When did the doctrine of the Trinity originate?
In defense of that oneness, he was obliged to dispute the sameness of essence of the Son and the Holy Spirit with God the Father. It was not until later in the 4th century that the distinctness of the three and their unity were brought together in a single orthodox doctrine of one essence and three persons.
Who invented the idea of the Trinity?
writer TertullianThe words 'the Trinity' are the English equivalent of the Latin word Trinitas, which was coined by the early Christian writer Tertullian. The word, which, etymologically, means something like 'the tripleness', is used to refer collectively to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Why is Trinity not in the Bible?
The word “Trinity” can be found nowhere in the Bible. It is completely incongruous with scriptural understanding of God. God is not three persons. There is only one God and it is the Father.
Does the Bible teach the Trinity?
The New Testament contains no explicit trinitarian doctrine. However, many Christian theologians, apologists, and philosophers hold that the doctrine can be inferred from what the New Testament does teach about God.
What religion does not believe in the Trinity?
Jehovah's Witnesses identify as Christians, but their beliefs are different from other Christians in some ways. For instance, they teach that Jesus is the son of God but is not part of a Trinity.
Why do Christians believe in the Trinity?
The Trinity refers to the idea that God is one, but exists in three different Persons. The word 'trinity' comes from the word 'tri' meaning 'three' and 'unity' meaning 'one'. Many Christians believe that there are three distinct Persons to this one God and that these three Persons form a unity.
Do all Christians believe in the Trinity?
Christian worship is inherently Trinitarian. Christians worship God in the presence of Christ and with the Holy Spirit within them. So for example: Worship and praise are offered "to God through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit"
Did the early church believe in the Trinity?
Whether the earliest Church Fathers believed in the Trinity is a subject for debate. Some of the evidence used to support an early belief in the Trinity are triadic statements (referring to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) from the New Testament and the Church Fathers.
Trinity In the Bible
References in the Bible to a Trinity of divine beings are vague, at best.
The Doctrine Takes Shape
While Paul of Tarsus, the man who could rightfully be considered the true founder of Christianity, did formulate many of its doctrines, that of the Trinity was not among them.
A Formal Doctrine Is Drawn Up
When controversy over the matter of the Trinity blew up in 318 between two church men from Alexandria – Arius, the deacon, and Alexander, his bishop – Emperor Constantine stepped into the fray.
Who was the Roman emperor who accepted the Trinity?
The Roman emperor Constantine the Great, while himself not really a Christian, convened and played a major role in the Council of Nicaea, which laid the groundwork for acceptance of the Trinity doctrine.
Which theologians made it possible for the Council of Constantinople to affirm the divinity of the Holy Spirit?
The teaching of the three Cappadocian theologians "made it possible for the Council of Constantinople (381) to affirm the divinity of the Holy Spirit, which up to that point had nowhere been clearly stated, not even in Scripture" ( The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism, "God," p. 568).
Why believe a teaching that isn't biblical?
This, in brief, is the amazing story of how the doctrine of the Trinity came to be introduced—and how those who refused to accept it came to be branded as heretics or unbelievers.
Why did Constantine convene the Council of Nicaea?
Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea in the year 325 as much for political reasons—for unity in the empire—as religious ones. The primary issue at that time came to be known as the Arian controversy.
Why did Constantine put off baptism?
Chadwick does say that Constantine's deathbed baptism itself "implies no doubt about his Christian belief," it being common for rulers to put off baptism to avoid accountability for things like torture and executing criminals (p. 127). But this justification doesn't really help the case for the emperor's conversion being genuine.
What is the last generation of the first century?
Historian Jesse Hurlbut says of this time of transformation: "We name the last generation of the first century, from 68 to 100 A.D., 'The Age of Shadows, ' partly because the gloom of persecution was over the church, but more especially because of all the periods in the [church's] history, it is the one about which we know the least. We have no longer the clear light of the Book of Acts to guide us; and no author of that age has filled the blank in the history . . .
