Nature of God and the TrinitY
- Syllabus Outcome: Outline the beliefs about the nature of God and of the Trinity
Christians believe that God is One and the Creator of all things. This same God is also known as three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit - making the central dogma of the Christian faith. The three persons all exist in a relationship to each other: A lover, a beloved and a union of love. Each person of the Trinity is distinct, yet does not act in isolation from the others.
The Trinity traditionally has been described in relation to three key functions -
- Creating - Bringing God's new life to all creation
- Redeeming - Turning all creation from sin and darkness and more fully towards God
- Sanctifying - Blessing and making holy all creation
Activity 1: Define Key Terms
- Dogma
- Trinity
Activity 2: Trinity in the Bible (Exercise Book)
The word "Trinity" does not occur in the Bible but is not an unbiblical concept. Respond to this statement using Matthew 28:19, 2 Cor. 13:14 and your own reference to support your answer. (3 marks)
Activity 3: Explaining the Trinity
The Athanasian Creed is a Christian statement of belief focused on the dogma of the Trinity. The Creed has been used by Christian Churches, including the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Churches and other liturgical Protestant Churches.
In relation to the diagram above, choose a section of the Creed and write an argument on whether or not this depiction is appropriate to communicate what is God.
Activity 4 - Icon
In the Orthodox Church, icons are not just pretty pictures. They are sacred images that tell a story and provide a window into the spiritual world. Their designs are intended to help Christian achieve a prayerful mind set and take the adherant into contemplation. The icon above is one of the most popular depictions of the Trinity. Use the resource below to make a list of the symbolism used in the icon. Do you think the icon is an effective way of communicating Christian beliefs about the Trinity? What other symbols of the Trinity can you find?
Resource: Orthodox Christian Library (click here)
Activity 5 - Catechism of the Catholic Church (Exercise books)
Outline the beliefs about the nature of God and of the Trinity
Make reference to the Catechsim of the Catholic Church
- Article 2: I believe in God (click here)
- Hint: Look at paragraph numbers 232, 234, 237, 239, 241, 242, 243, 249, 261
Activity 6 - Denominational Statments about God
Although some theological beliefs are broad enough to apply to all mainline Christian denominations, it may be of interest to explore the manner in which various confessional agencies have chosen to officially express these beliefs. The attachment contains excerpts from official doctrinal statements about God made by several Christian traditions.
Denominational Statements about God 2014.doc (32256)
Compare the statement made by the Catholic Church to one other Christian denomination. What language is similar? What language is different?