3.5 the trinity in the Nicene Creed and Genesis 1

• what is the Nicene creed?

  a statement of faith about what Catholics believe which explains the nature of the Trinity and how the three persons relate to each other
• what does Genesis 1:1-3 show?

  all three persons shared in the act of creation
• what is the teaching about God the Father and what phrase indicates it?

  • teaching : God the Father is the creator of all things
  • phrase : ' I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth '
• what is 3 teachings about God the Son and what phrases indicates them?

  1. teaching : Like God the Father , God the Son is eternal
  2. phrase : ' ... the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages '

  3. teaching : there is no distinction in nature between the Father and the Son

  4. phrase : ' .. consubstantial with the Father '

  5. teaching : the Son took on the limitations of human nature to become Jesus, Jesus had a human mother but was conceived by the Holy Spirit

  6. ' ... by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man '
• what is 3 teachings about God the Holy Spirit and what phrase indicates it?

  1. teaching :the Holy Spirit gives life to all things
  2. phrase : ' I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life '

  3. teaching : the Holy Spirit comes from both the Father and the Son uniting them in love

  4. phrase : ' .. who proceeds from the Father and the Son '

  5. teaching : the Holy Spirit is equal in majesty and power of the Father and the Son

  6. phrase : ' .. who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified '
• what does Genesis 1:1-3 state ?

  'In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said let there be light and there was light '
• what does Genesis 1:1-3 teach about the trinity ?

  • The word 'God' here is referring to the Father; the Father created the universe
  • the phrase ' wind from God ' can also be translated as ' breath ' or ' spirit '. This shows that the Holy Spirit was involved in the creation of the universe
  • God created the universe with the power of his Word. Christians interpret this as a reference to the Son/Word of God
  • God the Father, through God the Son created the universe with the power of the Holy Spirit