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{{trinity}}The Christian '''Trinity''' consists of [[God the Father]], [[Jesus Christ|God the Son]], and God the [[Holy Spirit]], as established by the [[Nicene Creed]] of 325 AD. The Trinity refers to the three Persons in a single unity who are the one God, all co-equal, and all with one undivided divine nature forming one God.  

{{trinity}}The Christian '''Trinity''' consists of [[God the Father]], [[Jesus Christ|God the Son]], and God the [[Holy Spirit]], as established by the [[Nicene Creed]] of 325 AD. The Trinity refers to the three Persons in a single unity who are the one God, all co-equal, and all with one undivided divine nature forming one God.  

Although it is never made explicit in the [[Bible]], the concept of the Trinity is embraced by the [[Roman Catholic Church]], the [[Orthodox Church]], and nearly all [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denominations, and denied by all [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]]s.  The name was coined by the Church Father Tertullian (145-220 AD). It is based on inferences from texts emphasizing the closeness of God-the-Father and Jesus (such as Rom. 8:31-34), the role of the Holy Ghost, and especially the baptismal formula in Matt. 28:19

Although it is never made explicit in the [[Bible]], the concept of the Trinity is embraced by the [[Roman Catholic Church]], the [[Orthodox Church]], and nearly all [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denominations, and denied by all [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]]s.  The name was coined by the Church Father [[Tertullian]] (A.D. 145-220). It is based on inferences from texts emphasizing the closeness of God-the-Father and Jesus (such as Rom. 8:31-34), the role of the Holy Ghost, and especially the baptismal formula in Matt. 28:19

:Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.<ref>The word "name" in this passage is singular. The plural word "names" is not said. Semitic peoples understood the name of something or someone was not merely a label, a sound, but the very nature of the subject as the referent. God is Trinity, but God's nature is unity, having one name, one nature.</ref>

:Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.<ref>The word "name" in this passage is singular. The plural word "names" is not said. Semitic peoples understood the name of something or someone was not merely a label, a sound, but an expression of the very nature of the subject as the referent. God is Trinity, but God's nature is unity, having one name, one nature.</ref>

 

==Illustrations and analogies==

==Illustrations and analogies==

A good illustration is [[water|H₂O]]. It can take three forms: solid ice, liquid water, and clouds, steam, formless fog and invisible vapor, all of which are considered water.  

A good illustration is [[water|H₂O]], one atom of hydrogen and two atoms of oxygen. It can take three forms: solid ice, liquid water, and floating clouds, steam, formless fog and invisible vapor, all of which are considered water.  

Another excellent non-physical illustration is the [[mind]], which has three distinct powers of memory, understanding and will, which are not the same thing but are the essential expressions of one mind.<ref>We can remember something we do not understand; we can understand something new which is not something we remember; and we can will to do something which does not need to be understood, which we have never done before.</ref>  

Another excellent non-physical illustration is the [[mind]], which has three distinct powers of memory, understanding and will, which are not the same thing but are the essential expressions of one mind.<ref>We can remember something we do not understand; we can understand something new which is not something we remember; and we can will to do something which does not need to be understood, which we have never done before.</ref>  

In the same way, God exists as the three distinct but united whole persons of one divine being, utterly unique<ref>"unique" means the only one, one-of-a-kind. See [http://www.biblehub.com/multi/isaiah/45-21.htm Isaiah 45:21] and [http://www.biblehub.com/multi/isaiah/45-22.htm Isaiah 45:22]</ref>. God is the Uncreated Holy ''Good''<ref>The word "good" was originally the Old English and Middle English word "God".

In the same way, God exists as the three distinct but united whole persons of one divine being, utterly unique<ref>"unique" means the only one, one-of-a-kind. See [http://www.biblehub.com/multi/isaiah/45-21.htm Isaiah 45:21] and [http://www.biblehub.com/multi/isaiah/45-22.htm Isaiah 45:22]</ref>. God is the Uncreated Holy ''Good''<ref>The word "good" was originally the Old English and Middle English word "God".

