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Key beliefs in Catholic ChristianityThe Trinity

Catholic Christianity is one of the many branches (denominations) of Christianity, which share many key beliefs. All Christians believe the Bible a sacred text. Catholics also respect the authority, leadership and teaching of the Pope.

Part of Religious StudiesCatholic Christianity

The Trinity

A day in the life of Catholic student and photographer, Jason.

Christians believe in one God but they believe he exists in three parts or three divine 鈥榩ersons鈥, reflected in the . In Christianity, God is often referred to as the Triune God. The three parts of God are referred to as:

  • God the Father
  • God the Son, also known as Jesus Christ
  • God the Holy Spirit
A triangular diagram to explain the Trinity, with God labelled in the centre, and the three distinct parts labelled on each corner - The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit.

In the , it is made clear that there is only one God:

Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. Deuteronomy 6:4鈥5

That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God, and that there is none else. 1 Kings 8:60

The oneness of God is revealed through scripture. In the New Testament the of the Trinity describes how there is one God who exists as three persons:

Jesus 鈥 saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, 鈥楾his is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.鈥
Matthew 3:16鈥17

Key points on the three parts of the Trinity

Figure caption,
A dove is often used to represent God the Holy Spirit

Christians believe that God the Father provides to the world and is a voice from Heaven.

God the Son is both divine and human. He is a model for Christian behaviour and a . St Paul described Jesus as having 鈥渆quality with God鈥 (Philippians 2:6).

God the Holy Spirit is the presence of God in the world, often represented as a dove.

The Holy Spirit is the love that unites the Father and the Son:

And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 鈥楢bba! Father!鈥
Galatians 4:6

The Trinity can help Christians to gain a deeper understanding of God and of how he can be all the things that the Bible suggests.