The Three-Personal God | C. S. Lewis

An episode of the Reformed Thinking podcast, hosted by Edison Wu, titled "The Three-Personal God | C. S. Lewis" was published on February 11, 2026 and runs 32 minutes.

February 11, 2026 ·32m · Reformed Thinking

0:00 / 0:00

Summary

Deep Dive into Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis - The Three-Personal GodIn this section of Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis addresses the nature of the Trinity, arguing that the Christian God is the only "super-personal" concept available, distinct from the impersonal deities often imagined by those who reject a personal God. He begins by distinguishing between "begetting" and "making"; God begets Christ as something of the same kind (God), whereas He creates humans as something different, similar to a sculptor making a statue. Lewis counters the idea that union with God results in the loss of self, like a drop of water absorbed into the ocean; instead, he argues that souls taken into God's life become more truly themselves.To articulate the concept of the Trinity, Lewis uses a geometric analogy based on dimensions. Just as lines combine to make a square, and squares combine to make a cube, higher levels of reality do not discard lower levels but combine them in new, complex ways. On the human level, one person corresponds to one being, but on the Divine level, three Persons exist as one Being. This structure represents a "super-personal" existence that is difficult for humans to fully conceive but represents a higher reality.Lewis emphasizes that theology is practical, describing the Trinity as a lived reality for the ordinary Christian. When a man prays, he prays to God, is motivated by God from within, and has the knowledge of God through Christ standing beside him; thus, the whole threefold life of the Deity is active within the individual. Finally, Lewis describes knowing God as a science where the initiative lies with God, and the instrument of perception is the human self. If a person's character is "dirty," their view of God will be blurred, which is why the united Christian community serves as the only adequate equipment for truly understanding Him. Unlike invented religions which are simple, Christianity deals with complex facts.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerSpotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdwhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730

Episode Description

Deep Dive into Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis - The Three-Personal God

In this section of Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis addresses the nature of the Trinity, arguing that the Christian God is the only "super-personal" concept available, distinct from the impersonal deities often imagined by those who reject a personal God. He begins by distinguishing between "begetting" and "making"; God begets Christ as something of the same kind (God), whereas He creates humans as something different, similar to a sculptor making a statue. Lewis counters the idea that union with God results in the loss of self, like a drop of water absorbed into the ocean; instead, he argues that souls taken into God's life become more truly themselves.

To articulate the concept of the Trinity, Lewis uses a geometric analogy based on dimensions. Just as lines combine to make a square, and squares combine to make a cube, higher levels of reality do not discard lower levels but combine them in new, complex ways. On the human level, one person corresponds to one being, but on the Divine level, three Persons exist as one Being. This structure represents a "super-personal" existence that is difficult for humans to fully conceive but represents a higher reality.

Lewis emphasizes that theology is practical, describing the Trinity as a lived reality for the ordinary Christian. When a man prays, he prays to God, is motivated by God from within, and has the knowledge of God through Christ standing beside him; thus, the whole threefold life of the Deity is active within the individual. Finally, Lewis describes knowing God as a science where the initiative lies with God, and the instrument of perception is the human self. If a person's character is "dirty," their view of God will be blurred, which is why the united Christian community serves as the only adequate equipment for truly understanding Him. Unlike invented religions which are simple, Christianity deals with complex facts.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainer

Spotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdw

https://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730