Thanks Harley!
One can also look at it as Saint Patrick did, as a clover: Three separate leaves on one stem.
Or an Egg, three separate parts: White, Yolk, Shell, yet all one egg.
Also, a Tree: Roots, Branches, Trunk, all distinct yet all make up the whole.
Isn't He marvelous!
Or an Egg, three separate parts: White, Yolk, Shell, yet all one egg.
Also, a Tree: Roots, Branches, Trunk, all distinct yet all make up the whole.
I don't want to sound picky, but those examples are really modalistic, which is to say the parts make up the whole, which is not what Scripture teaches.
What Scripture reveals is there is One Essence which is God, and is revealed in three distinct Persons or Personalities who are co-equally of the exact same Essence God, not a subset of God, or a component that when added to the other components comprises the whole as in the examples you gave.
I hope you are not offended, but it's important that we use examples that are not confusing or inaccurate.
Ultimately, any example we try to use will break down as insufficient.
One of the best, if not the best statements concerning the Triunity of God is found in the Athanatian Creed. It's about as good as it gets.