Trinity

The doctrine of the Trinity

In the modern Trinitarian doctrine, God exists as three persons but is one being, having a single divine nature. The members of the Trinity are co-equal and co-eternal, one in essence, nature, power, action, and will.

The New Testament contains no explicit trinitarian doctrine nor did Jesus expound upon a subject under the heading of "Trinity".

However, many modern Christian theologians, apologists, and philosophers hold that the doctrine can be inferred from what the New Testament is said to teach about God.

While discussion of this doctrine may have place among Christians who are faithful to Christ no private interpretation should distract from nor displace or even undermine the essential Doctrine of Jesus but it has often don just that.

The term trinity is from the Latin trinus, meaning "threefold"and may profess that there is one God, but three eternal and consubstantial persons (aspects of character and personality) identified as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

While, the first of the early Church Fathers to be recorded using the word "Trinity" was Theophilus of Antioch writing in the late 2nd century.^[1]

In his writing about Genesis chapters 1–3, Theophilus expresses the Trinity as follows:

"In like manner also the three days which were before the luminaries, are types of the Trinity, of God, and His Word, and His wisdom."

But this statement of Theophilus was not what became a "doctrine of the Trinity" until the church writer Tertullian (AD 160–225) began the first application of the term Trinity to explain something about the Nature of God or is not.

Tertullian a proponent of the Nicene doctrine originated new theological concepts and the term "Trinity" advanced the development of this new doctrine. He is the first writer in Latin known to use the term trinity (Latin: trinitas).^[2]

"The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost [are] three … not in condition, but in degree; not in substance, but in form; not in power, but in aspect; yet of one substance, and of one condition, and of one power, inasmuch as He is oneheresies6" God, from whom these degrees and forms and aspects are reckoned, under the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Tertullian ^[3]

In his "Against Heresy" there is expressing 6 heresies^[4] that were creating conflict.^[5]

We must reference the term "trinity" in relation to Tertullian because Jesus never mentioned the term "trinity".

Yes, "He who denies the Trinity loses his soul; he who tries to explain the Trinity loses his mind." Tertullian

Tertullian is not insisting people must "believe in" any of the the different doctrines concerning the Trinity but he is saying we need to not "deny" God the Father, His obedient Son, nor the Holy Spirit which is consistently the same where ever it listeth. Tertullian is simply saying you cannot deny one without denying them all because he sees them as all in agreement. Whatever Tertullian means by the the term is a matter of speculation or conjecture.

What does it mean to deny the "trinity"? Does it mean to deny a doctrinal ideology? Tertullian is simply saying you cannot deny one without denying them all because he sees them as all in agreement.

Which brings me to ask why do you think people can be "united" by believing in something Jesus never mentioned, the "trinity" deny the very things he directed and even commanded.

Certainly there is someone we identify as God who has a personality that includes that of a Father, Creator, law maker, and "ruling judge" which is the definition of the Hebrew and Greek terms we translated into the word "God" or "gods".

Jesus had the personality of an obedient son, loving brother, and a sacrificing husband.

The Holy Spirit would include the spirit or life of the Father and Son for the purpose of comforting us. It is like the tree of life in the garden when man walked with God.

We can all be fathers, sons, and comforters (or mothers, daughters etc.).

We can all be givers of life, self sacrificing, if we let the Holy Spirit dwell within us. If anyone deny or reject any aspect of the personality and character of the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit in our life and soul, though we say we believe in the "Trinity" he "loses his soul" as Tertullian professed.

It is a strong delusion to think "religion" is what you "think" about "God" or the "Trinity".

For centuries the word "religion" was the "performance of a duty". If you refuse or deny the "performance of that duty to God" imposed by the righteousness of the Spirit of the Father and Son you deny all.

Three in the Bible

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:"

This one of the verses that have propulgated the doctrines of the "Trinity" that seem to have divided rather than united people who say they want to "follow" Christ.

If we just read the rest of the sentence Jesus explains his doctrines on these three personalities of "the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost".

Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

Jesus is not talking about water "Baptism". Jesus never did water baptizing and Matthew explained His form of baptism by reporting what "John the Baptist" explained about it in Matthew 3:11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"

Again his explation is continued in the rest of the sentence, 12 "Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

This is a a metaphor speaking of the separation of the wheat from the chaff on the threshingfloor. The wind of His fan or spirit of His way comes with the "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you".

