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The Shield of the Trinity, also known as the Scutum Fidei (Latin for "Shield of the Faith" - Ephesians 6:16), is a traditional Christian symbol that visually represents the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. This emblem, which succinctly summarizes the first part of the Athanasian Creed, has been used throughout Christian history to illustrate the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
In this diagram, the three Persons of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are shown as distinct, yet all connected to the single essence of God, represented at the center. The diagram reinforces the belief that each Person is fully God, but not each other. The Shield of the Trinity serves as both a theological teaching tool and a visual expression of the mystery of the Trinity. In medieval England and France, this emblem was revered as the heraldic arms of the Triune God, symbolizing the unity and co-equality of the three Persons within the one Godhead. The Shield of the Trinity remains a powerful visual representation of core Christian beliefs, connecting believers to the rich theological tradition of the faith. |
The Trinity
The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the foundational Christian beliefs and, unfortunately, one of the first doctrines that cults often distort to present a false version of Jesus Christ.
Understanding the Trinity
The word "Trinity" comes from "Tri," meaning three, and "Unity," meaning one—Tri+Unity = Trinity. God is a Trinity of persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is not the same person as the Son; the Son is not the same person as the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit is not the same person as the Father. They are not three gods or three beings. Instead, they are three distinct persons, yet all are the one God. Each has a will, can speak, can love, and these attributes demonstrate their personhood. They exist in perfect harmony, sharing one substance. They are coeternal, coequal, and copowerful. If any one of the three were removed, there would be no God. (See also, "Another Look at the Trinity")
Jesus, the Hypostatic Union
Jesus, the Son, is one person with two natures: Divine and Human. This union of two natures in one person is known as the Hypostatic Union. The Holy Spirit is also divine in nature, self-aware, and is the third person of the Trinity.
Distinct Roles Within the Godhead
Though the three persons of the Trinity are equal, there is an apparent distinction in their roles within the Godhead. For example, the Father chooses who will be saved (Eph. 1:4); the Son redeems them (Eph. 1:7); and the Holy Spirit seals them (Eph. 1:13).
Clarifying Misconceptions
It's crucial to clarify what the Trinity is not:
The Term "Person"
The term "person" is used to describe the three members of the Godhead because it appropriately conveys their self-awareness, capacity to speak, love, hate, and use personal pronouns like "you," "yours," "me," and "mine." Each of the three persons in the Trinity exhibits these personal qualities.
Scriptural Basis for the Trinity
The doctrine of the Trinity is systematically derived from Scripture. First, the Bible establishes that there is only one God. Then, it shows that each of the three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is called God, each creates, each was involved in Jesus' resurrection, each indwells believers, etc. Thus, while God is one, He exists in three simultaneous persons. The concept of a composite unity is not foreign to the Bible; for instance, a husband and wife are said to be one flesh (Gen. 2:24).
There is Only One God
The first step in understanding the Trinity is recognizing that only one God exists:
These verses, among others (Isaiah 43:10; John 17:3; 1 Cor. 8:5-6), affirm the existence of one God, who is revealed in three distinct persons within the Holy Trinity.
The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the foundational Christian beliefs and, unfortunately, one of the first doctrines that cults often distort to present a false version of Jesus Christ.
Understanding the Trinity
The word "Trinity" comes from "Tri," meaning three, and "Unity," meaning one—Tri+Unity = Trinity. God is a Trinity of persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is not the same person as the Son; the Son is not the same person as the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit is not the same person as the Father. They are not three gods or three beings. Instead, they are three distinct persons, yet all are the one God. Each has a will, can speak, can love, and these attributes demonstrate their personhood. They exist in perfect harmony, sharing one substance. They are coeternal, coequal, and copowerful. If any one of the three were removed, there would be no God. (See also, "Another Look at the Trinity")
Jesus, the Hypostatic Union
Jesus, the Son, is one person with two natures: Divine and Human. This union of two natures in one person is known as the Hypostatic Union. The Holy Spirit is also divine in nature, self-aware, and is the third person of the Trinity.
