Trinitarian analogy

[2ndTimothyGroup]

One bowl is the "head" of the other bowls. I call it "the Father bowl".

Father Bowl made me chuckle out loud.

 

[Aerials1978]

https://www.christiantoday.com.au/news/the-trinity-is-like-waterand-other-bad-analogies.html

The Trinity is like water…and other bad analogies
By Haydn Lea - Press Service International

For those, like myself, who are not from a highly-liturgical denomination, it may come as a surprise that June 11 was ‘Trinity Sunday’. Despite its potential obscurity, Trinity Sunday is a great occasion for me to revisit an old article on the Trinity.

The Trinity is one of the most foundational doctrines of Christianity. It’s impossible to be an Orthodox Christian without professing belief in the Triune nature of God. To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresy—Trinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity.

Yet it appears to be almost entirely misunderstood within contemporary evangelical circles.

A common (erroneous) explanation

I remember asking my Life Group last year, “How have you heard the Trinity explained?” I braced myself for the inevitable reply. Sure enough, one member answered “Well I’ve heard that the Trinity is like water: water can be liquid, gas (steam), or solid (ice), but it’s still the same water”.

It’s a very common explanation within the church to try to explain how God, who clearly exhorts His followers to preserve His supreme oneness (Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 4), could also be identified with Jesus (Titus chapter 2 verse 13), and the Holy Spirit (Acts chapter 5 verses 3-4).

Common, yes. But there’s one problem: the water analogy is not the biblical picture of God. Before moving on I should note that providing a full theological explanation of Trinitarian doctrine is well beyond the scope of what I can do here. My intention is merely to address some common erroneous analogies, including water.

“That’s Modalism!”

Why is it wrong? An explanation that is so common, and seemingly does elucidate how something can simultaneously be three and one—can it really be that bad?

Well the issue is, the water analogy is akin to the heresy of Modalism. Modalism, or Sabellianism, denies the three distinct Persons of the Trinity and claims that God is one Person who appears in different ‘modes’ at different times—in the Old Testament He appeared as the Father, in the Gospels He appeared as the Son, and from Pentecost onwards He appears as the Holy Spirit.

Similarly, in our aquatic analogy, water can appear in three different modes, depending on the environment, but the three are not co-existing. H2O can only ever be one form at a time. Scripture however, doesn’t depict God this way. For instance at the baptism of Christ, the Father, Son and Spirit are all distinctly present and interacting (Matthew chapter 3 verses 16-17).

Other bad analogies

If water is inadequate, there are a wide array of alternative analogies we can turn to in modern theological parlance. Eggs are one, yet comprise yolk, shell and albumen. The sun comprises the sun itself, its light and its heat.

These are likewise erroneous or even heretical. Each part of the egg make up only one portion of the whole—the yolk is not the fullness of the egg. Yet the orthodox view is that each person of the Trinity is fully divine. Similarly, light and heat are simply creations of the sun, yet it is the heresy of Arianism to claim that the Son or Spirit are mere creations of the Father.

An alternative

So if all of these explanations are heretical, what is a good analogy? Unfortunately, an analogy from the limited realm of creation may not be sufficient in explaining God’s nature.

Perhaps we must be content to admit that we cannot fully understand God’s nature in our finitude. What we can understand and accept is that God exists eternally as one divine nature, substance, or essence, comprising three co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial persons—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each person is fully the one God, but is also distinct.

Why does it matter?

To return to my Life Group anecdote, after our discussion I asked “why does it even matter?”

We came up with several practical implications of this doctrine. In the first place, if we truly claim to love God, then surely we should endeavour to know Him. Although God is transcendent, sovereign, unapproachable light, He has condescended to reveal something of Himself to His creation. Therefore it behoves us to know what He has revealed (including the Trinity), and to lovingly worship Him accordingly.

