THE MOST HOLY TRINITY
While the word ‘Trinity’ does not appear in the
New Testament, there are many passages that
proclaim the doctrine implicitly. God as Father:
(Jn 6:27; Titus 1:4; Divinity of Jesus: (Jn 1; 8:58;
Col’ 2:9; Heb. 1:3; Tit. 2:13); Divinity of the Holy
Spirit: (Heb. 9:14; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; Acts 5:3).
The doctrine of the Blessed Trinity developed
gradually among the Early Christians and what
was found implicitly in the Scriptures was defined
formally and explicitly at the Council of Nicea
(325 AD). Even then, the debate continued and the
doctrine was re-visited, reaffirmed and reinforced
further at future Councils: Constantinople 1
(381); Ephesus (431); Chalcedon (451); Florence
(1438).
The doctrine may be summed-up in seven
statements: (i) There is only one God; (ii)
The Father is God; (iii) The Son is God;
(iv) The Holy Spirit is God; (v) The Father
is not the Son; (vi) The Son is not the Holy
Spirit; (vii) The Holy Spirit is not the Father.
The various creedal formulations, which are our
‘identity documents’ have to do with safeguarding
each one of these statements. The doctrine
of the Trinity is the fundamental grammar of
our knowledge of God, but it is more than an
intellectual concept; it is our life. The faith of
all Christians rests on the mystery of the Trinity.
Mystery it is, but a God understood, a God
comprehended, is no God.