What is the Trinity? (feat. Timothy Ateek)
Watermark Equipping Podcast
About This Episode
Episode 105 • Sep 29, 2023 people
In this episode, hosts Oren Martin and Caitlin Van Wagoner are joined by Timothy "TA" Ateek to discuss the doctrine of the Trinity: what it is, how to explain it, and its' implications for our daily lives.
Part I: 01:30-06:59
What is Trinity?
- The Trinity: the word that describes the conviction that God exists as three co-equal, co-eternal persons that are distinct yet are one in essence.
- Trinitarian Heresies
- Scott Swain, The Trinity: An Introduction
- 1 Minute Videos on the Trinity
Part II: 07:00-10:20
How can I explain the Trinity in a simple way?
- Use an illustration, knowing it ultimately breaks down
- Catechesis: teaching in the form of questions
- The New City Catechism
- Brandon Smith, The Biblical Trinity: Encountering the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Scripture
Part III: 10:20-15:30
Why is the Trinity important in our everyday lives?
- To love God rightly, you have to know God rightly
- The Trinity helps us understand God more fully, ourselves more fully, and the Gospel more fully.
Scripture Mentioned: Deuteronomy 29:29, Galatians 4:4-7
Part IV: 15:30-19:40
Where do we see the Trinity in the Bible?
- “The Old Testament may be likened to a chamber richly furnished but dimly lit...” – B.B. Warfield
- Progressive Revelation
- Tertullian: Early Church father who coined the term Trinity to describe who God is
- Scott Swain, The Trinity & the Bible: On Theological Interpretation
- The Nicene Creed
- Tertullian’s View of the Trinity
Scripture Mentioned: Matthew 28:18-20, Matthew 3:13-17, Genesis 1:1-2, 26, Colossians 1:15-23
Part V: 19:40-22:46
Is the Trinity unique in comparison to other religions?
- While Jews and Muslims believe that only one God exists, they reject the Christian belief in a Triune God.
- Do Christians, Jews, and Muslims Worship the Same God?
- 5 Reasons the Trinity Matters So Much
Part VI: 22:46-26:50
Common questions on the Trinity
- Is there a person of the Trinity that you favor?
- “…When I think of anyone of the three, I think of him as the whole, and my eyes are filled, and the greater part of what I am thinking escapes me. I cannot grasp the greatness of that one so as to attribute a greater greatness to the rest. When I contemplate the three together, I see but one torch, and cannot divide or measure out the undivided light.” – Gregory Nazianzen
- Who do we pray to? We pray to the Father, by the Son, and through the Holy Spirit.
Scripture Mentioned: Matthew 6:5-15, Acts 7:59
Recommended Resources:
- Michael Reeves, Delighting in the Trinity
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