[HarleyD]

God the Father existed before all ages and so did the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are co-substantial, sharing one essence or nature -- Divine -- as three distinct Persons, not "forms" as Harley's theology states somewhere earlier.

Note to Forest Keeper - You'll find the Orthodox do not accept the Nicene Creed as it is currently presented and what my reference based his statements on. As Kosta states and you broach on, how can the Trinity proceed one from another when they were all in the Beginning? I think Kosta raises a legitimate point. However, the Orthodox are equally at a loss to explain the references provided of one proceeding from the other and as is the belief stated in the Nicene Creed.

The makeup of the Trinity is a mystery despite what anyone has to say. No one fully understands it although people have attempted to explain it-never to anyone's satisfaction. It's like Ezekiel trying to explain that wheel thingy. All we know is that they are three and they are one.

There are supernatural forces that are simply outside our knowledge to grasp. This is one of them.

[P-Marlowe]

It's like Ezekiel trying to explain that wheel thingy.

Well that's simple enough. A Picture is worth a thousand words:

[Kolokotronis]

" The makeup of the Trinity is a mystery despite what anyone has to say. No one fully understands it although people have attempted to explain it-never to anyone's satisfaction. It's like Ezekiel trying to explain that wheel thingy. All we know is that they are three and they are one.

There are supernatural forces that are simply outside our knowledge to grasp. This is one of them."

That's a pretty fair statement, HD. Everything we "know" about the inner workings of the Trinity, which is virtually nothing, is contained in the Greek of the Creed. The Greek is more expressive than the English or the Latin, but not much more.

[kosta50]

Harley is correct: God is a Mystery. We know more what He is not than what He is. I would love to touch upon the issues Harley raises, but tomorrow is the Orthodox Nativity and I want to end this on a positive note, asking each and every one of you to forgive my excesses, my anger and my lack of charity,so I will end this now so that I may prepare to go to church tomorrow. I will pray that God gives us all wisdom and love we need to overcome our human nature.

Christ is born!