TRINITY

“3 Persons in One God”

The world “persons” in English is a problem – a person is an individual; it would mean “3 centers of consciousness”

Karl Rahner suggests “3 ways of being”

This comes not from intellectual ways of knowing, but experiential -

JESUS

The early followers of Jesus experienced him as a person

After Jesus left them, they experienced the love and guidance of his Spirit remaining with them

Jesus called God his “Father” – so the followers of Jesus thought of God as somehow separate from the Father

John 1:18

“No one has ever seen God. The only son, who is the same as God and is at the Father’s side, has made him known.”

The Trinity remains a mystery.

God is one, but has three distinguishable ways of being.

God is Relational

God is – and has always been – in relationship. It did not start when Jesus became human. The three “ways of being” always defined God.

At the heart of the divine mystery is community. That is the way we learn about the importance of our relationships and communities.

Language Problem

Our language limits the ways we can imagine God.

God is not “two men and a bird.”

Another idea: Creator, Liberator, Empowering Spirit (not attached to a gender or a bird)

Paul in Corinthians:

“Do we not have one God and one Christ and one Spirit of grace, a Spirit that was poured out upon us?”

Controversies/Heresies

Arianism – Jesus is not truly God

But if he is not, then his death on the cross is just a brave deed, not a saving act.

Nicene Creed – Jesus is “begotten, not made” He comes from the Father’s substance—he is the same substance