Distinct Roles Within the Godhead
Though the three persons of the Trinity are equal, there is an apparent distinction in their roles within the Godhead. For example, the Father chooses who will be saved (Eph. 1:4); the Son redeems them (Eph. 1:7); and the Holy Spirit seals them (Eph. 1:13).
Clarifying Misconceptions
It's crucial to clarify what the Trinity is not:
- God is not one person, the Father, with Jesus as a creation and the Holy Spirit as a force (as taught by Jehovah's Witnesses).
- God is not one person who took on three consecutive forms (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) as in Modalism.
- God is not a single being with a divine nature perceived as the Father and a human nature perceived as the Son (as in Oneness theology).
- The Trinity is not an office held by three separate Gods (as in Mormonism).
The Term "Person"
The term "person" is used to describe the three members of the Godhead because it appropriately conveys their self-awareness, capacity to speak, love, hate, and use personal pronouns like "you," "yours," "me," and "mine." Each of the three persons in the Trinity exhibits these personal qualities.
Scriptural Basis for the Trinity
The doctrine of the Trinity is systematically derived from Scripture. First, the Bible establishes that there is only one God. Then, it shows that each of the three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is called God, each creates, each was involved in Jesus' resurrection, each indwells believers, etc. Thus, while God is one, He exists in three simultaneous persons. The concept of a composite unity is not foreign to the Bible; for instance, a husband and wife are said to be one flesh (Gen. 2:24).
There is Only One God
The first step in understanding the Trinity is recognizing that only one God exists:
- "I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides Me, there is no God" (Isaiah 45:5).
- "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me'" (Isaiah 44:6).
These verses, among others (Isaiah 43:10; John 17:3; 1 Cor. 8:5-6), affirm the existence of one God, who is revealed in three distinct persons within the Holy Trinity.
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Called God Creator Resurrects Indwells Everywhere All knowing Sanctifies Life giver Fellowship Eternal A Will Speaks Love Searches the heart We belong to Savior We serve Believe in Gives joy Judges |
FATHER
Phil. 1:2 Isaiah 64:8; 44:24 1 Thess. 1:10 2 Cor. 6:16 1 Kings 8:27 1 John 3:20 1 Thess. 5:23 Gen. 2:7: John 5:21 1 John 1:3 Psalm 90:2 Luke 22:42 Matt. 3:17; Luke 9:25 John 3:16 Jer. 17:10 John 17:9 1 Tim. 1:1; 2:3; 4:10 Matt. 4:10 John 14:1 . . . John 8:50 |
SON
John 1:1,14, 20:28; Col. 2:9 John 1:3; Col. 1:15-17 John 2:19, 10:17 Col. 1:27 Matt. 28:20 John 16:30; 21:17 Heb. 2:11 John 1:3; 5:21 1 Cor. 1:9 Micah 5:1-2 Luke 22:42 Luke 5:20; 7:48 Eph. 5:25 Rev. 2:23 John 17:6 2 Tim. 1:10; Titus 1:4; 3:6 Col. 3:24 John 14:1 John 15:11 John 5:22,30 |
HOLY SPIRIT
Acts 5:3-4 Job 33:4, 26:13 Rom. 8:11 John 14:17 Psalm 139:7-10 1 Cor. 2:10-11 1 Pet. 1:2 2 Cor. 3:6,8 2 Cor. 13:14; Phil. 2:1 Rom. 8:11; Heb. 9:14 1 Cor. 12:11 Acts 8:29; 11:12; 13:2 Rom. 15:30 1 Cor. 2:10 ...................... ...................... ...................... ...................... John 14:7 ...................... |
Therefore, the doctrine of the Trinity is arrived at by looking at the whole of scripture, not in a single verse. It is the doctrine that there is only one God, not three, and that the one God exists in three persons: Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. An analogy would be time. Time is past, present, and future. But, there are not three times, only one.
For a great in depth study booklet please visit Exploring Christianity-The Trinity.
For a few short videos on the Trinity
For a great in depth study booklet please visit Exploring Christianity-The Trinity.
For a few short videos on the Trinity