The History of The Doctrine of The Trinity The True Scriptural Picture 1-16pp

11/1/2016
TheHistoryofTheDoctrineoftheTrinityTheTrueScripturalPicture1
LastUpdatedon:
Saturday,November22,2014
Home
Information
Announcements
Contactus
Historyof
Antipassite
Aboutthename
"Antipas"
ArticlesBooks
Booklets
AllItems
AB
CE
FH
IP
RT
UX
Commentaries
DennisDavis
ByJB
Scaramastro
Others
DailyReadings
Jan
Feb
Mar
April
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Hymns/Music
http://www.antipas.org/books/trinity/trinity1.html
PART1||PART2||PART3
TheHistoryofThe
DoctrineoftheTrinity
TheTrueScriptural
Picture
"ForthereisONEGODandonemediatorbetweenGodand
men,
theMANChristJesus"1Tim.2:5
Thehistoryofreligionhasalwaysbeenoneof
degenerationfromtheoriginallyrevealedpure
monotheismtovariousformsofpolytheism."Christianity,"
aspopularlyknown,hasbeennoexception.
TheBible,inbothOldandNewTestaments,isvery
emphaticabouttheabsoluteonenessofGod.When
askedwhichisthefirstcommandmentofall?"
Jesusanswered(Mark12:29)
1/16
11/1/2016
Blackbookby
firstline
Blackbookby
number
Greenbookby
firstline
Greenbookby
number
Other
Inspirational
Music
Handel's
Messiah
Thelife
ofChrist
insong
StudyAids
BasisofBelief
Doctrineswe
reject
Commandments
ofChrist
Christadelphian
Instructor
Sisters
Readitinayear
Bibleina
year
Eurekain
ayear
Elpis
Israelina
year
Sisters
ItemsforSisters
DoAllToThe
GloryofGod
TheVirtuous
Woman
Selah
ToYounger
Sisters
Headcovering
Commentary
Letherbe
covered
Downloads
PDF/Word
PDFFiles
WordFiles
Hymns
Downloadmp3
greenbook
MobileFiles
Readings
OldHomePage
"ThefirstofallthecommandmentsisHear,OIsrael,THE
LORDOURGODISONELORD."
HewasquotingfromthewordsofMosesinDeut.6:4.
ThisistheconsistentstoryoftheBible.Thereisnota
wordaboutthreegodsinitfrombeginningtoend.
"Christendom"todayhasdegeneratedtoabeliefinfour
gods,threegoodonesandoneevilone.Somepartsof
Christendomhavefivegods,astheRomanCatholic
Church,whichhasaddeda"MotherofGod"whoisintheir
systemofbeliefthesupremedeitybesideahostofdemi
gods,oneforeverydayoftheyear(andmore),allof
whichmythicalandmaninventeddeitiesareworshipped
andprayedto.
ThedoctrineoftheTrinityisthis
"WeworshiponeGodinTrinity,andTrinityinUnity
neitherconfoundingthepersonsnordividingthe
substance.ForthereisonePersonoftheFatheranother
oftheSon,andanotheroftheHolyGhost.
"ButtheGodheadoftheFather,oftheSon,andofthe
HolyGhost,isallone:theGloryequal,theMajestyco
eternal.SuchastheFatheris,soistheSon,andsuchis
theHolyGhost.
"TheFatheruncreate,theSonuncreate,andtheHoly
Ghostuncreate.TheFatherincomprehensible,theSon
incomprehensible,andtheHolyGhostincomprehensible.
TheFathereternal,theSoneternal,andtheHolyGhost
eternal.
"Andyettherearenotthreeeternals,butoneeternal.Also
therearenotthreeincomprehensibles,notthree
uncreated:butoneuncreated,andoneincomprehensible.
"SolikewisetheFatherisAlmighty,theSonAlmightyand
theHolyGhostAlmighty.Andyettherearenotthree
Almighties,butoneAlmighty.
