T R I N I T YWhy Catholic Believes?

By: Gary Lanuza

Noun: God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God.

From Latin words

‘trinas’ & ‘unitas’, or three that

unites

Perichoresis is a Greek term used to describe the triune relationship between each person of the Godhead

the Symbol

 Triquetra is a three-part interlocking fish symbol that symbolizes the Unity of HolyTrinity.

From Latin words, tri ‘three’ and quetrus ’corner’

How can God be three

persons, yet

one God?

One of the Greatest MYSTERIES of The Catholic Faith

St. Augustine

Is it possible to explain the Trinity?

We cannot understand God fully because he is infinite and we are mere

specks of dust. No man will ever plumb his wisdom.

We are finite & God is infinite. Yet, God is not bound to such a

limited existence.

“Try to understand it and you will loose your mind; deny it and you will lose your soul.”

- Tertullian

c.160 AD

St. Augustine’s Analogy

St. Augustine wrote a major treatise “On The Trinity”, in which he notes that of all creatures, only man is made in the ‘image’ of God. He reasoned therefore, that the best analogy for God’s nature would be found in the creature who bears His image.

He sought to understand God’s Triunity in studying

dimensions of man’s personality.

The Father is 1 true God

The Son is1 true God, and

The Holy Spirit is1 True God.

There are not 3 Gods, but 1 God.x God Is Not:

1 + 1 + 1 = 3 God Is:

1 x 1 x 1 = 1

How About Analogy?noun: drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect

Do not confuse the analogy or model presented here.

Understand the limitations of an ANALOGY

St. Patrick’s Analogy

St. Patrick, the evangelist to Ireland, tried to teach about the Trinity by showing the shamrock, a three leaf clover, to the ancient residents of the island [Ireland]. The Trinity is composed of three persons (the 3 leaves) who are in nature one being (the shamrock itself). Each has a distinct function in relation to humanity.

Creation (Constructing a Building)

Architect Contractor Construction Worker

The source of the design.

Organizes and

oversees the workers.

Performs the actual work of

construction.

So, who is responsible for the existence of the building?

These analogies are woefully inadequate

to explain GOD.

Is it found in the BIBLE?

Although the doctrine of the Trinity is not explicitly found

in the Bible, several passages suggest or even imply that God exists as more than one person.

We cannot deny that there is something called ‘bible’ even if no such name is to be found in the Bible – word for word. Likewise, no exact word for Trinity is found in the scripture but several passage for the idea are there.

Remember: That the bible was not sent from heaven in complete form, it was only compiled on the 4th century by the Catholic Church.

To claim that TRINITY does not exist, because the exact word

does not appear in the Bible is a failure to understand the Bible.

The name does not make the essence; the essence must exist first, then we

give it a name.

What do the plural verb ("let us") and the plural pronoun ("our") mean?

God here is “Elohiym” in Hebrew, a plural intensive, but singular meaning

Notice the three ‘Holy’, why 3? why not 4?

1 2 3

What constitute the plural “Us”?

What constitute the plural “Us”?

Jesus rightly understands that David is referring to two separate persons as “Lord” (Matt. 22:41-46), but who is David's “Lord” if not God himself ?

“Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:28).

Who is this “Son” mentioned by David?

The Complete Revelation of TRINITY

"After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’ Matthew 3:16-17

In this scene, there are three characters involve: 1. The Father – who spoke ‘this is my beloved son 2. The Son - who was baptized 3. The Spirit - in the form of a dove

Father – Creator – creates and makes all things possible.

Son – Redeemer – saves humanity from their sins by becoming human.

Spirit – Sanctifier – continually makes things holy as a gift sent from the Father and the Son.

Attribution

Personality requires interaction. Thus we think of the

triune God as three persons,

continuously interacting and

interpenetrating one another.

There is One GOD, we bless ourselves In the ‘name’ of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit, not In the ‘names’ of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

JESUS COMPARED TO GOD

JESUS, GOD IN OLD AND NEW

Counselor or Comforter (Gk. Parakletos) is a term commonly used to speak of a person who helps or gives comfort or counsel to another person or persons, but is used of the Holy Spirit in John's gospel (14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7).

The HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD"But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan

filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold,

was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your

heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”"(Acts 5:3-4)

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord."(1 Corinthians 12:4-5)

THE HOLY SPIRIT - OMNISCIENCE

THE HOLY SPIRIT - OMNIPRESENCE

THE HOLY SPIRIT - OMNIPOTENCE

And the most obvious verse in

the Bible …

If we could fully explain God,

would he still be God?