The Trinity: the mysterious nature, difficult to understand but does the Bible teach it?

The Trinity is one of the most difficult to understand for Christians and non-Christians alike. And yet it is one of the cornerstones to Christian beliefs. Simply, the Trinity is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. God exists three in one. They are consubstantial as they come from the same source and of the same substance. There are relational distinctions as in three distinct realities in relation with each other, but subsist in one being. Confused so far? The nature of the Trinity is mysterious and we can only know in part as full understanding is beyond us, at least for now, as I believe we will fully understand in heaven. What exactly is the Trinity? What does the Bible teach about it? Why is it so difficult to understand?

As stated above, the Trinity consists of three parts: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. First, God the Father is acknowledged throughout Scripture. In Deuteronomy 1:31, Moses calls God a father who carried his son through the desert to the promised land. In Psalm 103:13-14, God is the father who has compassion on those who fear him. In 2 Corinthians 1:3, Paul calls God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ as well as the Father of compassion and of all comfort. Second, Jesus is God the Son saves the sinners. He is truly God and truly man (Philippians 2:6-8), born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those under the law (Galatians 4:4-5). Jesus also claimed an eternal existence as in John 8:58, he states “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am!” The “I am” statement, referring to Exodus 3:14, would not have been lost on the Jewish audience that they tried to stone him and Jesus left the temple (John 8:59). Third, God the Holy Spirit who adopts and unites the believer with God the Father. The Holy Spirit guides, testifies, speaks, discloses and glorifies. In 1 Corinthians 2:11, Paul writes that the Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of God. How can the Holy Spirit know the thoughts of God if he was not God? The image below is a conceptual diagram to give a visual of how the Trinity works. 

Trinity does not appear in the Bible as the term was first used by Tertullian (c AD 160-230) meaning TRI-UNITY (Kou, 2023, Winger, 2019). However, the concept can be seen throughout the Scriptures. In Genesis 1:26, God spoke in the plural: “Let us make man in our image.” John 1:1-18 summarizes the creation in Genesis: how God spoke, how his Word (Jesus) as the agent of creation, did the work (John 1:1-4) and how his Spirit hovered over the waters (Genesis 1:2). There is also a plurality in God. One of the many names of God, Elohim, is plural in Hebrew (Kou, 2023). There are three core elements of the Trinity (McGarry). First, they are equal. No one is greater than the others and they are equal in honor and eternality. Many skeptics who know the Scriptures might stop here and interject with “didn’t Jesus say “the Father is greater than I?” Yes, he did in John 14:28. However, Jesus willingly submitted to God the Father and while on earth, submitted to the limitations of his physical form. It is also temporary as Jesus also prayed in John 17:5 that he be glorified in the Father’s presence as he had before the world began. Second, they are distinct as Ephesians 1:3-14 states God the Father chooses us “before the creation of the world” (verse 4). Jesus as God the Son did the work to accomplish our salvation (verses 5,9). God the Holy Spirit is the one who secures our salvation like a seal (verses 13-14). Each person has a particular role and works together in perfect cooperation as they are one. Three, they are united. They are not isolated from each other. In John 17:20-26, Jesus prays for believers’ unity as he is united with the Father. 

I think The Trinity is so difficult to understand because we do not have a perfect analogy to help explain it. Sometimes the Trinity is taught as one person has different relationships. For example, I am one person; however, to my husband, I am a wife, to my daughters, I am a mother and to my mother, I am a daughter. However, this analogy fails to fully encapsulate the Trinity. Since my birth, I have always been a daughter, but not a wife and a mother. While I was born a daughter, the expressions of a wife and mother, I took on as I married and had children. As God is “a unity of three persons, not one person with three expressions” (McGarry). There are plenty of other bad analogies. One in particular is the egg analogy. The shell, yolk and egg white are all components of the same egg. However, this is faulty as the shell is discarded to use the yolk and the egg whites and even the yolk can be separated from the egg whites. Since the components can be separated and are not equal in value where every Person of the Trinity is equal in value and cannot be separated from one another. As James White wrote “Within the one Being that is God, there exists eternally, three co-equal and co-eternal persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” (Forgotten Trinity, 26). There are three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that share one essence or being of God (Winger, 2019). 

In conclusion, the Trinity is a unique concept that our human brains cannot easily wrap itself around and we may never truly be able to explain it to the satisfaction of skeptics and detractors. Our job as believers is not to fully understand and comprehend all things; but, to trust what God has revealed at this time. However, the question we have to ask ourselves is: do we believe the Bible teaches it? Yes? Then that is enough at this time as God may reveal more to help us understand in the future. It may be seen as a cop out to some but I can honestly say that I understand more now than I did when I first became a believer, so who can say what God will reveal to me as I study His Word and seek Him? 

