In this continuation of the Trinity series, Pastor Terrie Beede deepens the discussion on this foundational Christian doctrine, beginning with a review of the three core statements: "God is three persons. Each person is fully God. And there is only one God". He reiterates the Old Testament's implicit clues (plurality of terms, multiple divine persons, the Angel of the Lord) and the New Testament's permeation with Trinitarian understanding, though without explicit use of the term "Trinity".
Pastor Beede revisits the historical errors regarding the Trinity:
• Monarchianism: Reviewed its three forms (dynamic, nominal, modalistic), each of which denied either Christ's full deity or full humanity.
• Subordinationism (Origen, ~185-254 AD): An attempt to reconcile Orthodox belief with contemporary philosophy, it taught that Christ, though eternally generated and truly deity, was not of the same status as the Father. Pastor Beede notes Origen's intent was orthodox, but the doctrine's impact was contrary to his purpose.
• Arianism (Arius, ~256-336 AD): The most formidable theological challenge of the 3rd and 4th centuries. Arius, influenced by dynamic monarchianism and Origen's subordinationism, posited Christ as a created being—above creation but below God, thus denying both His full deity and humanity. This effectively led to a form of polytheism. Pastor Beede extols Athanasius's steadfast defense, often facing exile, insisting that only a "truly God, very God incarnate" could reconcile man to a holy God.
• Polytheism: Pastor Beede explains that denying the oneness of God while affirming three divine persons inevitably leads to polytheism, a charge often leveled against Christians by Jews, Muslims, Deists, and Unitarians.
Pastor Beede emphasizes four key reasons for studying historical theology and ancient errors:
1. Demonstrates the seriousness of spiritual battle: Heresies, such as those denying Christ's deity or humanity, ultimately "deny the Lord that bought them" (2 Peter 2:1).
2. Recognizes ancient errors in modern form: He illustrates how dynamic monarchianism appears in liberal theology, nominal trinitarianism in Mormonism, modalistic monarchianism in the "Jesus Only" movement, and Arianism in Jehovah's Witnesses, highlighting that Satan's "bag of tricks" is recycled.
3. Encourages graciousness toward imprecise views: Not all who hold imperfect doctrines are outside the true church. Early church fathers, though sometimes fuzzy on the Holy Spirit, are accepted because they affirmed core scripture about Christ. We must be slow to brand others as heretics.
4. Warns against unchecked minor deviations: Even small doctrinal errors (like Origen's subordinationism) can lead to disastrous consequences, such as the rise of Arianism.
The session moves to the church's historical understanding of the Trinity, emphasizing its definition as "one essence in three persons" (Latin: una substantia, tres personae), solidified at the Councils of Nicaea (325 AD) and Constantinople (381 AD). Pastor Beede clarifies that these councils did not invent doctrine but drew it out from scripture in response to growing errors after the death of the apostles and their immediate disciples. He introduces two critical theological concepts:
• Perichoresis (Circumincession): The doctrine that the three persons of the Trinity permeate and indwell each other, sharing one nature, which provides social and societal unity despite their distinct personhood.
• Monarchy: The concept maintaining the headship of God the Father, where the Son and Spirit, while equal in deity, power, and attributes, are subordinate in role.
Continued https://ccmilwaukee.com/podcasts/media/2009-01-14-systematic-theology
