3.1.1

The Trinity

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One God as a Trinity of Persons

Catholics are monotheistic, meaning that they believe there's only one God. This one God is believed to have revealed himself as three persons (the Trinity): the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

God in people's lives

God in people's lives

  • Belief in the Trinity helps Catholics to understand the ways in which God is present in their lives:
    • God the Father is also often called the Creator.
    • God the Son took human form as Jesus, who is divine and human.
    • God the Holy Spirit inspired the apostles at Pentecost and is believed to be the active presence of God in the world today.
The Trinity in quote

The Trinity in quote

  • ‘Christians are baptised in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…. The faith of all Christians rests on the Trinity.’ [CCC 232]
    • (CCC = Catechism of the Catholic Church, a summary of Catholic beliefs and teachings).
The Trinity as one?

The Trinity as one?

  • For some Christians, belief in the Trinity is confusing because it appears to contradict belief in one God.
    • If there were many gods, God could not be all-powerful.
  • In fact, Christians believe that God is three persons, but just one God.
  • Some have described the persons of the Trinity as being three persons with one shared ‘substance’, meaning that they are three persons with one shared divine nature.
Analogies

Analogies

  • Some Christian writers have tried to describe the Trinity using analogy (by comparing it to something else).
    • St Patrick said that the Trinity is like a shamrock, which has three clear parts to it but is only one leaf.
    • Others have pointed to the three forms of H2O: ice, water and steam.

God as Three Persons in Scripture

Roman Catholics believe that the idea of God as three persons in one is supported by scripture.

God the Father

God the Father

  • God the Father is seen in the Old Testament as the Creator in the Book of Genesis (and references to God as Creator can be found elsewhere, e.g. in the Psalms) and as the Lawgiver in the Books of Exodus and Deuteronomy, among others.
  • God the Father is also seen in the New Testament, for example at Jesus’ baptism and at his Transfiguration.
God the Son

God the Son

  • Catholics believe that Isaiah’s prophecies (9:6-7) refer to Jesus as Son of God, describing a child who will be Mighty God and Prince of Peace.
  • The idea that Jesus is the Son of God is seen in the New Testament:
    • E.g. at the Annunciation when the Angel Gabriel tells Mary she has conceived God’s son.
    • E.g. when the voice of God the Father refers to Jesus as his son at his baptism.
God the Holy Spirit

God the Holy Spirit

  • Roman Catholic teaching says that the Spirit that surrounds the unformed world at the moment of creation is the Holy Spirit.
Jesus' baptism

Jesus' baptism

  • Some Catholics think that all three persons of the Trinity are present in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' baptism, for example in Mark 1:9-11.
Jump to other topics
1

Buddhism

1.1

Key Beliefs

1.1.1The Dhamma1.1.2The Five Skandhas1.1.3Aspects of Human Life1.1.4The Buddha1.1.5The Ascetic & Enlightened Life1.1.6Dhukka1.1.7Samudaya1.1.8Nirodha1.1.9Magga1.1.10The Wheel of Life1.1.11End of Topic Test - Buddhism Key Beliefs
1.2

Practices

1.2.1Places of Worship1.2.2Objects of Worship1.2.3Puja1.2.4Meditation1.2.5Death1.2.6Festivals1.2.7End of Topic Test - Buddhism Practices
1.3

Ethics

1.3.1Kamma1.3.2Five Moral Precepts1.3.3End of Topic Test - Buddhism Ethics
2

Christianity

2.1

Key Beliefs

2.1.1The Nature of God2.1.2The Problem of Evil2.1.3Monotheism2.1.4Creation2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation2.1.6The Trinity and Creation2.1.7Afterlife2.1.8Heaven and Hell2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs
2.2

Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.2.1The Incarnation2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human2.2.3The Crucifixion2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension2.2.6Sin2.2.7Original Sin2.2.8Punishment2.2.9The Means of Salvation2.2.10Achieving Salvation2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation2.2.13Theories of Salvation2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation
2.3

