#929 Papa Bear on the Trinity
March 02, 2025Hi Dr. Craig, I have a Trinity question inspired by your Children's book "God is Three Persons". In the book, nearing the end you have the following.
BEGIN QUOTE.
"But then what if they all disagreed with each other?" said John.
Papa laughed. "Don't worry! Remember, each of the persons who is God has all the qualities of God. Each is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-good. So God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit always agree and act together in everything."
END QUOTE.
My question is how do those qualities/attributes of God necessitate that the 3 persons of the God Head *must* agree on everything?
I'm coming from this from a Baptist, Evangelical perspective. I agree strongly with Papa's conclusion, but just seems odd to say that because they each know everything (including Middle Knowledge), they each can do any logically possible thing in accordance with His character, and they each are Perfect in Holiness, how does that mean they all must do the same action? Could there not be multiple "good" things they could do and therefore could be divided? (Again, asking per Papa's reply. Not that I think they are actually divided in .)
The Garden of Gethsemane may provide room for thought on this topic. Maybe it's because of Jesus' human nature, but He in the moment would prefer another way, but ultimately wants the Father's will, not His own. (Luke 22:42).
I know this is a children's book, so perhaps you just stated this idea at a high level. But any "connecting the dots" you can provide for me would be helpful.
Thanks and Happy New Year!
Kevin
United States
Dr. craig’s response
A
Wow! I think this the first time that I’ve gotten a Question of the Week on our children’s Brown Bear and Red Goose books! I’m glad that you’re sharing them with your children, Kevin. Your question shows how provocative these simple booklets can be for parents, too!
Papa Bear’s statement echoes Richard Swinburne’s argument for the necessary concord among the three persons of the Trinity. Swinburne argues that since each person is omniscient, no disagreement could ever arise among them because of lack of knowledge. They agree on all the facts in any matter and believe the same propositional truths. Moreover, being morally perfect none could raise his will in defiance of the other divine persons. They all love one another completely, so that no rift could arise between them on moral grounds. That seems to settle the question, but their omnipotence further implies that each person’s will is equally supreme. That seems to be a pretty persuasive argument for their perfect concord.
But maybe your concern is different. For you ask, “Could there not be multiple "good" things they could do and therefore could be divided?” That sounds to me as if you are calling into question the classical aphorism that the works of the Trinity toward the world are undivided (opera ad extra indivisa sunt) and therefore to be ascribed alike to each person. If that’s your worry, then I can tell you on good authority that Papa Bear never intended by his statement to be endorsing this axiom. To the contrary, he thinks that works like suffering an atoning death is uniquely performed by God the Son, not the Father or the Spirit. He meant merely to answer his son John’s question about the possibility of members of the Trinity’s acting in opposition to one another. In acts like the atonement, the Father and Spirit fully concur with the Son’s work and support it in other ways, like sending the Son and strengthening him in his mission. That’s all Papa Bear meant in affirming that the Trinitarian persons always “act together in everything.”
I think you’re right that Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane is an expression of his human nature but still shows the Son’s submission to the Father’s will, so that there is no disagreement between them.
So what did your kids think?
- William Lane Craig