The chaff is burned because it contains the weed seeds that grow up amongst the wheat which represents the true followers of Christ.

It seems counter productive to require everyone to state they believe in something that they do not understand and according to what Tertullian says, "he who tries to explain the Trinity loses his mind."

It also seems a bit hypocritical to press the issue of requiring people to say they believe in "the Trinity" when Jesus never even mentioned the termand those often do have clearly neglected in the actual instructions, if not failed the people all together by not "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever" he has commanded us.

The word 'trinity' appears nowhere in the Bible; the Trinity as a doctrine was instituted at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 CE after years of debate. It was an attempt to articulate Christianity's belief in the oneness of God with their claims about Jesus and their experiences of the spirit.

Footnotes

↑ Theophilus was Patriarch of Antioch from 169 until 182. He succeeded Eros c. 169, and was succeeded by Maximus I c. 183, according to Henry Fynes Clinton, but these dates are only approximations. His death probably occurred between 183 and 185.
↑ "Tertullian, Originator of the Trinity", From Logos to Trinity, Cambridge University Press, pp. 190–220,
↑ On the Prescription of Heretics Book by Tertullian.
↑
Arianism: Arianism is named after the heretic Arius (c. 250-336), a priest in Alexandria. Arians view Our Lord Jesus Christ as a special creation by God for man’s salvation. Arians do not believe that Our Lord Jesus Christ is equal to the Father. Some Arians were willing to say Jesus was “divine” but held He was less than the Father. The basic Arian position was that “there was a time when he [the Son] was not.” Thus, they believe that the Son is not eternal and not of the same substance as the Father.[2] They cling to monotheism but place their reason above Catholic Faith.
- Arianism was the form of Christianity that the Goths adhered to, and it was popular in all the areas they conquered, including Italy, Spain, and North Africa. It is still very alive in the world today by people who say that Jesus is the “son of God,” as if the title meant that He is inferior to God the Father. Some would also say that Islam borrowed this false error as well.
- Apollinarianism: Named after Apollinaris of Laodicea (+390), a bishop in Asia Minor who opposed Arius. This heresy implicitly claims that Jesus Christ is neither fully man nor fully divine. Apollinarians suggested that Our Lord had a human soul with a human mind that was taken over by God. This again denies the full divinity of Our Lord as the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Although Apollinaris was initially respected by many orthodox Church leaders, including St. Athanasius, his heresy was condemned at the First Council of Constantinople (381 A.D.). This error is contrary to the clear teaching of the Church that Our Lord had two complete natures: human and divine, which was dogmatically defined by Pope Leo the Great at the Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.).
- Nestorianism: Named after Nestorius, a Patriarch of Constantinople who believed that Jesus Christ had two natures — man and God — which remained separate throughout His time on earth. As a result, they believed that Christ was not identical to the divine Son of God. This denies the true nature of Christ, Who is one complete, fully divine Person Who has two natures, one divine and one human. This heresy was authoritatively condemned at the First Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. and at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D.
- Some Nestorian places of worship can still be found in Iran. Interestingly, Nestorius’ heresy was first identified because he refused to honor Our Blessed Mother as the Mother of God (in Greek, Theotokos, or “the God-bearer”). Nestorians would argue that the Virgin Mary was the Mother of “Jesus the Man” but not of “God the Son.” This heresy is still vigorously promoted by Protestant heretics.
- Adoptionism: Adoptionism is a heresy which says that Jesus was a human being Who was “adopted” by God at His conception or at His baptism, at which point God induced Him with a divine nature. This heresy has progressed in the modern world and is present when some falsely believe that Jesus did not always know of His divinity, even as a young child. These heretics claim that Our Lord was not divine until later in life when He was given the mission of becoming the Christ.[3]
- This heresy contradicts the truth that Our Lord was always a divine Person Who “became man of the Virgin Mary.” Note how this creedal statement denies He existed beforehand. Many Adoptionists further believe that just as Jesus was “adopted” when the Divine Spirit ‘descended’ upon Him, so too the Divine Spirit left Him when He suffered and died. They too place reason above Faith and refuse to believe that God can suffer and die for man’s sins.
- Monophysitism: Monophysite comes from the Greek words for “one nature.” This heresy says that Jesus Christ was a joining of the Godhead with the human person Jesus, which occurred at the Incarnation. Monophysitism was a reaction against Nestorianism, which emphasized Jesus’ two natures to the point where He was basically two Persons. Monophysitism held that the divinity of Christ essentially dominated His human nature so that Jesus was one Person who effectively only had one nature – the divine nature.
- Eutyches, a monk from Constantinople, advanced this heresy and was excommunicated in 448 A.D. Monophysitism was condemned at the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Nevertheless, it received much imperial support over the following centuries, led to several eastern schisms with Rome, and caused many political, social and ecclesial problems. Various monophysite groups were in schism when the Muslims overran the Middle East and North Africa in the 7th century. Thus, these groups never reunited with Rome and this heresy lingered. In fact, it is still very much alive in several present-day Egyptian and Middle Eastern sects of Christianity.
- Sabellianism: Sabellianism is sometimes called ‘modalism’ or ‘monarchianism’ or even ‘modalistic monarchianism’. In this heresy, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three modes, roles, or faces of a single Person: God. This heresy is strictly monotheistic, rejecting the truth that there are three divine Persons. They often conceive of God ‘acting’ as the Creative Father in the Old Testament, then ‘acting’ as the Redeeming Son in the New Testament, and subsequently ‘acting’ as the Sanctifying Spirit in this latter age following Christ’s Ascension.
- This heresy implies that Jesus Christ was purely divine and did not have a human nature. What does this mean? It would mean that Our Lord could not truly have suffered or died. This heresy denies the Redemption of Man and the Incarnation. Sabellius was condemned by Pope Callistus.
- Conclusion: Trinitarian Theology requires precise terminology which safeguard the Church’s dogmatic definitions regarding the saving truths which God has revealed concerning Himself. In humility, man should always acknowledge that his reason can never exhaust or comprehend the full mystery of the Blessed Trinity, yet willingly render the obedience of divine faith to the Church’s teachings. It is best not to attempt to write or speak (instruct) on the Trinity without careful study and prayer beforehand. When in doubt, study the Baltimore Catechism or the Catholic Catechism available here from The Fatima Center.
- As we profess in the Athanasian Creed: “[T]he Unity is to be worshiped in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity. He, therefore, who wishes to be saved, must believe thus about the Trinity.”
↑ Against Heresies (Books I-III) By: Irenaeus of LyonsNarrated.

