The Triune God: concept, interpretation, foundations of faith and icons

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

On the 50th day after Easter, the entire Christian world celebrates the second big holiday, the Day of Pentecost. The holiday is better known as Trinity. This significant event glorifies the Triune God, praising His extraordinary Personality, manifested to humanity in three persons, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Mysterious and Almighty

In ancient times, the Slavs, Greeks and other peoples worshiped pagan idols and deities. The Gods of War, Fire, Sun, Water, Love were emotional, humanoid, harsh, and cruel beings, but so understandable… When humanity converted to Christianity, the religious world learned about another God. About the Loving Creator, who created the earth and its inhabitants, about Who, out of great and all-forgiving love for people, sent His Only Begotten Son to earth, who took upon himself the sins of the whole world. The merciful God of Jewish origin has won millions of hearts. After all, this is how the Lord should be: forgiving, just and kind. Only one fact does not give people and skeptics peace. He sows discord amongdifferent faiths, gives rise to a lot of disputes and discussions - this is the personality of the Triune God.

Trinity Denial

The teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses in every way rejects the trinity of the Creator. They deride the biblical verses that point to this moment, and interpret the Scriptures in their own way. In principle, it is easy for them to do this. In order to save the minds of parishioners from such "crazy thoughts", the followers of Calvin built "their own" Bible, which is called the "New World Translation". It denies the triune essence of Jehovah, which deprives the Creator of some mystery and divinity. The Almighty of Jehovah's Witnesses does not have the qualities that the "Triune" Creator has. According to them, the Lord does not have "omnipresence." This requires having the personality of the Holy Spirit, which they say Jehovah does not have.

The Trinity of God causes caustic laughter from the "Calvinists" who call the Trinity "polytheism".

In their opinion, the Almighty is no different from man, except for the "eternal flesh" and other miracles. But what does the Bible say? That God is Triune - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

One or Triune?

For many centuries mankind has puzzled whether God is One or Triune. How does he look like? What does it feel? Which of Them created man?

Some artists depicted a three-headed deity, arguing what appearance the Triune God could have: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This icon shows it clearly.

Biblical references to the Triune Personality of the Creator

If you carefully read and study the texts of the Holy Scriptures, you can find a lot of verses that describe the unique personality of the Lord.

The first mention of the Triune God is written in the 1st chapter of Genesis. It looks like this:

And God said: Let us make man in Our image and after Our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the beasts, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all creeping things, reptiles on the ground.

The triune essence of God was present at the creation of the world and humanity. Both the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit are an inseparable Person of one whole.

Gospel of the Trinity

There are many references to the Triune God in the New Testament. In chapter 1 of the Gospel of John, these words are written:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The word in the New Testament is called Jesus Christ. This phrase confirms the identity of the Father and the Son as one.

Actually, at birth and conception, God appeared in three persons: the Father sent the Holy Spirit to Mary, and she conceived the Son.

The angel said to Her in response: The Holy Spirit will come upon You, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You; therefore, the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.

When Jesus was 30 years old, He began His ministry among the people. One day He came to be baptized to John the Baptist. During water baptism, the Holy Spiritdescended on Christ in the form of a dove, and a thunderous voice was heard from heaven, announcing to people: "Behold my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

The photo is one of the brightest examples, representing each of the faces of the Triune God.

Power or Spirit?

Jehovah's Witnesses, desiring to comprehend the Creator's personality with the material mind, erect a theory according to which the Spirit of the Triune God is not a person, but a force. At the creation of the world, the Bible says that the Spirit of God hovered over the water, to which the "Calvinists" suggest that "the power of God was stretched out over the smooth surface of the water."

However, many thousands of years ago, Jesus Christ "did not share" the opinion of Jehovah's Witnesses, telling his disciples about a special "Comforter" that would be given to them after His ascension.

No one could understand who they were talking about, but Christ was talking about the third person of God - the Holy Spirit, who will "instruct, encourage, comfort."