Worship & Festivals

2.3.1Different Forms of Worship2.3.2Prayer2.3.3Sacrament2.3.4Baptism2.3.5Other Sacraments2.3.6Eucharist2.3.7Pilgrimage & Celebrations2.3.8Christmas & Easter2.3.9End of Topic Test - Worship and Festivals
2.4

Community

2.4.1Local Community2.4.2Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth2.4.3Worldwide Church2.4.4Reconciliation2.4.5Persecution2.4.6Caring for Those in Need2.4.7End of Topic Test - Community2.4.8Exam-Style Questions - Christian Practices
3

Catholicism (Christianity)

3.1

Key Beliefs

3.1.1The Trinity3.1.2Creation3.1.3Incarnation3.1.4Redemption3.1.5Life After Death3.1.6Heaven and Hell3.1.7End of Topic Test - Catholic Key Beliefs
3.2

The Seven Sacraments

3.2.1Meaning & Significance3.2.2Baptism3.2.3Confirmation3.2.4Reconciliation3.2.5Anointing of the Sick3.2.6Marriage3.2.7Holy Orders3.2.8The Eucharist3.2.9End of Topic Test - The Seven Sacraments
3.3

Practices

3.3.1Prayer3.3.2Popular Piety3.3.3Pilgrimage3.3.4Pilgrimages HyperLearning3.3.5Funeral Rites3.3.6The Duty to Love Our Neighbour3.3.7Catholic Agencies3.3.8Catholic Social Teaching3.3.9Justice3.3.10War3.3.11Mission & Evangelism3.3.12End of Topic Test - Catholic Practices
4

Islam

4.1

Key Beliefs

4.1.1Oneness of God4.1.2Six Articles of Faith4.1.3Five Roots of Usul4.1.4The Nature of God4.1.5Angels4.1.6Freedom4.1.7Life After Death4.1.8Human Responsibility4.1.9End of Topic Test - Muslim Key Beliefs
4.2

Authority

4.2.1Prophethood4.2.2The Holy Books4.2.3The Imamate4.2.4End of Topic Test - Muslim Authority
4.3

Practices

4.3.1Worship4.3.2Ten Obligatory Acts4.3.3Shahadah4.3.4Salah & Its Significance4.3.5Mosques4.3.6Rak'ahs4.3.7Sawm4.3.8Zakah4.3.9Hajj4.3.10Jihad4.3.11Festivals & Commemorations4.3.12End of Topic Test - Muslim Practices4.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Muslim Practices
5

Judaism

5.1

Key Beliefs

5.1.1The Nature of God5.1.2God as One5.1.3God's Name5.1.4God as Creator5.1.5Free Will5.1.6God as Law Giver and Judge5.1.7The Divine Presence & Beliefs5.1.8Role of the Messiah5.1.9End of Topic Test - Jewish Key Beliefs5.1.10Exam-Style Questions - Jewish Beliefs
5.2

Covenant & The Mitzvot

5.2.1The Promised Land5.2.2Abraham5.2.3The Covenant5.2.4The Covenant at Sinai5.2.5The Covenant at Sinai 25.2.6Key Moral Principles5.2.7End of Topic Test - Covenant & The Mitzvot
5.3

The Synagogue & Worship

5.3.1The Synagogue & Its Importance5.3.2Public Acts of Worship5.3.3Shabbat5.3.4Worship & Law5.3.5End of Topic Test - Synagogue & Worship

Practice questions on The Trinity

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  1. 1
    Persons of the Trinity:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    What is belief in one God called?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    How is God the Father presented in different scripture?Fill in the list
  4. 4
    Presentation of Jesus as the Son of God in the New Testament:Fill in the list
  5. 5
    How is Jesus (God the Son) described in Isaiah’s prophecies (9:6-7)?True / false
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Exam-Style Questions - Christian Practices

Creation