The Trinity is a concept that causes a lot of confusion in the church. The idea that God is simultaneously one and multiple is not very intuitive.There are two main schools of thought within the church. The first is that God is basically a single entity with multiple user names or faces that he presents to the world. The second, which I believe, is that the confusion stems from am is understanding of how the bible is describing God.
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The word trinity is not actually found in scripture but serves as a catch all term for the places in the bible where it refers to the three faces of God. The trinity is one in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I feel this is a rather straight forward idea that does not require the odd mental gymnastics of trying to make the trinity into a single entity that is somehow distinct and the same.
God is three distinct entities that operate together toward the same goals. The three are all God in that they share many qualities and characteristics of divinity. The three are one in that they are unified in who they are. So the term God is acting more like a group name than a personal identifier. All three are eternal, all powerful, and all knowing. None of the three where created by the others or are any more powerful or capable.
My reasons for stating it this way are based more on observations on how the bible presents certain terms than I am on highly abstract mental hoops. The first and strongest point is how the bible treats the state of marriage.
Gen 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
One: H259 (אחד) 'echâd: A numeral from H258; properly united, that is, one;or (as an ordinal) first: - a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain [dai-] ly, each (one), + eleven, every, few, first,+ highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together.
Flesh: H1320 (בּשׂר) bâśâr: From H1319; flesh (from its freshness);by extension body,person; also (by euphemism) the pudendaof a man: - body, [fat, lean] flesh [-ed], kin, [man-] kind, + nakedness, self,skin.
When a man and woman marry, they do not become the same person. Nor do they become Siamese twins. The two partners never lose their individuality,distinctiveness, or unique personalities. The two partners are not the same person or entity operating two bodies. There is no hive mind magic going on.Instead, when a man and a woman “become one flesh”, they are entering into a unity. They are two distinct entities that live, operate, and act as one (of course - these are mythical ideals). The couple has the same home, the same finances, the same family. They are still two distinct entities but they are united as one. This idea is a recurring theme throughout the bible. It is this kind of united that the Trinity operates under: distinct entities acting as one with shared divinity, character attributes, and goals.
Deu 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD(H3068) our God(H430), theLORD(H3068) is one(H259).
LORD: H3068 (יהוה) yehôvâh: From H1961; (the) self Existent oreternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God: - Jehovah, the Lord.Compare H3050, H3069.
God: H430 (אלהים) 'ĕlôhı̂ym: Plural of H433; godsin the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especiallywith the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way ofdeference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative: - angels, Xexceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.
One: H259 (אחד) 'echâd: A numeral from H258; properly united, that is, one;or (as an ordinal) first: - a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain [dai-] ly, each (one), + eleven, every, few, first,+ highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together.
As you have claimed there are always issues with translation. Here the Hebrew word for God is the plural version and the word for “one” is the same Hebrew word as in Genesis. It is the same idea. So a literal translation would be: “Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our Gods, Jehovah is one/is a unity/is united.”
Here is another example where this Hebrew world refers to the idea of united group.
Gen 34:16 Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to ourselves, and we will dwell with you and become one (H259) people.
Gen 34:22 Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one (H259) people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.
One (H259) – same as above
People: H5971 (עם) ‛am: From H6004; a people (as a congregated unit);specifically a tribe(as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troopsor attendants; figuratively a flock: - folk, men, nation, people.
Deu 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, amighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
Literal translation:
For Jehovah-H3068 your Gods-H430is Gods-H430 of Gods-H430,and Lord(s)-H113 of lord(s)-H113, a great God-H410, a mighty,and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
God: H410 (אל) 'êl: Shortened from H352;strength; as adjective mighty; especially theAlmighty(but used also of any deity): - God (god), X goodly, X great, idol,might (-y one), power, strong. Compare names in “-el.”
Lord(s): H113 (אדן אדון )')âdôn 'âdôn: From an unused root (meaning to rule);sovereign,that is, controller (human or divine): - lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with “Adoni-”.
These verses are aside from the very obvious plurality used in the Genesis account. (Genesis 1:26, Genesis 3:22, Genesis 11:7) This concept and theme of a compound unity is continued in the New Testament. Here we have a New Testament establishment of the simultaneous unity and distinctiveness of the Father and Jesus.