*[http://www.bibleanswerstand.org/God.htm The Origin of the Engllish Word for God. Part One. By Craig Bluemal (bibleanswerstand.org)]

*[http://www.bibleanswerstand.org/God.htm The Origin of the English Word for God. Part One. By Craig Bluemal (bibleanswerstand.org)]

*[http://wahiduddin.net/words/name_god.htm Etymology of the Name ''God'' (wahiduddin.net)]</ref>, the Perfect, All-powerful, ''Eternal One'', fully Self-expressing and Self-expressed with Loving Self-knowledge, totally ''Complete'', limitlessly expressing the limitless expression of limitless self-giving loving [[Existence|Being]]. "''God is love''" [http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/1_john/4-8.htm 1 John 4:8b].

*[http://wahiduddin.net/words/name_god.htm Etymology of the Name ''God'' (wahiduddin.net)]</ref>, the Perfect, All-powerful, ''Eternal One'', fully Self-expressing and Self-expressed with Loving Self-knowledge, totally ''Complete'', limitlessly expressing the limitless expression of limitless self-giving loving [[Existence|Being]]. "''God is love''" [http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/1_john/4-8.htm 1 John 4:8b].

==Filioque controversy==

==Filioque controversy==

One of the causes of the [[Great Schism|Great East-West Schism of 1054]] between the [[Catholic Church|Catholic orthodox Church]] and the [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox catholic Church]] was the addition of the ''filioque'' clause "and the Son" to the [[Nicene Creed]]. This clause asserts that the Holy Spirit proceeds "from the Father ''and the Son''".

One of the causes of the [[Great Schism|Great East-West Schism of 1054]] between the [[Catholic Church|Catholic orthodox Church]] and the [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox catholic Church]] was the addition of the ''[[filioque]]'' clause "and the Son" to the [[Nicene Creed]]. This clause asserts that the Holy Spirit proceeds "from the Father ''and the Son''".

 

 

By the mid-18th century [[Unitarianism]] had emerged in England, and by 1800 it spread to the U.S.. By 1820 it dominated schools like [[Harvard]].

See [[Filioque|the Conservapedia article Filioque]] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Filioque the OrthodoxWiki article: Filioque].

In the 20th century [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] do not believe in the Trinity, and see it as contradicting the commandment to have no god but the one God.<ref>Watchtower, July 2008</ref>  Jehovah Witnesses disparage the Trinity by depicting it as a three-headed creature and claim the doctrine as a corrupt addition by [[Satan]] to Christianity. See [[Great Apostasy]].

The doctrine of the [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] teaches that God the Father and Jesus as God the Son are two separate beings, and that the Holy Spirit is not a Person but an impersonal force or influence of guidance and holiness radiated by God the Father. Former Mormons have stated that, in the Mormon Temple, the traditional beliefs of orthodox Christians are portrayed as absurd and ridiculous.

The [[Arian]]s of the 4th century denied the Trinity. They were condemned as heretics and they died out, but Arian ideas appeared in Europe after 1500. [[Isaac Newton]] was secretly an Arian. By the mid-18th century [[Unitarianism]] had emerged in England, and it spread to the U.S. by 1800. It dominated schools like Harvard by 1820.

In the 20th century [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] do not believe in the Trinity, and see it as contradicting the commandment to have no god but the one God.<ref>Watchtower, July 2008</ref>  Jehovah Witnesses disparage the Trinity by depicting it as a three-headed creature and claim the doctrine as a corrupt addition by [[Satan]] to Christianity. See [[Great Apostasy]]

The Unitarian and Unitarian Universalist churches have no formulated [[creed]], but they do agree in their denial of the doctrine of the Trinity and their assertion that it has no biblical support. All of the scriptural evidences proposed by Trinitarians in support of the doctrine of the Trinity are rejected as misinterpretations and distortions of the plain meaning of the Bible.