"SotheFatherisGod,theSonisGod,andtheHolyGhost
isGod.AndyettherearenotthreeGods:butoneGod.
"SolikewisetheFatherisLord,theSonLord,andthe
HolyGhostLord.AndyetnotthreeLordsbutoneLord.
2/16
11/1/2016
_____
"ForlikeaswearecompelledbytheChristianverityto
acknowledgeeverypersonbyhimselftobeGodandLord
soweareforbiddenbytheCatholicreligiontosay,There
bethreeGods,orthreeLords.
"TheFatherismadeofnoneneithercreated,nor
begotten.TheSonisoftheFatheralone:notmade,nor
created,butbegotten.TheHolyGhostisoftheFatherand
oftheSonneithermade,norcreated,norbegotten,but
proceeding.
"SothereisoneFather,notthreeFathersoneSon,not
threeSons:oneHolyGhost,notthreeHolyGhosts.
"AndinthisTrinitynoneisafore,orafterother,noneis
greaterorlessthanothersbutthewholethreepersons
arecoeternaltogetherandcoequal.Sothatinallthings
asisaforesaid:theUnityinTrinity,andtheTrinityinUnity
istobeworshipped.
"HETHEREFORETHATWILLBESAVEDMUSTTHUS
THINKOFTHETRINITY."
Thisistheprizeandtragicexampleofthenaturalmindof
manspeculatingupondivinethingsratherthanbeing
contenttohumblyacceptthesimpletestimonyof
Scripture.
InallScripture,thereisnothingtojustifythisabsurdand
selfcontradictorymizmaze.Whiletrulywecanneverhope
withmortalmindstocomprehendGod,stilltherevelations
HegivesofHimself,andofHisSon,andofHisHolySpirit
Hispowerandpresencewhichfillsallimmensityand
worksHiswillisclearandsimpleandreasonableanda
tremendouslysatisfyingrelieffromthebefuddled
speculationsasquotedabove.
Thedoctrineofthe"Trinity"isnowherefoundintheBible.
Thefollowingquotationsfromrecognizedhistorianswill
givethebackgroundoftheperiodinwhichthisdoctrine
wasdeveloped,showingthegeneralconditionsof
Christendomofthetime,thephilosophicinfluencesat
work,themethodsofreasoningandargumentusedand
thepoliticalforcesthatfinallyestablishedthedoctrineand
enforceditbyconfiscation,prohibition,punishmentand
murder.
Thiswillclearlyshowthefrail,humanfoundationthe
doctrineoftheTrinityrestson,anddissipatetheweightit
3/16
11/1/2016
appearstohavefromcenturiesof"orthodox"acceptance.
COUNCILOFNICEA
OftheCouncilofNicea,325A.D.,wherethedoctrineof
theTrinitywasfirstofficiallyformulated,thewellknown
trinitarianhistorianMosheim,aLutheran,admits(Century
4,Part2,Chapter3,Section1)
"....thediscussionsconcerningthethreepersonsinthe
Godhead,amongthosewhoapprovedthedecisionsof
thecouncilofNice.
"Thereissolittleclearnessanddiscriminationinthese
discussions,thattheyseemtorendtheoneGodinto
threeGods.
"Moreover,thoseidlefictions,whicharegardforthe
prevailingopinionsofthedayhadinducedmost
theologianstoembrace,evenbeforethetimeof
Constantine,werenowinvariouswaysconfirmed,
extendedandembellished.
"Henceitisthatweseeoneverysideevidenttracesof
excessivevenerationforsaintsinheaven,ofbeliefina
firetopurifysoulsonleavingthebody,ofpartialityfor
priestlycelibacy,theworshipofimagesandrelics,andfor
manyotheropinionswhich,inprocessoftime,almost
banishedthetruereligion,oratleastverymuchobscured
andcorruptedit.
