On the Holy Trinity

The Holy Trinity: The Mystery of God

Once, Saint Augustine saw a young boy trying to pour the ocean into a small hole. When he told the boy that this was impossible, the child replied, "I will sooner empty it into this hole than thou shalt succeed in penetrating the mystery of the Holy Trinity with thy limited understanding."

As Orthodox Christians, we believe in the Holy Trinity.  

But what does it mean when we say that God is a Trinity or a Triune God?  

First and foremost, we must understand that God Himself is a mystery, not in the sense that He is unknowable, but that He surpasses human comprehension. Therefore, the Holy Trinity is likewise a divine mystery, not something that can be fully grasped by reason alone. This is beautifully illustrated in the story of Saint Augustine of Hippo.  

The Oneness of God

Does belief in the Trinity imply that we worship three separate gods, making us polytheists? Certainly not.  

Scripture is unequivocal on this matter:  

-"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4)  

-"I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God." (Isaiah 45:5)  

Likewise, our Creed is explicit in its affirmation:  

- "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty..." (The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed).  

The Three Persons of the One God

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, yet fully one in divine essence.  

- The Father: "Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live." (1 Corinthians 8:6)  

- The Son:"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)  

- The Holy Spirit: "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17)  

Jesus Himself confirms the unity within the Trinity when He commands His disciples:  

- "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19)  

The Early Church formulated the doctrine of the Trinity based on Christ’s own words and the testimony of Scripture.  

Monarchical Trinitarianism: The Father as the Source 

Monarchical Trinitarianism teaches that God the Father is the source (arché) of the Godhead. However, this does not mean that the Son and the Holy Spirit are in any way less divine or subordinate to the Father.  

The Father is neither begotten nor proceeding; He is the source of all existence.  

- "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:36)  

The Son is eternally begotten of the Father (generated, but not created).  

- "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)  

- "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word." (Hebrews 1:3)  

The Holy Spirit proceeds exclusively from the Father (ekporeusis).  

- "But when the Comforter comes, whom I will send unto you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of Me." (John 15:26)  

Analogies for the Trinity

Since God is beyond all created things, there is nothing in the world that can fully compare to Him. However, analogies can help us gain a limited understanding of His nature.  

One example used by the Church Fathers is the sun. The sun itself is a celestial body, and from it emanate light and heat.  

- "God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5)  

- "Our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:29)  

Similarly, space consists of height, width, and depth—each distinct yet forming one reality.  

Another analogy often used in theology is human nature, where mind, body, and soul are distinct, yet together form one person.  

- "May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23)  

The Mystery and Truth of the Trinity

Despite these analogies, it is crucial to acknowledge that God transcends all creation. He is beyond time, space, and matter. The three Persons of the Trinity are shapeless, timeless, spaceless, and formless. They are fully divine, uncreated, undivided, and perfectly united in essence, knowledge, love, goodness, power, will, and action.  

Finally, it is essential to recognize that the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is not based on human reasoning or philosophical speculation. It is a divinely revealed truth, found throughout Scripture and confirmed by the Church through apostolic Tradition.  

While the specific term Trinity may not appear explicitly in the Bible, its reality is present throughout Scripture:  

- "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (2 Corinthians 13:14)  

The Church bears witness to this truth, faithfully preserving and proclaiming it to the world.