Nature & Significance of the Trinity (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B)

Nicene Creed

What is the Trinity?

• The Trinity is the belief that God is Three-in-One:

  • God the Creator and Father,

  • Jesus as the Son of God

  • Holy Spirit as the Spirit of God at work in the world

• All are worshipped and acknowledged as separate persons of the one God

• The Trinity is not clearly stated in the New Testament but it has become something that marks Christianity apart from other monotheistic religions such as Islam and Judaism, which reject the idea that God can be three parts

What is the Nicene Creed?

• The Nicene Creed is a key source of authority for believing in the Trinity

• The statement  is recited by Christians of many denominations in their regular acts of worship

• This statement of belief in the Trinity explains each role of the Trinity and the characteristics of those roles

  • The Father is the powerful creator of everything

• The Son is Jesus Christ, who came to earth as God incarnate and was crucified to redeem humanity’s sins

• The Holy Spirit, which is the invisible power of God, works within the world today to inspire and guide us

• This Creed was drawn up in 325 CE by the Council of Nicaea (a gathering of all bishops from across the world)

• The Creed states the unity of the Church, baptism and repentance for the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgement, and everlasting life

The Oneness of God

• Although Christianity is a monotheistic religion, many Christians believe that there are three equal and yet distinct persons in one God

• Christians do not believe that there are three Gods. The oneness of God is central to Christian belief

• The oneness of God is referred to in the Old Testament, and Jesus also reminds his followers of the importance of believing in only one God

• The oneness of God is a central Christian belief, as it reflects the oneness of the universe God created

The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost

• The Trinity helps Christians understand the three ways that God can be understood as Father, Son and Holy Ghost / Spirit

• Christians believe that it is easier to understand God by relating to these three aspects

  • As the Father, God is loving 

    • Christians may feel loved and demonstrate love for others for example, by giving to charity

  • As the Son, God was incarnate

    • Jesus lived and died among humans so Christians know that God can understand them

    • Jesus felt pain like people do so Christians can pray to God for help

  • As the Spirit, God is a source of spiritual strength

    • Christians can feel the Spirit at work in their lives and this strengthens and supports them

• The Trinity is a mystery

  • Christians can accept that there are things that they cannot know about God

Holy Trinity and Worship

• The Trinity explains many things in the Bible so Christians can understand events like the voice from heaven at Jesus’ baptism

• The Trinity is also important in many aspects of belief and worship

  • Christians bless themselves by making the sign of the cross and offering prayers ‘in the name of the Father, the Sin and the Holy Spirit’

  • Prayers such as the Lord’s Prayer, Nicene Creed and Apostles Creed all refer to the Trinity

  • Some hymns in church refer to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

  • Christians also understand the significance of the Trinity for baptism and it forms part of the ritual during the service

  • The belief in the Trinity is intended to be at the centre of each Christian’s individual daily relationship with God