"Genuinepietywasgraduallysupplantedbyalongtrainof
superstitiousobservances,whichwerederivedpartlyfrom
apreposterousdispositiontoadoptprofanerites.
"Tothetemples,towaterconsecratedwithcertainforms,
andtolikenessesofholymen,thesameefficacywas
ascribedandthesameprivilegesassigned,ashadbeen
attributedtothepagantemples,statuesandlustrations
beforetheadventofChrist."
Thisisatrinitarian'sdescriptionofconditionsinthe
CatholicChurchduringthetimethedoctrineoftheTrinity
wasbeingformulatedandimposed.
4/16
11/1/2016
Inthesamechapter,Section5,Mosheimsays:
"Thedoctorswhoweredistinguishedfortheirlearning
explainedthesacreddoctrinesafterthemannerofOrigen
(seenotesbelowonOrigen)onwhomtheyfixedtheireye
inaccordancewiththeprinciplesofthatphilosophy
whichtheylearnedintheiryouthatschool,namely,the
PlatonicphilosophyascorrectedbyOrigen.
"Thosewhowishtogetafullinsightintothissubjectmay
examineGregoryNazianzenamongtheGreeksand
AugustineamongtheLatinswhowereregardedinthe
subsequentagesastheonlypatternsworthyofimitation,
andmaybefitlystyled,nexttoOrigen,theparentsand
supportersofphilosophicorscholastictheology.They
werebothadmirersofPlato."
PLATONICINFLUENCE
PlatowastheheathenGreekphilosopher(around400
B.C.)whopopularizedtheEgyptiandoctrineofthe
immortalityofthesoul.Hewasthebrighteststarand
greatestinfluenceinthepagansystemofphilosophythat
Christianityinitsoriginalpuritysetouttocombat(See1
Cor.,chapters1and2).
ButPlatonicphilosophersbecamedominentinthe
CatholicChurch,andPlatonicphilosophyhasdominated
thebeliefsof"orthodox"Christendomfromthe3rdcentury
A.D.tothepresent.TheearliestChristiansbitterlyfought
heathenphilosophythelater"Christians"adoptedit.
Origen,mentionedbyMosheimasinfluentialinthis
Platonizingmovement(around200250A.D.),wasoneof
thegreatest(andperhapsthegreatest)influencesin
establishingthistrendintheChurch.Ofhim,Mosheim
says(Cent.2,Part2,Chap.1,Sec.5)
"AnewclassofphilosophershadgrownupinEgypt
...theymuchpreferredPlato,andembracedmostofhis
dogmasconcerningGod,thehumansoul,andthe
universe.
"Thisphilosophywasadoptedbysuchofthelearnedat
AlexandriaaswishedtobeaccountedChristians,andyet
5/16
11/1/2016
toretaintherankofphilosophers.Allthosewhointhis
centurypresidedintheschoolsoftheChristiansat
Alexandriaaresaidtohaveapprovedit."
Translator'sfootnoteatthisplaceinMosheim
"ThiscultivationofphilosophybyChristianteachers
greatlydispleasedthosewhowereattachedtotheancient
simplefaith,astaughtbyChristandhisapostlesforthey
feared,whatafterwardsactuallyhappened,thatthepurity
andexcellenceofdivinetruthwouldsufferbyit.Theissue
ofthelongcontestbetweenthemwasthattheadvocates
ofphilosophyprevailed."
ContinuingMosheim,Sec.7
"Thismodeofphilosophizingreceivedsomemodification
whenAmmoniusSaccaslaidthefoundationofthatsect
whichiscalledtheNewPlatonic."
Section8
"ThegrandobjectsofAmmonius,tobringallsectsand
religionsintoharmony,requiredhimtodomuchviolence
tothesentimentsandopinionsofallparties,philosophers,
priestsandChristiansandparticularlybyallegorical
interpretations.Heassumed...thatthepublicreligionsof
allnationsshouldbecorrectedbythisancient(Platonic)
philosophy.
