The Trinity

Christians believe God is one Lord but three in persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. The Lord has a single divine nature — God is one in what He is.

The doctrine of the Trinity is central to most branches of Christianity and holds that God is one in essence but three in persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. Here's a breakdown to help you understand how this can be:

One Essence (Being)
Christians believe there is only one God, not three gods. This one God has a single divine nature or essence — God is one in what He is.

Three Persons
Within this one divine essence, there are three distinct persons:

• The Father: The Creator and sustainer of all things, the source, unbegotten.
• The Son: Eternally begotten of the Father. The Word made flesh, fully God and fully human, who came to redeem humanity.
• The Holy Spirit: Eternally proceeds from the Father (and, in Western Christianity, also from the Son). The presence and power of God active in the world, guiding and sanctifying believers.

Each person is fully God — not one-third God — yet they are not three gods. They are co-equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial. This means Christians believe in one God, not three gods, but that God exists in a tri-personal way.

Not a Contradiction
It would be contradictory to say God is one person and three persons or one being and three beings. But the Trinity teaches one being (what) and three persons (who). This distinction is crucial to avoid logical contradiction.

Analogies
People use analogies to better understand this mystery, though none are perfect:

• Water analogy: Water can exist as ice, liquid, and vapor — all H₂O, but in different forms.
• Mind analogy: One mind with intellect, will, and memory.

Biblical Roots
Though the word "Trinity" doesn't appear in the Bible, the concept is drawn from Scripture:

• Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, - Matthew 28:19 NASB1995
• In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. - John 1:1 NASB1995
• And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14 NASB995
• But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God. - Acts 5:3–4 NASB1995

Summary
The Trinity is one God in three persons. It's a profound mystery meant not to confuse but to preserve the full truth of God's revelation: that the Father creates, the Son redeems, and the Spirit sanctifies — yet all are fully and equally God.

This doctrine is central to most mainstream Christian denominations, including Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and most forms of Protestantism. It is considered a mystery of faith, meaning it cannot be fully understood by human reason but is revealed through Scripture and tradition.