These facts, centuries later, make it clear to the Christian why God is Triune.

Divine Person of the Holy Spirit

The followers of Christ on the day of His ascension looked into the sky for a long time, expecting that their beloved Teacher would return or the Comforter would appear, but they did not see anyone. Except the men of heaven - the angels. It was they who commanded them to follow the words of Christ, to bring His light and teaching to people.

And exactly 10 days later, the future apostles felt the appearance of the third person of the Most High - the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. He was on fireeach of them with the tongue of flame, endowing the disciples with great wisdom, the ability to heal, resurrect, understand and speak in hitherto unfamiliar dialect and language. Amazing things began to happen to the early Christians. They became like their Master! The word spoken by the Creator on the day of the creation of Adam came true: "Let us make man in Our image and after Our likeness." The apostles were supermen, like their Lord. The Comforter was with them now, and He continued to work the miracles of Jesus while in the followers of Christ.

Throughout the existence of the Universe, the Triune God appeared to humanity in three forms.

In the beginning as the Father, the Creator, the Almighty Existing - Jehovah. He spoke to prophets and certain men in dreams, in a burning bush, on Mount Sinai, through letters and angels from heaven. No one has ever seen Him, but legends were made about His power and glory, justice and severity, they formed their own opinion about the Omnipresent Creator. The Lord, with an invisible hand, performed miracles confirming His existence: He fed the Jews with heavenly manna, resurrected the son of a widow, extinguished the fire of the altar of Elijah by sending rain from heaven, which annoyed the pagan prophets. The invisible hand of the Creator parted the Black Sea into two halves, paving a long and safe road through the seabed for the Jewish people.

The Invisible Creator did wonderful things and people believed in His existence. And they feared Him.

Jesus Christ revealed to mankind Jehovah as Loving and Merciful. Of such a Lord they say: "God isLove".

Jesus fed people and performed all kinds of miracles for them: He healed the sick and the lame, gave sight to the blind. He cast out demons and evil spirits from "possessed" people, demonstrated forgiveness and unconditional love. Christ did not separate people from rich and poor, saints and sinners. Treated a woman taken in adultery with understanding and mercy.

Thousands of years later, it's funny to watch the biblical characters who tried to embarrass Jesus Christ by asking him a tricky question, not suspecting that the simple son of a carpenter standing in front of them has the Higher Reason and Wisdom, being the second person of the Triune God, the Savior demonstrates God's unconditional love, forgiveness and acceptance of every sinner, regardless of his atrocities. During a cruel execution, overcoming terrible pain and torment, Christ cries out to heaven: "Father! Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." He experiences suffering, but the loving heart of the Lord notices the repentant thief and immediately encourages him: "Today you will be with me in paradise."

In the Gospel of Luke, one interesting moment is described when Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane before being taken into custody. An angel descended from heaven and supported Him. Not the voice of the Father, not the Holy Spirit, but a heavenly servant descended from heaven to Him. How majestic in its simplicity the Son of God looks, who voluntarily gave himself to be torn apart by people. The holiness of God focused on the Son of man at the moment of His sacrifice.

The Resurrected Savior is unrecognizable in a new body. It shines with divine gloryand inner peace. He fulfilled the mission, showing humanity Love, Mercy and Forgiveness of sins.

Three-person image

The Church of the Triune God preaches the Trinity and explains the essence of the meaning of the Divine personality. The Creator, being in three hypostases, has "equal divine cooperation". Each of the personalities is equal to the other, there is no “neither the smallest nor the highest” among them. It is a delusion to think that the personality of the Son is less than the personality of the Father.

Many drawings and icons depict Jesus as a young man, and Father God as an ancient old man. The Holy Spirit is drawn in the form of a dove. Such pictures have nothing to do with the biblical image of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the Revelation of the Apostle John, there is a description of God the Father, which has nothing to do with the appearance of an old man. In fact, only the Son of Man - Jesus Christ - had an age and characteristic facial features, since He was crucified at 33 years old. God the Father has no age. In the picture, He could be portrayed as a young, radiant King, younger than the Savior - and this would be very plausible.

