The Doctrine of the Trinity: Key Concepts and Historical Development

Introduction

The Trinity is proposed as a solution to the contradiction faced by early Christians between Jewish monotheism and the worship of Jesus as God.
Christianity inherited the strict monotheism from Judaism but also involved devotion to Jesus.

Evidence of monotheism: Jewish prayers and the teachings of the Apostle Paul.
Early Christians showed devotion to Jesus, evident in hymns, prayers, and rituals like baptism.
Christians maintained a monotheistic stance despite devotion to Jesus, avoiding the worship of other deities.

Modalism (Sibelius): One God takes on different roles (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) like an actor in a play.
- Issues: Scriptural narratives show simultaneous presence and interaction of Father, Son, and Spirit.
Subordinationism (Justin Martyr, Origen): Jesus (Logos) as an intermediary, divine but subordinate to the Father.
- Origen's influence: Concept of the eternal begetting of the Son and movement between divinity and creation.
- Issues: Raised concerns of diminishing the Son and Spirit's divinity compared to the Father.

Arius' Position: The Son was created, not co-eternal with the Father, challenging the traditional view of the Trinity.
Council of Nicaea (325 AD): Addressed Arianism by affirming the consubstantiality (homoousios) of the Son with the Father.
- The creed aimed to clarify the Son's divine nature but left ongoing debates.

Athanasius: Emphasized the necessity of the Son’s full divinity for salvation.
Defense of the Spirit’s divinity and continuity in the work of salvation.

Key Figures: Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus, Basil of Caesarea.
Developed Orthodox Trinitarian terminology: three hypostases (persons) in one ousia (substance).
- Emphasized unity of action among the Trinity, arguing against tritheism.
- Differences among persons understood in terms of relationship of origin: Father unbegotten, Son begotten, Spirit proceeds.

The fourth-century developments addressed modalism, subordinationism, and tritheism.
The Trinity remains a mystery: Scripture requires acknowledgment of eternal distinction and unity in divine power and nature.