DOCSLIB.ORG

God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels 9/2/2019 RCIA 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, and Angels 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels Does God Exist? • Does God exist? • Is God indifferent? • Is God sleeping or dead? 2 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels Does God Exist? • We yearn for happiness and everlasting life • We see an orderly and powerful creation • We desire truth, beauty, and love 3 1 9/2/2019 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels Does God Exist? • Certain knowledge through the created world – Order – Beauty – Majesty – Natural glory 4 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels Does God Exist? • Knowledge thru human reason & conscience – We try to make sense of everything – We seek meaning for our lives and our world – Conscience reminds us continually of God’s presence 5 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels The Attributes of God Introduction • Who is God? – Learning about Him is to develop a relationship with Him! 6 2 9/2/2019 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels The Attributes of God God is One • “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your might.” (Deut 6:4-5) 7 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels The Attributes of God God is Eternal • Transcendent (timeless) • Changeless • Yahweh: God simply “is” 8 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels The Attributes of God God is Almighty • Lord over all things • Infinite power • Yet we are created with freedom to choose good or evil • Faith required 9 3 9/2/2019 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels The Attributes of God God is Holy and Good • “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty” (Rev 4:8) • God permits evil, and brings good from it, but is not the source or cause of evil 10 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels The Attributes of God God is Truth “[S]o shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Is 55:11) Russian icon of the Prophet Isaiah, 18th century (iconostasis of Transfiguration Church, Kizhi monastery, Karelia, Russia). 11 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels The Attributes of God God is Love • We have been created out of love • He desires what is best for us • Happiness secured thru His Son • We are free to refuse His love 12 4 9/2/2019 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels The Attributes of God Faith in God • Means… – He must be first and be served because He is almighty – we must walk in the light of truth – we must trust in His providence because of His mercy and love 13 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels The Blessed Trinity The Revelation of the Trinity • Old Testament hints • New Testament proclaims – Conception – Baptism – Transfiguration The Baptism of Christ by Navarrete el Mudo (1526-1579) 14 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels The Blessed Trinity Relationship of the Three Persons to One Another • All Persons eternally give themselves to each other – a communion of love • The Son is eternally begotten, not made • The Spirit is the love between Father & Son 15 5 9/2/2019 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels The Blessed Trinity The “Works” of Each Person of the Blessed Trinity • Father: Creator • Son: Revealer, Exemplar, Redeemer • Holy Spirit: Empowerer, Guide, Sanctifier 16 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels The Blessed Trinity The Trinity as Mystery • “The central mystery of Christian faith and life” (CCC 234) • A reality we cannot fully comprehend • Reason alone could never conceive this 17 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels God the Father Introduction • Intimations in the Old Testament • Full revelation in the New Testament 18 6 9/2/2019 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels God the Father God and the Christian Family • The fruitful family profoundly reflects the Trinity – Our first experience of father & mother and a reflection of God 19 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels God the Father The Father of Jesus • All-perfect, all-powerful, all-loving • Deeply desires our happiness and peace • He longs for us to know Him and to rest in Him The Return of the Prodigal Son (1662–1669) 20 by Rembrandt (Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg) 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels God the Creator • Genesis 1:1-3 – God created out of nothing – God holds everything in existence – God creates to show forth and communicate His glory – God creates out of goodness and love 21 7 9/2/2019 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels God the Creator • What we reflect and what we owe – Laws and creatures reflect God’s goodness and beauty – We owe God everything and are bound to obey Him and give Him an account of our lives 22 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels God the Creator • Our own participation in creation – We participate in God’s creative work through • sex • arts • sciences • communications • transportation • medicine • stewardship 23 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels