· Theology Proper ·

Lecture Twenty Eight:  The Doctrine of the Trinity II

TH330 Systematic Theology I · Moody Bible Institute · Dr. Richard M. Weber

I. The Doctrine of the Trinity (continued)

A. There is One God

B. There Are Three Persons Described as “God”

1. The Father is Fully God

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen 1:1)

2. The Son is Fully God

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4)

“Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’  Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” (John 20:28-29)

“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31)

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustatining all things by his powerful word….” (Heb 1:3)

“[W]e wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:13)

“Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised!” (Rom 9:5)

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isa 9:6)

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form…” (Col 2:9)

3. The Holy Spirit is Fully God

THE DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS NEVER CHALLENGED LIKE THE SON’S DEITY.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” (Matt 28:19)

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” (1 Cor 12:4-6)

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”  (2 Cor 13:14; Cf. Eph 4:4-6; 1 Pet 1:2; Jude 20-21)

“Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?  … You have not lied to men but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4)

“Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there…” (Ps 139:7-8)

“The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him?  In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Cor 2:10-11)

C. The Three Persons Are One

1. Questionable evidence:  1 John 5:7 (KJV)

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:  and these three are one.”  (1 John 5:7; KJV)

2. Plural of “Elohim”

3. Grammatical Issues

a. Gen 1:26.  “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image.’”

b. Isa 6:8.  “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

4. Teaching Regarding the Imago Dei

Even though there’s diversity in humanity, they are created in God’s image. In parallelism, the last line should state that they were created in God’s image. It’s possible that man and wife becoming one flesh is a view of the trinity. 2 separate people, 1 flesh…

D. The Three Persons Are Distinct From One Another

1. The Son is Distinct From the Father

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.” (John 1:1-2)

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” (John 17:24)

“…we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1; cf. Heb 7:25)

2. The Holy Spirit is Distinct From the Father and the Son

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things…” (John 14:26)

“He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” (Rom 8:27)

“But I tell you the truth:  It is for your good that I am going away.  Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)

Sending denotes that the Spirit is distinct from the other members of the trinity.

II. Some Historical Constructions of the Doctrine of the Trinity

A. Economic View

Hippolytus and Tertullian

Recognized the function of each member of the trinity. The Father creates by decrees. The spirit hovers over the water. The Son creates.

Because they are doing distinct things, we can look at those roles. Each has a “job” or role within that view. They must all fully be God, but they are all doing distinct things.

B. Dynamic Monarchianism

N ever really widespread. This was used to define the relationship between the Son and the Father. Rome, 190 AD: Sole sovereignty. This stresses the uniqueness of God. They got uncomfortable talking about 2 persons…who is God has sole sovereignty. He stated that perhaps the Son was an ordinary man. Jesus was “adopted” by God.

Theodotus

Paul of Samosata (he was condemned in Antioch in 268 AD)

In other words, Jesus in this view isn’t divine.

C. Modalistic Monarchianism

“MODALISM” or Sabellianism.

They claim there is only one God. They wanted to protect Christ’s divinity. Like clark kent and superman, all three never appear “in the same room at the same time”. We have passages to the contrary.

D. The Orthodox Formulation

Council of Constantinople (381 AD)

Athanasius (293-373 AD)

Cappadocian Theologians (Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, Gregory of Nyssa)

One God, three hypostases, or person.

One ουσια in three υποστασει