0

Are there any Christian teaching that address What will happen to the Trinity when the “Bride of Christ” is established, will it then be a Quadrinity?

Revelation 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Improve this question
21
  • 4
    I think it would be closer to polyandry than a quadrinity. What makes you think that marrying someone makes them God? – Affable Geek Jun 25 '13 at 19:49
  • 1
    Is this another question? perhaps you should post it as such! – Rick Jun 25 '13 at 20:24
  • 3
    Rick, what I think Dan is getting at here is that you've failed to give sufficient context to answer this. What are you trying to learn? Whose perspective is desirable? – wax eagle Jun 25 '13 at 20:31
  • 3
    Why should the Godhead change? – Andrew Leach Jun 25 '13 at 21:34
  • 3
    If nothing can happen to the Godhead, then it can't become a quadrinity. The Bride of Christ doesn't proceed, isn't begotten. Anyway, the Bride of Christ is the Church and has already been revealed. – Andrew Leach Jun 25 '13 at 21:47
6

No, at least in the context of mainstream Nicene (including Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox) I don't think there is any teaching about this. The reason being simple: it is a non issue. The very idea of this is not based on a classic understanding of the Trinity at all and therefore is not a problem for normal Trinatarian theology.

The basic idea here is that God is ONE being. Never mind the person aspect of his nature for the moment, that is irrelevant to the difficulty you are posing. You have one being, then a separate entity and a relation between them. The one being (esp when that being is God!) doesn't fundamentally change in nature based on the state of relationships with other beings. It is what it is.

Now you can throw the three persons of the Trinity back in the equation, but nothing changes. They are still God and God still has a relationship with his chosen people, his bride.

Improve this answer
1
  • Here is an interesting perspective that I believe allows for both: Scott Hahn's book First comes Love. He quotes Pope John Paul II: "In the light of the New Testament it is possible to discern how the primordial model of the family is to be sought in God Himself, in the Trinitarian mystery of His life...God in His deepest mystery is not a solitude, but a family, since He has in Himself Fatherhood, Son-ship and the essence of family, which is love." – Rick Jun 26 '13 at 11:56
1

You don't specifically identify a denomination perspective, but in a comment you reference Scott Hahn (a Catholic). I will likewise take a Catholic perspective.

Ultimately, nothing can happen to the Trinity based on those verses. God is immutable (Summa Ia Q9 A1) and thus the Divine Essence cannot change, nor can an additional Procession (Person) occur. There are exactly 3 Persons in the Trinity (Summa 1a Q30 A2) and nothing created can be taken up into it to become another Person.

"God in His deepest mystery is not a solitude, but a family, since He has in Himself Fatherhood, Son-ship and the essence of family, which is love." - Scott Hahn

The traditional understanding of this is somewhat more metaphorical than you seem to be interpreting it. We can call it a family because there is true paternity (fatherhood) and true filiation (sonship), but there is no marriage and no maternity. Love is the double-procession of the Father and the Son as the Holy Spirit.

Improve this answer
0

Cannot see a problem with the Bride of Christ joining (being absorbed into) the Trinity in Marriage with The Lamb (the two shall become one)

  1. .. we who believe in Christ are already of 'one spirit with the Lord' (1 Cor.6.17),
  2. as He dwells in us and we dwell in Him - both Father & Son dwell in the believer (John 17.22-23)
  3. .. and in that mysterious and wonderful reality, we already bear the nature of God, as 'children of light' who have been born of God, and are already'partakers of the divine nature '(2 Peter 1.4)?
  4. .. our Creator God is still a Trinity (of course), but the joy is surely that we have 'joined' the Trinity and share fullness of life with Him (them) now and forever.

I love the lines of hymn, 'Before the Throne of God Above' (Bob Kauflin, Sovereign Grace Music), which reads: 'One with Himself I cannot die; my life is hid with Christ on high'

God bless, much joy, Richard

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    Welcome Richard. Please don't post wall of text / stream of consciousness answers. Normal sentences and paragraphs are the expected format., with a bit of quoting and bulletizing for emphasis. Please visit the tour, How to Ask and How to Answer for more guidance on how SE sites are not forums. I dropped some formatting on this answer. In the future, please don't expect others to do that. – KorvinStarmast May 14 '20 at 20:46

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.