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The Oneness of God
Christianity is a monotheistic religion. This means that Christians believe there is only one God. The Bible teaches:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Deuteronomy 6)
However, Christians also believe that this one God is revealed in three persons:
God the Father
God the Son (Jesus Christ)
God the Holy Spirit
This belief is known as the Holy Trinity.
The Origin of the Trinitarian Idea
Although the word 'Trinity' does not appear in the Bible, the idea comes from the New Testament, where the three persons of God are mentioned as in this verse (the Great Commission):
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)
The early Church developed the doctrine of the Trinity to explain how God can be one, yet also Father, Son, and Spirit. This was formally established in the Nicene Creed (325 CE), which is still recited by many Christians today.
Challenge - the Nicene Creed
Here is what the Nicene Creed Creed says about the Trinity:
We believe in one God, the Father ...
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ ... of one being with the Father ...
We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
God the Father
The person of the Father is seen as the transcendent creator and sustainer of the universe. He is loving and caring of His creation.
“We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth," (Nicene Creed, based on Genesis 1).
Thinking of God as Father encourages Christians to trust God’s care and provision in their daily lives, and to know that even in times of hardship, God is looking after them. Christians might be inspired to pray to God in order to ask Him for support, and thinking of Him as the Father encourages them to believe that He is able to answer their prayers.
God the Son (Jesus Christ)
A key Christian teaching is that God took on human form as Jesus. This is expressed as the idea that Jesus is God incarnate (God made flesh). Christians believe that God came to Earth to reveal His love for humanity, and offer salvation through his self-sacrificing death. The idea of Jesus as God incarnate is shown in this Bible verse:
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14)
Reflecting on this aspect of the Trinity gives Christians hope of salvation and eternal life, since Jesus died for their sins. Jesus himself is a role model for Christians, and by thinking about the kind of life that Jesus lived, they are encouraged to live with compassion, humility, and service to others.
God the Holy Spirit
Whereas the Father exists outside the universe (He is transcendent), and Jesus ascended to Heaven after His resurrection, Christians beleive that God in the person of the Holy Spirit is present and active in the world today.
The Holy Spirit gives Christians guidance, comfort, and strength.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things.” (John 14)
Knowing that the Holy Spirit is with them helps Christians to feel comfort (especially in times of hardship). Many Christians understand the Holy Spirit to guide their conscience (which can be thought of as an internal moral compass), so that they make good decisions. Some Christians feel empowered by their sense of the Holy Spirit to go and spread the message of Christianity to non-believers.
The Mysterious Nature of the Trinity
For many Christians, the Trinity is a mystery that cannot be fully understood by human reason. For these Christians, the Trinity shows that:
God is beyond human understanding - greater than anything we can imagine.
At the same time, God is personal and relational — Christians can experience Him as Father, Son, and Spirit in their lives.
"The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life. God alone can make it known to us by revealing himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit." (the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church)
Challenge - St Patrick
St. Patrick, the missionary 5th century bishop who brought Christianity to Ireland, is famously associated with his simple yet profound way of explaining the mystery of the Holy Trinity. According to tradition, Patrick used a shamrock - a three-leafed clover - to illustrate how God can be three distinct Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and yet one divine being. Just as the three leaves form one plant, the three Persons share one divine nature.