The Holy Trinity

The Holy Trinity

The Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith.

Christians believe there is one God in three Divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

The Trinity does not mean that Christians believe in three gods. It means that the one true God eternally exists as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

“Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” — Matthew 28:19

What Is the Trinity?

The word Trinity means “three in one.”

Catholics believe that God is one in divine nature and three in Divine Persons.

The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. Yet the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Ghost, and the Holy Ghost is not the Father.

This mystery is beyond full human comprehension, but it is not a contradiction. It means God is one in what He is and three in who He is.

One God, Three Persons

Christians are monotheists. We believe in one God.

The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not three separate beings. They are three Divine Persons who share the same one divine nature.

Each Person is fully God, equal in glory, majesty, power, and eternity.

“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.” — Deuteronomy 6:4

The Father

God the Father is the first Person of the Holy Trinity.

He is not created and does not come from another. From all eternity, He begets the Son.

The Father is the Creator, source, and loving origin of all things. Through the Son and in the Holy Ghost, He draws us into communion with Himself.

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” — Matthew 6:9

The Son

God the Son is the second Person of the Holy Trinity.

The Son is eternally begotten of the Father. He is not created. He is true God from true God.

In time, the Son became man for our salvation. This is Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.

“In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God: and the Word was God.” — John 1:1

The Holy Ghost

God the Holy Ghost is the third Person of the Holy Trinity.

The Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son. He is worshiped and glorified with the Father and the Son.

The Holy Ghost gives life, sanctifies the Church, strengthens believers, and leads us into truth.

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth.” — John 16:13

Not Three Gods

The Trinity is not belief in three gods.

There is only one divine nature, one divine will, one divine power, and one divine glory.

The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are distinct Persons, but they are never divided or separated.

Everything God does outside Himself is the work of the one God, though we often associate creation with the Father, redemption with the Son, and sanctification with the Holy Ghost.

Biblical Evidence for the Trinity

The word Trinity does not appear in the Bible, but the truth of the Trinity is revealed in Sacred Scripture.

Jesus commanded Baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

The Gospel of John reveals that the Word was with God and was God.

Jesus speaks of the Father and promises to send the Holy Ghost.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the charity of God, and the communication of the Holy Ghost be with you all.” — 2 Corinthians 13:13

Common Misunderstandings

The Trinity is often misunderstood, so it is important to avoid false explanations.

• The Trinity does not mean there are three gods.
• The Trinity does not mean God merely wears three different masks.
• The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not parts of God.
• The Son is not a created being.
• The Holy Ghost is not an impersonal force.

The Catholic faith teaches one God in three Divine Persons: distinct, eternal, equal, and undivided.

Why the Trinity Matters

The Trinity matters because God is not loneliness. God is eternal communion of love.

Before creation, God already existed in perfect love: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

This means love is not something God invented later. Love belongs to who God is.

Through Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, we are invited to share in the life of the Trinity.

“That they all may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee.” — John 17:21

Key Truths About the Trinity

• There is only one God.
• God is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
• The Father is God.
• The Son is God.
• The Holy Ghost is God.
• The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are distinct Divine Persons.
• The three Divine Persons share one divine nature.
• The Son is eternally begotten, not created.
• The Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son.
• The Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith.

What Does This Mean for Me?

You were created by the Holy Trinity and for communion with the Holy Trinity.

God is not distant or impersonal. He is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: eternal love, eternal communion, and eternal life.

Through Baptism, Christians are brought into the life of the Trinity and called to live as children of the Father, disciples of the Son, and temples of the Holy Ghost.

To know the Trinity is to begin understanding the deepest mystery of God’s love.

Continue Learning

Now that you have learned about the Holy Trinity, the next question is: What does it mean that God created all things?

Learn why Catholics believe God created Heaven and earth, why creation is good, and what creation reveals about Him.