The Trinity
Jan 14, 2014 23:59:24 GMT
Post by Colossians on Jan 14, 2014 23:59:24 GMT
This material is for the teaching of the Body of Christ, however the author reserves copyright over it.
Forward
The problem with most definitions of the Trinity, is that as they relate the one side of things, they don’t quite let go of the other side. Here is the relevant section of the Athanasian Creed:
“we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity; to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord;”
The sections we have highlighted in red, attest to what we are saying: in following up the (particular) severalty aspect each time with “and yet” (as preface to the (relevant) oneness aspect), the creed necessarily introduces the contradiction which, ironically, consists in not admitting to the contradiction necessarily-inherent in the definition of the Trinity.
That is, it should not be “and yet”, but simply “and”.
____________
THE TRINITY
Definition
Severalty Aspect
God is three completely separate individual beings, without any overlap whatsoever, as independent as you and I. Not merely distinct, but distinct by virtue of being completely separate. Each separate being is a person in the full sense of the word, a closed entity, with a name which fully and exhaustively identifies that person, as with any human being.
Oneness Aspect
God is one being and only one being, with no severalty about Him whatsoever and thus, from a human viewpoint, completely contradicting the Severalty Aspect.
Consolidation
The Trinity (therefore) consists of a superset infinity which contains three independent subset infinities, each of which cannot be smaller than the superset infinity, by virtue of the fact that no infinity is greater than another.
The Son subordinate to the Father and yet equal to the Father
The Son is subordinate to the Father in that He proceeded out of the Father. The Son is necessarily equal to the Father in that He demonstrates the Father perfectly.
How can we be sure that the Son is demonstrating the Father and not simply demonstrating Himself?
Because He has said so:
“The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” John 5:19.
Amen.
Forward
The problem with most definitions of the Trinity, is that as they relate the one side of things, they don’t quite let go of the other side. Here is the relevant section of the Athanasian Creed:
“we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity; to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord;”
The sections we have highlighted in red, attest to what we are saying: in following up the (particular) severalty aspect each time with “and yet” (as preface to the (relevant) oneness aspect), the creed necessarily introduces the contradiction which, ironically, consists in not admitting to the contradiction necessarily-inherent in the definition of the Trinity.
That is, it should not be “and yet”, but simply “and”.
____________
THE TRINITY
Definition
Severalty Aspect
God is three completely separate individual beings, without any overlap whatsoever, as independent as you and I. Not merely distinct, but distinct by virtue of being completely separate. Each separate being is a person in the full sense of the word, a closed entity, with a name which fully and exhaustively identifies that person, as with any human being.
Oneness Aspect
God is one being and only one being, with no severalty about Him whatsoever and thus, from a human viewpoint, completely contradicting the Severalty Aspect.
Consolidation
The Trinity (therefore) consists of a superset infinity which contains three independent subset infinities, each of which cannot be smaller than the superset infinity, by virtue of the fact that no infinity is greater than another.
The Son subordinate to the Father and yet equal to the Father
The Son is subordinate to the Father in that He proceeded out of the Father. The Son is necessarily equal to the Father in that He demonstrates the Father perfectly.
How can we be sure that the Son is demonstrating the Father and not simply demonstrating Himself?
Because He has said so:
“The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” John 5:19.
Amen.