Doctrine of Trinity Flashcards
Trinitarian Revelation
We see the gospel in the revelation of the Trinity, but the doctrine of the Trinity is bigger than the Bible. The doctrine of the Trinity is what gives us the Bible.
Ecumenical Council
Global council where Christians from every country come together.
The Council of Nicaea
Ecumenical council to decide whether Jesus is Creator or creature. Determined that Jesus is Creator God and should be worshipped as such.
Arius
Arius was the most influential theologian of his time. He wrote for the masses, not just other scholars.
Arianism
Argued that Jesus was a creature, not Creator: “there was a time when he was not.”
Alexander of Alexandria
Bishop of Alexandria. Said that Arius was wrong: argued that Jesus is Creator. Only wrote academically - for other theologians.
Athanasius of Alexandria
Alexander’s secretary. Took over as the bishop of Alexandria. Wrote books called “Against the Arian” and “On the Incarnation” for the masses.
Constantine
Stepped in to prevent a civil war. Told Christians that they have to stop fighting: lef to the Nicaean Council.
Homoousia
Same substance.
Homoiousia
Similar substance.
The Nicene Creed
Conclusions of the Council of Nicaea, written in one paragraph.
Eternal Modes of Subsistence (EMS) & Eternal Relations of Origin (ERO)
The ONLY thing that distinguishes the persons of the godhead.
- The Father - unbegotten
- The Son - eternally generated
- The Spirit - eternally spirated
Inseparable Operations
1 Nature = 1 Will = 1 Operation. There is only one operation within the Trinity.
Appropriation
When the Trinity wants something, it wants something as one and operates as one. Particular works within the operation of the Trinity may be given to a particular person of the Trinity.
Eternal Functional Subordination (EFS) or Eternal Relation of Authority and Submission (ERAS)
WRONG! Argues that Jesus is eternally subordinate to the Father in his (Jesus’) function. Agrees with Homoousia, but says that the Son is eternally subordinate to the Father.
Immanent Trinity (Ad Intra)
The internal life of the Trinity (Homoousia & EMS).
Economic Trinity (Ad Extra)
The external operation of the Trinity.
Tritheism
WRONG! Three essences of the Trinity, meaning people (instead of persons).
Rahner’s Rule
WRONG! Says that the economic is the immanent.
Conflation
Rahner’s Rule conflates the economic with the immanent.
Three Paradigms of the Trinity
- Rahner - economic is the immanent (WRONG!)
- EFS/ERAS - the economic is projected onto the immanent (WRONG!)
- Orthodoxy - the economic reveals/reflects the immanent (CORRECT!)
Missions / Relations
What the Trinity does (ad extra) reflects the eternal relations of origin alone!
Adoptionism
WRONG! Says Jesus is not coeternal with the Father because God adopts Jesus into the Trinity during Jesus’ baptism.
Sabellianism / Modalism
WRONG! Under the umbrella of Monarchianism and says that there is one substance but also only one person of the Trinity that can manifest himself in three modes.
Docetism
WRONG! Argues that Jesus only appeared human - wasn’t actually human.
Social Trinitarianism
WRONG! Teaches that the three persons of the Trinity could be understood as three people of the Trinity. Relationships instead of relations.
Common Predication
Anything that we predicate to the Trinity that is common to all three persons.
Proper Predication
Anything that we predicate to a person of the Trinity that does not belong to the other persons.
