How Do I Explain the Trinity to a Child?
I chuckled when I first read this question: “How do I explain the Trinity to children?” Honestly, sometimes I feel like asking, “How do I explain it to adults?” The truth is, the Trinity, the teaching that God is one being in three persons, is one of the deepest and most profound truths in all of Christianity.
At the same time, it’s a beautiful truth, and it’s absolutely worth the effort to help even young hearts begin to understand it. Let’s explore how we can explain this big concept with warmth, simplicity, and a lot of grace.
Start with the Bible
When teaching children about the Trinity, the best place to start is with what the Bible clearly says. We don’t need to be fancy; we just need to be faithful. The Bible teaches that:
- There is one God: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4, ESV).
- God exists as three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus commands His disciples to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19, ESV).
- Each Person is fully God: The Father is God (John 6:27). The Son is God (John 1:1, 14). The Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4).
Explain to children that we believe what God says about Himself, even if it’s a little beyond our ability to fully understand.
Use Analogies, but Use Caution
Analogies can be helpful tools, but it’s important to tell children right up front: No analogy is perfect. Every earthly example falls short because there is nothing exactly like God. Still, illustrations can be stepping stones to help a child grasp the idea.
One of the most common analogies peolple use is water. Water can exist as liquid, ice, and vapor. But it’s all still H₂O. Similarly, God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yet still one God.
Now, here where we must use caution. This analogy leans toward an error called modalism. (Modalism is the view that God is one person and that He changes forms, rather than existing as three distinct Persons.) So, analogies can certainly help young children start to grasp the complexities of the trinity. But after sharing an example, it’s wise to add, “This helps a little, but God is even bigger and better than this!” And of course, as they get older, further explination and discussion is required.
Keep It Simple
You might say to a child: “The Bible teaches that there is only one God. But God has always existed as three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. They are all fully God. They love each other perfectly. They work together perfectly. And they invite us to know and love them too.”
Keep your words simple. Children don’t need a seminary-level lecture. They need a foundation to build on as they grow.
Emphasize Relationship
One beautiful truth about the Trinity is that God has always existed in perfect love and relationship. You can say: “Before the world was made, God the Father loved the Son, and the Son loved the Father, and the Holy Spirit shared in that love. God didn’t make us because He was lonely; He made us so we could share in His love.”
This approach shows children that God’s love isn’t something new. It’s part of His very nature. John 17:24 (ESV) reminds us that Jesus prayed, “you loved me before the foundation of the world.”
Welcome Mystery
It’s also okay, even good, to admit that the Trinity is mysterious. You might say: “There are some things about God that are bigger than our minds can understand. That’s okay! If we could understand everything about God, He wouldn’t be very big, would He?”
Children are often more comfortable with mystery than adults are. You’re not confusing them by admitting you don’t have all the answers. You’re inviting them to trust and wonder.
Deuteronomy 29:29 (ESV) reminds us, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God.”
Encourage Faith
Finally, remind children that our job is not to figure God out completely, but to believe what He says and to trust Him. Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” In other words, we don’t have to fully understand the Trinity to worship God, love Him, and trust Him.
So, when you explain the Trinity to children, your goal isn’t to solve the mystery. It’s to introduce them to the wonder. Use Scripture. Use simple words. Use analogies carefully. Invite awe and wonder. And trust the Holy Spirit to help young hearts grow in knowledge and love for our Triune God.
As you do, you might just find that your own heart is stirred to worship too.
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