Question of the Week #933: Discord among the Trinitarian Persons Once More
Apr 3, 2025
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The discussion dives into the intriguing complexities of the Trinity, questioning whether the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit can ever have conflicting choices. It examines themes of voluntary submission and unity within this divine framework. The conversation also highlights how God's omniscience and moral perfection ensure harmony among the Trinitarian persons. By using thought experiments, it illustrates the metaphysical impossibility of discord, emphasizing their unified decision-making and perfect goodness.
The omniscience, omnipotence, and moral perfection of the Trinitarian persons ensure their complete agreement in decision-making without discord.
Even with the essence of free will, the divine persons will always choose the same path due to their shared moral alignment.
Deep dives
The Unity of the Trinity
The discussion highlights that the three persons of the Trinity—God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—are characterized by their omniscience, omnipotence, and moral perfection, which collectively ensure their agreement in all matters. This unity implies that, despite the hypothetical existence of multiple equally good choices or possibilities, there is no room for discord among them. The perfect goodness inherent in each person serves to prevent any preferential disagreements, reinforcing the idea that they will always choose the same path. Ultimately, it suggests that their moral alignment naturally leads to harmonious decision-making, negating any theoretical conflict.
The Nature of Choice and Free Will
The concept of choice within the context of the Trinity is addressed by asserting that the essence of free will does not necessitate disagreement among the divine persons. Even with the possibility of multiple equally good options, it is proposed that their shared moral perfection ensures they will make the same choice without conflicting preferences. This aligns with the notion that the Son and Spirit voluntarily submit to the will of the Father, reflecting a deep internal harmony rather than external obedience. Therefore, the dialogue emphasizes that, due to their nature, it is virtually impossible for the persons of the Trinity to find themselves in disagreement.