Addition: mathematical dimensions of the Trinity

Christianity is a mono-theistic (one God) religion that has the "Trinity".

Father
Son
Holy Ghost

Some consider the Trinity as a Penrose triangle/tribar, something that cannot exist except in reality but only in the mind. How many Gods are there in Christianity? What exactly is the Trinity of the Bible?

The Trinity is part of the statement of the "Great Commission" in Matthew 28.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [kjv]

The "commission" is a "mandate".

Matthew 28:19

All

KJV: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Greek: πορευθεντες ουν μαθητευσατε παντα τα εθνη βαπτιζοντες αυτους εις το ονομα του πατρος και του υιου και του αγιου πνευματος

Latin: euntes ergo docete omnes gentes baptizantes eos in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti

Wycliffe: Therfor go ye, and teche alle folkis, baptisynge hem in the name of the Fadir, and of the Sone, and of the Hooli Goost;

Luther: Darum gehet hin und lehret alle Völker und taufet sie im Namen des Vaters und des Sohnes und des Heiligen Geistes!

Slavonic: шедше убо научите вся языки, крестяще их во имя Отца и Сына и Святаго Духа,

Russian: Итак идите, научите все народы, крестя их во имя Отца и Сына и Святаго Духа,

Spanish: Por tanto, id, y enseñad a todas las naciones, bautizándoles en el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo;

The "Trinity" is God the "Father", God the "Son" (Jesus), and God the "Holy Spirit".

More: The mandate of Maundy Thursday

Some consider the Trinity as a Penrose triangle/tribar, something that cannot exist except in reality but only in the mind. How many Gods are there in Christianity?

A common non-Christian argument is that each of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is a God so that there are three Gods and so Christianity is polytheistic (i.e., has many Gods).

1 + 1 + 1 = 3

Therefore, the argument goes, Christianity is polytheistic (belief in many gods).

What might be wrong with this reasoning?

The old adage goes that, "You cannot add apples and oranges.".

2 apples + 3 oranges = ?

That is, if there are 2 apples and 3 oranges, then, since the units are different, the numbers cannot be added. Unless of course, an abstraction is made that

an apple is a piece of fruit, therefore the 2 apples are 2 pieces of fruit, and
an orange is a piece of fruit, therefore the 3 oranges are 3 pieces of fruit, so
2 pieces of fruit and 3 pieces of fruit add to 5 pieces of fruit.

However, in the process of making the abstraction, some information is lost. That is, the information that

2 of the pieces of fruit are apples and
3 of the pieces of fruit are oranges

is lost in the simplification.

However, one can always multiply two numbers together, even though the resulting units may not make sense. For example,

2 apples

multiplied by

3 oranges

produces 6 (apples*oranges).

But what is an apple multiplied by an orange? Is it "fruit cocktail"?

Whenever dealing with measurements, such as inches, yards, and miles (or centimeters, meters, and kilometers), multiplying two such units of length results in a unit of area which does have an intuitive physical interpretation.

One can always multiply two numbers (with their units). In some cases the result has a meaningful interpretation, and, in other cases, the result may not be so meaningful.

Aside: In statistics, one reason for using the standard deviation as the square root of the variance is that the units then make sense. Does it make sense for the average size of a family to be 2.5 people plus or minus 0.8 (people*people)?

In mathematics, one learns the following.

One cannot add apples and oranges, however
one can multiply apples and oranges, but units must be maintained.

So, using multiplication, one has the "dimensions" of God as follows.

1 Father * 1 Son * 1 Holy Sprint = 1 God = 1 of (Father * Son * Holy Spirit)

Paul refers to the Trinity in Galatians.

Galatians 4:6

All

KJV: And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Greek: οτι δε εστε υιοι εξαπεστειλεν ο θεος το πνευμα του υιου αυτου εις τας καρδιας υμων ημων κραζον αββα ο πατηρ

Latin: quoniam autem estis filii misit Deus Spiritum Filii sui in corda nostra clamantem Abba Pater

Gothic: aththan thatei sijuth jus sunjus gudis, insandida guth ahman sunaus seinis in hairtona izwara hropjandan: abba, fadar!

Luther: Weil ihr denn Kinder seid, hat Gott gesandt den Geist seines Sohnes in eure Herzen, der schreiet: Abba, lieber Vater!

Russian: А как вы-сыны, то Бог послал в сердца ваши Духа Сына Своего, вопиющего: " Авва, Отче! "

Spanish: Y por cuanto sois hijos, Dios envió el Espíritu de su Hijo a vuestros corazones, el cual clama: Abba, Padre.