The Holy Trinity
As taught in the Anglican / Episcopal tradition
Teaching the co-equality and co-eternity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as defined in the Creeds and the 39 Articles.
To approach the mystery of the Holy Trinity is to step onto holy ground. In the Anglican tradition, we often speak of the 'three-legged stool' of Scripture, Tradition, and Reason. When we apply this framework to the nature of God, we find ourselves not at the end of a logic puzzle, but at the beginning of a lifelong adoration of the Triune God. The doctrine of the Trinity—that God is one in essence and three in persons—is the distinctive mark of the Christian faith. It is the grammar of our salvation and the heartbeat of our liturgy.
By the end of this lesson
- Define the Trinity using the language of the 39 Articles and historic Creeds.
- Explain the biblical evidence for the co-equality and co-eternity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Contrast the 'Economic Trinity' with the 'Immanent Trinity' in the context of salvation history.
- Apply Trinitarian theology to the structure and practice of Christian prayer.
- Identify and correct historical heresies such as Modalism, Tritheism, and Arianism.
- Describe the role of the Filioque clause in the development of Western Trinitarian thought.
- Relate the communal nature of the Triune God to the practice of Christian fellowship.
Scripture
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