06. Understanding God, The Trinity.
I.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Reality of God.
General Revelation of God’s invisible qualities, personal power made visible (Rom.1:19-20)
Existence of God is not a matter of logical proof but of faith (Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17)
We know God and about him only from what is revealed (Job 11:7)
We cannot fully understand God, only within the range of our human finite and limited reason.
God is a mystery whose greatness is unsearchable (Psalm 145:3)
Mystery needs Revelation (Romans 16:25; 1st Cor.15:51; Ephes.1:9; Colos.2:2)
II. Divine Attributes
a. Eternal (Romans 16:26, Psalm 90:2)
i. Difference between traditional (Greek) concept of eternity and Biblical.
ii. Eternity is not timeless, and is not separated from time.
iii. God gives His name as Existence, connecting Time & Space within Himself.
iv. Plan of Salvation began “before the foundation of the world” in “ages” (Ephes.1:4; 3:9)
v. God’s time is different than our time
b. Immutable (unchanging) (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17)
i. Immutable does not mean impassible  God experiences, and relates to human history
ii. God’s Character and Nature are immutable. God is Who He IS and it cannot be altered.
iii. God’s perfection does not grow, or mature with time. He is Immutably Perfect.
c. Love & Wrath
i. God is Love (1st John 4;8: 16)
ii. Acts of wrath are unnatural to His nature (Isaiah 28:21)
iii. His Love is a consuming Fire.(Deut.4:24; Hebrews 12: 29).
d. Transcendent
i. Independent from His relationship with created Universe (1 Kings 8:27)
III. Divine Activities
a. Knowledge (Joshua 22:22; 1st Samuel 2:3, Job 37:16) = Omniscience
i. Omniscience (1st John 3;20; Isaiah 46:9-10; Acts 2;23; Rom. 8:29, Ps. 139:1-4)
ii. David’s reaction to God’s knowledge  Psalm 139:6
b. Predestination  volitive activity (Ephesians 1:5,9,11; 1st Cor.2:7)
i. “deciding beforehand” proorizo (acts 4:28); Romans 8:29-30)
ii. Plan drawn in advance “prosthesis” Romans 8:28; 9;11; Eph.3:11)
iii. Pertaining the Plan of Salvation (1st peter 1:20)  Big Picture is decided
iv. Does not limit free choice of individuals as to how they fit in the Big Picture.
v. Judgment is needed due to the free choice (Acts 17:31)
c. Creation (Psalm 33:6; 148:5-6; Hebrews 3:4)
i. Ex nihilo – from nothing – Romans 4:17; Hebrews 11;3
ii. Hebrew “bara” is divine attribute, coming from His Power (Jeremiah 10:12)
d. Presence  Immanent
i. Isaiah 57:15 God dwells with people.
ii. In Him we move (Acts 17:25) he is Sustainer of Life
iii. Sanctuary was God’s way of communicating His presence (Exodus 25:8)
iv. Omnipresent  Psalm 139:7-12
e. Providence
i. Enacts God’s governments and Plan of Salvation in the contingencies and limitations of
human nature and history  God sets up things!
ii. Direct involvement of God in setting boundaries and regulating sin, while allowing it to
run its course to the end (Matthew 19:8)
iii. Omnipotent – Matthew 19:26
IV. Trinity and Oneness of Godhead.
a. Oneness = No Other!
b. Old Testament evidence
i. Shema – Deuteronomy 6:4 One God - “ehud” same as Genesis 2:24 “one flesh”
ii. God is establishing His Uniqueness and singleness  Isaiah 43:10; 42:8
iii. Commandment not to have any other.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Israel, for example, did not personify elements of nature; all things created by Jehovah.
YHWH of Israel is not shrouded in mythology. He does not war, love, etc., with other
gods. He does not die, rise, etc.
God of history Who moved among the people. And although anthropomorphic language
was used of Him to accommodate their limited understanding, yet, He was vastly
superior to man.
Biblical Hebrew has no word for “goddess” in contrast to other religions.
Israel made no images of Jehovah
YHWH is absolutely moral, there is a complete absence of morality in the gods of Canaan.
