Holy Trinity

Trinity

Definition: The central doctrine of religions of Christendom. According to the Athanasian

Creed, there are three divine Persons (the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost), each said to be

eternal, each said to be almighty, none greater or less than another, each said to be God,

and yet together being but one God. Other statements emphasize that these three “Persons” are not separate and distinct individuals but are three modes in which the divine essence exists.

What is the origin of the Trinity doctrine?

The New Encyclopædia Britannica says: “Neither the word Trinity, nor the explicit doctrine as such, appears in the New Testament, nor did Jesus and his followers intend to contradict the Shema in the Old Testament: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord’ Deut.:4). . . .

The doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies. . .

. By the end of the 4th century . . . the doctrine of the Trinity took substantially the form it has maintained ever since.”—(1976), Micropædia, Vol. X, p. 126.