God the Creator • Good from evil – God did not create evil and does not will it, but can bring good from it (see Rom 8:28) St. Michael vanquishes Satan by Guido Reni (altarpiece in Santa Maria della Concezione Church in Rome) 24 8 9/2/2019 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels Beauty • True beauty… – is a creation of God – is a reflection of God’s glory and grandeur – emanates from God – is shown in the universe’s order and harmony – delights eye and mind, lifts soul to contemplation, recognition, love 25 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels Beauty • God’s beauty reflected in us – Destined for immortality, joy, & friendship w/God – Sharing truth, beauty, goodness – Created in His image – Intellect – Free will – Capacity to create Mosaic from the Cathedral of Monreale, Sicily 26 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels Angels • The nature of angels – Intelligent and free beings – Glory surpasses humans until we achieve heaven – No physical body – pure spirit – Part of creation since the beginning – Not bound by space and time 27 9 9/2/2019 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels Angels • The mission of angels – Messengers of God – Announced Jesus and ministered to Him – Mission continues in the life and work of the Church – Guardians of humans Song of the Angels (1881) by William-Adolphe Bouguereau 28 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels Angels • The fate of the angels – Choice to serve/not serve God made at creation – Created good but some embraced evil • Cannot change this decision • Seek to deceive us & convince us to disobey God Adam and Eve by Lucas Cranach l'Ancien (1472-1553) 29 1: God, the Trinity, Creation, & Angels 30 10.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Trinity in Scripture
    Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, 14/2 (Fall 2003): 80–94. Article copyright © 2003 by Gerhard Pfandl. The Trinity in Scripture Gerhard Pfandl Biblical Research Institute The word Trinity (Lat. Trinitas, Òtri-unityÓ or Òthree-in-onenessÓ) is not found in the Bible (neither is the word ÒincarnationÓ), but the teaching it de- scribes is clearly contained in Scripture. Briefly defined, the doctrine of the Trinity stands for the concept that ÒGod eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God.Ó1 God himself is a mysteryÑhow much more the incarnation or the Trinity! Nevertheless, even though we may not be able to comprehend logically the vari- ous aspects of the Trinity, we need to try to understand as best we can the scriptural teaching regarding it. All attempts to explain the Trinity will fall short, Òespecially when we reflect on the relation of the three persons to the divine essence . all analogies fail us and we become deeply conscious of the fact that the Trinity is a mystery far beyond our comprehension. It is the incomprehensi- ble glory of the Godhead.Ó2 Therefore, we do well to admit that Òman cannot comprehend it and make it intelligible. It is intelligible in some of its relations and modes of manifestations, but unintelligible in its essential nature.Ó3 We need to be aware that we can only ever achieve a partial understanding of what the Trinity is. As we listen to GodÕs Word, certain elements of the Trin- ity will become clear, but others will remain a mystery.
    [Show full text]
  • Christian Theologians Views on the Doctrine of Trinity in the Islamic Philosophical Criticism
    International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 2017, Vol. 7, Special Issue – Islam and Contemporary Issues) ISSN: 2222-6990 Christian Theologians Views on the Doctrine of Trinity in the Islamic Philosophical Criticism Mohammad Nashief S. Disomimbaa, Kalsom Alib, Abdussalam s. Disomimbac a Akidah and Religion Program, Faculty of Leadership and Management, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. bDa῾wah and Islamic Management Program, Faculty of Leadership and Management, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. cKing Faisal Center for Asian and Arabic Studies, Mindanao State University, Philippines DOI: 10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i13/3195 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i13/3195 ABSTRACT This article discusses the views of Christian theologians on the doctrine of trinity in the light of Islamic philosophical criticism. It focuses the oneness of God through Islamic philosophical criticism, understanding the proofs and evidences of Christian theologians based on their Holy Bible, Athanasius Creed and Nicene Creed. The tendency of giving priority of this study is to show the views of Christian theologians on the doctrine of trinity with Islamic philosophical criticism in order to justify and confirm the oneness of God. The objectives of the study is to identify and trace the historical background of the oneness of God as Creator, to confirm that Jesus Christ is not God and creator, to confirm that God is not three persons and the three persons is not same substance and nature of the Son and Holy Spirit, to analyze and summarize the views of the Christian theologians on the doctrine of Trinity with Islamic philosophical criticism.