God entering into a “covenant” with His people is unique to Israel.
c. Isaiah 40:18  no image or metaphor can explain God
d. New Testament evidence
i. Galatians 3:20; James 2:19 God is One
e. Plurality  Trinitarian Nature of God became more fully revealed at the Incarnation
i. Old Testament
1. Elohim is plural Name.
2. Genesis 1;26 …let us make man in our image, after our likeness…
3. Genesis 3:22 …the man has become like one of us…
4. Angel of YHWH revealed to Abraham Genesis 18:1-5
5. Angel of YHWH revealed to Jacob
Genesis 32;24-30
6. Angel of YHWH introduced as the “One Who brought Israel out of Egypt and
entered into covenant with their fathers” Judges 2:1-5
7. Angel of YHWH in burning bush appears to Moses Exodus 3:2-15
ii. Two YHWH
1. Genesis 16:7-14 Angel of YHWH, who is YHWH refers to YHWH in the 3rd
person in verse 11, hinting a difference between Angel of the Lord, who is
YHWH and YHWH
2. Exodus 23;20-21 YHWH is sending Angel of YHWH before Israel whose
“Name is in Him”
3. Zechariah 3:1-2 Angel of the Lord, who is YHWH speaks on behalf of YHWH.
iii. People acting on behalf of God called “God” Exodus 6:28-7:1 (Moses is “god”)
iv. New Testament concept of God
1. Concrete revelation of the eternal person of God the Son in Jesus allowed more
specific revelation of a divine “other”
2. Upon leaving Jesus is introducing “other” Comforter – the Holy Spirit.
3. Colossians 2:9 “Fullness of Godhead’
4. 2nd Corinthians 4:4  satan is god of this age
5. Nature is identifying element of God-being  Galatians 4:8
V. Godhead in the New Testament.
f. Gospel of John reveals that Godhead consists of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
g. Apostolic benediction (2nd Corinthians 13:14)
h. Matthew 3:17 at baptism of Jesus – Trinity is evident
i. John 15:26 – the work of God is to reveal Salvation, Father send Holy Spirit to bring to Christ.
j. Revelation 4-5  coronation of Christ at Father’s throne & sending of the Holy Spirit
VI.
Trinity. History of the concept.
Disclaimer: if we could fully understand the nature of God, he would no longer be God
(1) Greek notion of One God above and beyond all others is traced to 4th century B.C.
when Plato wrote in Timaeus about One Transcendent God who made the world
through a “demiurge”
(2) Aristotle call this “God above all else” the “Unmoved Mover”
(3) Stoics call the Transcendent Supreme God as the “One”
(4) Ancient Slavs had the highest God called ОДИН today meaning “One”
(5) Jewish monotheism adapted Hellenistic view by introducing agents (like Plato)
(a) Aramaic Targum Neofiti (paraphrase of Genesis) “from the beginning the
Memra of the Lotd created and perfected the heavens and the earth… and the
Memra of the Lord said “Let there be light!”
(b) Memra was an agent speaking for God, since transcendent God does not have
anthropomorphic characteristics, such as mouth or voice.
(c) Rabbis dodge Genesis 1 with angelic co-creators….
(6) Philo of Alexandria (-20 B.C. to 50 A.D., time of Jesus and Paul) Platonist, dualist;
points out that Torah is figurative, and God interacted with Creation through agents
“Justice, Sophia (Wisdom) and especially the Logos (Word).
(a) Treatise “On the making of the World”  1st day of creation the great eternal
Mind conceived the Idea of entire Universe, and made Logos as the image of
that idea. Logos is the agent implementing it in reality…
(b) God is timeless, spaceless, self-sufficient, perfect in ineffable mode.
(7) Aristotle – ideas while criticized Plato, influenced neo-platonism of the middle-ages
Christianity. The “Unmoved Mover” implies God who does not know the world, is
not bothered by the world, he did not create ex nihilo, has no dealings with human
history. The only activity proper to the perfection, self-sufficiency, immutability, and
timelessness of God is inner contemplation “to know himself.” This idea led to the
need of intermediate agency(ies) to connect perfect untouchable and tangible world.
