Some things that I learned in a Trinity forum:
- Every attempt to try to explain the Trinity doctrine ends in some kind of heresy. Always.
No, the doctrine doesn't, misinterpretations of the doctrines do.
Listening to a discussion of the nature of the electron. One scientist said words to the effect of: 'all these models, none of them are true in an absolute sense, but they are adequate analogies that enable us to think about the thing and look at the questions'
Same with the Trinity.
Once we fully understand God, we will fully understand the Trinity. Until then, we're reaching into the dark, as it were, and using analogies to try and explain and understand.
St Paul said: "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:2)
At the Johannine scribe:
"We know, that, when he shall appear, we shall be like to him: because we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:12)
Until then, I delight in talking about the Trinity, but know, really, I'm reaching into the dark ...
In the Trinity doctrine, the words “substance,” “distinct,” “person,” and “is” don’t have the same meanings that they have in any other context
Yes. They have the meanings as understood in the Greek philosophical lexicon. Now those words have passed into common usage and their meanings are vague.
- The Trinity doctrine is not a statement that can be explained or understood all together. It is a denial of some false teachings.
Like most dogmas/doctrines, the statements were not made to pin anything down, but to preserve from error.
You don't have to understand the Trinity to believe in the Trinity. Who can explain love?
- The way to use the Trinity doctrine is not to try to understand it or explain it. The way to use the Trinity doctrine is to help us avoid some false ways of thinking about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, that can limit our possibilities in our relationship with Him, and impede our progress.
Yes.
- The number of the God of Abraham is not one, or three, or many, or none. He has no number. Number is a quality of the creation, not of the Creator.
Yes.
The Greek philosophers, independent of Christianity, struggled with the same problem. if God is 'One' (not in the sense of number) – how is there multiplicity.
Or ... if there is Self alone, how is there You and I? How is the Another?
The fathers used the language if this discourse to try and unravel – as much as they could – the Mystery made known.