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Trinitarian Doctrine

Trinitarian Doctrine. Challenges to Apostolic Faith. Why did it develop?. To articulate the doctrine of the Trinity Formulate words that correctly expressed the C hurch’s doctrine As a response to challenges to the faith

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Trinitarian Doctrine

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  1. Trinitarian Doctrine Challenges to Apostolic Faith

  2. Why did it develop? • To articulate the doctrine of the Trinity • Formulate words that correctly expressed the Church’s doctrine • As a response to challenges to the faith • Several heresies and wrong ideas about Jesus had begun to appear and they needed to be addressed

  3. How? • Ecumenical Councils • Gatherings of the Catholic bishops, called by the Pope to discuss and resolve issues and problems facing the Church • Church Fathers • Teachers and writers of the early Church, usually bishops; Their teachings are witness to the apostolic tradition • Philosophy: “Love of Wisdom” • Using human logic to succinctly express the teachings of the Church • Substance – consubstantial, speaks to the unity of the persons • Person- speaks to their distinctness • Relation- explains the distinction

  4. Early Christological Heresies • Jesus is only human • Arianism: • Arius claimed Jesus was a higher form of human but not divine and not pre-existent • Nestorianism • Nestorius claimed Jesus was two different persons, one human, one divine • Mary is NOT the Mother of God • Jesus is only divine • Docetism • Jesus was disguised as a human. “God in a human suit”, therefore he only appeared to suffer and die • Monophysitism • Jesus’ divine nature absorbed the human an at the end he was only divine • Gnosticism • Salvation was only available to those who had secret knowledge from God or his agent

  5. Church Response • A clear teaching on the Incarnation written with concise language • Conceived by the Holy Spirit (divinity) • Born of the Virgin Mary (humanity) • The clear teaching of the Incarnation led to the clear and concise wording of the doctrine on the Trinity

  6. Ecumenical Councils • From 325AD – 787 AD seven councils were convened to respond to the heresies of Jesus’ nature and the Trinity • 325 AD Council of Nicea • Nicene Creed- expansion of Apostles Creed- consubstantial with the Father • 381 AD Council of Constantinople • Added clauses about the Holy Spirit to the Nicene Creed • 431 AD Council of Ephesus • Declared Mary the “Mother of God”, Theotokos • 451 AD Council of Chalcedon • Jesus is 100% human and 100% divine • Consubstantial with the Father and US

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