Section9
"WiththeseEgyptiannotions,heunitedthephilosophyof
Plato...Finally,thedogmasofothersectsheconstrued,as
faraswaspossible,bymeansofart,ingenuityandtheaid
ofallegoriesintoapparentcoincidencewithEgyptianand
Platonicprinciples"
Section12
6/16
11/1/2016
"Thisnewspeciesofphilosophy,imprudentlyadoptedby
OrigenandotherChristians,didimmenseharmto
Christianity.Foritledtheteachersofittoinvolvein
philosophicobscuritymanypartsofourreligionwhich
wereinthemselvesplainandeasytobeunderstoodand
toaddtothepreceptsoftheSaviornofewthingsofwhich
notawordcanbefoundintheholyScriptures...
"Andfinallyitalienatedthemindsofmany,inthefollowing
centuries,fromChristianityitself,andproduceda
heterogeneousspeciesofreligion,consistingofChristian
andPlatonicprinciplescombined.Andwhoisableto
enumeratealltheevilsandinjuriouschangeswhicharose
fromthisnewphilosophyfromthisattempttoreconcile
trueandfalsereligionswitheachother?"
Editor'sfootnoteatthisplaceinMosheim
"Thatphilosophyhasinjuredenormouslygenuine
Christianitywillbereadilyconcededbyallwhorestfaith
solelyupontherockofScripture.
"Whensuchpersonsareaskedtoaccountforthe
existenceofreligiousprinciplesandusageswhichare
incapableofprooffromthesacredvolume,andeven
seematvariancewithit,theyhaveonlytocitethesemi
ChristianschoolofphilosophywhicharoseatAlexandria
beforethesecondcenturyclosed."
(Itwillbenotedfromthequotationonpg.4thatthemost
distinguished"Christian"teachersofthe4thcentury
lookedtoOrigenandthePlatonicphilosophyastheir
model.AnydoctrinesthereforesuchastheTrinity
formulatedatthistimeareboundtobemorepaganthan
Christian.)
ReturningtoMosheim'shistoryofthe4thcentury,he
recordsconcerningtheconductandcharacterofthe
churchleaders(Cent.4,Part2,Chap.2,Sec.5)
"ThebishopofRometookprecedenceoverallothersof
theepiscopalorder.Heexceededallotherbishopsinthe
splendorofthechurchoverwhichhepresided,inthe
magnitudeofhisrevenuesandpossessions,andinthe
sumptuousnessandmagnificenceofhisstyleofliving.
7/16
11/1/2016
"Thesemarksofpowerandworldlygreatnesswereso
fascinatingtothemindsofChristianseveninthisagethat
oftenthemostobstinateandbloodyconteststookplaceat
Romewhenanewpontiffwastobecreated.
"Ashockingexampleofthisisaffordedbythedisturbance
atRomeintheyear366.Thecontentioncausedacruel
war,greatlossoflife,conflagrationsandbattles."
Section8
"Thevicesoftheclergy,especiallyofthosewhoofficiated
inlargeandopulentcities,wereaugmentedinproportion
totheincreaseoftheirwealth,honorsandadvantages.
Thebishopshadshamefulquarrelsamongthemselves
respectingtheextentoftheirjurisdictionandboundaries
andwhiletheytrampledontherightsofthepeopleandof
theinferiorclergy,theyviedwiththecivilgovernorsof
provincesinluxury,arroganceandvoluptuousness."
Cent.4,Part2,Chap.3,Sec.17:
"Whentherewasnothinganylongertobefearedfrom
enemieswithoutwhenthecharacterofmostbishopswas
tarnishedwitharrogance,luxury,effeminacy,animosity,
resentments,andotherdefectswhenthelowerclergy
neglectedtheirproperdutiesandweremoreattentiveto
idlecontroversiesthantothepromotionofpietyandthe
instructionofthepeoplewhenvastnumberswere
induced,notbyarationalconvictionbutbythefearof
punishmentandthehopeofworldlyadvantagetoenrol
themselvesasChristianshowcanitsurpriseusthaton
allsidestheviciousappearedahost,andthepiousalittle
bandalmostoverpoweredbythem?...
