Theology is life-threatening. At least that was the experience of a certain Patrick when he tried to explain the trinity of God to wild Celts. Even today, the concept remains difficult. Here is an approach.
The Trinity has a holy day of its own. Trinity Sunday is celebrated on the Sunday after Pentecost in Western liturgical churches.
The fact that this feast and its observance is also included in the New Apostolic Church calendar is nothing new. The concept, after all, frames our divine services: from “In the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” to “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!”
So far, so familiar. But how exactly are we supposed to picture Trinity?
More than the sum of its parts
This question nearly cost the fifth century Roman-British missionary Patricius, who was travelling in Ireland, his head. Legend has it that the Celts completely misunderstood the concept and believed he was talking about a three-headed monster. They felt threatened and wanted to get their hands on the missionary.
But Patrick had an explanation on hand. He plucked a shamrock from a meadow and presented it as a model. This convinced the Celts, but for a theologian this would by no means do. Because the Trinity is more than a thing comprised of three parts. God is one and cannot be divided.
More than a team of three
“When we speak of God as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we do not imply that these are three different Gods, but rather three persons (hypostases), who are the One God,” the Catechism of the New Apostolic Church explains (CNAC 3.1.1).
Careful! Nowadays, we understand a person to be an independent subject with an individual consciousness. The Trinity, however, is more than the combination of three Gods.
The Catechism deliberately speaks of “ancient philosophical terms” when referring to the term “person” (CNAC 3.2.3). The Latin persona comes from the Roman theatre and originally meant something like mask, role, or figure.
So “Trinity” means one God with three faces?
More than just facets of one thing
That would contradict the baptism of Jesus. Because there the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit appeared simultaneously. This scene (detailed in Matthew 3: 13–17) is one of the most prominent biblical passages on the Trinity. It does not mention the term, but acknowledges the notion.
The one God who reveals Himself in different ways: as Father in the Old Testament, as Son in the New Testament, and as Holy Spirit since the first Pentecost. Or as Creator (Father), Redeemer (Son), and New Creator (Holy Spirit). But this should not be seen as a simple hierarchical succession. Because the Trinity is more than the different manifestations of a single individual.
Still a mystery
And so, for centuries, Church Fathers have made efforts to make the Trinity tangible and comprehensible through analogies: with water in the form of ice, liquid, and vapour; or the skin, flesh, and core of an apple.
Modern theologians are also looking for new linguistic images: God above us (Father), God with us (Son), God within us (Holy Spirit). Or the Father as the “I” of God, the Son as the “You” of God, and the Holy Spirit as the “We” of God.
But ultimately, every attempt fails because the Trinity is understood as either too divided or too unified. It remains a paradox. Or, as the Catechism puts it: “The trinity of God is a mystery.”
Practice instead of philosophy
Perhaps it is better to think less about it and feel oneself into it: God is love, which goes without saying. And the triune God is one God in the fellowship of Father, Son, and Spirit. This is what the Chief Apostle preaches again and again.
And anyone who understands with their heart that God is one understands why God wants to make this fellowship accessible to humankind. And that also explains why loving God is not possible without loving one’s neighbour. And why the church, the community of believers, is the learning and training ground for the future, the perfect community.
Sometimes practice helps more than philosophy.
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