Quote:
Originally Posted by CarolinaCalvinist  Not in all cases. What if the qualification of the triple point were added? At a temperature of 213.16 kelvins and pressure of 611.73 pascals pure water, pure ice and pure water vapor can coexist in a stable equilibrium. One in essence, three in form of matter. |
The triple point breaks down because when you say
water existing in all three states, a water
molecule isn't in question. You would have to have
many molecules: 1 is in the state of vapor. 1 is in the state of liquid. 1 is in the state of solid. You can't have 1 water molecule in all three states at once which is what you'd need for the Trinity analogy to work.
Again, we are given types to help us understand but we will never find a creaturely example of the creator in trinity. They will always break down. My personal opinion is that it is better to show that there is a clear Creator-Creature distinction rather than bringing the Trinity down to the creaturely level. There is ONE God. Not many Gods. The ONE God is Three in Person. Of course a child can't fully grasp that. Theologians can't fully grasp that more than stating it.
The creeds do a good job of setting up boundaries regarding the Trinity and what we are to believe about it while safeguarding us.
All of this being said...I don't have kids and haven't tried explaining this to kids. That might make me a little stauncher in my views...God does lisp to us and uses metaphors etc. to show us His attributes in Scripture. So I'm not hardline in saying not to use analogies for the Trinity but we should work very hard to see where the analogy breaks down and then be able to show that while retaining the teaching moment.
Hopefully this wasn't too muddleheaded.