The CatechismGlobal Methodist Church
Question 3 of 77 · Ecumenical Affirmations

What is the mystery of the Trinity?

God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, distinct but inseparable, eternally one in essence and power.

Catechism for the Global Methodist Church, question 3

Commentary

Question 2 named God as the Holy Trinity. This question asks what that name means, and the catechism answers with the closing sentence of Article I of the Confession of Faith: "We believe the one God reveals himself as the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinct but inseparable, eternally one in essence and power." Article I of the Articles of Religion says the same in older language: in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity.

The scriptures the catechism cites show the three persons acting together. At the Jordan, Jesus is baptized, "the holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven: 'You are my beloved son'" (Luke 3:21-22). Jesus later promises the Spirit: When the counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the father, the spirit of truth who proceeds from the father, he will testify about me (John 15:26). At Pentecost the risen Son, "having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit," pours out that Spirit on the church (Acts 2:33).

Inseparable and one in essence and power mean that these three are never three gods and never work apart from one another. Paul calls the same indwelling presence "the Spirit of God," "the Spirit of Christ," and "the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead" (Romans 8:9-11). The Father "sent forth his Son," and then "sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'" (Galatians 4:4-6). Peter greets believers chosen "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the holiness of the Spirit, toward obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:2), and Hebrews sets all three in the one sacrifice: how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works so that we may serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14).

This doctrine shapes how a Methodist prays. Ephesians 2:18 gives the pattern: "through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father." Prayer goes to the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit. The blessing Paul closes his letter with names all three: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14). Titus describes the same movement in baptism: not by works that we did in righteousness, but according to his own mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:5-6).