The Holy Trinity Orthodox Faith Series Houston, TX 2008 1
Scripture IS Tradition BIBLE 2
Scripture AND Tradition BIBLE TRADITION 3
Scripture IN Tradition TRADITION BIBLE 4
What is Tradition? Life of the Holy Spirit in the Church Apostolic Doctrine Handed to us 5
What is Theology? Not an academic endeavor, but a spiritual process It is a way of life One who EXPERIENCES God, who knows God, not just who knows ABOUT God 6
What is Theology? If you are a theologian you will pray truly, and if you pray truly, you are a theologian Evagrius Ponticus,, On Prayer Rationalism vs.. EXPERIENCE! REVELATION Not Intellectualism 7
Why study Theology? The SOTERIOLOGICAL MOTIVE From Greek word soterion meaning SALVATION Not for philisophical debate, speculation Concern for SALVATION! Concern for the SOUL! Safeguard the Church s s EXPERIENCE for Salvation/Sanctification 8
Why study Theology? The SOTERIOLOGICAL MOTIVE From Greek word soterion meaning SALVATION Not for philisophical debate, speculation Applies to all our activities in the Church 9
What is DOGMA? Expression of the EXPERIENCE of REVEALED TRUTH as defined by the CHURCH SAFEGUARD against heretical errors A boundary 10
What is DOGMA? Dogmas DO NOT develop! Science develops Eg. The world is flat the world is round Breakthroughs can change the way we think Eg. Catholic Dogma developed Unalterable May be clarified or elaborated, not changed Don t t even change wording of original Councils! 11
How do we safeguard from error? MIND OF THE FATHERS PATRISTICS The Mind of the Fathers Seemed good to the Holy Spirit and Us Not just to read about it, but to have the same EXPERIENCE, which they EXPERIENCE To Pursue, PARTICIPATE, and preserve the proper theological perspective 12
How do we safeguard from error? Mind of the Fathers CONSENSUS of the Fathers Correctly expressing the attitude of the Fathers Living the Liturgical Life Our prayers and hymns teach us the Faith 13
God as Mystery We only know what has been REVEALED! We have the EXPERIENCE of our Church Fathers to help us Not chosen by us, but REVEALED/GIVEN Impossible to comprehend 14
God as Mystery Anyone who tries to describe the ineffable light in language is a liar not because he hates the truth, but because of the INADEQUACY of his desciption - St. Gregory of Nyssa 15
God? Thank you for listening! Difference between God is Mystery and Ignorance of God 16
Thoughts on the Trinity Difference between God of the Old Testament and God of the New Testament? When did God the Father come to be? When did Jesus Christ come to be? When did the Holy Spirit come to be? 17
The Balance Unity of Nature Distinction of Persons 3 Persons in One Essence When I say God, I mean Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. No sooner I conceive of the One, that I am illumined by the Three. When I think of the Three, I am carried back to the One. St. Gregory the Theologian In God there is genuine unity and genuine diversity 18
The Balance Unity of Nature Distinction of Persons Too much Unity Modalism Too Much Distinction Tri-Theism 19
Personal Characteristics of the Trinity 20
Personal Characteristics: God the Father Fountain of the Godhead Bond of unity between the Three There is one God because there is one Father The union is the Father, from whom and to whom the order of the persons runs its course St. Gregory the Theologian Other 2 Persons defined in terms of their relationship to the Father Son Begotten Holy Spirit Proceeds 21
Personal Characteristics: Word or Logos God the Son The Word of God Jesus the Christ 22
Personal Characteristics: God the Holy Spirit The wind or breath of God Breathe the Holy Spirit in Baptism May say (but still inadequate) Spirit is God within us Son is God with us Father is God above or beyond us 23
God as Trinity Each of the three is FULLY and COMPLETELY God None is more or less God than the others NOT 1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3 = 1 24
The Divine Plurals of the Old Testament 25
Divine Plurals of the OT The CREATION OF MAN Gen 1:26 26 Then God said, Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 26
Divine Plurals of the OT The FALL OF MAN Gen 3:22 Then the Lord God said, Behold, the man has become like one of US,, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever 27
Divine Plurals of the OT The EFFECTS OF THE FALL Gen 11:7 Come, let US go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another s s speech. 28
Divine Plurals of the OT The PLAN OF SALVATION Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for US? 29
Trinitarian Formula St. Matt 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the NAME of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 1 John 5: 7-9 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; ; and these three are ONE. Blessings are done with this Formula 30
Triadic Formula 2 Cor. 13:44 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. Used in liturgical services and prayers 31
The Work of the Holy Trinity 32
Three Persons One Essence One Will The Work of God Every divine action begins FROM the Father, proceeds THROUGH the Son, and is perfected IN the Holy Spirit. 33
The Two Hands of God St. Irenaeus Analogy FATHER SON HOLY SPIRIT Every divine action begins FROM the Father, proceeds THROUGH the Son, and is perfected IN the Holy Spirit. 34
Creation By the WORD of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the BREATH of His mouth (Ps. 33:6) The Word all things were made through Him (John 1:3) Through Whom all things were made from the Nicene Creed The Spirit The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the SPIRIT of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Gen 1:2) 35
Incarnation Father sends the Holy Spirit upon Blessed Virgin Mary And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35) Mary conceives the Eternal Son of God God s s taking of our humanity is a Trinitarian Work 36
Manifestations of the Holy Trinity 37
Baptism of our Lord FATHER s Voice This is my Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased (Matt. 3:17) SON being baptized HOLY SPIRIT descends in the form of a dove And He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. (Matt. 3:16) Baptism of Christ is a Manifestation of the Holy Trinity Blessing of the Censer 38
Transfiguration of Christ FATHER s Voice This is my Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased (Matt 17:15) SON being transfigured HOLY SPIRIT descends in the form of a cloud of light While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. (Luke 9:34) Transfiguration is a Manifestation of the Holy Trinity 39
Praying the Trinity O Holy Father, guard us by Your sacred Name, O Son of God, our Savior, protect us by Your O Holy Spirit, make us worthy temples.. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one true God Help us to have a better appreciation of the prayers of the Church 40
Explaining The Holy Trinity in 3 Words? I don t t know! God as mystery God is Love! God s s love for man: Trinitarian Work of Creation and Salvation 41
Thank you for listening! Recommended Reading: Ware, KALLISTOS. The Orthodox Way. Crestwood: St. Vladimir s Press, 1979. (Chapters 1 and 2 especially pertain to this topic) 42