Difference between revisions of "Holy Trinity"

From OrthodoxWiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Nice quote, but not encyclopedic)
 
(11 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Orthodoxchristianity}}
 
{{Orthodoxchristianity}}
Orthodox Christians worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—the '''Holy Trinity''', the one [[God]]Following the [[Holy Scriptures]] and the [[Church Fathers]], the Church believes that the Trinity is three divine persons (''[[hypostasis|hypostases]]'') who share one essence (''[[ousia]]''). It is paradoxical to believe thus, but that is how God has revealed himself. All three persons are consubstantial with each other, that is, they are of one essence (''[[homoousios]]'') and coeternal.  There never was a time when any of the persons of the Trinity did not existGod is beyond and before time and yet acts within time, moving and speaking within history.
+
The term ''Trinity'' dates back at least to the time of TertullianIt combines the concepts of tri- (three) and unity (one), and refers to the three Persons of God who are consubstantial (i.e. of one essence or ''[[homoousios]]'') and coeternal with each other.  There never was a time when any of the Persons of the Trinity did not exist, for God is beyond and before time--though He acts within time, both moving and speaking within history thereby revealing Himself.
 
[[Image:Rublev Trinity.jpg|left|thumb|175px|The [[Hospitality of Abraham]], an [[Old Testament]] type of the Holy Trinity.]]
 
[[Image:Rublev Trinity.jpg|left|thumb|175px|The [[Hospitality of Abraham]], an [[Old Testament]] type of the Holy Trinity.]]
God is not an impersonal essence or mere "higher power," but rather each of the divine persons relates to mankind personally.  Neither is God a simple name for three gods (i.e., polytheism), but rather the Orthodox faith is monotheist and yet [[Triadology|Trinitarian]].  The God of the Orthodox Christian Church is the God of [[Abraham]], [[Isaac]] and [[Jacob]], the '''I AM''' who revealed himself to [[Moses]] in the burning bush.
 
  
The source and unity of the Holy Trinity is the Father, from whom the Son is begotten and also from whom the Spirit proceedsThus, the Father is both the ground of unity of the Trinity and also of distinctionTo try to comprehend unbegottenness (Father), begottenness (Son), or procession (Holy Spirit) leads to insanity, says the holy [[Gregory the Theologian]], and so the Church approaches God in divine mystery, approaching God [[apophatic theology|apophatically]], being content to encounter God personally and yet realize the inadequacy of the human mind to comprehend Him.
+
==Explanation of the Trinity==
 +
'''WHAT GOD IS ''NOT'':''' God is ''not'' an impersonal essence nor merely a "higher power."  Neither are ''God'' and ''Trinity'' simply singular names for what would otherwise be considered three gods (i.e. terms which would hide polytheism).
 +
 
 +
'''WHAT GOD ''IS'':''' 
 +
Though the Trinity is a mystery beyond comprehension, two analogies are often used to help explain what ''Trinity'' means. The first references the sun, and the second references man.
 +
 
 +
'''The Sun:''' The sun is characterized by three elements.
 +
(1) The ball of burning gas is the source of all (like the Father).
 +
(2) The light is visible to all (like the Son).
 +
(3) The heat is felt, but not seen (like the Holy Spirit or Comforter).
 +
 
 +
The sun has never been the sun without its light and heat, and the light and heat cannot exist without their sourceIn addition, while they may co-exist, they do not produce each other in and of themselves.  (ex.  You can’t read by the light of a heating pad, nor can you count on getting warm wherever it is bright.)
 +
 
 +
'''Man:'''  It is said that each human has been made in the image of God, and as such each human bears similarities to our Trinitarian Lord and God:
 +
(1) Man's ''nous'' (i.e. complete mind and heart; including intellect, creativity, feelings, morality, intuition, etc.) is like the Father.
 +
(2) Man's flesh (both tangible and a temple of the Holy Spirit), is akin to the Son who became incarnate and was filled with the Holy Spirit.
 +
(3) Man's life (or breath) is akin the Holy Spirit. 
 +
 
 +
Man (any human) is all three.  There is never a time that man has existed (or could exist) without all three.  For a human nous cannot exist without a body and life, a human body does not exist--at least at the start--without a nous and life, and a human life cannot exist without a nous and body.
 +
 
 +
'''The benefit and limitation of analogies:'''  Each of these analogies is good at expressing a three-ness and one-ness with no polytheismHowever, according to Saint [[Gregory the Theologian]], trying to go further to comprehend ''unbegotten-ness'' (Father), ''begotten-ness'' (Son), or ''procession'' (Holy Spirit) leads to insanity.  Therefore the Church traditionally approaches God in divine mystery (and [[apophatic theology|apophatically]]), content to encounter Him rather than comprehend Him (for it is impossible for the created to comprehend the ineffable Creator).
 +
 
