1. Why does the Bible so often refer to things in three's?
The answer to this question goes right back to the beginning - to Genesis 1:1.
"In the beginning God (ELOHIM) created the heavens and the earth".(NIV) (ELOHIM added)
ELOHIM is the primary word translated 'God' in the Old Testament. 'EL' means mighty or strong and 'HIM' is a plural designator meaning three or more.
The name ELOHIM actually represents the trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit as the Creator. Then the Bible goes on to say in Genesis 1:26 "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness'." (NIV).
- 'us' and 'our' again refer to ELOHIM - the Trinity.
Thus the 'tri-fold' or 'tri-une' or 'triad' designation is fundamental to the Christian faith. The Bible makes many other references to significant events occurring in three's or involving three people or three things.
There were three gifts brought to the baby Jesus; gold, frankincense and myrrh. There were three men on crosses at Calvary. Paul spoke of the triad of
faith, hope and love and the living creatures in heaven cried "Holy, holy, holy" - another triad.
God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow - past, present and future - so even time, God's creation, is another example of a triad.
2. Why is a cord of three strands so much stronger than a single or double stranded cord?
The answer to this question is less spiritual and more physical by nature. Earliest man determined that twisting fibres together and forming a small bundle, made the 'rope' stronger yet easy to manoeuvre and splice. Simply using one strand or fiber provided virtually no strength, two fibres added more but three strands twisted together in different directions - called plaiting or braiding, proved to be much more than three times stronger than the single strand.
Actually increasing the number of strands above three (for any given diameter) does not significantly or proportionally increase the strength of the rope. Traditional rope making involved braiding three or more three-stranded cords in order to make an even stronger rope.
3. Why do we use the name Three Cord Ministries?
Three Cord Ministries is based firstly on God's use of three representing wholeness and completeness and is secondly based on the physical properties of the extra strength created by using three stranded cords (or cords of three strands).
Our logo is made up of three, three-stranded-cords representing the triads of the Father,Son and Spirit, Jesus, husb and wife triangle and the three means of grace -faith, hope and love.
