How did the Lord Christ communicate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity to us?

The incarnate Word of God did not use theological terms in speaking to us, nor did He set out for us an overtly theological system of Trinitarian faith. With simplicity, He revealed the Holy Trinity to us through His works of salvation, as the following examples show:

Our Lord Jesus proclaimed the Father as the lover of humanity who sent His only Son to save the whole world (John 3:16). He asks us to call Him “our Father” (Matt. 6:9), trusting in His fatherly love, for He gives us more than we ask.

When our Lord Jesus discloses His relationship with the Father, He does so for our benefit. He says, “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life” (John 3:35–36). He also says, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working” (John 5:17); and again, He says, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

Jesus Christ reveals His divinity through His works for our sake. He discloses Himself as Creator by turning water into wine at the wedding of Cana of Galilee (John 2:1– 12) to grant us spiritual joy; opening the eyes of the man born blind (John 9:1–12); calming the sea and the winds (Mark 4:35–41); and by expelling demons and evil spirits (Mark 1:23– 27) so that His beloved might live in peace. He also reveals Himself as the one who forgives sins (Matt. 9:2; Luke 7:48) and presents Himself to us as the Life, the Truth, the Resurrection,

358 Translated by Magda Said and Ehab Barsoum.

359 The term hypostasis (plural: hypostases ) is derived from two words: hypo meaning “under,” and stasis meaning “standing.” Thus, the literal meaning of this term is “standing under,” or that which stands or is set, under a foundation. In Alexandrian theology, it is the preferred term for denoting the three members of the Holy Trinity, i.e., the three Hypostases of the Father, Son, and Holy Trinity, who are one ousia , meaning “being” or “essence.” See Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty, The Terms Physis and Hypostasis in the Early Church , ed., Maryrose Halim, (1986): p. 40.

and the Bread coming down from heaven; as well as the Way, the Door, the Physician, the Groom, etc., so that we may find in Him the satisfaction of all our needs.

The Holy Spirit is presented to us as the Comforter and another Helper (John 14:26) who dwells within us (John 14:17), teaching us all things (John 14:26); who convicts the world of sin (John 16:8) and gives the power to witness to Christ (Acts 1:8).