Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

The Trinity

major Trinity

God is one in essence and three in persons.

This doctrine defines Christian orthodoxy. Denial places one outside the historic faith.

What the traditions say

Roman Catholic affirms_strongly Catholic

Central dogma. The filioque clause ("and the Son") added to the Creed in the West, affirming the Spirit proceeds from Father and Son.

Lutheran affirms_strongly Lutheran

Augsburg Confession I: "There is one divine essence...yet there are three persons." Lutheranism stands squarely within Nicene orthodoxy.

Eastern Orthodox affirms_strongly Orthodox

Affirms the Trinity but rejects the filioque. The Spirit proceeds from the Father alone (through the Son, in some formulations). This is the central dogmatic disagreement with Rome.

Patristic affirms_strongly Patristic

Developed through the Arian controversy and defined at Constantinople (381). The Cappadocian Fathers gave the definitive formulation: one ousia, three hypostases.

Reformed affirms_strongly Reformed

Westminster Confession II.3: three persons "of one substance, power, and eternity." Reformed theology often emphasizes the economic Trinity — the ordered work of Father, Son, and Spirit in salvation.

Secular Critical reinterprets Secular Critical

Critical scholarship traces Trinitarian theology from NT "binitarianism" through 2nd-century development to Nicene formulation. Viewed as theological evolution, not divine revelation.

Rabbinic Jewish rejects Jewish

The Shema (Deut 6:4) declares God is one. Trinitarian theology is seen as a departure from biblical monotheism.

Key scriptures

  • 2Cor 13:14 — The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
  • Gen 1:26 — And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
  • Isa 6:3 — And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
  • John 14:26 — But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
  • Matt 28:19 — Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
  • Matt 3:16 — And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

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