(8) Justin Martyr (100-165) blueprint for classical theology in books “Apology 1,2”
adopted Platonic-Aristotelian worldview of God the Father as above history, and
Logos, pre-existed in God as His reason and is contained in His essence. Shortly
before Creation this Logos was born from Father’s Will by emanation-generation.
The Logos was incarnated, and subordinated to the Father.
(9) Theophilus (180 A.D.) bishop of Antioch, series of 3 short books (Ad Autolcum). In
2nd book, chapter 15th he employed the word “Trinity” first time in recorded lit. He
did not intended to describe a three-person Godhead, but he used this term to describe
God & two agents – Logos and Sophia, calling them “two hands of God”
(a) First argument is made that God the Father of the universe is unconfined and
not present in a place. The Logos, who is the Power and Wisdom, through
whom Father made all things, he converses with Creation, and, since he
derives his authority from the Father - is God in nature…. DERIVED….
(b) Logos, Wisdom and Power were viewed as a single Agent of God, a lesser
being, called the Son of God….In the whole book he never mentions Jesus
Christ by name.
(c) 2nd century Christians had difficulty understanding and communicating their
strong belief in ONE God, and at the same time their worship of Father, Son
and Holy Spirit.
(10) Docetism – from Greek dokeo “to appear, to seem like”  heresy viewing Christ
only appearing as human. It was the earliest heresy, against which John & Paul spoke
(1st John 4;1-3 calling it antichrist, if not accepting Jesus in the flesh, 1st Corinthians
12;3 recognizing Jesus as Lord”)
(a) Splitting Jesus from Christ meant – Jesus is human, Christ is divine…
(b) Two general groups existed: Marcionites & Gnostics
(i) Marcion, wealthy businessmen from Rome, donated all to the church, and
greatly influenced Roman church with anti-Jewish sentiments. He
rejected “god’ of OT as cruel agent, and claimed Christ as the appearance
of the Real God of Love. Abandoned Gospels, Old Testament for Paul….
(ii) Gnostics – religious philosophy believing in an ultimate God in the
highest heaven whose emanations were lesser gods living on lower levels
of the heavens. Knowledge was about “passwords” containing power to
defeat “archons” guarding levels of heavens. Used Scriptures as Code. It
was a return to polytheism of avatars, seeing gods as hierarchy.
(iii)Shepherd of Hermas represented pre-Arian views: “The Son of God is far
older than all his creation, with the result that he was the Father's
counselor in his creation. (The Shepherd of Hermas, 12. 89, Parable 9).
(c) 190 A.D. – Dualistic Monarchianism by Paul of Samosata, based on
Adoptionism, presenting Jesus as man upon whom the Spirit
descended and ‘adopted” him as son.
(d) In opposition to polytheistic Gnostics came extreme monotheism. Early as in
the book of Acts 8:9-10 Simon the Sorcerer is a rival claimant to deity:
"…claiming that he was … the great power of God." He’s the first to sketch
out the conceptual framework of Sabellian-style modalism: “And so (it was
that Jesus) appeared as man, when in reality he was not a man. And (so it
was) that likewise he suffered — though not actually undergoing suffering,
but appearing to the Jews to do so — in Judea as ‘Son,’ and in Samaria as
‘Father,’ and among the rest of the Gentiles as ‘Holy Spirit.’” (quoted in
Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies, Book 6, Chapter 14, 200 A.D.).
(11) Sabelius – fight against tri-theism, which viewed Father, Son and Spirit as three
separate Gods, a divine “family.” His heresy suggested modalism, a view that
Father, Son and Spirit were three different modes of same God at different times –
tandem fashion in historical chronological sequence. Father during the Old
Covenant, Son during his human life on earth, Spirit in the present time of the
Church, being One Person through time. Developed further by Praxeas.
Contemporary United “Oneness” Pentecostals espouse this view.
(12) Irenaeus, (115-202) bishop of Lugdunum (now Lyons, France), disciple of Polycarp –
published Against Heresies 180 A.D. dealing with both branches of heresies. First on
record to suggest that the Son was like the Father and like humans in some ways. He
approached understanding God through the Bible, not philosophy, by observing the
Work of God in Creation and acts of Salvation in History. His views were
considered naïve and were dismissed by theologians…
(13) In the 3rd century Christians began to identify believers on the basis of what they
believed rather than how they lived and behaved, in reaction to self-denying Marcion.
