The Trinity is foundational and at the heart of our Christian faith. We define a person as one having a will and who is distinguishable from another person. 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). It does not represent 3 persons existing simultaneously. The Holy Spirit prays for us. This is the Christmas paradox. Take a moment and give it a try. Misunderstanding 1: The transforming trinity Bach, and has released two previous CDs, one . The Trinity are three distinct persons who exist apart from each other. 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. 1B) This son of Graham and Lois Armstrong is Dave. The Son is not the Father or the Spirit. 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. Like modalism, the "three beings" view was rejected by the early church. They say that three separate beings exist 2. These are likewise erroneous or even heretical. However, Christians through the ages believe in the Trinity because the truths it represents are taught in the Bible. But the Trinity is our belief as Christians that God is one being who exists in three Persons- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.. Each separate being is co-equal, co-powerful and co-eternal. Here are a couple "usefully flawed" analogies for the Trinity. It is a miraculous invention, the egg. Space consists of three things: height, width, and depth. The Father sends the Son, and both the Father and Son send the Holy Spirit. It taught there is one nature in God, and that there are two processions, three persons, and four relations that constitute the Blessed Trinity. Often these analogies explicitly teach heresy. He is married to Shamsa Lea, is the father of Amira, and loves running, boxing and studying history and theology. The Trinity is not 1 + 1 + 1 but more like 1 x 1 x 1. Although the water changes forms it is still H2O. These attributes are: omnipotence (all-powerful), omniscience (all-knowing), and omnipresence (exists in all places). The Unseen Father is in Christs mind. Each character of the trinity has in one another (cf. Modalism is a heresy because it denies the distinction of God. Memory, Understanding, and Will. Since these bad analogies tend to lead to a heresy, we will examine the main three areas of heresy concerning the trinity. In one of his sermons, he wrestled with the passage in Scripture recounting Jesus' Baptism. You are an egg! That is why Moses said. That fire keeps devils away from the saved. The unity or oneness of God is also found in the Bible. In part one, we looked at what the Bible has to say about the Trinity. For example, I would say, "God is like an egg." In Arianism, the Son is not eternally equal with the Father, but was the Fathers first and best creation. The Trinity is not 1 + 1 + 1 but more like 1 x 1 x 1. It only has 1 person acting in three different roles. They are equally eternal, powerful, sovereign, and worthy of worship. 2:5-6; Col. 1:15-17, 2:9; Heb. 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. The yolk represents Gods Person, His Being, and His Holiness which generates Light that no man can approach (I Timothy 6:16). The Bible teaches three truths: 1 - there is one God. How can God be Three in One? This analogy is an invalid comparison to the Trinity and is a heresy called PARTIALISM. If one of the sides were removed, then there would be no equilateral triangle. Time exists as 3 things: past, present, and future. 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. The term Economic refers to the roles, functions, and relationships that exist within the Trinity. 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. Some who deny the Trinity claim 1+1+1=3, and therefore claim we worship three Gods. The military would end up destroying themselves. The trinity is a like a Three-Leaf Clover. What happens when an egg hatches? Revelation 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. That would not be had God be three persons. Infinite thy vast domain, everlasting is thy reign.. Here's a look at six explanations for why so many people truly believe 3 Ways to Experience The Good Life in Jesus. Many of these analogies have the best of intentions, but God cannot be described in a way we can fully comprehend or rationalize. The problem with this analogy is that an egg yoke is of a very different substance than a shell. The Father hears their intercessory prayers. What is H2O? There is one GOD in three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), 2. 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. 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. Despite its potential obscurity, Trinity Sunday is a great occasion for me to revisit an old article on the Trinity. The three parts create a unified whole. But we cannot do that (assuming we can) with God. 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. The Trinity is distinct in their roles and individuality, but united in their attributes of love, mercy, holiness, knowledge, etc. 2. He taught that the son was at one point created by God the father. This analogy is an invalid comparison to the Trinity and is a heresy called PARTIALISM. What portion of the analogy holds true with Church Teaching? This is because the H20 is changing forms in representing each person. In one egg you have the white, the yoke, and the shell composing one full egg. The three-leaf clover analogy is OK. Dont become discouraged if you cant answer the question to your liking. This is one of the reasons we say that "God is LOVE". When we see them as three individual spirits, (God is one Spirit John 4:24), then that is the blasphemy of polytheism which is the worship of more than one God. The watermelon has a skin, pulp and seeds; the egg is shell, yolk and egg white. Its hard to explain! The Holy Spirit is the shell, Jesus is the egg white, and the Father is the egg yolk. MULTIPLICATION ANALOGY. We can touch the cord, but not the power it is insulating. Devils cannot grab ahold of them to cast them into Satans prison. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:9). He has been a member of the Royal Australian Air Force since 2007, and is now training to be an Air Force Chaplain. How would you explain the Trinity if someone asked you right now? God is NOT like H2O in that He does not need the right pressure and temperature to exist as three persons. The trinity is Like a man who is a father, husband, and son. But the Father is not the Son or the Spirit. 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. A, distinguishes himself from others by saying me, mine, you, yours, etc. A. is the whole nature or essence of something. How so? Over the course of church history there have been several heresies that have cropped up that deny one of these three truths. Holy Trinity, the downtown Greek Orthodox church that was partially destroyed by fire 11 years ago, was a special place for 57-year-old Georgiou. 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). And in our efforts to grasp it, weve come up with a number of analogies. You can also catch up with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok The trinity is like water. Here are some common analogies that Christians have used about the Trinity: God is kind of like water which can be ice, liquid and steam. Genisis 1:17, KJV. Modalism teaches that one God just changes forms or modes over the course of scripture. The meme above discourages the use of analogies in explaining the Trinity. My prayer is to infuse God's character into your everyday lives with short ( 4-5") devotions and Bible Studies every Monday morning. These things are referred to as the Economic Trinity. However, keep in mind that the one being. A good example would be an electrical cord. Its all one person, simply functioning in three different roles. His ways are higher than ours, but isnt that a comfort?! I think the illustration that represents the Trinity most accurately is the egg example. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Trinity is like an egg. Indeed, how can an infinite God be contained in a finite human womb! Studying the Trinity poses difficulty to us Catholics. Now were going to look at how some people often misunderstand the Trinity. All these make up one egg just as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit make up one God. It is a miraculous invention, the egg. The very definition of the heresy known as Modalism/Oneness is that there is one person existing in three different modes or manifestations. He is married to Shamsa Lea, is the father of Amira, and loves boxing and studying Theology. Each of the persons is that supreme reality, viz., the divine substance, essence or nature. (Lateran Council IV), 4. Some have taken on the task of explaining how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist as one. As a doctrine (belief), the trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three separate and distinct persons united in one being- God. The egg analogy fails because it denies that each person of the Trinity is of the same eternal essence. I'm always interested in ways to encourage you, so feel free to contact me and let me know what areas interest you! The teaching of the trinity is clearly taught in Scripture and must be preserved as such. - well, sort of. How can we ever explain our Most High, exalted, powerful, uncontainable, and most glorious God? Jesus is the Holy Spirit. Water can be frozen and is called ice. The Latin word for trinity (trinitas) combines two words- unitas (unity) and trias (three). You know, that bearded guy on the throne who looks something like Zeus, right? For the Trinity, instead of using the formula 1+1+1, we use 1x1x1. Modernizations of this analogy include that of an apple (with the peel, the flesh, and the core) or an egg (with its shell, yoke, and white). Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:9). Analogies of the Trinity.