.

[theophilus-1] Theophilus was Patriarch of Antioch from 169 until 182. He succeeded Eros c. 169, and was succeeded by Maximus I c. 183, according to Henry Fynes Clinton, but these dates are only approximations. His death probably occurred between 183 and 185.

[2] "Tertullian, Originator of the Trinity", From Logos to Trinity, Cambridge University Press, pp. 190–220,

[3] On the Prescription of Heretics Book by Tertullian.

[heresies-4] Arianism: Arianism is named after the heretic Arius (c. 250-336), a priest in Alexandria. Arians view Our Lord Jesus Christ as a special creation by God for man’s salvation. Arians do not believe that Our Lord Jesus Christ is equal to the Father. Some Arians were willing to say Jesus was “divine” but held He was less than the Father. The basic Arian position was that “there was a time when he [the Son] was not.” Thus, they believe that the Son is not eternal and not of the same substance as the Father.[2] They cling to monotheism but place their reason above Catholic Faith.
Arianism was the form of Christianity that the Goths adhered to, and it was popular in all the areas they conquered, including Italy, Spain, and North Africa. It is still very alive in the world today by people who say that Jesus is the “son of God,” as if the title meant that He is inferior to God the Father. Some would also say that Islam borrowed this false error as well.

Apollinarianism: Named after Apollinaris of Laodicea (+390), a bishop in Asia Minor who opposed Arius. This heresy implicitly claims that Jesus Christ is neither fully man nor fully divine. Apollinarians suggested that Our Lord had a human soul with a human mind that was taken over by God. This again denies the full divinity of Our Lord as the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Although Apollinaris was initially respected by many orthodox Church leaders, including St. Athanasius, his heresy was condemned at the First Council of Constantinople (381 A.D.). This error is contrary to the clear teaching of the Church that Our Lord had two complete natures: human and divine, which was dogmatically defined by Pope Leo the Great at the Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.).

Nestorianism: Named after Nestorius, a Patriarch of Constantinople who believed that Jesus Christ had two natures — man and God — which remained separate throughout His time on earth. As a result, they believed that Christ was not identical to the divine Son of God. This denies the true nature of Christ, Who is one complete, fully divine Person Who has two natures, one divine and one human. This heresy was authoritatively condemned at the First Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. and at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D.

