Multi-Colored Trinity Shield

The larger multi-colored Trinity Shield.

Description of animation: The Shield of the Trinity or Scutum Fidei (Latin for "shield of faith") is a traditional Christian visual symbol which expresses many aspects of the doctrine of the Trinity, summarizing the first part of the Athanasian Creed in a compact diagram. In late medieval England and France, this emblem was considered to be the heraldic arms of God (and of the Trinity).

Did You Know? This diagram consists of four nodes (generally circular in shape) interconnected by six links. The three nodes at the edge of the diagram are labelled with the names of the three persons of the Trinity (traditionally the Latin-language names, or scribal abbreviations thereof): The Father ("PATER"), The Son ("FILIUS"), and The Holy Spirit ("SPIRITUS SANCTUS"). The node in the center of the diagram (within the triangle formed by the other three nodes) is labelled God (Latin "DEUS"), while the three links connecting the center node with the outer nodes are labelled "is" (Latin "EST"), and the three links connecting the outer nodes to each other are labelled "is not" (Latin "NON EST").

       The links are non-directional — this is emphasized in one thirteenth-century manuscript by writing the link captions "EST" or "NON EST" twice as many times (going in both directions within each link), and is shown in some modern versions of the diagram by superimposing each occurrence of the "is" / "is not" text on a double-headed arrow ↔ (rather than enclosing it within a link). So the following twelve propositions can be read off the diagram:

Basic "Shield of the Trinity" diagram.

Basic "Shield of the Trinity" diagram:

• "The Father is God"
• "The Son is God"
• "The Holy Spirit is God"
• "God is the Father"
• "God is the Son"
• "God is the Holy Spirit"
• "The Father is not the Son"
• "The Father is not the Holy Spirit"
• "The Son is not the Father"
• "The Son is not the Holy Spirit"
• "The Holy Spirit is not the Father"
• "The Holy Spirit is not the Son"

The Shield of the Trinity is not generally intended to be any kind of schematic diagram of the structure of God, but instead is merely a compact visual device from which the above statements (contained in or implied by the Athanasian Creed) can be read off.

A smaller multi-colored
Trinity Shield.

• Read more about the symbolism behind Trinity Shields
• Read more about the Athanasian Creed 
• The blue Trinity Shield of the Anglican diocese of Trinidad
• The green Trinity Shield of Trinity Parish, Jersey
• The traditional, red Trinity Shield 

More About The Shield of Faith:

• God's Shield of Faith Provides Protection
• What is the shield of faith about in the Bible?
• The shield of faith from The Living Word Library

Red Shield of The Trinity

Larger animated version of
the red Trinity Shield.

Description of animation: The Shield of the Trinity or Scutum Fidei (Latin for "shield of faith") is a traditional Christian visual symbol which expresses many aspects of the doctrine of the Trinity, summarizing the first part of the Athanasian Creed in a compact diagram. In late medieval England and France, this emblem was considered to be the heraldic arms of God (and of the Trinity).

Did You Know? A shield-shaped version of the diagram placed on a red shield (heraldic "gules") was attributed as the arms of God (and of the Trinity) by heralds in 15th-century England and France. The "banner of the Trinity" which Jean Le Fevre, Seigneur of St. Remy, and Jehan de Wavrin attest that Henry V of England displayed at Agincourt would have been the same (but with the emblem on a red flag instead of a red shield). This coat of arms was given the following heraldic blazon in "On Sacred Heraldry" by E.L. Blackburne (attached as Appendix II to Emblems of the Saints, By which they are Distinguished in Works of Art by F. C. Husenbeth, edited by Augustus Jessopp, 3rd.ed. 1882):

Gules, an orle and pall Argent, conjoined and surmounted of four plates, occupying the dexter and sinister chief and the base and fess points respectively; the first inscribed "Pater", the second "Filius", and the third "Spiritus Sanctus", the centre "Deus"; the connecting portions of the orle between them having the words "non est", and those of the pall "est"

Smaller red trinity
 shield animation

• Read more about the symbolism behind Trinity Shields
• Read more about the Athanasian Creed 
• A multi-colored Trinity Shield animated here
• The blue Trinity Shield of the Anglican diocese of Trinidad
• The green Trinity Shield of Trinity Parish, Jersey

More About Faith:

• David Jeremiah, "What is faith?" 
• Your faith must stand trial, Bishop T. D. Jakes
• Dr. Creflo Dollar "What is Faith?"
  

Anglican Diocese of Trinidad Shield of Faith

Larger blue Trinity Shield.

Description of animation: The Shield of the Trinity or Scutum Fidei (Latin for "shield of faith") is a traditional Christian visual symbol which expresses many aspects of the doctrine of the Trinity, summarizing the first part of the Athanasian Creed in a compact diagram. In late medieval England and France, this emblem was considered to be the heraldic arms of God (and of the Trinity).

This blue trinity shield is the modern coat of arms of the Anglican diocese of Trinidad. Two sizes have been created and tythed to the their diocese by our staff.

A small version of the
 blue Trinity Shield.

• Read more about the symbolism behind Trinity Shields
• Read more about the Athanasian Creed 
• The green Trinity Shield of Trinity Parish, Jersey
• The traditional, red Trinity Shield 
• A multi-colored Trinity Shield animated here  

More About Armor of God:

• Sermon by W. A. Criswell 
• The Full Armor of God by Alistair Begg
• Put on the Whole Armor of God
• Full Armor of God by the Armstrongs

Trinity Parish Shield of Faith

Large green Trinity Shield animation

Description of animation: The Shield of the Trinity or Scutum Fidei (Latin for "shield of faith") is a traditional Christian visual symbol which expresses many aspects of the doctrine of the Trinity, summarizing the first part of the Athanasian Creed in a compact diagram. In late medieval England and France, this emblem was considered to be the heraldic arms of God (and of the Trinity).

This particular green Trinity Shield is used by one of the twelve parishes of Jersey in the Channel Islands, and located the north east of the island. Les Platons is the highest point in Jersey. We've tythed it here for their free use. There's is both a large and small version.

Small green Trinity
Shield animation

• Read more about the symbolism behind Trinity Shields
• Read more about the Athanasian Creed 
• The traditional, red Trinity Shield 
• A multi-colored Trinity Shield animated here  
• The blue Trinity Shield of the Anglican diocese of Trinidad

Put Up The Good Fight:

• Spiritually Dressed For Success
• Connections Between Grace and the Full Armor of God, go here for more by Capon retreats

Dona Nobis Pacem

Description of Animation: The Agnus Dei illustrated inside a fortress, the text reads "Dona Nobis Pacem"

"Dona Nobis Pacem"  is a song with Latin text, often sung as a canon. The words, which mean "Grant us peace", come from the Latin Mass. The origin of the melody is unknown (most hymnals list it as "traditional").
 
This Agnus Dei animation was made by Kathy Grimm to encourage God's people to study doctrine and read the Bible. Please include a link back to our little blog in the caption beneath this animation should you decide to publish it online. Thank you.

Footage from Children's choir rehearsal, October 2012.