 +
==Image & Likeness Distinguished==
 +
It should be noted that while each human being is in the ''image'' of God, humans were also created to be in His ''likeness''.  St. Ephrem the Syrian often writes of mankind initially being "robed in glory," referring to bearing the ''likeness'' of God.<ref>St. Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns On Paradise, St. Vladimir Seminary Press, Crestwood, NY (1997).</ref>  God is good; and, to be ''like'' God, a person needs to be ''good'' as well.
 +
 
 +
This, however, is where ''the Fall'' is evident; for, as St. Ephrem points out, when Adam and Eve looked to themselves to determine right and wrong (daring to become as God without God<ref>Clark Carlton, The Life,  Regina Orthodox Press, Salisbury, MA (2000), p. 22.</ref> choosing their own leadership rather than God's by not waiting to know all things through and with Him) they became naked--no longer bearing His likeness... no longer "robed in glory."  At this point, we know the tale... in God's mercy, they departed Eden.  (For giving them access to the Tree of Life--immortality--when not in God's likeness--would indeed have been a living hell.)
 +
 
 +
==The Trinity Explained in the Creed==
  
 
The primary statement of what the Church believes about God is to be found in the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
 
The primary statement of what the Church believes about God is to be found in the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].

Latest revision as of 01:15, January 5, 2024

This article forms part of the series
Introduction to
Orthodox Christianity
Holy Tradition
Holy Scripture
The Symbol of Faith
Ecumenical Councils
Church Fathers
Liturgy
Canons
Icons
The Holy Trinity
God the Father
Jesus Christ
The Holy Spirit
The Church
Ecclesiology
History
Holy Mysteries
Church Life
Edit this box

The term Trinity dates back at least to the time of Tertullian. It combines the concepts of tri- (three) and unity (one), and refers to the three Persons of God who are consubstantial (i.e. of one essence or homoousios) and coeternal with each other. There never was a time when any of the Persons of the Trinity did not exist, for God is beyond and before time--though He acts within time, both moving and speaking within history thereby revealing Himself.

The Hospitality of Abraham, an Old Testament type of the Holy Trinity.

Explanation of the Trinity

WHAT GOD IS NOT: God is not an impersonal essence nor merely a "higher power." Neither are God and Trinity simply singular names for what would otherwise be considered three gods (i.e. terms which would hide polytheism).

WHAT GOD IS: Though the Trinity is a mystery beyond comprehension, two analogies are often used to help explain what Trinity means. The first references the sun, and the second references man.

The Sun: The sun is characterized by three elements. (1) The ball of burning gas is the source of all (like the Father). (2) The light is visible to all (like the Son). (3) The heat is felt, but not seen (like the Holy Spirit or Comforter).

The sun has never been the sun without its light and heat, and the light and heat cannot exist without their source. In addition, while they may co-exist, they do not produce each other in and of themselves. (ex. You can’t read by the light of a heating pad, nor can you count on getting warm wherever it is bright.)

Man: It is said that each human has been made in the image of God, and as such each human bears similarities to our Trinitarian Lord and God: (1) Man's nous (i.e. complete mind and heart; including intellect, creativity, feelings, morality, intuition, etc.) is like the Father. (2) Man's flesh (both tangible and a temple of the Holy Spirit), is akin to the Son who became incarnate and was filled with the Holy Spirit. (3) Man's life (or breath) is akin the Holy Spirit.

Man (any human) is all three. There is never a time that man has existed (or could exist) without all three. For a human nous cannot exist without a body and life, a human body does not exist--at least at the start--without a nous and life, and a human life cannot exist without a nous and body.

The benefit and limitation of analogies: Each of these analogies is good at expressing a three-ness and one-ness with no polytheism. However, according to Saint Gregory the Theologian, trying to go further to comprehend unbegotten-ness (Father), begotten-ness (Son), or procession (Holy Spirit) leads to insanity. Therefore the Church traditionally approaches God in divine mystery (and apophatically), content to encounter Him rather than comprehend Him (for it is impossible for the created to comprehend the ineffable Creator).

Image & Likeness Distinguished

It should be noted that while each human being is in the image of God, humans were also created to be in His likeness. St. Ephrem the Syrian often writes of mankind initially being "robed in glory," referring to bearing the likeness of God.[1] God is good; and, to be like God, a person needs to be good as well.

This, however, is where the Fall is evident; for, as St. Ephrem points out, when Adam and Eve looked to themselves to determine right and wrong (daring to become as God without God[2] choosing their own leadership rather than God's by not waiting to know all things through and with Him) they became naked--no longer bearing His likeness... no longer "robed in glory." At this point, we know the tale... in God's mercy, they departed Eden. (For giving them access to the Tree of Life--immortality--when not in God's likeness--would indeed have been a living hell.)

The Trinity Explained in the Creed

The primary statement of what the Church believes about God is to be found in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.
  1. St. Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns On Paradise, St. Vladimir Seminary Press, Crestwood, NY (1997).
  2. Clark Carlton, The Life, Regina Orthodox Press, Salisbury, MA (2000), p. 22.