Some Nestorian places of worship can still be found in Iran. Interestingly, Nestorius’ heresy was first identified because he refused to honor Our Blessed Mother as the Mother of God (in Greek, Theotokos, or “the God-bearer”). Nestorians would argue that the Virgin Mary was the Mother of “Jesus the Man” but not of “God the Son.” This heresy is still vigorously promoted by Protestant heretics.

Adoptionism: Adoptionism is a heresy which says that Jesus was a human being Who was “adopted” by God at His conception or at His baptism, at which point God induced Him with a divine nature. This heresy has progressed in the modern world and is present when some falsely believe that Jesus did not always know of His divinity, even as a young child. These heretics claim that Our Lord was not divine until later in life when He was given the mission of becoming the Christ.[3]

This heresy contradicts the truth that Our Lord was always a divine Person Who “became man of the Virgin Mary.” Note how this creedal statement denies He existed beforehand. Many Adoptionists further believe that just as Jesus was “adopted” when the Divine Spirit ‘descended’ upon Him, so too the Divine Spirit left Him when He suffered and died. They too place reason above Faith and refuse to believe that God can suffer and die for man’s sins.

Monophysitism: Monophysite comes from the Greek words for “one nature.” This heresy says that Jesus Christ was a joining of the Godhead with the human person Jesus, which occurred at the Incarnation. Monophysitism was a reaction against Nestorianism, which emphasized Jesus’ two natures to the point where He was basically two Persons. Monophysitism held that the divinity of Christ essentially dominated His human nature so that Jesus was one Person who effectively only had one nature – the divine nature.

Eutyches, a monk from Constantinople, advanced this heresy and was excommunicated in 448 A.D. Monophysitism was condemned at the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Nevertheless, it received much imperial support over the following centuries, led to several eastern schisms with Rome, and caused many political, social and ecclesial problems. Various monophysite groups were in schism when the Muslims overran the Middle East and North Africa in the 7th century. Thus, these groups never reunited with Rome and this heresy lingered. In fact, it is still very much alive in several present-day Egyptian and Middle Eastern sects of Christianity.

Sabellianism: Sabellianism is sometimes called ‘modalism’ or ‘monarchianism’ or even ‘modalistic monarchianism’. In this heresy, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three modes, roles, or faces of a single Person: God. This heresy is strictly monotheistic, rejecting the truth that there are three divine Persons. They often conceive of God ‘acting’ as the Creative Father in the Old Testament, then ‘acting’ as the Redeeming Son in the New Testament, and subsequently ‘acting’ as the Sanctifying Spirit in this latter age following Christ’s Ascension.

This heresy implies that Jesus Christ was purely divine and did not have a human nature. What does this mean? It would mean that Our Lord could not truly have suffered or died. This heresy denies the Redemption of Man and the Incarnation. Sabellius was condemned by Pope Callistus.

Conclusion: Trinitarian Theology requires precise terminology which safeguard the Church’s dogmatic definitions regarding the saving truths which God has revealed concerning Himself. In humility, man should always acknowledge that his reason can never exhaust or comprehend the full mystery of the Blessed Trinity, yet willingly render the obedience of divine faith to the Church’s teachings. It is best not to attempt to write or speak (instruct) on the Trinity without careful study and prayer beforehand. When in doubt, study the Baltimore Catechism or the Catholic Catechism available here from The Fatima Center.

As we profess in the Athanasian Creed: “[T]he Unity is to be worshiped in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity. He, therefore, who wishes to be saved, must believe thus about the Trinity.”

[5] Arianism was the form of Christianity that the Goths adhered to, and it was popular in all the areas they conquered, including Italy, Spain, and North Africa. It is still very alive in the world today by people who say that Jesus is the “son of God,” as if the title meant that He is inferior to God the Father. Some would also say that Islam borrowed this false error as well.

[6] Apollinarianism: Named after Apollinaris of Laodicea (+390), a bishop in Asia Minor who opposed Arius. This heresy implicitly claims that Jesus Christ is neither fully man nor fully divine. Apollinarians suggested that Our Lord had a human soul with a human mind that was taken over by God. This again denies the full divinity of Our Lord as the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Although Apollinaris was initially respected by many orthodox Church leaders, including St. Athanasius, his heresy was condemned at the First Council of Constantinople (381 A.D.). This error is contrary to the clear teaching of the Church that Our Lord had two complete natures: human and divine, which was dogmatically defined by Pope Leo the Great at the Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.).

