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| Page: Bible Teaching About the Triune God |
While the Trinity is one of the Christian
mysteries, some analogies from life may be suggested. The most helpful analogies retain the unity of God while
showing a simultaneous plurality. Some analogies are helpful as far as showing the nature of the mutual
relationships in the triune Godhead.
Marriage pictures the Godhead relationship of mutual love and
common purpose. The husband and wife, each mutually acting as a lover and a beloved, are one, joined by a bond of
love. Each has a separate role, but they are united and working together toward one purpose. They are able to give
life and birth to new members of the family, just like God the Father and Jesus Christ impart eternal life and
bring about the spiritual birth of children of God. A seventh century Greek theologian, John of Damascus, compared
the Trinity to a circular dance with movement, connectedness, unity, closeness, love, joy, and harmony. (See
Matthew 19:4-6; John 3:5-8; Ephesians 5:31-32; 1 John 2:25, 28-29; 3:1-2.)
The church – Christ’s followers who by having the Holy Spirit in them have
become God’s children – should ideally also reflect the love and unity of the triune God. The church is a spiritual
family, albeit imperfect, where members play the roles of mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters. Before his
death, Jesus specifically prayed for the unity of his disciples and those that would follow them down through time.
Love and unity were to be the distinguishing marks of Christ’s followers. Through the Holy Spirit, there can be a
continual back and forth flowing of love between God the Father, Jesus Christ, and each child of God. (See John
10:30; 13:35; 14:20-23; 15:8; 17:11, 22; Romans 5:5; 8:10; 1 John 2:24.)
Humans being made in the image of God implies that they are also made in
the image of the Trinity – not only as male and female as revealed in Genesis. As such, the human being pictures
aspects of the divine Godhead. Each individual consists of body, mind, and spirit. The Bible also mentions three
non-physical aspects of the human person as heart, soul, and spirit. In either case, all three ideally work
together in unity and harmony, performing their assigned tasks. (See Genesis 1:27; Hebrews
4:12.)
Some have proposed mathematical or
geometrical analogies. For example, the Trinity can be conceived as 1 x 1 x 1 = 1 or one cubed
(13). A
triangle is also a possible illustration. The three sides and corners are inseparable from, and simultaneous to,
one another.
No analogy of the Trinity is
perfect, and care is needed not to create a wrong impression, especially that of three
Gods.
Why is
the teaching of the Trinity important?
The Trinity
doctrine, while it cannot be rationally or philosophically understood, helps to explain God’s relationship
with humankind. All three members of the Trinity are instrumental in the process of salvation which involves
bringing many sons and daughters to glory.
God the
Father, out of love for the world, sent his Son to the earth to reconcile an alienated race to God and to
conquer death. Through his Son’s death, God came to share in the pain of humanity. (See Romans 5:10; 2
Corinthians 5:18-21; Hebrews 4:14-16.)
Upon
Christ’s return to heaven, both he and the Father sent to Holy Spirit into individuals’ hearts to create a
closer bond between humans and God. New believers are baptized or immersed into the triune God. Through the
Holy Spirit, God the Father and Jesus Christ come to dwell in them. Believers receive the divine nature which
gives them eternal life. They become intimately united with God the Father and Jesus Christ. (Matthew
28:19-20; John 14:16-23; 15:26; 16:7; 2 Peter 17:2-3; Romans 6:22-23; 1 Corinthians 3:16.)
Jesus is
preparing places for his disciples in his Father’s heavenly house and will one day return for them. At the
resurrection, through a miraculous transformation, believers will be glorified and appear as Jesus Christ. An
intimate union and fellowship, already foretasted now, will be established for all eternity. The closeness,
love, and harmony of the Trinity will then extend to the born-again, glorified human family. The children of
God, as co-heirs with Christ, will receive their promised inheritance and enjoy God’s presence forever. (See
John 14:2-3; Romans 8:14-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 John 3:1-2; Revelation
21:3-4.)
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