Christianity moved from lifestyle to theology, from walk to talk….
(14)
Without Trinity there is no Salvation
(15) Tertullian (160-220), lawyer, first Latin-speaking theologian. Coined the term
Trinity (Latin trinitas) and formulated "three Persons, one Substance." His work
presented “economic” concept – functional differences, roles of the Three. Latin term
“persona” meant “character, role, actor, face” = to Greek “prosopon.”
Later in life joined Montanist sect – generally orthodox, but seeking more Revelation,
calling the church to repent of worldliness, and live stricter disciplines in order to
prophesy, compared with modern day Charismatics and Pentecostals.
(16) Origen of Alexandria (185-254 A.D.) most influential interpreter of the Bible
in the history of Christianity. Lost parents as martyrs in teenage, castrated himself
(Matthew 19:12). Written a commentary on Gospel of John, answering questions
about the Godhead. Major concern of Origen was not to split God in three parts.
“God does not consist of parts, but subsists in Persons.”
He suggested that the connection is through participation – Son is being God by
participating in father’s Divinity (not by nature) –giving rise to proto-Arianism.
Origen’s Platonism led him to misunderstand concept of time, interpreting John 1:1
as “before there was time.” He proposed that the Father alone was the cause of
everything. Son is generated as “multiplicity of hypostases”. Spirit is a connection
between the two, and is lower ontologically: Creator + benefactor + provident.
Christ in his view is the most exalted creature, not compared to other creation as he
became creator of the tangible world.
One problem was he believed in the pre-existence of individual human souls, and
those who are in Christ are also eternally begotten, hence Christ has a beginning…
(17) Arius, (250 - 336) born in Libya, presbyter in Alexandria. Followed Origen’s
ideas, considering Christ “created before and outside of time, and yet there was time
when he was not.” For political reasons, fighting for church office election accused
another of holding a false view of Christ. The argument became central at the
Council of Nicaea, some 300 bishops present. Under Constantine’s leadership views
of Eusebius of Caesarea and Arius were rejected, and the First Creed, with additions
to the original Jerusalem’s Apostle Creed was formulated.
(18) Nicene Creed: “We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven
and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only
Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from
Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father.
Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from
heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he
rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right
hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His
kingdom will never end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit…(as an afterthought) …..With an
addition “But those who say: 'There was a time when he was not;' and 'He was not before he
was made;' and 'He was made out of nothing,' or 'He is of another substance' or 'essence,' or
'The Son of God is created,' or 'changeable,' or 'alterable' — they are condemned by the holy
catholic and apostolic Church.”
(19) Arius / Arian view – based on Hebrews 3;2 & Acts 2:36  God made him (Jesus)
Athanasius, the secretary of the rival presbyter, used LXX, where Greek for Proverbs
8:22 is “created” complicating the Hebrew term even more. His intent was to show
that God changes, as Christ changed from before incarnation to after, suffered, died.
The challenge was to define the Son as eternal God, yet different from the Father.
First time the term “homoousios” – “the same nature” was used. By 373 A.D.
Athanasius convinced Christian theologians of the necessity of using new
terminology rather than restricting to terms appearing in the Bible.
(20) Basil of Ancyra, bishop – speaker for the “semi-Arian” view “homoiousios.”
“Similar,” not “same.” Still reducing Christ to an alternative of God, and a creature.
(21) Neo-Arians – introduced term “heteroousios”  different nature, ggenerated from
original. Hence no trinity, but a hierarchy of generations. John 8:42 became a key
point evxe,rcomai - “proceeded forth from”
(22) 381 – Council of Constantinople  argument about the Nature of the Holy Spirit.
Emperor Valens, the last Arian supporter, died in 378.
(23) Three Cappadocians: Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, Gregory of
Nyssa. Influencial, Trinitarian – introduced SAME ousia “nature” but THREE
hypostasis. Basil showed from Scripture that subordination of the Son to the Father
was only during the Incarnation. 3  1. Begin to search knowledge of Holy Spirit.