In the second instance, the truth of God’s Trinity reveals a further aspect of God’s love for His people. If God has existed for all eternity in a perfectly loving Triune relationship, then it shows He is completely self-sufficient and requires no further relationship in order to ‘complete’ or ‘satisfy’ Himself. There was no relational deficiency that prompted God to create us. Yet God lovingly chose to create and eventually redeem us anyway (both thoroughly Trinitarian acts), at great cost to Himself.

Finally, I would suggest that the mere fact that we cannot understand the full depth of the Trinity (even with our myriad of analogies) has implications. It should bring us to realise that we truly are finite creatures standing before a sovereign, transcendent, divine mystery. The beautiful depth of God’s eternal Triune nature is a sublime reality which should bring an end to our attempts to cognitively master Him.

Our words should dissipate and be replaced instead with an awestruck adoration and wonder, as we realise the only appropriate response is to fall to our knees and humbly worship the one truly perfect, unified divine essence, comprising three diverse, co-equal and co-eternal divine persons.

Picture

Haydn Lea is an Associate Pastor in Queensland, and is currently studying his Master of Arts (Theology). He has been a member of the Royal Australian Air Force since 2007, and is now training to be an Air Force Chaplain. He is married to Shamsa Lea, is the father of Amira, and loves boxing and studying Theology. Although he is one man who is simultaneously a husband, a father, and a student, he would consider it Modalism to suggest that this is a good Trinitarian analogy.

I think most laypeople try and have a point of reference and use the most primitive analogy to make sense of something that is incomprehensible to the lowly human mind.

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

something that is incomprehensible to the lowly human mind

Ahhhh . . . but "some" have the Mind of Christ.

 

[Aerials1978]

Ahhhh . . . but "some" have the Mind of Christ.

This is true, and we become more like Christ through sanctification. I’m talking about the biological mind that still operates within the confines of neurons and synapses.

 

[CS1]

I think from what I see in some of these posts, some here should be very careful how they Speak of the Eternal Godhead.

Speaking profanely of The Lord God. referencing Pie, ice, water, steam, eggs as synonyms for the Trinity? It is foolishness. God is. The human intellect is incapable of fully understanding the Eternal Godhead. Bible 101 God is infinite UNLIMTED we are finite limited. This kind of speaking leads to sin the word of God says. Just look how it has sunk in the description of The One True God. Be very careful.

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

I think from what I see in some of these posts, some here should be very careful how they Speak of the Eternal Godhead.

Speaking profanely of The Lord God. referencing Pie, ice, water, steam, eggs as synonyms for the Trinity? It is foolishness. God is. The human intellect is incapable of fully understanding the Eternal Godhead. Bible 101 God is infinite UNLIMTED we are finite limited. This kind of speaking leads to sin the word of God says. Just look how it has sunk in the description of The One True God. Be very careful.

I LOVE your reverence for our Powerful, Almighty God! We don't realize that our hearts beat because He allows it. Each second of life is at the Lord's total control and command.

 

[Nehemiah6]

I think from what I see in some of these posts, some here should be very careful how they Speak of the Eternal Godhead.

Right. There is no need for analogies, since they all fail. All we need to say is that this is the Mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ (Col 2:2). No human being can explain the trinity or comprehend God. This was already stated in the book of Job (11:7-9).
Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

No human being can explain the trinity or comprehend God.

Job 11:7-9 is not stating that the Trinity cannot be explained.

 

[Aerials1978]

I think from what I see in some of these posts, some here should be very careful how they Speak of the Eternal Godhead.

Speaking profanely of The Lord God. referencing Pie, ice, water, steam, eggs as synonyms for the Trinity? It is foolishness. God is. The human intellect is incapable of fully understanding the Eternal Godhead. Bible 101 God is infinite UNLIMTED we are finite limited. This kind of speaking leads to sin the word of God says. Just look how it has sunk in the description of The One True God. Be very careful.

Oh please. The OP asked what analogies have people heard of. That’s not an indication they should be taken as literal or that anyone is attributing that to God.

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

Oh please. The OP asked what analogies have people heard of. That’s not an indication they should be taken as literal or that anyone is attributing that to God.