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 heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creepers creeping on the earth.
Gen 3:22 And Jehovah God said, Behold, the man has become as one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever,
Gen 11:7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they cannot understand one another's speech.
Next bit
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Joh 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
Joh 10:30 I and the Father are one."
Joh 15:3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine,neither can you, unless you abide in me.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Abide: G3306 (μένω) menō: A primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy):- abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own
The purpose of Jesus’ followers is to be one with the Father as Jesus is one with the Father. Christians never lose their individuality or personality when they become Christian nor do they lose it over time(individuality is not inversely related with closeness to God). The idea is to become a people united with each other and with Jesus and the Father. This unity is not simply a state of being for the Christian walk but an ongoing activity.
Joh 17:8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
Joh 17:9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
Joh 17:10 All mine are yours,and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
Joh 17:11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world,and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
Christians are meant to move toward this same unity with each other as with Jesus – this does not mean we are to emulate a cult-like abandonment of individuality but that we share common beliefs (Jesus is Son of God, telling people about the Gospel kind of matters, telling the truth is important), common goals (worshiping God, learning more about Him, teaching others about His nature), and our lives. If one of us is hurting, the other scare about it and want to help and be there to share in the hurts, joys, and bumps of life. We are distinct entities with our own personalities and ways of thinking united in a singular purpose and sharing our lives. While it is far from perfect, we are trying to emulate the unity of the godhead (that whole thing of bearing the image and likeness of God’s nature popping up again).Distinct entities with their own personalities operating together sharing qualities and life.
One of the poster child comparisons is that of a body. Each person starts out separate but joins together as a body that retains each part’s distinctiveness and uniqueness.
1Co 12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
1Co 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
1Co 12:14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
1Co 12:15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any lessa part of the body.
1Co 12:16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
1Co 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
1Co 12:18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
1Co 12:19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?
1Co 12:20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
1Co 12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
1Co 12:22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
1Co 12:23 and on those parts of the body that we thinkless honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
1Co 12:24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,
1Co 12:25 that there may be no division in the body,but that the members may have the same care for one another.
1Co 12:26 If one member suffers, all suffer together;if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
1Co 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
There is even an example of disagreement between the members of the trinity.
Luk 22:42 saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me.Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."
Luk 22:43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven,strengthening him.
Luk 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Even though the purpose of Jesus coming down to earth was to be a sacrifice to save all, He was reluctant to go through the pain. Jesus’will was in contradiction with the Father but for the sake of the Unity he submitted his will to that of the Father.
As far as who is who in Genesis, that requires an understanding of the symbolism used by the scripture.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 He was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
This passage is about Jesus. It is the clearest establishment of the Word of God as being a symbol of Jesus. This is not just a symbol, however, is represents and established that Jesus is the personification of the Word of God. Whenever you see the word of God in scripture, its is also referring to Christ because they are the same entity. Whenever scripture is written or the word of God is recorded, they are recording Jesus. Whenever God speaks in the old or new testament, it is the Father sending the Son to deliver the message and accomplish the Trinity’s goals.
Isa 55:11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
So when we read in the Genesis account, we have to apply the bibles own language definitions, namely, the symbolism.
Gen 1:1 In the beginning, God(H430) created the heavens and the earth.
Gen 1:2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God(Holy Spirit) was hovering over the face of the waters.
Gen 1:3 And God(H430) said(Word of God-Jesus send to accomplish the decree), "Let there be light," and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God(H430) saw that the light was good. And God(H430) separated the light from the darkness.
With an understanding of the symbolism and the plurality of the articles, we can see that God, the group, created the heavens and the earth. The group decided what should be done, then the decree is issued and Jesus goes to accomplish the degree.
Joh 1:3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Gen 1:5 God called (word-Jesus) the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, thef irst day.
Gen 1:6 And God said (word-Jesus), "Let there bean expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."
Gen 1:7 And God (H430-the group) made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so.
If you want a rundown of the symbolism to show who is doing what in the old testament I can. Again, I hope and pray that these papers are useful and informative.
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