References

Kou, Christopher (April 4, 2023). The Trinity 101: What Every Christian Should Know. Logos. https://www.logos.com/grow/nook-what-is-the-trinity-doctrine-101/. Retrieved December 1, 2024. 

McGarry, Mike (October 11). Teaching the Trinity to Students. Youth Pastor Theologian. https://www.youthpastortheologian.com/blog/teaching-the-trinity-to-students. Retrieved December 1, 2024. 

White, James (1998). The Forgotten Trinity: Recovering the Heart of Christian Belief. Revised and updated edition, November 5, 2019. 

Winger, Mike (2019). The Trinity: Can We Defend it Biblically? Bible Thinker. https://www.youtube.com/live/p0cLKtR5kfE?si=WUU3plLpG7Qbxb9X. Retrieved December 1, 2024. 

The Promise in Poppies: the story of Poppy Creek has come full circle

The Promise in Poppies is the eighth book in the Poppy Creek series by Rachael Bloome. Cassie Davis has built a wonderful life in Poppy Creek. With a surprise pregnancy, Cassie faces her fears of motherhood while trying to rebuild her relationship with her own mom. Donna Hayward has devoted the last two years maintaining her sobriety as well as making amends. She returns to Poppy Creek to help Cassie, determined to be the mother she needs now, while guarding a secret, the one piece of information that Cassie has been asking for: the identity of her father. The last thing Donna expected was to fall in love with Rhett Douglas, the ex-con who, burdened by his own past mistakes, helps her see that there may be a second chance for love. As the town bands together to save the beloved library from a land developer, shocking secrets emerge. Will the tight knit community of found families be able to handle these revelations? 

I love the community of Poppy Creek! The cast of characters and the beautiful setting makes for a great series of love, laughter and even a few tears as life lessons are learned. I love the author’s use of faith-based concepts and Scriptures without being preachy or heavy handed. The struggles of the characters are real without easy or simple solutions and there wasn’t  a character I didn’t love or not cheer for. The Promise in Poppies is an uplifting read that warms your heart with its hope, healing and happily ever afters. The books in this series can be read out of order, however, if you haven’t started the Poppy Creek series, I highly recommend starting in order with book 1, The Clause in Christmas which introduces Cassie to this beloved small town. The Promise in Poppies brings the series full circle. I hope there will be more books in this wonderful series. I highly, highly recommend The Promise in Poppies. 

The Promise in Poppies is available in paperback and eBook

His Spirit of Christmas: a retelling of A Christmas Carol in the Crescent City

His Spirit of Christmas by Liz Talley is a part of the New Orleans Ladies novel series with the themes of the Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol. It is Christmas time in the Crescent City and Brennan Henry doesn’t have time for the holly, jolly spirit of the season. He is too busy boosting the family business. However, it all changes when his grandfather hands over a lot of money to a complete stranger as part of his True Spirit of Christmas campaign. Mary Paige Gentry is kind, compassionate and plenty of sass to counter his humbug attitude. Brennan and Mary Paige spend time together as part of the campaign and Mary Paige’s outlook on life and Christmas challenges everything Brennan thought to be real or right. As sparks fly between them, will Brennan put aside his dollar-and-cents attitude for a true spirit of Christmas? 

His Spirit of Christmas is an enemies to lovers, grumpy-sunshine romance. Brennan is a man with a painful past who hides his pain behind a realist attitude. Mary Paige is a woman who despite having her own painful past is determined to spread kindness around her. I loved the themes of past, present and future from A Christmas Carol as Brennan and Mary Paige spend time together. I also loved the idea that a painful past does not mean a painful or empty future. I enjoyed Brennan’s grandfather as a man who is determined to make sure his grandson has joy and love in his life and not all business. His Spirit of Christmas is a cute, fast paced Christmas romance. There were great moments of laughter and tears filled with Christmas magic. If you enjoy Christmas romance, I highly recommend His Spirit of Christmas. 

His Spirit of Christmas is available in eBook

So This is Christmas: the magic of Christmas is shattered by a horrifying crime

So This is Christmas is the eleventh book in the best selling Hart’s Ridge series by Kay Bratt. The small town of Hart’s Ridge is glowing with holiday magic as the quaint town is decked with festive lights and holiday cheer that draws visitors from all around. However, this year, Deputy Taylor Gray hopes for a quiet holiday as she recovers and learns how to enjoy her new role as the family celebrates. However, in another part of town, the peace and quiet of the Christmas spirit is shattered when four bodies are discovered. Detective Shane Weaver must solve this crime without Taylor as she becomes torn between her promise to Sam to stay out of the investigation and focus on her recovery and her sworn duty to keep the town safe. Who would do such a horrendous act at Christmas? And can Taylor keep her promise? Will Shane leave her out of it? 

