U4 L5 Origin Of The Doctrine Of The Godhead Flashcards
What do the Old and New Testaments tell us about God and the Father?
OT- the Living God is Father
NT- adds that God is the Father of Jesus and the Spirit is sent by God to His People
How were John and Paul’s writings used in the FIRST century?
to challenge heretics who rejected the threefold manifestation of the Godhead
Who were 2 SECOND century theologians of the doctrine of the Godhead?
Irenaeus and Justin
How much could Irenaeus and Justin explain about the three Persons in God?
- could not explain fully how they relate
- but made it clear that it is a true Christian belief
What did Justin insist?
-existence of 3 persons did not set aside the belief of God as Creator
Creator is invisible< known by visible Word< Son of God< sent the Spirit
What did Irenaeus frequently refer to?
The baptismal creed enumerating Father, Son and Spirit
What did Justin and Irenaeus identify Christ as?
- Word of God
- has power to bring men to Father through Spirit
Which were the two groups that preached against the doctrine of Godhead in the SECOND century?
Gnostics and Judaizers
Why did the Jews find difficulty in accepting the SECOND century teachings of Godhead?
because of their concern for the uniqueness of their God
Who were the Judaizers and what did they believe?
- Preachers
- belief in one God excluded Trinity
- the doctrine of Godhead meant that 3 gods existed
- contradicts the revelation
Who were the Gnostics and what did they believe?
- Christian group
- used/valued philosophy rather than revelation/faith
- to explain teachings and search for spiritual truths
Could reason alone explain Godhead?
no
What were debates in the THIRD century centered on?
Distinctions of persons in the Godhead
Who were 2 THIRD century theologians of the doctrine of the Godhead?
-Hippolytus and Tertullian
What did Hippolytus and Tertullian fight against?
heresies of adoptionism and modalism
What did Adoptionsim state?
- Jesus was not Son of God/not equal to Father
- but a person where the Word dwelled
How did Paul’s writings contradict Adoptionism?
- our redemption would not have taken place if Jesus was not God
- We believe God loved us to send His son to bring the Word
- Not a person adopted by Him
What did Modalism claim?
- God the Father became the Son under a different mode
- The Spirit was ignored or represented as another mode of the Father
What did Tertullian and Hippolytus reaffirm?
Godhead as three Persons in one God
What did Hippolytus enrich the understanding of the Father, Son and Spirit in?
- the Baptismal rite
- Each person is divine and equal to others
What are two evidences of early Christian belief in the doctrine of the Godhead?
- baptismal rite
- prayers and hymns