Romans 11:36 “from, through, to”  interchangeable use, hence there is no hierarchy
of agency. Galatians 6:8 ‘ life from the Spirit” the main argument is that One in
Nature, their attributes are same and interchangeable, but their roles differ. Stage is
set to the Creed of the Father, Son and Spirit of one Nature.
1st John 2:1  Jesus as our advocate with the Father calls for different Person.
(24) Augustine (354-430) focused on 1  3 brought Greek terminology into Latin,
confusing, and switching around Greek “hypostasis” for Latin “substancia.” Did not
like to use word “persona” as it suggested idea of separate individuals: “we use word
“persons” not because we want to, but because otherwise we would be reduced to silence”
Augustine work on the Trinity focused away from formulas to a personal knowing of
God who remains a mystery. The main focus was on understanding god from the
“inside” through contemplative devotion and relationship with God. He suggested
that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (filioque), and is a mutual bond
of love uniting the Trinity. O O not
Augustine suggested that as humans are created in the Image, we are also trinity:
human mind being all three – memory (Father), understanding (Son), will or love
(Spirit), inseparable, hard to define where one stops and another begins.
(25) Athanasius (430-500)  Quicunque, conclusive Catholic belief in the Trinity,
where Son is begotten of the Father, and the Spirit proceeds from Father and Son.
(26) John of Damascus (Chrysorrhoas) 675-749. Eastern view  only the Father is
the source of Divinity, hence both, the Son and the Spirit proceed from the Father.
(27) Bonaventure (1217-1274) Franciscan minister, parroted Augustinian
“mind=memory+ intellect+will” with addition of procession: intellect and will arising
from memory.
(28) Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) attempt to understand God rationally “Summa
Theologica.” Continued in Augustinian, and Platonic tradition of “impassible” (free
from passion). Defined orthodox dogma as “Three Persons existing in One God from
eternity” or “three relations within the simple essence of God are known as three
hypostases, or persons.” Timelessness of God translated as predestination.
(29) Martin Luther (1483-1546)  remained Augustinian in understanding.
Innovation  emphasis on a distinction between Revealed and Hidden God. Jesus is
God revealed as He is in Love and Justice. Hidden God is the “naked God beyond
revelation” (Luther’s Works 5:44-46)
(30)
John Calvin remained Augustinian and orthodox, hence predestinarian.
(31) First among Anabaptist not using term “Trinity” was Menno Simons in attempt
to restore Biblical purity by not using invented terms, continued with Three Persons
as “three, true, divine beings, one in power, will and work.”
(32) Michael Servetus (1511-1553) started the “war against the Trinity.” Spaniard
was offended by Catholic persecution of Jews and Moors for monotheism. Catholic
Inquisition sent him into exile immigration to Protestant Switzerland. He published
first book “On the Errors of the Trinity” in 1531. Fled to Paris, became an M.D.
Burned at the stake by Protestants in Geneva on October 27th, 1553 for book
“Restitution of Christianity”
(33) Faustus Socinus, (1539-1604) Italian living in Poland started what is known
today as Unitarian Church, denying Divinity of Christ, and considering Jesus as a
man filled with god’s Spirit, and the Spirit as a virtue or energy, emanation….
(34) Francis David (1510-1579). Born Catholic, turned Lutheran, then Calvinist, read
Servetus, persuaded whole country against trinity  Transylvania (Hungary &
Romania) is Unitarian, developing monotheism similar to Islam and Judaism. Aftr
his death group split into Sabbath vs. Sunday keepers. Sabbatharians were persecuted
from 1638-1867, maintaining also the dietary laws. After emancipation of Jews many
converted from Christianity to Judaism. Sabbath heritage of Romania allowed the
highest number of Adventists in Europe today.
(35) F.Schleirmacher (1768-1834) father of liberal theology, Augustinian-Thomist.
Dismissed the Trinity as a “second-order language” that does not explain the being of
God in Himself, since timeless, immutable God is simple.
(36) Mid-1800. Methodist – largest church in America, Baptist – second largest. Both
were Trinitarian. Next two large churches were Unitarians and Deists (Rationalists) –
antitrinitarian. Doctrine of God continued to be major diving factor. Alexander
Campbell in 1832 wanted to join Restorationist movement – Disciples of Christ and
Connexionists, splitting them completely: first Trinitarians, second – non. This was
the milieu of Adventist movement origin.
