Topic > The doctrine of the Trinity

The doctrine of the Trinity is fundamental to the Christian faith and helps us understand that God exists as three distinct and consubstantial persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The first defense of the doctrine of the Trinity was in the early third century by the first church father Tertullian. He explicitly defined the Trinity as Father, Son and Holy Spirit and defended Trinitarian theology against "Praxean" heresy. The heart of the Trinity is that although the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three distinct persons, they share the essence of one God who is the creator of heaven and earth, who is eternal, omnipotent, and holy. In essence, the three persons are one God. They are co-equal, co-eternal, and worthy of the same trust and worship as God Himself. At the same time, the three people are distinct from each other in their relationships of origin and in their relationships with each other. It is the Father who generates, the Son who is generated and the Holy Spirit who proceeds. The first and most important person of the Trinity is God the Father. The Father is in his position and authority; supreme among the person of divinity as reinforced in “…yet to us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things are and by whom we live; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came, and through whom we live." (Corinthians 8:6) The Father is the wise planner and great architect of all that is happened in Creation (Col. 1:12-13). Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"? Get an original essay Everything in heaven and earth, everything, from creation to ultimate eternal life in heaven and hell, is planned according to the purpose of the Father's will. The Father is the giver of every good and perfect gift. He is always infinitely wise and good in his authority because it shows remarkable care, wisdom and goodness. Jesus, the Son, is the second Person of the Trinity. He is eternal and begotten of the Father, God sent Jesus Christ to reconcile humanity back to Himself further the point that all three Persons of the Trinity have a different purpose. Additionally, it is interesting to recognize that although the word “trinity” is not used in the Bible, there are several examples in the Bible where the Trinity is referenced. For example, the verse: "...And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3). This says that Jesus Christ was sent to Earth by God, the Father. This further reinforces the fact that Jesus was not God himself but was the Son, a distinct Person of the Trinity, sharing the essence of a universal God. As the Gospel of John reports: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. (John 1:1) The reference to “the word” is of great significance. The Greek word is “logos” and simply means “idea” or “purpose.” God's purpose, therefore, was centered in Christ and so when "the man Christ Jesus" was born, the purpose, the word, became flesh, as we read further on in John: "And the Word became flesh and came to dwell among us, (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth." Likewise, the Holy Spirit, who is the third Person of the Trinity, also has a unique purpose and plays an active role in our lives. According to the words of Jesus in John 14:26: "But the defender, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of all that I have said to you", God sent the Holy Spirit to always carry forward Jesus' teachings on goodwill and community. Another role He plays in our lives is that of.