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{{Christianity}}

{{Christianity}}

{{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 A.D. 325. 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 A.D. 325. The Trinity refers to the three Persons in a single unity who are the one God, all coequal, and all with one undivided divine nature forming one God.  

Although not explicit in the [[Bible]],<ref>Many Christians teach that the [[Johannine Comma]] in I John 5:7 supports the view of the Trinity; however, others believe that the Comma was added by later scribes.</ref> the concept of the Trinity is embraced by the [[Roman Catholic Church]], the [[Orthodox Church]], and nearly all [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denominations, but denied by all [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]]s and "Oneness [[Pentecostal]]s" (such as the United Pentecostal Church).  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

Although not explicit in the [[Bible]],<ref>Many Christians teach that the [[Johannine Comma]] in I John 5:7 supports the view of the Trinity; however, others believe that the Comma was added by later scribes.</ref> the concept of the Trinity is embraced by the [[Roman Catholic Church]], the [[Orthodox Church]], and nearly all [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denominations, but denied by all [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]]s and "Oneness [[Pentecostal]]s" (such as the United Pentecostal Church).  The name "Trinity" 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 [[Romans, Chapter 8|Romans 8:31-34), the role of the [[Holy Ghost]], and especially the baptismal formula in [[Matthew, Chapter 28|Matthew 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 that 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. Christians who accept the Trinity -- which is the vast majority -- are called Trinitarians, believing in Trinitarianism.</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>

This doctrine is Trinitarian and is called Trinitarianism. Christians who believe the Trinitarian Christian doctrine of the Trinity are called Trinitarians, those who believe in Trinitarianism.

St. Augustine said: "O Lord God, we firmly believe that You are a Trinity. For Truth (Jesus) would never have said, Be Baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, unless You were a Trinity. Nor would He have commanded us to be baptized into One Who was not Lord God."

[[St. Augustine]] declared: "O Lord God, we firmly believe that You are a Trinity. For Truth (Jesus) would never have said, Be Baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, unless You were a Trinity. Nor would He have commanded us to be baptized into One Who was not Lord God." Augustine mentions the Trinity 24 times in his ''[[City of God]]''.<ref>E.g., Augustine wrote: "And this Trinity is one God; and none the less simple because a Trinity. For we do not say that the nature of the good is simple, because the Father alone possesses it, or the Son alone, or the Holy Ghost alone; nor do we say, with the Sabellian heretics, that it is only nominally a Trinity, and has no real distinction of persons; but we say it is simple, because it is what it has, with the exception of the relation of the persons to one another."</ref>

The Book of Genesis also contains a wonderful Theophany of the Three Divine Persons appearing to men in visible forms, that of the Three Persons in Genesis 18. It is said the Lord God appeared to Abraham, then that he perceived The Three Persons of the Holy Trinity as Three Men. Finally, that he adored Them And yet spoke to Three Persons as to One Lord God, and thus the Holy Bible here clearly demonstrates that the Holy Trinity is One Lord God.  

The [[Book of Genesis]] also contains a wonderful Theophany of the Three Divine Persons appearing to men in visible forms, that of the Three Persons in Genesis 18. It is said the Lord God appeared to Abraham, then that he perceived The Three Persons of the Holy Trinity as Three Men. Finally, that he adored Them And yet spoke to Three Persons as to One Lord God, and thus the Holy Bible here clearly demonstrates that the Holy Trinity is One Lord God.  

Gen 18:1 "And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,3 And said, My LORD, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:"

[[Genesis, Chapter 18|Genesis 18:1]] states, "And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,3 And said, My LORD, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:"

In the Eastern Liturgies, it is commonly taken for granted that this was a Theophany (a visible manifestation of the invisible God). For e.g "God in Three Persons appeared to Abraham at the oak of Mambre, and through mercy he was given as reward for his hospitality Isaac. That God we now glorify him as God of our Fathers."<ref>Octoechos, Sunday, Tone 3, Midnight Office, Ode 7.</ref><ref>https://www.academia.edu/13190369/The_Early_Christian_Reception_of_Genesis_18_From_Theophany_to_Trinitarian_Symbolism</ref>

In the Eastern Liturgies, it is commonly taken for granted that this was a Theophany (a visible manifestation of the invisible God). For, e.g., "God in Three Persons appeared to Abraham at the oak of Mambre, and through mercy he was given as reward for his hospitality Isaac. That God we now glorify him as God of our Fathers."<ref>Octoechos, Sunday, Tone 3, Midnight Office, Ode 7.</ref><ref>https://www.academia.edu/13190369/The_Early_Christian_Reception_of_Genesis_18_From_Theophany_to_Trinitarian_Symbolism</ref>

St. Augustine comments: "But since three men appeared, and no one of them is said to be greater than the rest either in form, or age, or power, why should we not here understand, as visibly intimated by the visible creature, the equality of the Trinity, and one and the same substance in three persons?"<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/130102.htm</ref>

St. Augustine comments: "But since three men appeared, and no one of them is said to be greater than the rest either in form, or age, or power, why should we not here understand, as visibly intimated by the visible creature, the equality of the Trinity, and one and the same substance in three persons?"<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/130102.htm</ref>

[[File:Murillo Two Trinities.jpg|thumb|left|340px|''The Two Trinities'' by [[Bartolomé Esteban Murillo]], about 1675-1682.]]

[[File:Murillo Two Trinities.jpg|thumb|left|340px|''The Two Trinities'' by [[Bartolomé Esteban Murillo]], about 1675-1682.]]

[[File:Vicente Castello Coronación de la Virgen por la Trinidad.jpg|thumb|left|340px|''Coronación de la Virgen por la Trinidad'' (Coronation of the Virgin by the Trinity) by [[Vicente Castello]] (c. 1586-1640).]]

[[File:Vicente Castello Coronación de la Virgen por la Trinidad.jpg|thumb|left|340px|''Coronación de la Virgen por la Trinidad'' (Coronation of the Virgin by the Trinity) by Vicente Castello (c. 1586-1640).]]

 

[[Category:Christian Theology]]

[[Category:Christian Theology]]