Explaining the Trinity and Common Misconceptions
What is the Trinity?
The Trinity, from the words "tri" meaning three and "unity", is a concept that explains the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
What is the correct interpretation of the Trinity?
As taught in the Nicene Creed, God is one being (essence) but three distinct persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
The Father is not the Son nor the Holy Spirit; the Son is not the Father nor the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit is not the Son nor the Father, but all three are of one essence.
253 The Trinity is One. We do not confess three Gods, but one God in three persons, the 'consubstantial Trinity.' The divine persons do not share the one divinity among themselves but each of them is God whole and entire: 'The Father is that which the Son is, the Son that which the Father is, the Father and the Son that which the Holy Spirit is, i.e., by nature one God.' In the words of the Fourth Lateran Council (1215): 'Each of the persons is that supreme reality, viz., the divine substance, essence or nature.'- Catechism of the Catholic Church
254 The divine persons are really distinct from one another. 'God is one but not solitary.' 'Father,'' 'Son,'' 'Holy Spirit' are not simply names designating modalities of the divine being, for they are really distinct from one another: 'He is not the Father who is the Son, nor is the Son he who is the Father, nor is the Holy Spirit he who is the Father or the Son.' They are distinct from one another in their relations of origin: 'It is the Father who generates, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds.' The divine Unity is Triune.- Catechism of the Catholic Church
Summary:
- The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct persons, not just roles or manifestations of God.
- God is one being, not three separate gods.
- The Son and the Holy Spirit share the same divine nature as the Father; they are not created beings.
- We serve one God, yet He exists as three distinct persons, not three separate beings: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each fully divine, co-eternal, and united in one eternal essence.
Is the Trinity Biblical?
Hey wait a minute! The Trinity isn't mentioned in the scriptures! - you probably
Yes, it's true that the word "Trinity" is not mention in New Testament or Old Testament, but the concept of it does exist.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit- Matthew 28:19 (NIV)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.- John 14:16-17 (NIV)
Also, another point to mention is the fact that the early Christian Church recognized the concept of Trinity before the term had even been created.
Study, therefore, to be established in the doctrines of the Lord and the apostles, that so all things, whatsoever you do, may prosper both in the flesh and spirit; in faith and love; in the Son, and in the Father, and in the Spirit; in the beginning and in the end;- Chapter 13, Letter to the Magnesians
Hence are we called atheists. And we confess that we are atheists, so far as gods of this sort are concerned, but not with respect to the most true God, the Father of righteousness and temperance and the other virtues, who is free from all impurity. But both Him, and the Son (who came forth from Him and taught us these things, and the host of the other good angels who follow and are made like to Him), and the prophetic Spirit, we worship and adore, knowing them in reason and truth, and declaring without grudging to every one who wishes to learn, as we have been taught.- Chapter 6, The First Apology
Misconceptions About The Trinity
Misconception #1: Jesus is Created
Some people believe that Jesus was created by the Father rather than being eternally God. This idea is known as Arianism, which was condemned by the early Church.
Arianism taught that because Jesus is called the 'Son,' He must have been created, implying there was a time when He did not exist, making Him subordinate to the Father.
This idea of Jesus being created by the Father is of course false because it is refuted by Scripture:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.- John 1:1 (NIV)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.- John 1:14 (NIV)
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!- Philippians 2:6-8 (NIV)
Also, the Nicene Creed (325 AD) directly refuted Arianism, stating that Jesus is "begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father." This means He is of the same divine nature as the Father and was not created.
The Nicene Creed and The Apostles' Creed
Even though the Filioque is not recognized by the Orthodox Church, it doesn't change the fact that the Nicene Creed clearly affirms that Christ, the Son, is not created.
The Creed declares that Jesus Christ is begotten of the Father, not made.
What makes the Nicene Creed reliable? It's not scripture! - you probably
While the Nicene Creed is not part of Scripture, it was created by the early church to summarize key doctrines (in this case the Trintiy).
So the only time the Nicene Creed would ever be considered unreliable, is if the early Christian Church has been corrupted from the start.
Misconception #2: The Trinity is Three Gods
Some Christians and non Christians mistakenly think that the Trinity teaches three different gods—one Father, one Son, and one Holy Spirit acting independently. This is known as Tritheism, which is not the same thing as modalism.
Same as misconception number one, the belief that there are three gods is false because it contradicts Scripture:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.- Deuteronomy 6:4
I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.- Isaiah 45:5
Also, it is clearly stated in the Cathecism of the Catholic Church that we do not serve three Gods but one.
We do not confess three Gods, but one God in three persons, the 'consubstantial Trinity.'- Catechism of the Catholic Church
Misconception #3: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit Are Merely Identities of God (Modalism)
As mention before, the false belief of Modalism teaches that God is only one person who appears in three different modes at different times.
(Unfortunately, I believed this for the longest time. I am only thankful that my curiosity and reading of the Catechism of the Catholic Church made me realize my error.)
This belief is of course false because it contradicts scripture:
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased.'- Matthew 3:16-17 (NIV)
Matthew 3:16-17 talks about Jesus's baptism, where Jesus, The Father, and The Holy Spirit are present.
Also in John 14:16, , if you remember, supports the idea of a Triune God because it shows that Jesus distinguishes Himself from the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Misconception #4: The Holy Spirit is Not a Personal Being
Some Christians from the Protestant denominations believes that the Holy Spirit is just a force, energy, or presence rather than an actual person. An example are Jehovah’s Witnesses.
(I'm also guilty of this belief despite being Roman Catholic for so long)
But it clearly states in the Bible that the Spirit is its own divine person, it has a will and mind of its own:
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.- John 14:26 (NIV)
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'- Acts 13:2
Final Words
Despite being a Catholic (Roman Catholic), I never truly understood the meaning of the Trinity. Prior to my research, I had always thought that the Father and the Son were simply the same being with different identities (modalism) and that the Holy Spirit was merely a force or cultural influence that remained due to the works of God.
I'm glad my curiosity led me to research this topic, and I hope that you, the reader, now have a clearer understanding of the Trinity as well. Wishing you a wonderful day or night!
Copyright ©2025 by Marshall Vulta
Comments ()