History of the doctrine concerning the nature of god

In the early centuries of Christianity

Part 2

An introduction to the doctrine of the trinity

Christianity inherited the monotheism of Israel but gradually developed it by the elaboration of the doctrine of the trinity, until the 4th century an elaborate theory of a threefoldness in god appears. In this Nicene or Athanasios form of thought god is said to consist of Three persons: father, son and holy spirit, all equally eternal, Powerful and glorious. It was that this tri-personality of god  Was not inconsistent with monotheism, since the father is the “fons et Origo” of deity process of generation>, and because the divine essence is one. The Doctrine this included these three elements: (1) the coequal eternity Of the three persons; (2) the subordination and of the Second and third from the first; and (3) the consequent oneness of the Divine nature of which all three persons alike partake. [2]

The term “trinity” is not a biblical term, and we are not using Biblical language when we define what is expressed by it as the Doctrine that there is one only true god, but in the unity of the Godhead there are three coeternal and coequal persons, the same in Substance, but distinct in subsistence. As the doctrine is Indiscoverable by reason, so it is incapable of proof from Reason. There are no analogies to it in nature, not even in man, (for The body, soul and spirit constitute only.). The doctrine of the trinity lies in the new testament rather in the form of Allusions than in express teaching. [4]

The church dogma of the trinity was the work of three centuries And was fairly accomplished in the Nicaean age; in the apostolic fathers We find for the most part only the simple biblical statement of the Deity and humanity of Christ. [11]

(The apostolic church taught the revelation of god throughout the Mediterranean area, and it is significant that at the end of the Apostolic era, we find no trace of trinitarianism — but we do find the Concept of one god in three manifestations, later called modalistic Monarchianism.)