what about the Trinity?

I find the article, “Thinking about The Trinity: One What and Three Whos,” by Kenneth Sample, helpful. Some of what is revealed concerning the Trinity is a mystery. We are trying to explain God in our dimensions when God has more dimensions available. The question is whether human beings will accept God as He actually reveals Himself to be, mystery included, or only settle for a being they think they can fully comprehend. Of course if the human mind can comprehend God, can he be much of a God? As C.S. Lewis points out, some concepts of God are easier than others: “If Christianity was something we were making up, of course we could make it easier. But it isn’t. We can’t compete, in simplicity, with people who are inventing religions. How could we? We’re dealing with fact. Of course anyone can be simple if he has no facts to bother about!”

One what and three who’s

In terms of what God is (essence), God is one; in terms of who God is (subsistence), God is three. To put it in the negative, it is not three different gods (tritheism), for that would divide the essence. Rather it is only one God (monotheism). And it is not one single solitary person (monarchianism, modalism), for that would blend or confound the persons. Rather it is three distinct and distinguishable persons (triune).

The way God is one, he is not three. And the way God is three, he is not one.