[7] Nestorianism: Named after Nestorius, a Patriarch of Constantinople who believed that Jesus Christ had two natures — man and God — which remained separate throughout His time on earth. As a result, they believed that Christ was not identical to the divine Son of God. This denies the true nature of Christ, Who is one complete, fully divine Person Who has two natures, one divine and one human. This heresy was authoritatively condemned at the First Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. and at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D.

[8] Some Nestorian places of worship can still be found in Iran. Interestingly, Nestorius’ heresy was first identified because he refused to honor Our Blessed Mother as the Mother of God (in Greek, Theotokos, or “the God-bearer”). Nestorians would argue that the Virgin Mary was the Mother of “Jesus the Man” but not of “God the Son.” This heresy is still vigorously promoted by Protestant heretics.

[9] Adoptionism: Adoptionism is a heresy which says that Jesus was a human being Who was “adopted” by God at His conception or at His baptism, at which point God induced Him with a divine nature. This heresy has progressed in the modern world and is present when some falsely believe that Jesus did not always know of His divinity, even as a young child. These heretics claim that Our Lord was not divine until later in life when He was given the mission of becoming the Christ.[3]

[10] This heresy contradicts the truth that Our Lord was always a divine Person Who “became man of the Virgin Mary.” Note how this creedal statement denies He existed beforehand. Many Adoptionists further believe that just as Jesus was “adopted” when the Divine Spirit ‘descended’ upon Him, so too the Divine Spirit left Him when He suffered and died. They too place reason above Faith and refuse to believe that God can suffer and die for man’s sins.

[11] Monophysitism: Monophysite comes from the Greek words for “one nature.” This heresy says that Jesus Christ was a joining of the Godhead with the human person Jesus, which occurred at the Incarnation. Monophysitism was a reaction against Nestorianism, which emphasized Jesus’ two natures to the point where He was basically two Persons. Monophysitism held that the divinity of Christ essentially dominated His human nature so that Jesus was one Person who effectively only had one nature – the divine nature.

[12] Eutyches, a monk from Constantinople, advanced this heresy and was excommunicated in 448 A.D. Monophysitism was condemned at the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Nevertheless, it received much imperial support over the following centuries, led to several eastern schisms with Rome, and caused many political, social and ecclesial problems. Various monophysite groups were in schism when the Muslims overran the Middle East and North Africa in the 7th century. Thus, these groups never reunited with Rome and this heresy lingered. In fact, it is still very much alive in several present-day Egyptian and Middle Eastern sects of Christianity.

[13] Sabellianism: Sabellianism is sometimes called ‘modalism’ or ‘monarchianism’ or even ‘modalistic monarchianism’. In this heresy, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three modes, roles, or faces of a single Person: God. This heresy is strictly monotheistic, rejecting the truth that there are three divine Persons. They often conceive of God ‘acting’ as the Creative Father in the Old Testament, then ‘acting’ as the Redeeming Son in the New Testament, and subsequently ‘acting’ as the Sanctifying Spirit in this latter age following Christ’s Ascension.

[14] This heresy implies that Jesus Christ was purely divine and did not have a human nature. What does this mean? It would mean that Our Lord could not truly have suffered or died. This heresy denies the Redemption of Man and the Incarnation. Sabellius was condemned by Pope Callistus.

[15] Conclusion: Trinitarian Theology requires precise terminology which safeguard the Church’s dogmatic definitions regarding the saving truths which God has revealed concerning Himself. In humility, man should always acknowledge that his reason can never exhaust or comprehend the full mystery of the Blessed Trinity, yet willingly render the obedience of divine faith to the Church’s teachings. It is best not to attempt to write or speak (instruct) on the Trinity without careful study and prayer beforehand. When in doubt, study the Baltimore Catechism or the Catholic Catechism available here from The Fatima Center.

[16] As we profess in the Athanasian Creed: “[T]he Unity is to be worshiped in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity. He, therefore, who wishes to be saved, must believe thus about the Trinity.”

[5] Against Heresies (Books I-III) By: Irenaeus of LyonsNarrated.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Trinity

The doctrine of the Trinity

Three in the Bible

Footnotes

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