This is how the apostle John describes the appearance of Jehovah in revelation:

And I saw an open sky, and behold a white horse, and the one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, Who judges righteously and fights.

His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems. He had a name written that no one knew but Himself.

He was dressed in clothes stained with blood. His Name: "The Word of God".

And the armies of heaven followed Him onwhite horses, clothed in white and clean linen.

From His mouth comes a sharp sword to smite the nations. He shepherds them with a rod of iron; He tramples on the winepress of the wine of rage and wrath of God Almighty.

On His garment and on His thigh is His name written: "King of kings and Lord of lords".

The Lord says that he is "Alpha and omega, beginning and end, was crucified and resurrected".

The Triune God in Christianity has three equal incarnations - and each of them has a special characteristic:

• Father - creation, creation;
• Son - salvation, forgiveness;
• The Holy Spirit - sanctification, encouragement.

All three Personalities perform "their function" forever and ever, being the Only Living Loving Creator.

One Protestant missionary describes the interpretation of "God Triune", comparing the divine person with water. Water can change from one state to another.

How are three substances completely different in formula and state in "one whole"? We demonstrate an example with a piece of ice. Put a saucepan on a hot stove and put ice in it. When heated, the ice will melt, forming water and steam. The saucepan contains "three forms of one being": ice, water, steam. In addition, they are shown simultaneously.

Icons and the Trinity

The Triune God in Orthodoxy is a consubstantial and inseparable Person. The dogma of the Lord's trinity contains secrecy, incomprehensible to the human mind. Pavel Florensky spoke of the Trinity of Being as a "cross forhuman mind."

A Christian should reject dubious arguments about the Holy Trinity, renounce human understanding and listen to the Holy Scriptures with faith in the heart.

The name of the icon of the Triune God sounds like the "Life-Giving Trinity" of St. Andrei Rublev. In the work, the main figures are angels sitting in a circle, identical in significance and appearance. This icon is considered to reveal the spiritual essence of the Trinity. On the canvas, each of the faces of the Triune God has no differences in appearance.

Earlier, in the Great Moscow Cathedral, a ban was introduced on the image of the Trinity, in particular God the Father, whom "no one has ever seen".

In the 16th century, the Stoglavy Cathedral decided that it was allowed to paint icons according to Greek patterns, or like Rublev - without separating the equality of the Trinity from each other.

This is a symbolic icon, in the center of which are three holy figures, silently bowed before the table. On the surface of the table, there is a bowl depicting the torment of the Savior Christ, which he is ready to endure for the salvation of the human race. In the container lies the head of a calf, indicating the sacrifice of the act.

The icon of the Triune God carries guidance to a person for the righteous path and departure from sinful deeds. "Holy Trinity" helps to be cleansed of sins, to start a new life, full of reverence and holiness, good deeds and the grace of God. The image supports the one who needs help, helps to overcome experiences and troubles.

Name of icons withdepiction of the Triune God:

• "The Throne" - on the icon God the Father is depicted as a wise gray-haired old man, the Son of God is a beautiful royal man, and the Holy Spirit has become like a dove.
• "Fatherland" - the icon depicts the elder Father-God, on whose lap sits the little Savior. In the hands of Christ holds a dove - the Spirit. Thus the Trinity of God is represented: the Spirit in the Son, the Son in the Father. Haloes with crosses surround the heads of the Father and the Son of God, angels are behind the throne.
• "The Trinitarian Deity" - an icon made by the emperor of Byzantium Leo the Fifth.
• "Sabaoth" - the icon depicts the Just Judge-Creator, in His medallion there is an image of Emmanuel and a dove - the Holy Spirit.
• "Six days" - tells about the Creation of the World in six days with the participation of the Triune God.
• "The Only Begotten Son and the Kingdom of God" - represents the image of Christology, shows the essence of humanity and the role of the Creator in the creation and salvation of people. The picture shows the Earth, Adam and Eve, driven out of Paradise into the possession of the tempting Serpent, on the left - the Kingdom of Heaven.