    [Show full text]
  • REFLECTIONS on the DOCTRINE of the TRINITY Faith in the Living
    REFLECTIONS ON THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY RAOUL DEDEREN Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan Faith in the living God has been rejected time and again by the ignorant and the indifferent, as well as by many of the learned and the thoughtful. It has been especially chal- lenged today. Such theologians as Bishop John A. T. Robinson of Woolwich, honestly seeking to be Honest to God, urge Christians to abandon most of the phrasing which historically has been used to convey Christian thought. Similarly, the late Bishop James A. Pike of California dismisses many traditional doctrines as old bottles which will inevitably burst and whose bursting should occasion no regrets. In this kind of context many men, even ministers, feel uneasy when they think about the Trinity. The question before us is whether it is time to renounce a doctrine which, by affirming that there are three persons in God, seems to have produced confusion rather than clarification, or whether it was designed to embody values that are a vital and necessary part of the Christian faith. From the days of Arius it has been a chosen scheme with his disciples to represent the doctrine of the Trinity as an artificial theological construct, and consequently unimportant. To a large number of Christians, however, it is a doctrine fundament4 to Christianity since it deals with a correct knowledge of God. Related to the divine Being, his nature and mode of being, this knowledge affects every man's understanding of God as the object of his worship, whether he regards him as one in essence and one in person, or admits that in the unity of the Deity there are three equally divine persons.
    [Show full text]
  • Russian Christian Orthodox Icons of the Mother of God George Contis M.D
    University of Dayton eCommons Marian Library Art Exhibit Guides Spirituality through Art 2015 Russian Christian Orthodox Icons of the Mother of God George Contis M.D. Follow this and additional works at: https://ecommons.udayton.edu/ml_exhibitguides Recommended Citation Contis, George M.D., "Russian Christian Orthodox Icons of the Mother of God" (2015). Marian Library Art Exhibit Guides. 5. https://ecommons.udayton.edu/ml_exhibitguides/5 This Exhibit Guide is brought to you for free and open access by the Spirituality through Art at eCommons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Marian Library Art Exhibit Guides by an authorized administrator of eCommons. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Russian Christian Orthodox Icons of the Mother of God by George Contis, M.D., M.P.H . Russian Christian Orthodox Icons of the Mother of God by George Contis, M.D., M.P.H. Booklet created for the exhibit: Icons from the George Contis Collection Revelation Cast in Bronze SEPTEMBER 15 – NOVEMBER 13, 2015 Marian Library Gallery University of Dayton 300 College Park Dayton, Ohio 45469-1390 937-229-4214 All artifacts displayed in this booklet are included in the exhibit. The Nativity of Christ Triptych. 1650 AD. The Mother of God is depicted lying on her side on the middle left of this icon. Behind her is the swaddled Christ infant over whom are the heads of two cows. Above the Mother of God are two angels and a radiant star. The side panels have six pairs of busts of saints and angels. Christianity came to Russia in 988 when the ruler of Kiev, Prince Vladimir, converted.
    [Show full text]
  • Rublev's Icon: Contemplating the Trinity, Inwardly and Outwardly
    Rublev’s Icon: Contemplating the Trinity, Inwardly and Outwardly Paul Fromont The Hospitality of Abraham. For many of us, any talk of Trinity brings to mind Andrei Rublev’s 15 th century icon, painted it is believed, sometime around 1410. Type “Trinitarian icons” into Google Images and the predominant image you’ll get is this well-known icon. I have in my library a beautiful copy of it – written by the Benedictines from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem – a gift from one of my sisters. Called by its traditional Eastern name it is known as “The Hospitality of Abraham.” It depicts the three angels who visited Abraham near the great trees of Mamre (Gen 18: 1-15), but has long come to be seen as an icon of the Trinity; although it must be said that it is far from clear that that the intention of the “writer” was to identify each of the three figures as a particular member of the Trinity. Tradition does however suggest that the central, and thus pivotal figure in the icon, is Jesus Christ incarnate.” 1 “If it pleases you, stop for a while with your servant [Abraham]. I'll get some water so you can wash your feet. Rest under this tree. I'll get some food to refresh you on your way, since your travels have brought you across my path." They said, "Certainly. Go ahead." Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. He said, "Hurry. Get three cups of our best flour; knead it and make bread." Then Abraham ran to the cattle pen and picked out a nice plump calf and gave it to the servant who lost no time getting it ready.
