Trinity & Unity

Verse “For there are three that bear witness in heaven, The Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7)

background Any dogmas or doctrines such as Incarnation, Divinity of Christ, Trinity and Unity, etc.. Are above the ability and comprehension of our human minds because it is related to God Who is unlimited whereas we as human beings are limited.

Foundation The Dogmas or Doctrines of the Church have not originated from man, nor the Saints but rather were revealed by God Himself. Example 1: The Divinity of Christ “for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17)

Biblical Proof of Unity “....the Lord Himself is God, there is none other besides Him” (Deuteronomy 4:35) “... The Lord our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4) “... You are the Lord God, you alone.” (2 Kings 19:19) “... It is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” (Matthew 4:10) “... Who can forgive sins but God alone.” (Mark 2:7) “...And this eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God...” (John 17:3) We believe in One God with three Hypostases “Truly, we believe in One God...” (the Nicene Creed)

The Christian Trinity The dogma of the Trinity is not against the dogma of Unity. Our Great God is One OUSIA (One Essence) and three Hypostases.  The Divine Self  The Divine Wisdom  The Divine Life The three Hypostases are not separated, they are co-essentially One God. Divine Self+ Divine Wisdom+ Divine Life= ONE GOD

“OUSIA” OUSIA means the nature that characterizes this Being. Divine OUSIA: The Godhead; Omnipotence; the Almighty who fills all places and created all things. Our God is One in Essence i.e. He Is Unique in kind, there is no one like Him.

????????? How can we the limited the bound grasp or understand God who is unlimited and unbound? We have to wait till eternity comes and then we shall see the Lord face to face but now we see Him dimly: “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Where do we see teachings of the Trinity? 1- The Holy Bible. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”(Matthew 28:19) “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35) “And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:10-11) The promise of our Lord Jesus Christ about the work of the Holy Spirit “...because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ (Galations 4:6)

2- Tradition: a)The signing of the Holy Cross b)In hymns, doxologies, praises we receite the phrase: “Glory be to God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” c)We see the Trinity referenced in the:  The Apostles Creed  The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (aka the Nicene Creed)

3- The Church’s History &Ecumenical councils Arius’ Heresy denied the Divinity of Christ Macedonius’ Heresy: denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit Sabellius’ Heresy: denied the validity of the Trinity when he said that their is one hypostasis that appeared once as a Father as a Son and as a Holy Spirit.

Hypostasis “hypo” means “under” “Stasis” means “standing” Hence hypostasis is the original characteristic without which the Divine Essence cannot stand. EXISTANCE : Is it reasonable that God exist without this characteristic? On the contrary... He exists. He is the source of existance

Wisdom Or Mind Is it possible that God exists without this characteristic? How does He give us the power to think then? How does He control the universe? Life : The Characteristic of life is essential to God... He lives forever. He gives life. It is impossible to imagine that he can exist without life. Our great God then is a Wise Living Spirit or a Wise Living Being. Think about it this way: if we as humans have the same three characteristics, shouldn’t our Creator have these characteristics also since He created us in His image?

Similarities or Analogies The Sun : Sun’s Shape (or disc) + light + heat= One Sun. The disc is different from light and from heat but the three are inseparable. Light is generated from the disc and heat is issued forth from the disc. Heat is issued forth from the disc and the rays of light carry it to us. The same thing is said when we say that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father but the Son sends the Holy Spirit to us. Mathematical Example: 1x1x1=1 “I am in the Father and the Father is in Me” (John 14:10) “I and My Father are One” (John 10:30) The Human Being (Body, Mind, Spirit)