Chapter 5

The entire New Testament bears witness to the nature of God as one God in three persons, and the nature of Christ as divine and human. We will study a few of the passages that make that explicit. Spend the next week or two pondering these passages and jotting down some notes. Ask two questions: what do you learn about the nature of God? What do you learn about Jesus Christ as both divine and human?

Colossians 1:15-20; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:1-4, 3:1-6; Matthew 3:11-17; Luke 7:36-50; John 1:1-18

Christians have used the phrase—“In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”—from the very inception of the church’s history. They have spoken it in prayer, during baptism and communion, at weddings, and in benedictions. It states that there is one God who eternally exists as three persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The exercise for this session is to use this phrase throughout the day. For example: conclude mealtime prayers, ending with, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Offer a blessing over children before bedtime, ending with, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Pray in anticipation of the day ahead, ending with, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Thank God at the end of the day for the day’s blessings and opportunities, ending with, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

What did you learn about the language of Trinity and Christology in the chapter, in the Bible study, and in the spiritual exercise? How did the daily use of “In the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” affect your view of God? Of prayer? Of your relationship with God?

Colossians 1:15-20