"Themorehonorableandpowerfulcouldsinwithimpunity,
andonlythepoorandtheunfortunatefelttheseverityof
thelaws."
Suchisatrinitarianhistorian'stestimonyconcerningthe
timesinwhichthedoctrineoftheTrinitywasdevelopedon
theadmittedbasisofhumanspeculationandPlatonic
philosophy.Ofthemethodsofargumentandpersuasion
usedbythechurchleadersofthisperiod,Mosheimsays
8/16
11/1/2016
Cen.4,Part2,Chap.3,Sec.7
"Fromthedisputeswiththosewhowereregardedas
opposedtodivinetruth,theancientsimplicityhadnearly
takenitsflightandinplaceofit,dialecticalsubtletiesand
quibbles,invectivesandotherdisingenuousartificeshad
succeeded."
Section8
"Withtheancientformofdiscussion,newsourcesof
argumentwereinthisagecombined.Forthetruthof
doctrineswasprovedbythenumberofmartyrswhohad
believedso,byprodigiesandbytheconfessionsofdevils,
thatis,ofpersonsinwhosebodiessomedemonwas
supposedtoreside.
"Thediscerningcannotbutseethatallproofsdrawnfrom
suchsourcesareveryfallacious,andveryconvenientfor
dishonestmenwhowouldpracticeimposition.
"AndIgreatlyfearthatmostofthosewhoatthistime
resortedtosuchproofs,thoughtheymightbegraveand
eminentmen,maybejustlychargedwithadangerous
propensitytousedeception.
"Ambrose,incontroversywiththeArians,bringsforward
personspossessedwithdevils,whoareconstrained,
whentherelicsofGervasiusandProtasiusareproduced,
tocryoutthatthedoctrineoftheNicenecouncil
concerningthreepersonsintheGodheadistrueand
divine,andthedoctrineoftheAriansfalseandpernicious.
"ThistestimonyoftheprinceofdarknessAmbrose
regardsasproofaltogetherunexceptionable."
Section16
"Tothesedefectsinthemoralsystemoftheagemustbe
addedtwoprincipalerrorsnowalmostpubliclyadopted,
andfromwhichafterwardsimmenseevilsresulted.The
firstwasthattodeceiveandlieisavirtue,whenreligion
canbepromotedbyit.
"Thisprinciplehadbeenembracedinthepreceding
centuries,anditisalmostincrediblewhatamassofthe
mostinsipidfablesandwhatahostofpiousfalsehoods
9/16
11/1/2016
havethroughallthecenturiesgrownoutofit,tothegreat
detrimentoftruereligion.
"Ifsomeinquisitivepersonweretoexaminetheconduct
andthewritingsofthegreatestandmostpiousteachers
ofthiscentury,Ifearthathewouldfindaboutallofthem
infectedwiththisleprosy.IcannotexceptAmbrose,nor
Hilary,norAugustine,norGregoryNazianzen,nor
Jerome."
Suchweretheprinciplesofthemenwhoformulatedthe
doctrineoftheTrinity,andwiththeaidofthecivilpower
imposedituponthewholebodyofbelieversonpainof
severepunishment,asweshallseeinlaterquotations.
Ofthegeneralconditionsofworshipinthiscentury,
Mosheimsays(Cent.4,Part2,Chap.4,Sec.1)
"TheChristianbishopsintroduced,withbutslight
alterations,intotheChristianworship,thoseritesand
institutionsbywhichformerlytheGreeksandRomansand
othershadmanifestedtheirpietyandreverencetoward
theirimaginarydeitiessupposingthatthepeoplewould
morereadilyembraceChristianityiftheyperceivedthe
riteshandeddowntothemfromtheirfathersstillexisting
unchangedamongtheChristians,andsawthatChristand
themartyrswereworshippedinthesamemanneras
formerlytheirgodswere.
