The church has had its fair share of theological controversy. At the time of Constantine, the state had a voice in theological issues. This was a problem because the decisions concerning doctrine were left to the emperors who knew very little if anything about the Christian faith. As a result, supporters of several heresies that had surfaced sought only to convince the emperors that their beliefs were right. The major theological controversy of the fourth century was the doctrine of the Trinity.
ARIAN CONTROVERSY
Arius was a pastor from Alexandria. Although he claimed to be a Christian and believed that Jesus was the Messiah, he argued that Jesus was not co-eternal with the Father. This is what is known today as Subordinationism, which teaches that One God (Father) creates the Son and Spirit so that there is one God, but not 3 equal persons. Although Arians would say that Jesus is very important and existed before all things, they would still conclude that He is not equal with God because He is created.
COUNCIL OF NICEA (325)
Arianism spurred a debate that led Constantine to call a council together in Nicea. One person who was particularly opposed to Arianism was Athanasius. He along with others argued that Jesus is of the same substance as the Father, but is distinct in Person. The Arians, on the contrary, were making the argument that He was similar, but not the same substance. Although this council ruled against Arianism, the influence of this heretical belief system would continue to grow.
THE ORTHODOX TEACHING OF THE TRINITY
(Below are notes from Chris' lecture on the Trinity that he gave this past summer at a pastors conference in Nicaragua.)
Key Definitions:
Trinity: God exists as one essence with three persons.
ARIAN CONTROVERSY
Arius was a pastor from Alexandria. Although he claimed to be a Christian and believed that Jesus was the Messiah, he argued that Jesus was not co-eternal with the Father. This is what is known today as Subordinationism, which teaches that One God (Father) creates the Son and Spirit so that there is one God, but not 3 equal persons. Although Arians would say that Jesus is very important and existed before all things, they would still conclude that He is not equal with God because He is created.
COUNCIL OF NICEA (325)
Arianism spurred a debate that led Constantine to call a council together in Nicea. One person who was particularly opposed to Arianism was Athanasius. He along with others argued that Jesus is of the same substance as the Father, but is distinct in Person. The Arians, on the contrary, were making the argument that He was similar, but not the same substance. Although this council ruled against Arianism, the influence of this heretical belief system would continue to grow.
THE ORTHODOX TEACHING OF THE TRINITY
(Below are notes from Chris' lecture on the Trinity that he gave this past summer at a pastors conference in Nicaragua.)
Key Definitions:
Trinity: God exists as one essence with three persons.
Essence: That which makes up a being or thing.
God has one essence; he is undivided and unified.
We also affirm that God is 3 persons: Father, Son, and Spirit
This belief is not possible to fully comprehend because there is nothing in nature we can look at to understand this doctrine. This makes sense because God is the Creator and is distinct. Nevertheless, we can and should try to understand this as much as the Bible will allow us to.
Below is a diagram to help us formulate what the Bible teaches.
We have seen the orthodox view, now let's biblically defend it. God has one essence; he is undivided and unified.
We also affirm that God is 3 persons: Father, Son, and Spirit
This belief is not possible to fully comprehend because there is nothing in nature we can look at to understand this doctrine. This makes sense because God is the Creator and is distinct. Nevertheless, we can and should try to understand this as much as the Bible will allow us to.
Below is a diagram to help us formulate what the Bible teaches.
BIBLICAL DEFENSE
1. God is One (tri-UNITY): Bible clearly teaches this.
Deut 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Exp: The context of this passage is God preparing His people to enter the Promised Land. The surrounding countries believed in the existence of many gods. Moses reminds the people to listen to God and remain faithful to God by recalling his uniqueness and oneness. He is the God who precedes all other gods, and there are no other gods apart from Him. One of the primary themes of the Bible (especially the OT) is that there is only one God who exists and who speaks. There are not multiple gods each deserving of worship and glory. There is only one God who commands and rightfully deserves worship and glory.
2. God is Three (TRI-unity): Bible clearly teaches this.
This one God exists as 3 Persons: Father, Son, and Spirit.
A. The Father is Fully God: For the most part, this is a truth that is assumed throughout the Bible and presupposed. As a result, few have gone to great lengths to try and prove it.
B. The Son is Fully God: This is a major argument of the NT.
John 1:1, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Exp: Christ was in the beginning with the Father (distinct in person), He is God (one in essence), and took on flesh and lived among us (incarnation).
Philippians 2:5-7 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Exp: Christ was willing to humbly take on flesh, even though He was fully God.
Colossians 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Exp: Christ has always existed and He is the agent through whom all things were created.
Col 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of Deity lives in bodily form.
Exp: Fullness of deity can only live in God; therefore Jesus is God.
C. The Spirit is Fully God: This is not a central argument of the Bible like the deity of Christ. There are, however, some clear teachings that the Holy Spirit is fully God.
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
C. The Spirit is Fully God: This is not a central argument of the Bible like the deity of Christ. There are, however, some clear teachings that the Holy Spirit is fully God.
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Exp: The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son.
Many passages also reveal that the Father, Son, and Spirit are equal but distinct persons with different roles in creation/redemption. Ephesians 1:3-14 talks about the fact that all three persons of the Godhead are committed to the same goal of redeeming us, but play distinct roles in accomplishing that task. For example, the Father calls and sends the Son, the Son accomplishes the work, and the Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ to us and seals us.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THINKING RIGHTLY ABOUT THE TRINITY
1.The Mystery of the Trinity makes God worthy of worship.
We should take the biblical teachings and formulate an understanding of God as Triune and affirm what the church has affirmed. This does not mean that we have God figured out, but should cause us to marvel and worship and stand in awe of the Triune God.
2. The Trinity is a model of Unity and Diversity.
How are all the people in the church supposed to get along when they all have different personalities and gifts, etc? Our model for getting along is the Trinity: 3 distinct persons with 3 distinct roles, but all committed to the same goal.
How are you and your family supposed to get along when you all have different roles? Our model for understanding the family is the Trinity: 3 distinct persons with different roles who are perfectly unified. The Spirit submits to the Son and the Son submits to the Father, yet they are all three equal. The word "submit" is often thought of in the negative, but what one learns when studying the Trinity is that it is godly to submit to authority. We should submit to our bosses and to people whom God has placed as our leaders. We reflect the Trinity when we do this.
3. The Trinity is our example of loving community.
God is a relational God. He didn’t become relational when He created us, but has always existed in community as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When He created us, He made us like Himself as relational people. We need one another, we need friends, we need the church, etc. If community is the way of God, doesn’t it make sense that we would need community?
CONCLUSION
God wants us to truly know Him. In order for this to happen, we must allow the truth of His word to shape our thinking. Scripture is clear that God has revealed Himself as Triune. In order for us to truly know Him, we must think about Him in this way.