When the bishops gathered at Nicaea on May 20, 325, to resolve the crisis, would have?
Karen Armstrong explains in A History of God: "When the bishops gathered at Nicaea on May 20, 325, to resolve the crisis, very few would have shared Athanasius's view of Christ. Most held a position midway between Athanasius and Arius" (p. 110).
Where did the Trinity doctrine originate?
No one doubts the antiquity of the trinity doctrine. This teaching began in the ancient pagan world and has taken millennia to develop, even with its Christian trappings.
When was the doctrine of the trinity refined?
The doctrine of the trinity was refined in the third century, but it was never completely divorced from its pagan and philosophical connections.
What did Bigg teach at Alexandria?
Bigg said that the school at Alexandria taught geometry, physiology, and astronomy in the first year. Then, the instructors taught philosophy and “looked up to the great masterminds of the Hellenic schools with a generous admiration, and infused the same spirit into their disciples.”20
What was the name of the Greek school that was infected with paganism?
In the second century, Alexandria set up its infamous catechetical school, which would become a trinitarian college infected with Greek philosophy and paganism. Similar schools existed by then at Athens, Antioch, Edessa (modern Urfa, Turkey), and Nisibis.19 We have seen how that Justin set up a school at Rome that taught the new Logos doctrine.
What was Philo's influence on the Church?
It is the belief of Malter and many other scholars that “Philo’s influence … was an important factor in the construction of the Christian dogma by the Church fathers.” 12 There is no doubt that the grafting of the doctrine of the trinity onto Christian theology could not have been accomplished without the philosophy of such men as Philo and Numenius.
Where did the idea of a trinity come from?
There is some evidence that the idea of a trinity sprang from the ancient Babylonian religion. Trinities abound in the ancient pagan religions.
Who was Clement influenced by?
Clement was greatly influenced by Philo. According to Harnack, he quoted from Philo often and even “plagiarize [d)” him. He equated Clement to the Gnostic leader Valentinus.22 And it is true that Clement spoke much of gnosis in his writings.
What is the doctrine of the Trinity?
As all orthodox Christians agree, the doctrine of the Trinity holds that God is one essence but three Persons; God has one nature, but three centers of consciousness; God is only one What, but three Whos.
When was the Trinity confirmed as the official doctrine of the Church?
From there, we can jump forward over a century of church discussion, schisms, and debate to the Council of Nicea in 325, when the Trinity was finally confirmed as official church doctrine. A final observation. Theology is the attempt by flawed humans to understand the words of the Bible, just as science is the attempt by flawed humans ...
Why did Israel not recognize the Son of God?
Israel failed to recognize the Son of God due to His ordinariness ( Isaiah 53:2; Matthew 13:54–58; John 10:33 ), and they killed Him ( Zechariah 12:10; Acts 2:36 ). In the years after the death of the last apostle, John, there were many attempts by Christian theologians to define and explain God to the church.
What is the Trinity in Christianity?
Answer. The Trinity is Christianity’s most unique, defining, incomprehensible, and awesome mystery. It is the revelation of who our Almighty Creator actually is—not just a god, but an infinite Being existing in eternity as three co-equal, infinite Persons, consubstantial yet distinct. The origin of the doctrine of the Trinity is the Bible, ...
What is the contradiction of the Trinity?
A contradiction would be to claim that God has only one nature but also three natures, or that He is only one Person but also three Persons.
What is the attempt by flawed humans to understand the words of the Bible?
Theology is the attempt by flawed humans to understand the words of the Bible, just as science is the attempt by flawed humans to understand the facts of nature. All the facts of nature are true, just as all the original words of the Bible are true. But humans are limited and make lots of mistakes, as history continually shows.
Who was the first to use the Trinity?
It seems that the church father Tertullian (AD 160–225) was the first to apply the term Trinity to God. Tertullian uses the term in Against Praxeus, written in 213 to explain and defend the Trinity against the teaching of his contemporary Praxeus, who espoused the Monarchian heresy. From there, we can jump forward over a century ...
