trinity and christ

Hierarchy of Truth

Shows how all Catholic teachings are connected to a central truth (God)

not an order of importance

Central Truth of the Hierarchy

God Himself, especially the Most Holy Trinity

Sacraments

Channels of God’s grace that flow from the central truth of God

Prayer

Communication with God that flows from belief in Him

Creed

Summary of essential beliefs about God

Moral Law

God’s law that guides human behavior based on truth

Most Holy Trinity

One God in three distinct Persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Father is God

The First Person of the Trinity is fully God

Son is God

The Second Person of the Trinity is fully God

Holy Spirit is God

The Third Person of the Trinity is fully God

Father is not the Son

The Persons of the Trinity are distinct

Son is not the Spirit

Each Person of the Trinity is not the others

Spirit is not the Father

Distinction of Persons within the one God

God the Father

First Person of the Trinity, Creator, revealed in the Burning Bush

God the Son

Second Person of the Trinity, Redeemer, revealed in the Transfiguration

God the Holy Spirit

Third Person of the Trinity, Sanctifier, revealed at Pentecost

Burning Bush

Event in which God the Father revealed Himself to Moses

Transfiguration

Event revealing Jesus’ divine glory as God the Son

Pentecost

Event revealing the Holy Spirit empowering the Church

Immanent Trinity

God as Trinity understood in His essence and inner life

Economic Trinity

God as Trinity as He works in creation and salvation history

Incarnation

The belief that God became man in the person of Jesus Christ

Divinity of Christ

The belief that Jesus is fully God

Myth Theory (Jesus)

Claims Jesus’ miracles were made up

fails because Scripture is reliable and eyewitness-based

Liar Theory

Claims Jesus lied about being God

fails because His life and teachings show moral integrity

Lunatic Theory

Claims Jesus thought He was God and was insane

fails because He showed wisdom and coherence

Guru Theory

Claims Jesus was an Eastern mystic

fails because His teachings oppose Eastern spirituality

Orthodox Christological Position

Jesus is one Divine Person with two distinct natures

Jesus 100% Human

Jesus possesses a full human nature

Jesus 100% Divine

Jesus possesses a full divine nature

Hypostatic Union

The mystical joining of Christ’s divine and human natures in one Divine Person

God Suffered

Statement made possible by the Hypostatic Union

Ebionism

Heresy claiming Jesus was only human

Docetism

Heresy claiming Jesus was only divine and only appeared human

Arianism

Heresy claiming Jesus was a superhuman being

condemned at the Council of Nicaea

Monophysitism

Heresy claiming Christ’s two natures merged into one

Nestorianism

Heresy claiming Jesus was only God after birth or divided into two persons

Adoptionism

Heresy claiming Jesus was adopted by God later in life

Apollinarianism

Heresy claiming Jesus was partly divine and partly human

Resurrection

Jesus rising from the dead in a glorified body

Importance of the Resurrection

Without it, Christian faith is meaningless (1 Corinthians 15)

Myth Theory (Resurrection)

Claims Apostles invented the Resurrection

fails due to eyewitnesses and Gospel style

Hallucination Theory

Claims Apostles hallucinated Jesus

fails due to many witnesses in many places

Conspiracy Theory

Claims Apostles stole Jesus’ body

fails because authorities never produced the body

Swoon Theory

Claims Jesus never really died

fails because Romans were expert executioners

Ghost Appearance

False belief that Jesus rose only as a spirit

Resuscitation

False belief that Jesus returned to normal life and would die again

Reincarnation

False belief that Jesus received a new body

Enlightenment (Resurrection error)

False belief that the Resurrection was an escape from matter

Assumption (Resurrection error)

False belief that Jesus went straight to heaven without returning to earth

What Christians Believe About the Resurrection

Jesus really died, rose bodily, and was glorified

Descended into Hell

Jesus descended to the limbo of the Old Testament saints

Glorified Body

Jesus’ risen body, transformed and immortal

Ascension

Jesus returned to Heaven and opened its gates to humanity

Final Judgment

Jesus will judge all people for eternity

Christ the King

Jesus is King of the universe and Lord of all creation