(37) 1846-1888  majority of Adventists rejected the concept of Trinity. Did not
accept that Jesus was without beginning, and that the Holy Spirit is an individual
Person, not merely expression of divine presence or power. Joseph Bates, James
White, J.N Loughborough, J.H.Waggoner, Uriah Smith, W.W.Prescott and others did
not want to fall into modalism of “same person” nor “three gods” heresy, also they
could not accept that ever-living God would die, and if only humanity died, then
sacrifice was not valuable enough, and misunderstanding of Revelation added to the
confusion. Uriah Smith’s Looking Unto Jesus – is the most comprehensive nonTrinitarian book.
Ellen G. White made statements during those years:
(a) 1869
Christ is equal with God (Testimonies, Vol.2, p.200)
(b) 1872
Christ was not created (Review and Herald, Dec.17, 1872)
(c) 1878
Christ was the “eternal Son” (R&H, Aug.8, 1878)
(d) 1887
Christ pre-existed with the Father from all eternity (R&H, July 5)
(e) 1888
Christ is one with the Father in nature, in character, in purpose
(Great Controversy. pp.524, 493, 495 and more)
(38)
1888-1946  dissatisfaction, decline of non-trinitarian, and paradigm shift.
1888 Conference urged the necessity of recognizing Christ equal with the Father.
E.J.Waggoner was first to publicly present Trinitarian views.
In 1898 E.G.White published the Desire of Ages with a statement “In Christ is life,
original, unborrowed, underived” (p.530) refuting not only semi-arian views but
traditional Trinitarian “procession” dogma of subordinate derived Son.
M.L.Andreasen made a trip in 1902 to see E.G.White in California to ask if she
indeed penned that statement. She also lifted the Holy Spirit as Person (p.671). Ellen
White used expression “three living persons of the heavenly trio” emphasizing the
unity of action of God.
1913 – first official statement in Review and Herald from editor F.M.Wilcox
“Seventh-day Adventists believe in the divine trinity, consisting of the eternal Father,
the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead.”
1919 – Bible Conference – return to fundamentalism, legalism, and verbalism.
Trinity issue remains unresolved.
1928 – Leroy Froom book The Coming of the Comforter – expo on Holy Spirit.
1930 – request from the African Division to define a statement of beliefs. 1931
yearbook had 22 doctrines outlined, 2nd – Godhead, the Trinity, 3rd – Jesus Christ is
very God. Only in 1946 this became official Statement of Beliefs.
(39)
1946  beginning of Trinitarian Adventism.
1957 “Questions on Doctrine” controversy, clear affirmation of the heavenly Trinity.
1971 – Leroy Froom book “Movement of Destiny” became a final word on the issue.
1980 – official statement of beliefs – the 27 Fundamentals, presents current view.
(40) Karl Barth (1886-1968)  classic in view of God. Considers Trinity as three
modes of Existence of same essence, required for Creation, Revelation and Salvation.
To avoid tritheism advised not to associate modern idea of independent personalities.
(41) Alfred Whitehead (1861-1947)  influenced by British Empiricism suggests
that God is under metaphysical laws as creation, and is bipolar: conceptual + actual.
God does not create the world, he saves it through learning and maturing himself.
(42)
“Open View” of God – Whitehead’s influence on American Protestantism,
limiting God to the past and present, and making prophecies uncertain, conditional.
(43)
C.S.Lewis “If Christianity was something we were making up, we could make it
easier, but it is not. We cannot compete in simplicity with people who are inventing
religions. How could we? We are dealing with fact. Of course anyone can be simple if
he has no facts to bother about”
Athanasian Creed
1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith;
2. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
3. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;
4. Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance.
5. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.
6. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty
coeternal.
7. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.
8. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated.
9. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.
10. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.
11. And yet they are not three eternals but one eternal.
12. As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensible, but one uncreated and one
incomprehensible.
13. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty.
14. And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty.
15. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God;
16. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.
17. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord;
18. And yet they are not three Lords but one Lord.
19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be
God and Lord;
20. So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say; There are three Gods or three Lords.
21. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.
22. The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten.
23. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but
proceeding.
24. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy
Spirits.
25. And in this Trinity none is afore or after another; none is greater or less than another.
26. But the whole three persons are coeternal, and coequal.
27. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.
28. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.
29. Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
30. For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God
and man.
31. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of substance of His mother,
born in the world.
32. Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.
33. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood.
34. Who, although He is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ.
35. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of that manhood into God.
36. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.
37. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ;
38. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead;
39. He ascended into heaven, He sits on the right hand of the Father, God, Almighty;
40. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
41. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies;
42. and shall give account of their own works.
43. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting and they that have done evil into
everlasting fire.
44. This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved.
Ellen Gould White on Trinity.
Let human beings consider that by all their searching they can never interpret God. When the redeemed
shall be pure and clean to come into His presence, they will understand that all that has reference to the
eternal God, the unapproachable God, cannot be represented in figures. It is safe to contemplate God, the
great and wonderful God, and Jesus Christ, the express image of God. God gave His only begotten Son to
our world, that we might through His righteous character behold the character of God. In heaven we shall
be in the eternal presence of God. {18MR 222.2}
If it were possible for us to attain to a full understanding of God and His word, there would be for us no
further discovery of truth, no greater knowledge, no further development. God would cease to be
supreme, and man would cease to advance. Thank God, it is not so. Since God is infinite, and in Him are
all the treasures of wisdom, we may to all eternity be ever searching, ever learning, yet never exhaust the
riches of His wisdom, His goodness, or His power. {Education p.172 §2}
The great condescension on the part of God is a mystery that is beyond our fathoming. The greatness of
the plan cannot be fully comprehended, nor could infinite Wisdom devise a plan that would surpass it.
{Bible Commentary Vol.5 p.1133 §4; Review & Herald, October 22, 1895}
In speaking of His preexistence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that
there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God. He to whose voice the
Jews were then listening had been with God as one brought up with Him. )Signs of the Times, August
30, p.1910 §3)
"For as God lives, and as the Lord Jesus Christ lives, and the Holy Spirit (who are the faith and the hope of the
elect), so surely will the one who with humility and constant gentleness has kept without regret the ordinances
and commandments given by God be enrolled and included among the number of those who are saved through
Jesus Christ, through whom is the glory to him for ever and ever. Amen." (First Clement, 58.2).
"Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the church that has found mercy in the majesty of the Father Most
High and Jesus Christ his only Son, beloved and enlightened through the will of him who willed all things that exist,
in accordance with faith in and love for Jesus Christ our God, which also presides in the place of the district of the
Romans, worthy of God, worthy of honor, worthy of blessing, worthy of praise, worthy of success, worthy of
sanctification, and presiding over love, observing the law of Christ, bearing the name of the Father, which I also
greet in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the Father; to those who are united in flesh and spirit to every
commandment of his, who have been filled with the grace of God without wavering and filtered clear of every
alien color: heartiest greetings blamelessly in Jesus Christ our God." (To the Romans, Preface).
"For if I in a short time experienced such fellowship with your bishop, which was not merely human but spiritual,
how much more do I congratulate you who are united with him, as the church is with Jesus Christ and as Jesus
Christ is with the Father, that all things might be harmonious in unity." (To the Ephesians, 5.1)
"Become imitators of Jesus Christ, just as he is of his Father." (To the Philadelphians, 7.2)
"Hence are we called atheists. And we confess that we are atheists, so far as gods of this sort are concerned, but
not with respect to the most true God, the Father of righteousness and temperance and the other virtues, who is
free from all impurity. But both Him, and the Son (who came forth from Him and taught us these things, and the
host of the other good angels who follow and are made like to Him), and the prophetic Spirit, we worship and
adore, knowing them in reason and truth, and declaring without grudging to every one who wishes to learn, as we
have been taught." (Justin Martyr, First Apology, Chapter 6).
1. 1st Peter 1:2
2. 1st Corinthians 12:4-6
3. Matthew 28;19
VII. History of the Creed Development
1.