FROM THE PASTOR
Unpacking the Mystery:
the Holy Trinity,
the Athanasian Creed
This Sunday is the church festival when we focus on the mystery of the Holy Trinity—God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One traditional source we trust to help us understand the Trinity is the Athanasian Creed, an ancient statement of Christian belief.
The Athanasian Creed is one of the three creeds, alongside the better-known Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. Although named after Athanasius of Alexandria, a fourth-century bishop and staunch defender of Trinitarian theology, this creed was not actually written by Athanasius but reflects his theological influence.
The creed emphasizes several key points:
- Unity in Trinity: “We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance.”
- Equality in Divinity: “The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet they are not three Gods but one God.”
- Christ’s Incarnation: “Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is both God and man.”
It takes about 660 words, give or take depending on the translation, to convey these points, and with some strongly worded language, so we don’t often recite it in worship in its entirety!
If you want to dive into the complex teaching of the Trinity, here’s a fun, if slightly off-color video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQLfgaUoQCw
This Sunday always prompts me to reflect on the names I use for God, especially in prayer, and what images or metaphors help me grow in my relationship with God. I appreciate a slightly modified expansion of Trinitarian language – “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, mother of us all.”
This festival day and the Athanasian Creed both invite us to ponder the greatness of God and the depth of divine mystery. In our everyday faith journey, the Athanasian Creed reminds us that our beliefs are rooted in a rich tradition that spans centuries. It encourages us to explore the depths of our faith with both our hearts and minds, always seeking a deeper relationship with the Triune God.
The All Creation Sings (purple) hymnal has a beautiful section about expansive language for God in Scripture. I invite you to read through these and find what speaks to you this day: https://tinyurl.com/acsimagesofgod
Send me an email (kseverson@stlukespr.org) with a sentence or two about what image of God particularly resonates with you!
