Monarchian Modalists v. Hippolytus and Tertullian

Question 1

What is the two points of a 2-Stage Logos theology?

Answer 1

1. Word resides in the heart of God; His own mind and thought; before the Word was generated
2. Begot His Word; uttered; after the Word was generated

Question 2

What is the strengths and the weakness of a 2-Stage Logos theology?

Answer 2

• Weakness is that the word doesn’t exist separately before it is generated.
• Strength is unity at stage one and diversity at stage 2

Question 3

According to Theophilus, where did “the Word, that always exists” reside prior to creation (“before anything came into being”)?

Answer 3

…within the HEART OF GOD. For before anything came into

Question 4

How does Theophilus conceive of the Word of God prior to creation?
That is to say, “before anything came into being” the Word was God’s what?

Answer 4

being He had Him as a counselor, being His own mind and thought.

Question 5

The second-stage of the existence of the Logos is usually tied to the activity of Creation. “When God wished to make all that He determined on,” what does Theophilus say he did?

Answer 5

He begot this Word, uttered, the first-born of all creation

Question 6

What passage from scripture does Theophilus quote in order to substantiate his understanding of the Word’s existence as having two stages?

Answer 6

And hence the holy writings teach us, and all the spirit-bearing [inspired] men, one of whom, John, says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God” (Jn 1:1a-b)

Question 7

What charge did Callistus “publicly [issue] in the way of reproach to (Hippolytus’ party)”?

Answer 7

“Ye are Ditheists,”

Question 8

According to Hippolytus, Callistus alleges “that the Logos himself is Son, and that himself is Father; and that though denominated by a different title, yet that (in reality) He (God) is ____. And he maintains that the Father is ____ and the Son _____ , but that they are _____ .”

Answer 8

one indivisible spirit
not one person
another
one and the same

Question 9

What is Callistus’ argument?

Answer 9

Different titles don’t mean the parts of the trinity are actually different and that God is one indivisible spirit

Question 10

Callistus affirms “that the Spirit, which became incarnate in the virgin, is” what?

Answer 10

…not different from the Father, but one and the same

Question 11

Callistus interprets the scriptural terms “Son” and “Father” in relation to the person of Jesus Christ. To what does the term “Son” refer, and what does Callistus believe the “Father” to be?

Answer 11

Son = humanity of Jesus
Father/Spirit = divinity

• this doesn’t work because that would mean that the Father suffers on the cross (Hippolytus argues against Callistus)

Question 12

Hippolytus reveals with whom he identified the term “Son”. It is not with the body of Jesus Christ, as did Callistus, but with whom?

Answer 12

Son= the Word

Question 13

To what specifically do the terms “Word” and “Son” refer according to Hippolytus in Noet 15?

Answer 13

The Word = the preexistence before the incarnation
Son = “word” and humanity; indicates the Word is now incarnate; divine and human

(Hippolytus plays down the significance of Jesus’ humanity; less human than God)

Question 14

What are Tertullian’s three main points in his discussion on trinitarian relations?

Answer 14

1. God is one b/c he has unity of substance; one being
2. The “mystery of the economy” disposes unity into Trinity; 2nd stage diversity; the one must become three
3. One God admits of plurality without division

Question 15

What is the illustration that Tertullian provides to counter the Monarchian argument that the sole rule of God requires God to be only One in number and not Three

Answer 15

A Monarchy

Question 16

Tertullian confronts the Monarchian theologians such as Callistus. According to Tertullian they “refuse to consider him (the Word)” what?

Answer 16

a substance which is himself (human self) because that would mean there are two Gods

Question 17

Instead of understanding the Word to be “an object and a person”, what will the Monarchians say is a word?

What does Tertullian say?

Answer 17

• a word is voice and oral sound; insubstantial

- Tertullian says that the Word must be substantial, something that endures

Question 18

Unlike Callistus and the other Monarchians who hold that the Father/Spirit became incarnate, “Who (does Tertullian say), being God, was born in her (Mary)?”

Answer 18

The Word, and the Spirit who with the Word was born by the Father’s will.

Question 19

Tertullian - How was the Word made flesh?

Answer 19

The Word was made flesh as having CLOTHED himself

Question 20

.Tertullian says, “the apostle teaches of _____”, so that “we observe a double quality, not confused but combined, ______.”

Answer 20

both his substances

Jesus in one Person God and Man