In parts one and two of this series, we discussed what the Trinity is and how to talk about it. One of the most consistent points we’ve made is that the Trinity is hard to understand. For this reason, there are many misconceptions that can arise when people attempt to explain the concept. Being able to spot misconceptions is important, but it’s not about winning an argument or knowing the most; it’s about accurately representing who God is. So how do we know when an explanation of the Trinity has gone off track?
Let’s reflect on what we’ve learned and what we know about the Trinity: There is one God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each fully God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons. These are the things we know Scripture teaches, and it’s what we can always go back to. Most Trinity misconceptions happen because someone denies, changes, or collapses one of these truths. So what are some of the main misconceptions?
It was briefly mentioned in the last blog, but one of the main misconceptions about the Trinity is the heresy known as modalism. Modalism essentially teaches that God is one person who appears in three different modes or forms. For example, God is the Father in one situation, and in another He might appear as Jesus or the Holy Spirit. This is not biblical. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit aren’t three ways God appears; they are three distinct persons of the Trinity, which we see in Matthew 3:13–17. One God does not equal one person.
Another misconception about the Trinity is the heresy known as partialism. Partialism essentially teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each one-third of God, like how an egg has three parts: the shell, the yolk, and the white. This is not biblical. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit aren’t parts that make up God; each person is fully God. Three persons do not equal three parts (Matthew 3:16–17; John 1:1; Acts 5:3–4). Similarly, the misconception of tritheism teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate gods. This is also not biblical. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons, but there is still only one God. Three persons do not equal three gods (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6).
A different misconception about the Trinity is the belief that Jesus is not fully God, which is often associated with Arianism. This view teaches that Jesus was created by God and is less than God. Scripture, however, teaches that Jesus existed in the beginning and that all things were created through Him. Jesus is fully God, not a created being (John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:15–17). As we’ve seen, these misconceptions can also happen when we use analogies to try to explain the Trinity. While analogies can sometimes be helpful, they can also unintentionally communicate something that isn’t biblical.
Recognizing these misconceptions is important when explaining the Trinity, especially because it can be easy to accidentally communicate something that isn’t biblical. A simple way to spot these misconceptions is to use what we can call the “Trinity Test.” Ask: Does this explanation affirm that there is one God, that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each fully God, and that they are three distinct persons? If the answer to any of these is no, there is likely a misunderstanding of the Trinity. When someone uses a misconception, we also shouldn’t immediately assume they are intentionally teaching something false. Instead, ask questions and try to understand what they mean before explaining where their understanding may be mistaken. The goal isn’t to have the perfect explanation; it’s to faithfully communicate what Scripture teaches about who God is. While the Trinity remains a complex concept, we’ve gained a proficient understanding of how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in relationship with one another and how to communicate and defend it to others.
Written by Kayleigh Rosado