Which phrase captures the unity of the Trinity's essence?

Which phrase captures the unity of the Trinity's essence?

• A. One God, three beings
• B. Three persons, one substance
• C. Three gods, one substance
• D. One person, three substances

Answer: (B)

The unity of God’s essence in the Trinity is expressed by saying there are three Persons sharing one divine substance. This means that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct as Persons, each with a unique relational identity, but they are not separate beings or separate gods; they share the same single divine nature. That shared substance is what makes God one, not three gods or three separate essences. Why this wording fits best: it keeps intact the distinction of the Persons while preserving the oneness of the divine nature. The other phrasings drift into polytheism (three gods) or deny the real distinctions among the Persons (one person or three substances), which would misrepresent how God reveals Himself in Scripture and Tradition.

The unity of God’s essence in the Trinity is expressed by saying there are three Persons sharing one divine substance. This means that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct as Persons, each with a unique relational identity, but they are not separate beings or separate gods; they share the same single divine nature. That shared substance is what makes God one, not three gods or three separate essences.

Why this wording fits best: it keeps intact the distinction of the Persons while preserving the oneness of the divine nature. The other phrasings drift into polytheism (three gods) or deny the real distinctions among the Persons (one person or three substances), which would misrepresent how God reveals Himself in Scripture and Tradition.