O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Trinity

Grace and Peace be unto you: In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost

Today, I want to talk about the Doctrine of Trinity and was eager to do so since this is fundamental to our faith. I will cover: First, the Athanasian Creed that started it all. Second, the Trinity that is in the Bible - Old and New Testaments.

To begin with, the Athanasian Creed or Quicumque Vult in Latin means “whosoever wishes.” In 325 AD, the Council of Nicaea formulated the doctrine that the Son is “of the same substance [homoousios] as the Father,” albeit very little mention of the Holy Spirit. Over the next half century, St. Athanasius defended the Nicene formula. And by the end of the 4th century, it was refined under the leadership of St. Basil of Caesarea, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and St. Gregory of Nazianzus (or the Cappadocian Fathers). And the Doctrine of the Trinity took substantially the form it has today

The Athanasian Creed is in the 1549 and 1662 Book of Common Prayer but oddly enough not mentioned in the 1928 Prayer Book. However, it is part of the official creed in the Anglican Catholic Church, Episcopal Church, Roman Catholic Church, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. This is the doctrine:

One God in Trinity, Trinity in Unity

Father is God, Son is God and Holy Ghost is God

But the Father is NOT the Son, and the Son is NOT the Holy Ghost

There are 3 Persons - the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost

But the Godhead of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are all one

Each person gets its own substance/essence

Each person is uncreated, eternal, infinite, almighty, Lord, God

There are Not 3 Uncreated, Not 3 Eternal, Not 3 Infinites, Not 3 Almighties, Not 3 Lords, Not 3 Gods

But 1 Uncreated, 1 Eternal, 1 Infinite, 1 Almighty, 1 Lord, 1 God in the Godhead

The doctrine of the Trinity is intuitively easy but logically difficult to understand. Now let’s see in the Old Testament about the idea of the Trinity. The Trinity in the Old Testament

Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. In the 5 Books of Moses, number 3 or plurality is mentioned many times. Here in Genesis 1 verse 1, the Hebrew word for God is Elohim. Elohim is a plural noun but oddly enough it is used here with a singular verb - bara. We also see in verse 1 Gods created three dimesions. Time in the beginning, Space in the heavens, and Matter in the earth. Also, another word for God is the "Maker" or asael. This too is a plural subject with a singular verb. In Isaiah 54:5 – it is written – “For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name.

We find a more hints of the Trinity or plurality in the Godhead.

Genesis 1:26 - Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness;

Genesis 3:22 - Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us”

Genesis 11:7 – “Come, let us go down and there confuse their language”

Genesis 18:1-3 = when the 3 men visited Abraham “And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him”

The doxology of Isaiah 6:3 also gives hint of the Trinity. “And they were calling to one another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty”

So we see here in the Old Testament use of the plural God. The conclusion to be drawn is that in the OT God is used mostly in the singular but other times he is spoken in the plural. So the question is: If the doctrine of the Trinity is true in the OT, then why don't we find more explicit references in the Old Testament?

One, it maybe because Israel was surrounded by nations who were polytheistic. Consequently the OT may have less emphasized the Trinity and stressed the oneness of God. Two, the Jews at the time did not believe in the Trinity so it was not stated emphatically. And three, the coming of Jesus was gradually introduced in the OT, Jesus was not prophesied heavily until the book of Isaiah and to Malachi.

Now let’s look at the Doctrine of Trinity in the New Testament thru the Gospels, Disciples, because there are many reference to the Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost indirectly and directly.

1 John 5:7 – “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” Clear as day

Matthew 3:16-17 “And Jesus (the Son), when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God (Holy Ghost) descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven (God), saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” – another direct reference to the Trinity

John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name (Jesus), he shall teach you all things”

1 Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh (Jesus), justified in the Spirit (Holy Ghost),

2 Corinthians 13:14 (this is in our Morning/Evening Prayers in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer)

“Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore.”

In Summary, the Trinitarian Creed has been conceived by the early Church Fathers in the Athanasian Creed, the OT hints at the plural and singular God but as history moves forward, it becomes clearer as we approach the New Testament. And in the New Testament, the Trinitarian Doctrine becomes more direct through the scriptural passages by the Gospels, the Disciples, the Jews, and by Jesus. Revelation 4:8 - Holy, Holy, Holy, the Lord God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come.

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

--Fr. Anton Yoe
 

All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee
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Upcoming Events

Sunday Services, 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM, & 11:15 AM (for online participation for the services go to: https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland/ )

Sunday School, 10:30 AM

Wednesday at Noon – Holy Communion and anointing for healing (for online participation, check info under Sunday Services)

Bishop's Visitation, next Sunday, June 11.  If you wish to be confirmed or received by Bishop Lerow during his visitation with our Parish, or if you are unsure of your status, please contact Fr. Roddy as soon as possible.
 
Saturday, June 17, 8:30 AM, Men's Group in the undercroft with breakfast by Chef Claude Crump and Bible Study with Bob Boyd. Food, fellowship and Bible study with other men of the parish.

Next Vestry meeting September

Your support of the Food Bank and MaRIH Crisis Pregnancy Center is greatly appreciated. The lists below tell what is needed.  The MaRIH Center list was updated recently. (Please note that at this time the MaRIH Center is not accepting clothing)  If you cannot bring items to the church, you can also click on the donate button above and then on the drop down menu that appears on the donation page choose Charity and Mercy to give a cash donation.  In the comment box you can specify if the donation is for the Food Bank and/or for the MaRIH Crisis Pregnancy Center.  Thank you.

Food Donations 
Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Christ House is very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar).  Current needs include the following:
• canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
• peanut butter
• jelly
• tuna
• canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
• individual fruit cups (low sugar)
• canned fruit (low sugar)
• cereal (low sugar)
• pasta (regular and gluten-free)
• instant potatoes
• Macaroni & cheese kits
• Coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar 

Just Updated List of Needs for MaRIH Center (crisis pregnancy center)
MaRIH Center with its all volunteer staff has been providing help to mothers-to-be and mothers in need.  If you can provide some of the items that are needed, please do so. (You can leave the donations where the food for the food bank is collected on the pew in the undercorft.)

Especially Needed
Bold and  * are a critical need.

Diapers (sizes newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4*, 5*, & 6*)
Baby wipes
Diaper rash ointment
Baby shampoo
Baby blankets
Sleeping -- Pack-n-Play* (not individual pieces of clothing)
Formula:  Simulac Advance Formula*
Wash clothes
Hooded towels
Grocery gift cards*


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