"Therewas,accordingly,littledifferenceinthesetimes
betweenthepublicworshipoftheChristiansandthatof
theGreeksandRomans.Inboththereweresplendid
robes,mitres,tiaras,waxtapers,crosiers,processions,
lustrations,images,goldenandsilvervases,and
innumerableotherthings.
"NosoonerhadConstantinerenouncedthereligionofhis
ancestorsthanmagnificenttempleswereeverywhere
erected,adornedwithpicturesandimages,andbothin
externalandinternalformverysimilartothetemplesof
thegods.Truereligioncopiedaftersuperstition."
Section4
"Theprayersfelloffgreatlyfromtheancientsimplicityand
majesty,aconsiderabledegreeofvaininflationbeing
admittedintothem.Thepublicdiscourses,amongthe
10/16
11/1/2016
Greeksespecially,wereformedaccordingtotherulesfor
civileloquence,andwerebetteradaptedtocallforththe
admirationoftherudemultitudewholovedisplay,thanto
amendtheheart.
"Andthatnofollyorsenselesscustommightbeomittedin
theirpublicassemblies,thepeoplewereallowedto
applaudtheirorators,ashadbeenpracticedinforums
andtheatresnay,werebiddentoclapbesides.
"Whowouldsupposethatmenwhowereappointedto
showtootherstheemptinessofallhumanthingswould
becomesosenseless?"
Isitreasonabletoexpectanysoundfruitfromsucha
rottentree?
TheEncyclopediaBritannica,9thedition,vol.16,page
774,article"Montanism,"says
"Fromthemiddleofthesecondcenturyachangebegan
totakeplaceintheoutwardcircumstancesofChristianity.
Shouldthechurchtakethedecisivestepintotheworld?
Oroughtshe,ontheotherhandtoremainasshehad
beenatfirst,asocietyofreligiousdevotees,separated
andshutoutfromtheworldbyarigorousdiscipline?
"Itwasnaturalthatwarningvoicesshouldthenberaised
inthechurchagainstseculartendencies,thatthewell
knowncounselsabouttheimitationsofChristshouldbe
heldupintheirliteralstrictnessbeforeworldlyChristians,
thatdemandsshouldbemadeforarestorationoftheold
disciplineandseverity,andforareturntoapostolic
simplicityandpurity.
"Thechurchasawhole,however,decidedotherwise.She
marchedthroughtheopendoorintotheRomanstate.
Withtheaidofitsphilosophyshecreatedhernew
Christiantheology."
Thecornerstoneofthis"newChristiantheology',basedon
paganphilosophy,isthedoctrineofthreeGods,three
Personsinthe"Godhead."
HowthisdoctrineoftheTrinitywasdevelopedduringthis
periodisfranklyexplainedbyatrinitarianwriterinthe
11/16
11/1/2016
EncyclopediaBritannica,9thedition,Volume23,page
240,article"Theism"
"ThepropositionsconstitutiveofthedogmaoftheTrinity
thepropositionsinthesymbolsofNice,Constantinople
andToledorelativetotheimmanentdistinctionsand
relationsintheGodheadwerenotdrawndirectlyfrom
theNewTestament,andcouldnotbeexpressedinNew
Testamentterms.Theyweretheproductsofreason
speculatingonarevelationtofaith.
"Theywereonlyformedthroughcenturiesofeffort,only
elaboratedbytheaidoftheconceptionsandformulatedin
thetermsofGreekandRomanmetaphysics.
"TheevolutionofthedoctrineoftheTrinitywasfarthe
mostimportantfactinthedoctrinalhistoryofthechurch
duringthefirstfivecenturiesofitspostapostolic
existence."