What is the Trinity?
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity ( Latin: Trinitas, lit. 'triad', from Latin: trinus "threefold") holds that God is one God, and exists in the form of three coeternal and consubstantial persons: the Father, the Son ( Jesus Christ ), and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct, yet are one "substance, essence or nature" ( homoousios ).
What books are Trinitarian in the New Testament?
While the developed doctrine of the Trinity is not explicit in the books that constitute the New Testament, the New Testament contains a number of Trinitarian formulas, including Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:13, 1 Corinthians 12:4-5, Ephesians 4:4-6, 1 Peter 1:2 and Revelation 1:4-5.
What is the Gospel of John about?
The Gospel of John has been seen as especially aimed at emphasizing Jesus' divinity, presenting Jesus as the Logos, pre-existent and divine, from its first words: " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God " (John 1:1).
What is the difference between a trinitarian and a monarchianism?
Trinitarianism contrasts with positions such as Binitarianism (one deity in two persons) and Monarchianism (no plurality of persons within God), of which Modalistic Monarchianism (one deity revealed in three modes) and Unitarianism (one deity in one person) are subsets.
Why is each of the three persons unique as a person?
Lest he be misunderstood, Magliola, in a subsequent publication, makes sure to specify that each of the three Persons, while unique as a Person, is nonetheless—because of the Divine "consubstantiality" and "simplicity"—the one Reality that is God.
Who wrote that Jesus suffered and died as to his human nature?
Reaffirming the theopaschite formula unus de trinitate passus est carne (meaning "One of the Trinity suffered in the flesh"), Thomas Aquinas wrote that Jesus suffered and died as to his human nature, as to his divine nature he could not suffer or die.
Is Jesus the only begotten?
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father [the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God,] Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; (...) And [we believe] in the Holy Ghost.
Who was responsible for promoting the idea of the Trinity?
In fact it was Athanasius who was primarily responsible for promoting the idea of the Trinity and enforcing it with violence, threats, and blatant disregard for his peers. He himself was a man with a violent temper, and no tolerance for those who disagreed with him, including the emperor himself.
What is the Trinity debate?
It was not until the fourth century that many theologians and bishops began to argue over the identity of Christ. Many, who would not believe in the deity of Christ were burned as heretics and their souls damned by the Church. Even today those who deny the Trinity are considered heretical or involved in a cult. Many times they are told that they are not even saved because they deny the deity of Christ. It is no wonder that with so much social persecution very few people actually take the time to consider the doctrine of the Trinity and the implications that it carries.
Why did Constantine call a council?
In 325 A.D. Constantine, the emperor of Rome called together a council so as to decide, once and for all, the identity of Christ. He saw that his kingdom was being torn apart by this issue, and he was attempting to bring some agreement and peace within the Christian faith as he was now beginning to adhere to it and get his empire to do the same. Little did he understand the importance of doctrine and just how much it would mean to these men that Scripture not be compromised for the sake of agreement.
Who decided the issue of homoousia?
It was Constantine who finally decided the issue by trying to help both sides come to a agreement. The non-biblical term he used was homoousia, which is a Greek term that means “of the same substance.”. In this way those who wanted to see Jesus as God could be satisfied by interpreting this idea to mean that he was God and those who wanted ...
Is the Trinity heretical?
Even today those who deny the Trinity are considered heretical or involved in a cult. Many times they are told that they are not even saved because they deny the deity of Christ. It is no wonder that with so much social persecution very few people actually take the time to consider the doctrine of the Trinity and the implications that it carries.
Where did the trinity doctrine originate?
Here is a brief summary of the pagan origin of the trinity doctrine. The three in one trinity doctrine originated from paganism with the worship of the sun and Satan at Babel. Paganism entered the Church at Rome during the early centuries, including the heathen teachings about God.
What is the trinity doctrine?