    [Show full text]
  • The Trinity and the Freedom of God
    Journal for Christian Theological Research Volume 8 Article 1 2003 The rT inity and the Freedom of God Paul D. Molnar St. John's University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.luthersem.edu/jctr Part of the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Molnar, Paul D. (2003) "The rT inity and the Freedom of God," Journal for Christian Theological Research: Vol. 8 , Article 1. Available at: http://digitalcommons.luthersem.edu/jctr/vol8/iss2003/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ Luther Seminary. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal for Christian Theological Research by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ Luther Seminary. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Journal for Christian Theological Research 8 (2003) 59–66 The Trinity and the Freedom of God Paul D. Molnar St. John’s University A contemporary doctrine of the immanent Trinity is essential for recognizing, upholding and respecting divine freedom as the basis of relevant theological activity and genuine human freedom. In this article I contend that divine freedom will be recognized and respected only if and to the extent that such recognition is grounded in God’s actual freedom for us exercised in the history of Jesus Christ and through the action of his Holy Spirit.¹ Hearing this thesis in a vacuum one could perhaps wonder why anyone would bother to say this at all since most contemporary theologians would agree with this thesis, at least formally. But this thesis is in fact loaded because, while most Christian theologians would agree that a doctrine of the immanent Trinity should help us recognize, uphold and respect God’s freedom as the basis, meaning and goal of human freedom, very many contemporary theologians tend to read back their experiences and concepts into God instead of allowing God the eternal Father, Son and Holy Spirit to defi ne the content of those concepts and experiences.
    [Show full text]
  • The Resurrection of Jesus and the Doctrine of the Trinity ROBERT L
    Word & World 2/1 (1982) Copyright © 1982 by Word & World, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. All rights reserved. page 17 The Resurrection of Jesus and the Doctrine of the Trinity ROBERT L. WILKEN The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana I As preeminent as the doctrine of the Trinity is in the liturgy and in the doctrinal tradition of the church, it plays but a small role in the piety of most Christians and is sadly neglected by contemporary theologians. Most Christians today continue to confess the triune God in the rolling cadences of the Nicene Creed, if not in the anathemas of the Quiqunque vult (the Athanasian Creed); they bless themselves and baptize their children in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. They begin worship by invoking the triune God and return to their homes with a trinitarian blessing ringing in their ears. Yet, if one were to scratch beneath the surface of Christian language and practice, it is doubtful one would discover a robust trinitarian faith. One would, I suspect, find that while many Christians still “believe” in the doctrine, as an article of faith handed on in the creeds, this teaching does little to inform the actual practice of their faith. Our hymns, for example, are overwhelmingly oriented to Christ, and the number of hymns where the Holy Spirit figures prominently are few in number. To be sure, in recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in the Holy Spirit, and the charismatic movement is an impressive sign that the Holy Spirit can capture the imagination of Christians, renew Christian lives, and redirect Christian devotion into new channels.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 1 the Trinity in the Theology of Jürgen Moltmann
    Our Cries in His Cry: Suffering and The Crucified God By Mick Stringer A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Theology The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Western Australia 2002 Contents Abstract................................................................................................................ iii Declaration of Authorship ................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements.............................................................................................. v Introduction.......................................................................................................... 1 1 Moltmann in Context: Biographical and Methodological Issues................... 9 Biographical Issues ..................................................................................... 10 Contextual Issues ........................................................................................ 13 Theological Method .................................................................................... 15 2 The Trinity and The Crucified God................................................................ 23 The Tradition............................................................................................... 25 Divine Suffering.......................................................................................... 29 The Rise of a ‘New Orthodoxy’.................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Death of Jesus and the Truth of the Triune God in Wolfhart Pannenberg and Eberhard Juengel
    Journal for Christian Theological Research Volume 9 Article 1 2004 The eD ath of Jesus and the Truth of the Triune God in Wolfhart Pannenberg and Eberhard Juengel Jonathan P. Case Kingsley College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.luthersem.edu/jctr Part of the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Case, Jonathan P. (2004) "The eD ath of Jesus and the Truth of the Triune God in Wolfhart Pannenberg and Eberhard Juengel," Journal for Christian Theological Research: Vol. 9 , Article 1. Available at: http://digitalcommons.luthersem.edu/jctr/vol9/iss2004/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ Luther Seminary. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal for Christian Theological Research by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ Luther Seminary. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Journal for Christian Theological Research 9 (2004) 1–13 The Death of Jesus and the Truth of the Triune God in Wolfhart Pannenberg and Eberhard Jüngel Jonathan P. Case Kingsley College, Melbourne Over several years of reading—and rereading—Wolfhart Pannenberg and Eberhard Jüngel, I have come to be exercised over the questions of how the death of Jesus is said to determine the life of God, and how this determinative death relates to the conceptions of truth with which Pannenberg and Jüngel operate. In this paper I attempt to demonstrate how, in both Pannenberg’s and Jüngel’s theology, the death of Jesus, when understood in a Trinitarian context, instantiates in the life of God the critical moment peculiar to the logic of their respective conceptions of truth.
