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The Doctrine of Trinity

Basic Tenets (Page 2)

Introduction

Below I list and then explain the most basic and important tenets of the Christian doctrine of trinity. Once you learn these few, simple, basic tenets you will have a better understanding of the doctrine of trinity than most of your acquaintances.

The Basic Tenets (Definition)

  1. The trinity God is one and only one God.
  2. The trinity God exists as the eternal union of the three Divine Persons, namely:
    • The Father,
    • The Son (Jesus),
    • The Holy Spirit.
  3. The three Divine Persons are distinct.

The Basic Tenets (Explanation)

1. The trinity God is one and only one God.

The most important thing to realize is that according to the doctrine of trinity, the trinity God is one and only one God. The doctrine explicitly teaches that the trinity God is one (not three) gods. Anyone who claims that the doctrine of trinity teaches otherwise is directly contradicting what the doctrine explicitly teaches.

2. The trinity God exists as the eternal union of the three Divine Persons.
This means all of the following things!
  • The three Divine Persons have always existed.
  • The three Divine Persons will always exist.
  • The three Divine Persons have always been united as God.
  • The three Divine Persons will always be united as God.
  • The three Divine Persons have never been separated, have never been disunited.
And so please realize that it is an error to describe the three Divine Persons as “separate”. Instead the term “distinct” is used (more on that below).
1. The trinity God is one and only one God.
2. The trinity God exists as the eternal union of the three Divine Persons.
Because each of the Divine Persons is, within himself, eternally in union with the other two Divine Persons, these two tenets taken together mean the following things:
  • The Father is the one and only God.
  • The Son (Jesus) is that very same God.
  • The Holy Spirit is that very same God.
Each Divine Person is the same one God.
Diagram 1 - Each Divine Person is God
Explicit explanation of the diagram:
  • God is the eternal union of the three Divine Persons.
  • The Son and the Holy Spirit are in (within) the Father. Therefore: the Father is in and of himself God.
  • The Father and the Holy Spirit are in (within) the Son. Therefore: the Son is in and of himself God.
  • The Father and the Son are in (within) the Holy Spirit. Therefore: the Holy Spirit is in and of himself God.
3. The three Divine Persons are distinct.
This means that the following things are all true:
  • The Father is not the Son. (They are not the same Person.)
  • The Father is not the Holy Spirit. (They are not the same Person.)
  • The Son is not the Holy Spirit. (They are not the same Person.)
  • The three Divine Persons are not merely three aspects of God, not merely three aspects of one person. They are distinct Persons.
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References

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  1. “The dogma of the Holy Trinity.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed., United States Catholic Conference, 1994, pp.66-67, tenets 253-256. Retrived 2017 July 27 from http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/index.html#66/z
  2. Hopko, Fr. Thomas. “The Holy Trinity.” The Orthodox Faith. Vol. I. St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 2016. The Orthodox Church in America. Retrieved 2017 July 27 from https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-holy-trinity/the-doctrine-of-the-holy-trinity
  3. “The Holy Trinity.” The Doctrine of the Orthodox Church: The Basic Doctrines. Decani Monastery, Kosovo. Orthodox Christian Information Center. Retrieved 2017 July 27 from http://orthodoxinfo.com/general/doctrine1.aspx#Holy%20Trinity