Question 76 – How can God be three persons, yet One?

Christianity holds a unique position in its doctrine of God, unmatched by any other religion. Although the Bible does not explicitly state "God is triune," it is undeniably clear from numerous direct expressions that God is one, yet exists in three persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Not three gods, not a "three-headed god," as some mockingly claim, nor one God with three "masks." Instead, one God comprised of distinct persons, each fully God in themselves. In mathematical terms, the equation is not 1 + 1 + 1 = 3, but rather, 1 × 1 × 1 = 1.

This theological concept cannot be perfectly understood, much less explained. Thus, the answer to this question may surprise you. How can God exist in three persons? I have no idea. No Christian can reliably answer this question. Many reject the Trinity because of this: they do not understand it, so they reject it. But God is infinitely greater than we are. Is it reasonable to expect that we can perfectly comprehend Him? Is it truly wise to dismiss God's revelation of Himself simply because our minds, limited by physical reality, cannot grasp it? The complex doctrine of the Trinity could paradoxically be an argument for its truthfulness, for if you come across an explanation of God that is easily understandable, it likely suggests that this God is made up.

Christians have long sought a suitable analogy to better comprehend God's triune nature. However, each falls short and fails to fully capture God's true identity. Yet, I will provide a few here.

Suitable analogy

- Light, heat, and air - all of these exist simultaneously in our natural environment. Thanks to light, we can observe the world around us; we can feel heat on our skin, and we can breathe air. These aspects can be measured, are distinct from each other, follow their own laws, and can be studied separately. Yet, it is impossible to have one without the others, and together they create the environment in which we exist.
- Water - can exist in three forms: solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (steam). However, it retains the same chemical essence.
- Triangle - possesses three sides, forming a single geometric shape.

In addition to this, it is fitting to recall a belief held by many non-Christians: God is love. Consider what love essentially is. By definition, love must be shared between at least two subjects, and if a third is added, the conditions for true love are even better. However, if God were not triune (or at least dual), He could not be love, for He would have no one to share it with, as He alone exists eternally by His definition.

The Bible thus points to the following: there is one God who exists in three distinguishable persons, having a mutual relationship of subordination and divided roles in the management of the world and humanity. We do not have the space here to prove through biblical statements that this doctrine is "biblical." We partially addressed this in the question about the divinity of the Lord Jesus. At this point, I wanted to show that even a profoundly complex question does not necessarily present a fundamental problem that should lead to the rejection of Christianity.

Summation

Although the doctrine of God's Trinity is challenging for the human mind to grasp, it does not in itself represent a serious argument for its rejection, as we do not operate strictly within the realm of physical reality, but rather within spiritual reality. This area is, however, inaccessible to our exploration or perception. Moreover, from a perfect and transcendent God, we certainly wouldn't expect to fully understand Him.