Surelytheignoranceandaudacityofthis,fromascriptural
pointofview,takesourbreathaway!Howterriblytrueand
fittingarethewordsofJude
"Itwasneedfulformetowriteuntoyou,andexhortyou
thatyeshouldearnestlycontendforthefaithwhichwas
oncedelivereduntothesaints."
AndPaulsaid
"Ihavenotshunnedtodeclareuntoyouthewhole
counselofGod"(Acts20:27).
AndtotheCorinthians
"HathnotGodmadefoolishthewisdomofthisworld,for
afterthat,inthewisdomofGod,theworldbywisdom
knewnotGod,itpleasedGodbythefoolishnessof
preachingtosavethemthatbelieve"(1Cor.1:20).
PoorJude!PoorPaul!Whatbacknumberstheywere!Of
coursetheycouldnotunderstandthattherewerethree
Gods.TheyonlyhadtheinspirationofGodthey
12/16
11/1/2016
completelylackedthatessentialaidGreekandRoman
metaphysics,withoutwhichthedoctrineofthreeGods
couldnotbeformulated.
The"GreekandRomanmetaphysics"fromwhichthe
doctrineoftheTrinitywasadopted,arereferredtoby
Gibboninhis"DeclineandFalloftheRomanEmpire"
Chapter21,paragraph6
"ThegeniusofPlato,informedbyhisownmeditationorby
thetraditionalknowledgeofthepriestsofEgypt,had
venturedtoexplorethemysteriousnatureoftheDeity.
"Whenhehadelevatedhismindtothesublime
contemplationofthefirstselfexistent,necessarycauseof
theuniverse,theAtheniansagewasincapableof
conceivinghowthesimpleunityofhisessencecould
admittheinfinitevarietyofdistinctandsuccessiveideas
whichcomposethemodeloftheintellectualworldhowa
Beingpurelyincorporealcouldexecutethatperfectmodel,
andmouldwithaplastichandtherudeandindependent
chaos.
"Thevainhopeofextricatinghimselffromthese
difficulties,whichmusteveroppressthefeeblepowersof
thehumanmind,mightinducePlatotoconsiderthedivine
natureunderthethreefoldmodificationofthefirstcause,
thereasonorLogos,andthesoulorspiritoftheuniverse.
Hispoeticimaginationsometimesfixedandanimated
thesemetaphysicalabstractionsthethreearchialor
originalprincipleswererepresentedinthePlatonicsystem
asthreeGods,unitedwitheachotherbyamysteriousand
ineffablegeneration."
Itisclearfromthis,asthetrinitarianwritersaidinthe
EncyclopediaBritannica,thatChristianityhadtogoto
Greekmetaphysics(andthistermalwaysmeansPlato,
thecenterofthesystem)toformulateitsdoctrineofthe
Trinity.Surelywearecompelledtowonderwhat
Christianitycouldpossiblyhavedonewithoutthehelpof
theindispensableheathenphilosopherPlato!
Mosheim(anesteemed,orthodoxLutherantrinitarian)
describesthelongcivilwarthatattendedthedevelopment
ofthedoctrine,anditsenforcementbycivilpower,finally
endingintrinitariantriumphthroughthesternand
energeticmeasuresoftheEmperorTheodosius(Cent.4,
Chap.5,sec.14)
13/16
11/1/2016
"AfterthedeathofConstantinetheGreat337AD)oneof
hissons,Constantius,theemperoroftheEastwasvery
partialtotheAriancause,butConstantineandConstans
(twoothersons)supported,inthewesternpartswhere
theygoverned,thedecisionsoftheNicenecouncil.
"Constantius,beingdevotedtotheArians,involvedthe
friendsoftheNicenecouncilinnumerousevilsand
calamities.TheNicene(trinitarian)partymadeno
hesitationtoreturnthesametreatment.
"Julian(thenextemperor)hadnopartialitiesforeither.
Jovianespousedtheorthodoxsentiments.Valentinian
adheredtothedecisionsatNice,andthereforeinthe
WesttheAriansectafewchurchesexceptedwas
whollyextirpated.