Remember that the trinity doctrine, and why it is called as such, is as follows. The Father is God, Jesus is God, the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three gods but one God, and that's the trinity! In other words, 1+1+1=One!
What does the dictionary of religious knowledge state about the trinity?
A Dictionary of Religious Knowledge states regarding the trinity, “ Precisely what that doctrine is, or rather precisely how it is to be explained, Trinitarians are not agreed among themselves. ” — (Lyman Abbott, editor, 1885, “Trinitarians”)
What did Tertullian teach?
While Tertullian introduced the term “trinity,” what he taught and believed is different to what the trinity doctrine is today. And since he introduced this term, than that means the trinity doctrine as taught today did not exist in the time of Tertullian.
Where did the three in one trinity come from?
It would surprise many to know that the absolute beginnings of the three in one trinity doctrine goes right back to the Tower of Babel on the plain of Shinar by the River Euphrates many generations after the flood. At the time of the construction of Babylon at the Tower of Babel, mankind had multiplied and spoken one language. ( Genesis 11:1-4) Cush who was the son of Ham and grandson of Noah ( Genesis 10:1, 6 ), helped to plan with his son Nimrod, a way to rule the world through a wicked counterfeit religion. Nimrod was the originator of sun worship and founder of Babylon. The Targum says, “ Nimrod became a mighty man of sin, a murderer of innocent men, and a rebel before the Lord. ”
Is the trinitarian concept humanly incomprehensible?
The New Unger's Bible Dictionary in its article on the trinity concedes that the Trinitarian concept is humanly incomprehensible, “ It is admitted by all who thoughtfully deal with this subject that the Scripture revelation here leads us into the presence of a deep mystery; and that all human attempts at expression are of necessity imperfect. ” — (1988, p. 1308)
Is there a trinity in the Bible?
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia acknowledges that “ 'trinity' is a second-century term found nowhere in the Bible, and the Scriptures present no finished trinitarian statement. ” — (1988, Vol. 4, “Trinity,” p. 914). It further states that “ church fathers crystallized the doctrine in succeeding centuries ”—long after the apostles had passed from the scene.
When was the Trinity doctrine established?
So the Trinity doctrine is a manmade doctrine from the Catholic Church which was formed in two parts. The first part was made up in 325 AD which states it is a 3 in 1 god. The second and final part was made up in 381 AD.
What is the doctrine of the Trinity?
Thus the doctrine of the Trinity, or Tritheism is a heresy that proceeds from Romanism and tantamount to Sunday Worship. An Abomination before God. It is a doctrine that emanates straight from the dunghill of Roman decretals. It is philosophy, vain deceit and man's tradition.
What do Trinitarians call the three Gods?
Since the Trinity doctrine teaches a three in one God, then Trinitarians use the corresponding phrases “God the Father,” “god the son” and “god the spirit. ”. They call all three gods. But since the Bible says there is only one God, then Trinitarians have to say that all three are the one God.
What did Tertullian teach?
While Tertullian introduced the term “Trinity,” what he taught and believed is different to what the Trinity doctrine is today. And since he introduced this term, that means the Trinity doctrine as taught today did not exist in the time of Tertullian.
Where did the word "Trinity" come from?
We also find that the word “Trinity” originated from Tertullian around 200 AD who did not even state the immanent Trinity as known today, the 3 in 1 god came from Athanasius in 325 AD, and the idea of the Holy Spirit as a third being came from three Cappadocians in 381 AD.
What does the Trinity doctrine say about Jesus?
The Trinity doctrine claims it was the one God playing the role of the Son who died on the cross and hence denies it was the literal Son of God that came in the flesh and died on the cross. Denying Jesus is the literal Son of God also means God cannot be a literal Father and so it denies both the Father and Son.
What did the Babylonians believe?
Babylonia. “ The ancient Babylonians recognised the doctrine of a trinity, or three persons in one god— as appears from a composite god with three heads forming part of their mythology, and the use of the equilateral triangle, also, as an emblem of such trinity in unity.
