The Doctrine of the Trinity

• Not all Christians accept the trinity
• In the Old Testament, God is seen as the Father, Creator and judge, but in the New Testament, God is seen as Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
• The Trinity can be found in the New Testament - Matthew 28:19 'Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'
• The understanding of the Early Church was that God was experience through his incarnate (Jesus)
• John 10:39 - 'I and the father are one'

  John 12:45 - 'And he who sees me sees him who sent me'
• God's presence and actions as the Holy Spirit are seen in the following texts: Matthew 1:20 - 'Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit'

  Acts 2:4 '...They (The 11 disciples) were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance'
• The trinity affirmed the following

  Father, son and Holy Spirit are one God in three persons. Each person is God, each possessing in equal measure the divine characteristics like omnipotence and omniscience.
• Each person differs from the others only in terms of their inner relations. So, the Son differs from the others only in the fact that he is the Son and not the Father, and the same is true of the Holy Spirit in relation to the Father and the Son. Technically, God exists as one substance in three persons. All three persons are eternal and uncreated. Each person of the Trinity is fully and completely God yet at the same time each of the three persons is unique
• Perichoresis describes the relationship between the three persons. When translated it means 'mutual indwelling'. Meaning the Father is in the son. Shown in the Bible, when Jesus said "Father, the hour has come; glorify your son, that your son may glorify you"
• The importance of the Doctrine of the Trinity


  It brings together the main historical and doctrinal truths of Christianity concerning sin, atonement and redemption
• The importance of the Doctrine of the Trinity


  Many Christians believe that the relationship between God and humans has been affected by Adam and Eve's sins, which sent the world into sin and made it necessary for atonement. God sent his Son as atonement to redeem humans from sin (Galatians 4:45). The Son is fully human yet also fully God, and because of this the Son is able to make that atonement through the cruxifiction and resurrection. (1 Peter 3:18-19). The Holy Spirit gives new birth in Jesus (Titus 3:5) so that humans have the hope of eternal life
• The importance of the Doctrine of the Trinity


  The Trinity makes it possible to have a personal relationship with God. Most Christians believe God is immanent because He can answer prayers and perform miracles as seen in the Bible. It is contradictory to say that God can be immanent and transcendent at the same time, but the Trinity allows this.
• The importance of the Doctrine of the Trinity

  The Trinity is seen as model of personhood - The relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one of love, since God is love. Humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) so relationships can be based on the trinity model.
• The importance of the Doctrine of the Trinity

  German reformed Theologian Jurgen Moltmann developed a 'social' account of the Trinity which puts the emphasis on the Three persons of the Trinity existing in a community of self-giving and receiving love. The concept of the Trinity is a model for human relationships, emphasising, for example, giving aswell as receiving and accepting differences aswell as sameness