[[Islam]] has [[Falsehood|falsely]] taught that the Trinity is Father, Son, and Mother (the [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Virgin Mary]]), and therefore represents the doctrine as promoting [[Blasphemy|blasphemous]] [[idolatry]].

[[Islam]] has [[Falsehood|falsely]] taught that the Trinity is Father, Son, and Mother (the [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Virgin Mary]]), and therefore represents the doctrine as promoting [[Blasphemy|blasphemous]] [[idolatry]].

==Trinity Sunday==

==Trinity Sunday==

The Trinity is remembered in [[worship]] in liturgical churches each year on Trinity Sunday, the Sunday after [[Pentecost]]. In 2013, this will be May 26.

The Trinity is remembered in [[worship]] in liturgical churches each year on Trinity Sunday, the Sunday after [[Pentecost]]. The solemn celebration of The Most Holy Trinity is scheduled for the following dates:

==See also==

==See also==

[http://www.aliveandpowerful.com/pdf/Doc%20of%20the%20Trinity.pdf Doctrine of the Trinity (aliveandpowerful.com)] pdf ''an outline''

[http://www.aliveandpowerful.com/pdf/Doc%20of%20the%20Trinity.pdf Doctrine of the Trinity (aliveandpowerful.com)] pdf ''an outline''

[http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-is-the-doctrine-of-the-trinity What Is the Doctrine of the Trinity? article by Matt Perman (desiringgod.org)] pdf

[http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-is-the-doctrine-of-the-trinity What Is the Doctrine of the Trinity? article by Matt Perman (desiringgod.org)] pdf

[http://21stcr.org/multimedia/PDF/The%20Doctrine%20of%20Trin.%20-%20Zarley%20-%203-30-10.pdf The Doctrine of the Trinity (A Brief Overview), by Kermit Zorley (21stcr.org)] pdf

[http://21stcr.org/multimedia/PDF/The%20Doctrine%20of%20Trin.%20-%20Zarley%20-%203-30-10.pdf The Doctrine of the Trinity (A Brief Overview), by Kermit Zorley (21stcr.org)] pdf

[https://adventistbiblicalresearch.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Doctrine%20of%20the%20Trinity.pdf Reflections on the Doctrine of the Trinity, Raoul Dederen (adventistbiblicalresearch.org)] pdf

[https://adventistbiblicalresearch.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Doctrine%20of%20the%20Trinity.pdf Reflections on the Doctrine of the Trinity, Raoul Dederen (adventistbiblicalresearch.org)] pdf

[http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/The%20Trinity.pdf The Trinity: Compiled and illustrated by Lionel Hartley PhD (ntslibrary.com)] pdf

[http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/The%20Trinity.pdf The Trinity: Compiled and illustrated by Lionel Hartley PhD (ntslibrary.com)] pdf

[http://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/44/44-2/44-2-PP297-318_JETS.pdf The Trinitarian Doctrine of Jonathan Edwards: An Investigation of Charges Against its Orthodoxy, Richard M. Weber (etsjets.org)] pdf

[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc12.toc.html Kirn, O. "Trinity, Doctrine  of the" in ''New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'' (1911), Vol. 12: pp18-22], ''Protestant interpretation''

 

[http://www.questia.com/read/98585702?title=The%20Three%20Persons%20in%20One%20God Slovan, Gerald S. ''The Three Persons in One God'' (1964) online edition (questia.com)]

;Catholic

;Catholic

[http://www.angelfire.com/space/thegospeltruth/trinity/articles/abandon.html The Trinity Delusion: Why I abandoned the Trinity (angelfire.com)] ''written by a former Lutheran''

[http://www.angelfire.com/space/thegospeltruth/trinity/articles/abandon.html The Trinity Delusion: Why I abandoned the Trinity (angelfire.com)] ''written by a former Lutheran''

== Classic art ==

== Classic art ==