Christian Year

TRINITY SUNDAY

In the New Testament of the Bible, we see God referred to as “Father” [Matthew 26:39; John 4:21] and Jesus referred as the “Son of God” [Matthew 16:16-17; John 20:31].

The Holy Spirit appears throughout the New Testament and becomes particularly prominent at Pentecost and in connection with the work of those spreading the Gospel [Luke 2:25-27; John 3:16; John 4:1-2; Acts 10:44; 1 Thessalonians 4:8].

Jesus (the Son) himself refers to both the Father and the Spirit [John 16:12-15].

Thus three aspects of God are often identified: God the Father (the creator and sustainer); God the Son (the human form of God and redeemer); and God the Holy Spirit (the comforter and enabler). These three aspects form the Trinity which is an idea developed by later believers and not explicity mentioned in the Bible. The idea has caused much confusion: how can a single God be three different things? And much intellectual effort has been used up in trying to resolve the apparent contradiction.

Trinity Sunday is the Sunday after Pentecost. It is an occasion to reflect on the different aspects of God and an (unwelcome) opportunity for preachers to try to speak on the subject without adding to the confusion.