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The Doctrine of Trinity

Summary (Page 5)

List of All Tenets

Introduction

Below is

The Tenets

If you click on any tenet it will take you to the explanation of that tenet on the appropriate page.
Basic Tenets
  1. The trinity God is one and only one God.
  2. The trinity God exists as the eternal union of the three Divine Persons, namely:
    • The Father,
    • The Son (Jesus),
    • The Holy Spirit.
  3. The three Divine Persons are distinct.
Advanced Tenets
  1. The three Divine Persons consist of the same Divine essence, the same Divine nature.
  2. The three Divine Persons are co-equal in very specific ways (not in all ways).
  3. The three Divine Persons are relative to one another.
Final Tenets: Western vs. Eastern Doctrines
  1. Relations of Origin
    • Western: The Father generates, the Son is begotten, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. Footnote 4
    • Eastern: The Son is born from the Father, and the Spirit proceeds from the Father[5] through the Son.[6] Footnote 5 Footnote 6
  2. Substance
    • Western: (Summary:) The three Divine Persons consist of the same one Divine essence, the same one Divine nature, the same one Divine substance. Footnote 7
    • Eastern: (Summary:) The three Divine Persons consist of the same one Divine essence, the same one Divine nature, but each is of a distinct Divine substance. Footnote 8 Footnote 9
  3. Unity of Will and Action
    • Western: The ad extra acts of the Blessed Trinity are common to the three Divine Persons. (Note: “ad extra” meaning “external to God”.) Footnote 10
    • Eastern: (Summary:) The three Divine Persons are always united in will and in action. Footnote 11
— End List of Tenets —
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Why Each Divine Person is God

1. The trinity God is one and only one God.
2. The trinity God exists as the eternal union of the three Divine Persons.
Because each of the Divine Persons is, within himself, eternally in union with the other two Divine Persons, these two tenets taken together mean the following things:
  • The Father is the one and only God.
  • The Son (Jesus) is that very same God.
  • The Holy Spirit is that very same God.
Each Divine Person is the same one God.
Diagram 1 - Each Divine Person is God
Explicit explanation of the diagram:
  • God is the eternal union of the three Divine Persons.
  • The Son and the Holy Spirit are in (within) the Father. Therefore: the Father is in and of himself God.
  • The Father and the Holy Spirit are in (within) the Son. Therefore: the Son is in and of himself God.
  • The Father and the Son are in (within) the Holy Spirit. Therefore: the Holy Spirit is in and of himself God.
Previous Page - Final Tenets (Page 4)
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Page 1: Introduction Page 2: Basic Tenets Page 3: Advanced Tenets Page 4: Final Tenets
— End Article —
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References

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  1. “The dogma of the Holy Trinity.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed., United States Catholic Conference, 1994, pp.66-67, tenets 253-256. Retrived 2017 July 27 from http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/index.html#66/z
  2. Hopko, Fr. Thomas. “The Holy Trinity.” The Orthodox Faith. Vol. I. St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 2016. The Orthodox Church in America. Retrieved 2017 July 27 from https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-holy-trinity/the-doctrine-of-the-holy-trinity
  3. “The Holy Trinity.” The Doctrine of the Orthodox Church: The Basic Doctrines. Decani Monastery, Kosovo. Orthodox Christian Information Center. Retrieved 2017 July 27 from http://orthodoxinfo.com/general/doctrine1.aspx#Holy%20Trinity
  4. “The dogma of the Holy Trinity.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed., United States Catholic Conference, 1994, pg. 67, tenet 254. Retrived 2017 August 1 from http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/index.html#67/z Return to Text
  5. Hopko, Fr. Thomas. “One God, One Father.” The Orthodox Faith. Vol. I. St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 2016. The Orthodox Church in America. Retrieved 2017 August 1 from https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-holy-trinity/one-god-one-father Return to Text
  6. “The Father and the Son revealed by the Spirit.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed., United States Catholic Conference, 1994, pp. 65-66, tenet 248. Retrived 2017 August 1 from http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/index.html#65/z Return to Text
  7. “The dogma of the Holy Trinity.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed., United States Catholic Conference, 1994, pp. 66-67, tenet 253. Retrived 2017 August 1 from http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/index.html#66/z Return to Text
  8. “The Holy Trinity.” The Doctrine of the Orthodox Church: The Basic Doctrines. Decani Monastery, Kosovo. Orthodox Christian Information Center. Retrieved 2017 August 1 from http://orthodoxinfo.com/general/doctrine1.aspx#Holy%20Trinity Return to Text
  9. Hopko, Fr. Thomas. “One God: One Divine Nature and Being.” The Orthodox Faith. Vol. I. St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 2016. The Orthodox Church in America. Retrived 2017 August 1 from https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-holy-trinity/one-god-one-divine-nature-and-being Return to Text
  10. Arias, David. “God the Father, God the Son, and the ad extra Acts of the Blessed Trinity.” Johannine Themes in the Early Church Councils. Retrived 2017 August 3 from http://catholic-resources.org/John/Patristics-Trinity.html Return to Text
  11. Hopko, Fr. Thomas. “One God: One Divine Action and Will.” The Orthodox Faith. Vol. I. St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 2016. The Orthodox Church in America. Retrived 2017 August 3 from https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-holy-trinity/one-god-one-divine-action-and-will Return to Text