What is the best analogy to explain the Trinity?

"What is the best analogy to explain the Trinity?"
Dr. Bruce Ware answers in Honest Answers | Episode 101

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[vinaychauhan]

My whole family came to Christ 2 decades ago....still can't believe HE chose us. Love from India 😊

[Fr.MichaelCraigSmith]

As a student of physics, I learned that light has three principal parts. The luminiferous (the light you see) the calorific (heat you feel) and the actinic (the molecular effect on film). Any analogy is imperfect but I think light itself (Jesus said I am the way the truth and the light) is one of the best.

[markpoznanski]

After viewing this video, and reading many comments below I conclude this. First let me say I am a simple man. I have education beyond high school. I find great joy and wonder learning about God, and the many wonders of the Bible and such. I am often reminded that I am a finite being trying so hard to understand and grasp an infinte God. I strongly beleive that God honrs my honest efforts to know and understand Him. I enjoy hearing the insights of others. I ponder them, look at scripture, and pray. Thank you all for your thoughts. Let us eagerly search the scriptures, talk amongst ourselves, but always remember to ask for the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. Let us pray for our faith to grow in Christ, for the salvation of friends and family, and for our nation.
Stay the course...fight the good fight. Keep our eyes in Jesus. God richly bless you all.

[alfiejohnchester]

I don't think we can ever produce an analogy of the Trinity that is 100% accurate; for a start our finite minds cannot comprehend such a mind-blowing concept. As a Pastor the analogy I often use is one given to me many years ago by another Pastor who has now gone on to be with the Lord. The analogy says this; as we were originally made in God's image, to 'understand' the Trinity we should look at our self. We are made up of three separate parts, body, soul and spirit. Our body is not our soul or spirit; our soul is not our body or spirit; our spirit is not our body or soul. Each has its own function yet they are all part of me - one person - and if one were missing I would cease to exist. In some ways I see what one might call the 'created form of God' in a human being, namely our soul represents God the Father (The centre of all that is); our body represents the Son (God made flesh) and our spirit represents the Holy Spirit (God the Spirit). This is an analogy of course so should not to be taken literally! Of course like all the others this analogy is not perfect but I think it's a good one.

[terijohnson]

I think the best example is given in Genesis 1. HUMANS. We are made in the image of God. We are triune beings. We have a spirit, a soul, and a body. Each part distinct, but each part uniquely makes up who we are.

[Nomadestra]

I'm just starting to learn about God and consider my faith in Jesus and God. To be honest, this video is just too confusing, and something about it rubs me wrong. I feel more calmly when I relax and just let the words pass through me.

[morrowaviation]

An egg has a white, yolk and a shell. Which one is the egg? -Bob George

[lessummers]

Trinitarians still dont understand GOD is there FATHER

[Jax-zrfu]

A rope is composed of three strands. If one unravels it a little, one will see the three strands that remain a single rope composed of three strands. The three strands are similar, but not the same, they are individual strands forming a rope.

[mofeolayanju]

What if tritheism is modified in this way: human beings have distinct natures, but God being (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) has a common nature (omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent)? This accounts for the Godhead existing individually and jointly at the same time. This is how I understand the Trinity, and it is kind of similar to the last analogy.

[johnbrown]

Ever since I heard Adrian ROgers say, "GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Holy Spirit, " I use that formula instead of "Trinity." I find it ever so more fruitful.

[christopherg.murugan]

Amazing analogy.... Outstanding explanation...! Hats off!!!

[lessummers]

Psalm 83:18 That men may know that thou, whose name ALONE is JAHOVAH, art the MOST HIGH over ALL the earth there is only ONE and HE is the MOST HIGH over ALL the earth everytime MOST HIGH is used is refering to the FATHER HE ALONE

[banzakidimye]

I think one of the biggest problems is that people do not understand the nature of analogies. No single analogy can fully describe ANYTHING - never mind the Trinity. We use analogies everyday ... e.g. we may describe a ruby as being "blood red". In this we are using blood to describe the ruby - but, it must be noted that we are only analogising ONE aspect of the ruby; its colour. The describe the size of the ruby, one would have to use a different analogy - a pea, a pigeon egg, a sparrow egg, or whatever. And one could continue using a different object to convey an appropraiate characteristic of the ruby.

And, I think, that when we as Christians use analogies to describe the Trinity, we fall into the trap of trying to find ONE analogy that will explain every aspect of the Trinity - which of course is impossible.

I believe that analogies are useful. Jesus, when communicating spiritual truths, always used analogies (parables, metaphors, etc); He never used logic. And He used many different parables - each parable communicating a different truth. NO ONE parable could communicate ALL spiritual truth.

[Trey-xf]

Correct me if I’m wrong but I think the trinity is like the 3d plane, the 3d plain is one but it is 3 distinct planes, if you separate one from the others it is still a complete plane by itself, it’s not perfect but I’m not sure if I’m committing heresy or not.

[TwinklingDelight]

Here cuz I dont get it enough to explain it to my kids.

[hmzkhih]

Mathematically we can say INFINITY + INFINITY + INFINITY = INFINITY .Because a true God is Infinite .

[sunnyjacob]

I heard someone telling that trinity is like a coin. For example, One side of the coin has a number to denote it's value. The other side will have some emblem like the head of king/queen etc. That is to denote the authenticity of that piece of metal. Now there is the third side (the ridge) without that third side you cannot have a coin made. In other words, without the three sides, you can't have a coin of any value.

[rafaelgandara]

How can water co-exist at three phases (solid, liquid and gas)?

Water exists in three distinct phases at something called the triple point. Zero degrees celsius is defined by the triple point of water which is 273.16K at 611.2 Pa.

At this temperature water is in the process of changing from a solid state into the liquid phase or visa versa. Molecules in the liquid phase can loose a bit of energy and solidify whilst solid water (ice) can gain some energy and melt. This can be seen in melting ice where the solid ice exists for some time while the exposed surface melts.

Molecules in a liquid don't all have the same energy. The energies of the molecules can vary from a finite minimum, which would mark the transition back to a solid phases, up to an infinite energy (although the probability of this occurring is infinitely small). The average energy of the molecules gives us the temperature of the liquid. Statistical thermodynamics can map out the energy distribution of the water molecules. At a certain energy molecules will have enough energy to evaporate, even if the water temperature is 0 degrees C.

Because of these two effects it is possible for the water to exist as solid, liquid and gas at the same time.

Answered by: Edward Rayne, Physics Undergraduate Student, Cambridge UK

Hello so H2O can be a good example do to the triple point of water.

John 4:14
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

Blessings

[johndor]

The best explanation i have ever heard about why we cannot get a good analogy for the Trinity is that God exists outside of creation, and therefore creation cannot possibly provide a completely applicable example or analogy. Its similar to a xerox copy. The copy loses fidelity because it is not the original, but it reflects the original closely.