DeLeon Dallas
Faith and Life
Paradox Paper
October 3, 2012
One God / Three Persons
In order to understand and area of tension within a christian paradox, you must first understand what a paradox is. A paradox by definition is a tenet or proposition contrary to received opinion; an assertion or sentiment seemingly contradictory, or opposed to common sense; that which in appearance or terms is absurd, but yet may be true in fact. In other words a paradox is a statement that seems to contradict itself but is nevertheless true. One God, three persons is the area of tension or christian paradox that I will be exploring for my research. In this research we will need to understand the nature of the paradox, what are some ways the tension has been addressed, and what ways has the Lutheran church approach this issue.
One God, three persons is a paradox that is also closely related to the term "Trinity." In Christianity, the union of three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is in one Godhead. The precise meaning of the doctrine has been the cause of an unending dispute, and was the main reason why the split between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches came about. The official teachings of the Trinity does not appear in the Bible, but was developed by early church councils, and expressed in the creeds. Its very meaning has been a subject of disagreement among Christian scholars. In my research article it talked about how some try to explain the idea of Trinity by comparing the Godhead appearing in three forms to water, which can be ice, liquid, or steam. In the same way, the three aspects or energies are all part of the same God and exist in harmony. The article also stated that Christian belief in the Trinity may be described as: God the Father; God over us. The Creator and Ruler, who is beyond our human understanding. God the Son; God with us. Jesus the Saviour, or Redeemer, who takes away our sins. God the Holy Spirit; God in us. The power of God experienced by people in their lives, the living force of God all over the world; often pictured as a dove. The Holy Spirit inspires people, brings them to a new life, and gives them strength in times of difficulty.
The Christian understanding of the relationship between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are shown in the official teachings of the Trinity as set out in the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. The term Trinity is made up of "tri", meaning three and 'unity'. Christian beliefs states that God is 'Three in One' and Christians need to refer to all three to fully describe the nature of God. The article describes the Trinity as being monotheistic, which means we all believe that there is only one God, not three. However, God has three ways of being God, for example, just as a triangle has three sides, but is only one shape. This idea of God working in three ways is expected to strengthen the Christian belief in the 'Oneness of God'. All three are regarded as eternal everlasting, and fully God without dividing the true nature of God. The official teachings of the Trinity has caused great conflict for Christians who often find their beliefs involved difficult. Christians tend to proclaim their beliefs by joining in the prayer known as 'the Grace', from (2 Corinthians 13:13). They may also sing different hymns with words referring to the Trinity, and God as 'three persons'.
The Lutheran church has also made it clear that they too believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God. They recognize their church as believing in the Holy Trinity. In the Lutheran church they don't simply just believe in the Trinity, but worship the Holy Trinity. In their worship they not only confess their faith in the Trinity, but they encounter each of the persons of the Trinity in their distinction from one another and their unity with each other as the one God. In their worship Lutherans confess their faith in the Trinity in the words of the Nicene Creed. Lutherans are committed to the Nicene Creed as a binding dogma. They briefly summarize their shared faith in the Trinity by reference to the Nicene Creed. Lutherans confess their faith in "one Lord Jesus Christ , the only-begotten Son of God." In this article they state that, this eternal Son of God is " begotten, not made." Unlike any creature, he does not come to be out of nothing by an act of God's will. He is eternally generated or begotten by the Father, receiving from the Father the Father's own divine nature or essence. which is undivided. He is therefore "one in essence with the Father." Although, he is other than the Father, a person distinct from the Father, the Son is fully the one God, just as the Father is. Therefore Lutherans reject any form of Arianism, according to which the Son of God is less than fully God, and entitle to less than fully divine honor and worship.
The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the most important fundamental beliefs of the Christian Church . Many believers today are aware of its importance as a doctrine, but few would actually consider it as being immediately necessary to the way in which their life of faith is lived out. The doctrine of the Trinity is significant for the Christian life, is in the union that believers experience in Christ. Union with Christ can defined as being several different relationships that the believer has in Christ, whereby every benefit of salvation is received. These beliefs enable a Christian to live a powerful and victorious life. To be in union with Christ means that all things can be done in Him, and a godly life can be lived, with the result of bearing much fruit. Not only is the believer in Christ, but Christ is also in him or her; which is described as being a profound mystery. We as Christians observe how the union in Christ has these two aspects by pointing out that initial act is brought about by Christ, through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit; but also by the believer uniting him, or herself to Christ, by exercising faith in Him. The doctrine of the trinity should not be viewed as an irrelevance to Christian life and practice. On the contrary, it is only because of the doctrine that the believer is able to live their life of faith at all. This is evident in every area; from the fellow that is enjoyed in the Church, to God's complete work within an individual, and devotional life that they seek to live in Christ.
Works Cited
Humphreys, F. (2006). The revelation of the Trinity. Perspectives In Religious Studies, 33(3), 285-303.
Freeman, C. W. (2006). God in three persons: Baptist Unitarianism and the Trinity. Perspectives In Religious Studies, 33(3), 323-344.
Voulgaris, C. S. (1997). The Holy Trinity in Creation and Incarnation. Greek Orthodox Theological Review, 42(3-4), 245-258.