The Trinity

The doctrine of the trinity has long been debated, but it holds true through the ages.

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always.”—Matthew 28:19–20 NASB

For hundreds of years, church leaders battled and debated over core doctrines. Many lobbied for ideas that now are recognized as wrong or even heretical. But some were fighting for principles that today are accepted as true.

One of the heated issues involved the Godhead: Who, exactly, was Jesus, and what was His nature? What about the Holy Spirit? And what is the relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

Today as we read passages such as these words of Jesus in Matthew, we see the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit distinctly named. For our understanding of the truth about the Trinity, we owe much to Athanasius, who died on this day in 373 AD. Born in Alexandria, Egypt c. 293 AD, he has been called one of the giants of Christian history.

At the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, Athanasius articulately defended the divinity of Jesus, arguing that He was coequal with God. He continued to argue this conviction even though he was opposed by powerful voices who argued that Jesus was not coequal, but simply a man. So strong was the opposition that Athanasius was exiled five times and nearly murdered multiple times. Yet his views prevailed, and the reality of the Trinity became accepted.

Today, celebrate Jesus as your Lord, call on the presence of the Holy Spirit, and worship the Father as Creator. Our God is the three in one, the Trinity.

Reflection Question: Reflect on what each member of the Trinity means to you.