Prayer to the Triune God

For a Christian, prayer is of great importance - a conversation with the Creator. Turning to the Lord, a person praises His Name, opens his heart and soul, brings needs, experiences into the hands of God and thanks for His participation in his life. Comprehending the Trinity, a person turned to the Almighty thinks about what prayer to the Triune God should be like.

When the disciples turned to Jesus with a wish: "Teacher, teach us to pray!", Christ told a prayer that the whole modern world knows: "Our Father".

Our Father who art in heaven! May your name be hallowed; Let your kingdom come; may Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; Give us our daily bread for this day; And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

This prayer did not mention the Son of God or the Holy Spirit. At that time, the Savior did not reveal his divine Personality and did not convey information about the third person of God - the Holy Spirit. Before the crucifixion of Jesus, much information about the plans and essence of the Almighty remained a secret.

In the deeds of the apostles there are changes in the prayers of the first Christians. At the end of the appeal to God is always added: "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

In the prayer of Jesus Christ there is a direct appeal to the Father: "Our Father", but several times, preaching the kingdom of God to the people, Emmanuel focuses on the following points: "…what do not ask My Father in My Name: he will give you ".

Given the fact that the three hypostases are equal in the personality of the Triune God, it is important to whom exactly the person will address. But since Jesus set the example of addressing the Father, Christians pray this way: "Father", "Our Father". Many pray to the Creator like this: "God", "Lord", "My God, Jesus Christ".

End prayer with "Father, Son and Holy Spirit".

The Only Creator

The Trinity of God is an interesting and mysterious topic. On the one hand, the Bible says that the Lord is One, on the other - Triune. Different concepts of the personality of Existing give rise to the appearance of various denominations. God is One or Triune - a question that torments millions of minds.

If we consider the synodal translation of the Bible, which has authority among Christian denominations, then in the end we will have to agree with the indisputable truth: God is One. One, because the only one. The word "One" means the only Creator, who has no equal anywhere. There are no Zeus, Yarilo and other mythological figures and pagan idols, only He is the Only Lord and Creator.

But the person of God is extraordinary. It is also said in the Bible - God Triune. From the pages of the Old and New Testaments, the deeds of three Divine personalities appear.

The Lord has three faces, three hypostases, three "roles" in a person's life: Creator, Savior and Comforter.

Perhaps this is the main answer to the question why God is Triune.

Feast of the Holy Trinity

In Orthodoxy, the Trinity is one of the biggest and most significant holidays. It is celebrated on the 5th day after Easter. On the eve of the holiday, on Friday, it is customary to do a general cleaning in houses, decorate the premises with green branches, birch, maple, bouquets of green plants and herbs.

On Saturday they visit cemeteries andclean up the graves of the dead.

The solemn service begins on Sunday. They begin the day with a prayer: "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us."

In temples on this day, all texts and prayers are read in a kneeling position. At first, they turn to God in a simple prayer, without separating His person, offering thanks and glory to Him, asking for forgiveness and mercy. Three prayers are said last, addressed to each person of God: the Heavenly Father, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit.

The Triune Creator who bestows Love, Grace and Forgiveness; The Creator of the vast Universe, who took on human flesh in order to reveal God to people, giving Holy Grace, who abides in the life of Christians by His Holy Spirit.

The Lord manifests itself in the life of a religious citizen, showing three hypostases in modern days: he rules the planet Earth and the luminaries as the Creator, through the image of the Savior Christ, people have material ideas about God, which are so necessary for human understanding. Christians turn to the Almighty through Christ, and receive an answer to prayer through the Holy Spirit.

God Triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We hope that this article answered the readers' questions.