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question and response

Reflecting on the Trinity

I have thoroughly enjoyed thinking and writing about the Trinity this week. Thanks to Kim and Kyle for the invitation to be a part of the Sunday morning small group taster out of which these questions originated. For more information about the source of these questions read the post – What is the Trinity?

My sincere thanks to each person in the taster who submitted a question and who were a part of the discussion. We are all theologians.

By Andrew Conard

Christian, husband, son, brother, homeowner

6 replies on “Reflecting on the Trinity”

This is great stuff Andrew – Thanks for Digging Deep into this stuff. I especially love the diagrams and questions about who what and when we pray to. One of the formulas I’ve heard for Trinitarian thought is Here

Basically the idea is that
The Father is God
The Son is God
The Spirit is God
but
The Father is not the Son or the Spirit
The Son is not the Father or the Spirit
The Spirit is not the Father or the Son
Each are distinct persons – but are of one essence

Also, I’ve often heard an idea that resonates with me that we pray.
1. To the Father
2. Through the Mediation of the Son
3. In the power of the Holy Spirit.

Again thanks for getting folks to think deeply about this stuff. From Good Theology comes Holy Living!

Andrew,

I have been out of town this week, and did not go through my RSS feeds until now. What a great set of mini-lessons.

I really want to thank you for blogging so many great posts on the trinity. I especially liked the diagrams. I know there is no way to truly visualize it, but it does help to have some attempts at it…and to see multiple thoughts on what it may look like.

Awesome stuff!

AC:

Perhaps one of the more encouraging developments in the theological discourse of recent years has been a reclamation and re-exploration of God as Trinity, including an increased emphasis by ministers of the gospel to clarify this doctrine to their congregations. Having grown up in the church, I recall Trinitarian language being used but never carefully explained. As I’ve listened in on difference Christian communities around the country I have found the Trinity commonly explored, and I have seen a number of books on this topic as well.

Even though creedal language was embedded in your posts, I was surprised that I did not find explicit references to either the Apostle’s or Nicene creeds. The diagrams that you used to help clarify your statements were also interesting–though each illustrated the way in which one person of the Trinity may “go forth” from another, I felt that the reciprocal love and obedience which exists within the God-head was not reflected well. Images like this one have helped me in the past:

Other “shields” used to illustrate the Trinity place the Father at the pinnacle. It is clear that in this example the Father and the Son are placed on an equal plane, with the Spirit descending from each. There is also a connection and a distinction between each person of the Trinity: Father to Son, Son to Spirit, Spirit to Father.

This has been a great discussion. If my comment is too long, I apologize.

Chuck – Thanks for the reminder and the link to the image. I must admit that I had not been familiar with this image before. I can’t take any credit for the questions – Thanks go to the small group taster on Sunday morning.

Kyle – Glad you liked it and great to hear about your trip.

Ben – I thought about referencing the creeds at some point and am not sure why I did not. I think perhaps, I did not think that a reference to the creed directly responded to the questions. but you are right – this is something which I should have addressed. Good critique about the lack of reciprocity in the diagrams.

And your comment was definitely not too long. Thanks for the addition!

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