I hear what you're saying . . . I really do. CS1 is expressing incredible respect and honor to the Lord in what he/she is conveying. This is commendable.

 

[Aerials1978]

I hear what you're saying . . . I really do. CS1 is expressing incredible respect and honor to the Lord in what he/she is conveying. This is commendable.

I have had conversations prior with this particular poster.

 

[wattie]

I am curious; what are some of the most intriguing or interesting or weird or bizarre or even helpful analogies explaining the Trinity that you have come across?

Please don't post you feelings about the word trinity, yes I know the word doesn't actually appear in the bible, or you theology of the trinity. I am just looking for actual analogies told to you, taught to you,ones you have tried to come up with yourself, etc.

Light.. put thru a prism has many shades of three base colours.

Water can be liquid, ice and steam at the same time.

The person has a body, mind and soul in one being.

An egg has yoke, flesh and a shell.

I think there are three base elements.. that dont relate to each other but show God working in threes.. liquid, metal and gas.

 

[ewq1938]

An egg has yoke, flesh and a shell.

It also has an inner and outer membrane plus an air cell.

 

[wattie]

It also has an inner and outer membrane plus an air cell.

Yeah.. these are just analogies ... not fully explaining the trinity. There is faults in all of them.

What really matters is Jesus is God, the Holy Spirit is God and the Father is God

They are coequal and co-eternal and coexisting

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

It also has an inner and outer membrane plus an air cell.

LOL

 

[ewq1938]

Yeah.. these are just analogies ... not fully explaining the trinity. There is faults in all of them.

What really matters is Jesus is God, the Holy Spirit is God and the Father is God

They are coequal and co-eternal and coexisting

It's always best to use three of the same thing in Trinity analogies. So, three of water, or three of ice, or three of steam. Mixing different states of water is where the line into Modalism is crossed.

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

I may be crossing the rules of the OP, here . . . but . . .

It is said that no one can stand in the full presence of God and live. However, we can walk in the presence of Christ and what is more, He is capable of granting Eternal Life. The Indwelling Holy Spirit teaches, leads, guides, and changes. All three are our Powerful, Lord and God!

I haven't walked in the presence of Christ, but I have been Indwelt and Transformed by the Spirit . . . and incredibly, I have experienced enough of the Power of the Lord that if He had shared more, my physical flesh would have been somehow altered, up to and including death. I had felt so much of His Power that I was truly close to the edge of dying. Imagine that . . . Peace and Love so Powerful that they could kill you.

I "get" the Trinity. I understand "It" in a physical and measurable way. I have experienced the Trinity less walking with Christ. It is easier to understand than most people realize. To understand the Trinity, which accompanies [knowing] the Will of the Lord, these are only obtainable through a genuine, life-changing Romans 12:2 Transformation.

Romans 12:2 NLT - "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Folks . . . if you do not have a genuine Roman's 12:2 Transformation story, I highly suggest that you pray to Jesus that He would Circumcise your heart . . . RIGHT NOW.

Forget all of this other nonsense that we fight and argue incessantly about, here . . . and ask Jesus to cut away the Sinful Nature from your Heart. For crying out loud . . . memorize the Seven verses below. There is nothing, NOTHING more important in the Bible that "you" understand more so than the below text.

Colossians 2:9-15 NLT - "For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision--the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross."

 

[justbyfaith]

Just thought I would throw this in.

https://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/understanding-the-trinity-as-a-doctrine.201406/

 

[Nehemiah6]

Job 11:7-9 is not stating that the Trinity cannot be explained.

If something is stated indirectly, that should be a word to the wise. So if you believe you are wise enough to explain the Trinity, go right ahead.

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

If something is stated indirectly, that should be a word to the wise. So if you believe you are wise enough to explain the Trinity, go right ahead.

Your sarcasm is duly noted. I don't enter into meaningful conversation with people who are abusive, controlling, and manipulative.

I will, however, correct you when you're clearly in the wrong, such as acting as though you're some sort of specialist or master of the knowledge and process of "cremation." - I have little patience for those who present themselves as "know-it-alls."