A mystery is something that we affirm is true, but we don't understand all of the ramifications of it.

Now, biblical Christianity certainly has its share of mysteries.

We don't understand how God can be infinite in his being, and yet we affirm that he is.

And there are many truths that God reveals to us about himself that are beyond our capacity

to understand.

In fact, some of these truths we may never fully understand, even in heaven.

Okay. understand, even in heaven. Can you explain the Trinity, that there is one God in three persons, Father,

Son, and Holy Spirit? Because we cannot completely explain a truth, does that mean it's not true? How do you respond

to those who say that belief in the Trinity is a belief in a contradiction? Well, I'm glad you're

joining us for this Tuesday edition of Renewing Your Mind as we continue a series on the Trinity

and consider the difference between a contradiction and a mystery.

Here's Dr. Sprawl to help us respond to some objections to the Trinity,

including the claim that it's a contradiction.

As we continue now with our study of the Trinity, we've seen now how the doctrine developed in terms

of church history and the early centuries of Christian reflection.

But we've noted along the way that the constant criticism of the Trinity is that it's irrational, that it involves a contradiction.

And you recall earlier, I responded to that by saying that to call it a contradiction

is to misapply the law of non-contradiction to the formula because the formula for the Trinity teaches

that God is one in essence and three in person, so that it's one in one thing, three

in another, what we would say, one in A, three, and B, which does not violate the categories

of rational thought or the law of non-contradiction. Nevertheless, people continue persistently

to make the charge that the Trinity is irrational. In fact, I just got a letter yesterday from somebody

...