    [Show full text]
  • “Only a Trinity Can Save
    “Only a Trinity Can Save Us” Ephesians 3:14-21 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 in order that he might grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, being rooted and established in love, 18 in order that you might be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, in order that you might be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly more than anything that we could ask or imagine, according to the power that is being worked within us, 21 to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and ever. Amen. In the Name of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 1. Introduction. When I was studying in England, I was enrolled in a Theology Seminar led by, let’s say, a “noteworthy conservative theology scholar.” There was nothing immediately alarming about the class or the instructor on paper, but then on day two, we began our study of the Trinity. The Professor explained that the word “God” was not so much a noun as an adjective to be applied to each Person of the Trinity.
    [Show full text]
  • The Human Person As an Icon of the Trinity*
    The human person as an icon Of the Trinity* KALLISTOS OF DIOKLEIA (Sobornost Vol. 8 no. 2, 1986) Batter my heart, three person‟d God John Donne ‘One-in-Three’: does it make any difference? Some twenty years ago a slim publication appeared with the title The Good Cuppa Guide. It described places, varying from the Ritz to stalls in the East End, where a satisfying cup of tea might be procured. Among other establishments the author, Jonathan Routh, visited the Surrey Room Restaurant at Waterloo Station, where at that time – now, alas, all has changed – it was possible to have tea served by a uniformed waitress at a table with a linen cloth and a linen napkin. „I was met as I entered it‟, records the author, „by a lady who asked “Are you one person?” which I found difficult to deny, so she escorted me to a table for one‟. In due course he was brought tea, toast, bread-and-butter, jam and „some slightly Fruit Cake‟. „I consumed all this while deliberating upon her original question […]. Was she in the habit of receiving visitations from persons who suddenly proclaimed that they were „Three-in-One and One-in-Three‟ and demanded bigger tables?‟1 What are we to make of Jonathan Routh‟s reflection in the Surrey Room Restaurant? „Three-in-One and One-in-Three‟: is this no more than a conundrum, a theological riddle, or does it radically affect our entire religious experience? What difference does it actually make to us as Christians that, unlike Jews and Muslims, we are not simply monotheists, nor yet are we polytheists, but we see in God both complete unity and genuine personal diversity? Commenting on the current neglect of the Trinity in the West, Karl Rahner is scarcely exaggerating when he observes: Christians, for all their orthodox profession of faith in the Trinity, are almost just „monotheist‟ in their actual religious experience.
    [Show full text]
  • The Holy Trinity in Russian Spirituality the Deep Stream of Russian Spirituality Continues to Inspire the Faithful in the USSR
    they have pushed me away. Only prayer is left, but my mouth is dumb with grief. All mothers of the World, and Christians, I request your prayers, your defence and help; young Timofei, an orphan yet with a living mother, stretches out his child's hands to you. The Holy Trinity in Russian Spirituality The deep stream of Russian spirituality continues to inspire the faithful in the USSR. A channel into this stream was provided by a recent article (and particu­ larly by its footnotes) in the official Church publication, The Journal 0'£ the Moscow Patriarchate No. I, 1975 (pp. 63-80). Written by Archbishop Pitirim of V olokalamsk and entitled "The Church as the Realization of the Trinitarian Oikonomy", this article was originally presented as a report to the Uppsala conference, "Church Days - 74", held from 30 August-3 September, 1974. The extract printed below consists chiefly of footnotes, but these offer the ,.eader many riches. A live perception of the Triune God was natural to the Russian religious con­ sciousness from the very beginning. It is reflected not only in the rich liturgical inheritance of the Russian Orthodox Church, common to all Eastern Orthodoxy, but in the characteristic national features of the Russian ecclesiastical conscious­ ness. In ancient Lives of Saints, which was the favourite reading matter and prac­ tically the only means of spiritually educating the people, an important place is occupied by theological talks on the triune nature of God. Despite their ab­ stractness they penetrated deeply the consciousness of the Russian Christian and moulded him.
    [Show full text]