"Valens,onthecontrary,tooksideswiththeArians,and
henceintheEastmanycalamitiesbefelltheorthodox.
Gratianrestoredpeacetotheorthodox.
"Afterhim,TheodosiustheGreat,bydeprivingtheArians
ofalltheirchurches,causedthedecisionsoftheNicene
counciltotriumpheverywhere,andnonecouldanylonger
publiclyprofessAriandoctrines."
Thisfinelysettledthequestion,foralltime,astowhether
therearethreeGods,oroneGod.TheEncyclopedia
Britannica'9thedition,vol.23,page259,article
"Theodosius,"records
"Itwasnot,however,tillhisillnessatThessalonicathat
theemperorreceivedbaptismatthehandsofBishop
Ascholius,whereupon,saysthehistorianSozomen,he
issuedadecree(February,380)infavorofthefaithofSt.
PeterandPopeDamasusofRome.
"Thiswastobethetruecatholicfaiththeadherentsof
othercreedsweretobereckonedashereticsand
punished.
"Otheredictsforbadetheunorthodoxtoholdassemblies
inthetownsandenjoinedthesurrenderofallchurchesto
thecatholicbishops."
Gibbonrecords,chap.27
14/16
11/1/2016
"Theodosiuswasthefirstoftheemperorsbaptizedinto
thetruefaithoftheTrinity.Astheemperorascendedfrom
theholyfont,hedictatedasolemnedict:
"LetusbelievethesoledeityoftheFather,theSonand
theHolyGhost,underanequalmajestyandapious
Trinity.
"Weauthorizethefollowersofthisdoctrinetoassumethe
titleofCatholicChristiansandaswejudgethatallothers
areextravagantmadmen,webrandthemwiththe
infamousnameofHeretics,anddeclarethattheir
conventiclesshallnolongerusurptherespectable
appellationofchurches.
"BesidesthecondemnationofDivineJustice,theymust
expecttosuffertheseverepenalties,whichourauthority,
guidedbyheavenlywisdom,shallthinkpropertoinflict
uponthem!
"Theemperorconvenedasynodof150bishopswho
proceededtocompletethetheologicalsystemwhichhad
beenestablishedinthecouncilofNice.
"Afinalandunanimoussentencewaspronouncedtoratify
theequalDeityoftheHolyGhost.
"Theirknowledgeofreligioustruthmayhavebeen
preservedbytradition,oritmayhavebeencommunicated
byinspiration,butthesoberevidenceofhistorywillnot
allowmuchweighttothepersonalauthorityoftheFathers
ofConstantinople(thissynod).
"Manyofthesameprelateswhonowapplaudedthe
orthodoxpietyofTheodosiushadrepeatedlychanged,
withprudentflexibility,theircreedsandopinions,andin
thevariousrevolutionsofthechurchandstate,the
religionoftheirsovereignwastheruleoftheirobsequious
faith.
"Inthespaceof15yearsTheodosiuspromulgatedatleast
15severeedictsagainsttheheretics,moreespecially
againstthosewhorejectedthedoctrineoftheTrinity.
"Therigorousprohibitionofconventicleswascarefully
extendedtoeverypossiblecircumstancesinwhichthe
hereticscouldassemblewiththeintentionofworshipping
GodandChristaccordingtothedictatesoftheir
conscience.
15/16
11/1/2016
"Thesectariesweregraduallydisqualifiedforthe
possessionofhonorableorlucrativeemployments..."
AllBooks/Booklets,Editorials,andArticlesareFREEandcanbe
downloadedwithoutpermission.
16/16

The History of The Doctrine of The Trinity The True Scriptural Picture 1-16pp

Încărcat de

Informații document

Titlu original

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

The History of The Doctrine of The Trinity The True Scriptural Picture 1-16pp

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

11/1/2016

S-ar putea să vă placă și