31ST MAY, THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

TOPIC: THE HOLY

Trinity is the theological term used to define as an undivided Unity expressed in the threefold nature of , God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. God is manifested through Jesus Christ by means of the Spirit.

Two errors that appear in the doctrine’s history: tritheist and . In tritheist, error made in emphasizing the distinctiveness of the God head to the point that Trinity is seen as three separate . Unitarianism excluded the concept of distinctiveness, focusing solely on the unity of the Father, making Christ and the Holy Spirit less than divine.

The Old Testament (Deut.6:4) stressed God’s oneness to caution the Israelites against the polytherism and practical of their heathen neighbours. The word of God is recognized as the agent Creation (Ps.33:5,9) compare (Provb.3:19; 8:27), and salvation (Ps.107:2), vocabulary given distinct personality in John’s prologue (John 1:1-4) in Jesus Christ.

New Testament writers unanimously affirm the Hebrew monotheistic , but they extended it to include the coming of Jesus and outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The New Testament evidence for the Trinity can be grouped into four types of passages, the first is the Trinitarian formula of Matt.28:19, 2 Cor. 13:14, 1Pet. 2, Rev. 1:4.

Triadic form (Eph.4:4-6, I Cor.12:3-6) emphasis is placed on the administration of gifts by the Godhead. Mention of the three persons of the Godhead without clear triadic structure in the baptism of Jesus (Matt.3:3-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke3:21-22, the Son was baptized, the Spirit descended and the Father spoke with approval, Paul in Gal.4:4-6 outlined the work of the Trinity in the aspect of the standing Father, other passages in this category (2 Thess.2:13-16, Titus 3:4-6, and Jude 20:21 portray each member of the Trinity in relation to a particular redemptive function.

The farewell discourse of Jesus to His disciples (John 14:16, 15:26, 16:13-16). Jesus explained the work of the ministry of the Spirit as the agent of God in the continuing ministry of the Son.

The New Testament is Christological in the approach, but it involves the fullness of God being made available to the individual believer through Jesus and by the Spirit. In the post biblical era, discussion shifted from the New Testament emphasis on the function of the Trinity in redemptive history to an analysis of the unity essence of the Godhead.

In conclusion: 1. God is one. The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament 2. God has three distinct ways of being in the redemptive event, yet He remains an undivided unity. 3. The Primary way of grasping the concept of the Trinity is through the threefold participation in salvation. 4. The doctrine of the Trinity is an absolute mystery. It is primarily know, not through speculation, but through experiencing the act of grace through personal faith.