The Hart’s Ridge series just keeps getting better and better! To say that I enjoyed this story would be an understatement. Inspired by real life crime stories, So This is Christmas takes readers on a journey into the unthinkable and asks the question what would drive someone to commit such a crime. So This is Christmas opens with the shocking crime as a family is gunned down and keeps readers on the edge of their seats as the twists and turns come at a fast pace. Intertwined with the case, Taylor is faced with a decision: when will she realize that taking time for yourself and your health isn’t selfish but necessary? It is a question that many caregivers must face. What will be Taylor’s breaking point? If you are a fan of the Hart’s Ridge series, I highly, highly recommend So This is Christmas! If you have not yet started the series, I highly, highly recommend it. 

So This is Christmas is currently available in eBook

Mistletoe Between Friends: a friends to lovers, fake dating Christmas romance

Mistletoe Between Friends by Samantha Chase is a Christmas romance. Lifelong friends Lily Cavanaugh and Cameron Greene know each other inside and out. Their matchmaking mothers seem determined to pair them up on blind dates. As the Christmas season is approaching, they come up with the perfect solution: pretend to date each other and break up after the holiday. It will get their meddling mothers off their backs at least for a while and have a chance for a peaceful Christmas without the constant questions. Simple, right? What could go wrong? As they pretend to date and suddenly the feelings are becoming very, very real. Will they continue to pretend? Or will they face the possibility that they have fallen in love?

Mistletoe Between Friends is a sweet friends to lovers, fake dating Christmas romance. A quick paced, page turner, it was easy to fall in love with Lily and Cameron, to root for them and cheer as they reveal their true feelings. I loved their friendship banter and their uneasiness as they experienced more romantic feelings for each other. I cheered when Cameron defended Lily against her sister’s backhanded comments. I especially loved the epilogue. I won’t say why because it would spoil the ending but it was so good! Mistletoe Between Friends is a great read for an afternoon of romance and the magic of Christmas. If you love a friends to lovers, fake dating romance with the magic of Christmas, I highly recommend Mistletoe Between Friends. 

Mistletoe Between Friends is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Sugar Pine Holiday: a fast paced clean holiday romance

Sugar Pine Holiday is the first book in the Fireside Holidays series by Elysia Strife. Ava Williams doesn’t want anything to do with winter, the snow of the mountains of Colorado. When the Sugar Pine Lodge resort coordinator calls her, requesting her dance lessons for the holiday retreat, with an offer she can’t refuse, Ava finds herself in the snow capped mountains surrounded by memories of happier times. She is only there to give dance lessons, nothing more. However, at every turn, Ava runs into Cade Callahan, the handsome member of the local search and rescue team. Cade can see there’s more to Ava than meets the eye and he will do anything to pull her out of her shell. As they spend time together, they find their attraction too hard to deny. Ava plans to leave at the end of the week but will her heart stay behind at the Sugar Pine Lodge?

Sugar Pine Holiday is a quick, fast paced romance with a cute meet and some real emotions. Ava is still hurting from a family tragedy but reluctantly heads up to the resort. The descriptions of the resort were wonderful and I felt as if I was really there with the detailed descriptions of the weather. I loved the moment when Ava and Cade meet and Ava immediately notices how attractive Cade is but acts like she doesn’t care. I loved how Cade helps Ava understand that living her life to the fullest isn’t ignoring the tragedy but recognizing that life is unpredictable and yet cannot be ignored. There are heartbreaking moments. Moments of angst and emotions and yet there is warmth and heart. Overall, I loved this story and I look forward to reading new books in this series. If you enjoy fast paced, clean romance, I recommend Sugar Pine Holiday. 

Sugar Pine Holiday is available in paperback and eBook

Promise of Love: a predictable a la Hallmark romance

Promise of Love is the first book in the Holiday Family Christian Romance series by Tamie Dearen. Noelle Holiday doesn’t feel the magic of Christmas. Everything about the holiday seems to be cursed for her and she would rather avoid the holiday all together. When good things begin to happen for her, she starts to be suspicious. What’s the saying? If something is too good to be true, it probably is. First, she agrees to adopt an injured Golden Retriever, then she meets a guy who seems to like her and cares for her. For the first time in ages, she feels like she could have a family of her own. But when disaster strikes, Noelle feels she has lost the dog and the guy. The curse strikes again, or so she thinks. Is Noelle doomed to be alone? Or can the magic of Christmas find her once again? 

A predictable a la Hallmark romance, Promise of Love is touted as a faith filled romance of a believer who struggles with her faith and finds real love for the first time. While I love a faith based story especially with a believer who struggles with faith, because let’s face it we all have at some point, it irks me when the same old misquoted and misused Bible verses are used. For example, Noelle tells a character that “God says not to judge,” referring to Matthew 7:1 and yet ignores the rest of the chapter that teaches more than that. I didn’t care for Noelle who was so negative that it was hard to root for her. I really disliked that she ignored every warning in her head about a guy and then laments when he turns out to be a jerk. Like seriously!?!? I do not recommend Promise of Love. 

Promise of Love is available in eBook