The Timeline of the Evolution of the Trinity Doctrine by Hugh Hutton Stannus 1899
The strict and absolute unity of God is a first principle of the Bible. The entire scope and spirit of both the Old and New Testament are distinctly on the side of the uni-personality of God. The Jews, who made Monotheism their boast and glory, never charge Christ, or the first teachers of Christianity, with originating any new theory of the Godhead. Christ and the apostles spoke of the Father as the "only True God". It is repeatedly admitted by Trinitarians that the word "Trinity" is not in the Bible; and that in the earliest records of our religion, not only the word Trinity is not to be found, but no equivalent of the word, nor any proposition that intimates God is three persons. An additional fact, confirmatory of the sole Deity of God the Father, is found in Christ's instruction and example of prayer, which were followed during the first two centuries. The two or three texts in the Bible supposed by some to foreshadow, or hint at, or imply the Trinity, receive at the hands of Trinitarian scholars a very simple and rational explanation, which lends no countenance to the theory of a plurality of persons in the Godhead. The doctrine of the Primitive Church is found in the Scripture, and also in the Apostles' Creed; the doctrine of later times in the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds. The word Trinity, familiar to schools of philosophy, was introduced into Christian literature about the close of the second century. The Pagan Trinities of the Egyptian, Assyrian, and Hindoo systems of religion (and also of Platonic philosophy) were popular at the time of the first planting of Christianity. The origin and development of the doctrine of a Triune Deity in the Church is clearly traced to Platonic and other influences during the third and fourth centuries. Its introduction caused considerable discussion, agitation, and strife during the period named. The Council of Nice (A.D. 325) voted in favour of the Deity of Christ; the Council of Constantinople (a.d. 381) fixed the doctrine of the Trinity. From that time the Roman Emperors resolved and proclaimed they would punish all Christians who would not believe in and worship three persons in one God. The following chronological data may aid the reader of this treatise to mark the progress of the doctrine, from the close of the second to the close of the fourth century:—
A.D.
I.—Monotheism the boast and glory of the Jews.
29.—About this time Jesus said, "The first commandment is, the Lord: "our God is one Lord"* * * * "The true worshippers shall "worship the Father".
32.—About this time Jesus said, "I ascend unto your Father and my Father, your God and my God ".
57.—About this time Paul wrote, "There is none other God but one". . . . "To us there is but One God the Father and one Lord Jesus Christ".
96.—About this time Clement wrote, "Christ was sent by God and the Apostles were sent by Christ".
120.—The Apostles' Creed begins to be known to the Church. It says, "I believe in God the Father Almighty".
150.—Justin Martyr about this time began with Platonic teaching tocorrupt Christian simplicity.
170.—The word Trias first occurs in Christian literature.
200.—The word Trinitas is first used by Tertullian.
230.—Origen writes against prayers being offered to Christ.
260.—Sabellius teaches,—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are three names for the same God.
300.—No Trinitarian forms of prayer are yet known to the Church.
310.—Lactantius (orthodox father) writes, "Christ never calls himself "God ".
320.—Eusebius writes, "Christ teaches us to call his Father the true "God, and to worship Him".
325.—The Nicene Council agree to call Christ, "God of God, very "God of very God ".
350.—Great conflicts in the Church about the doctrine of the Trinity. 370.—The Doxology, "Glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy "Ghost", composed, and complained of as a novelty.
381.—The Council of Constantinople gives the finishing touch to the doctrine of "three persons in one God".
383.—The Emperor Theodosius threatens to punish all who will not believe in and worship the Trinity.
From this date Arianism rapidly declines In A.D. 451, the doctrine of the two natures of Christ becomes an established dogma. "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost", is ordered to be sung in all Churches, A.D. 529. The Clergy are commanded, A.D. 669, to commit to memory the Athanasian Creed. Bishop Basil required the Clergy, A.D. 826, to repeat this Creed every Sunday.
The strict and absolute unity of God is a first principle of the Bible. The entire scope and spirit of both the Old and New Testament are distinctly on the side of the uni-personality of God. The Jews, who made Monotheism their boast and glory, never charge Christ, or the first teachers of Christianity, with originating any new theory of the Godhead. Christ and the apostles spoke of the Father as the "only True God". It is repeatedly admitted by Trinitarians that the word "Trinity" is not in the Bible; and that in the earliest records of our religion, not only the word Trinity is not to be found, but no equivalent of the word, nor any proposition that intimates God is three persons. An additional fact, confirmatory of the sole Deity of God the Father, is found in Christ's instruction and example of prayer, which were followed during the first two centuries. The two or three texts in the Bible supposed by some to foreshadow, or hint at, or imply the Trinity, receive at the hands of Trinitarian scholars a very simple and rational explanation, which lends no countenance to the theory of a plurality of persons in the Godhead. The doctrine of the Primitive Church is found in the Scripture, and also in the Apostles' Creed; the doctrine of later times in the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds. The word Trinity, familiar to schools of philosophy, was introduced into Christian literature about the close of the second century. The Pagan Trinities of the Egyptian, Assyrian, and Hindoo systems of religion (and also of Platonic philosophy) were popular at the time of the first planting of Christianity. The origin and development of the doctrine of a Triune Deity in the Church is clearly traced to Platonic and other influences during the third and fourth centuries. Its introduction caused considerable discussion, agitation, and strife during the period named. The Council of Nice (A.D. 325) voted in favour of the Deity of Christ; the Council of Constantinople (a.d. 381) fixed the doctrine of the Trinity. From that time the Roman Emperors resolved and proclaimed they would punish all Christians who would not believe in and worship three persons in one God. The following chronological data may aid the reader of this treatise to mark the progress of the doctrine, from the close of the second to the close of the fourth century:—
A.D.
I.—Monotheism the boast and glory of the Jews.
29.—About this time Jesus said, "The first commandment is, the Lord: "our God is one Lord"* * * * "The true worshippers shall "worship the Father".
32.—About this time Jesus said, "I ascend unto your Father and my Father, your God and my God ".
57.—About this time Paul wrote, "There is none other God but one". . . . "To us there is but One God the Father and one Lord Jesus Christ".
96.—About this time Clement wrote, "Christ was sent by God and the Apostles were sent by Christ".
120.—The Apostles' Creed begins to be known to the Church. It says, "I believe in God the Father Almighty".
150.—Justin Martyr about this time began with Platonic teaching tocorrupt Christian simplicity.
170.—The word Trias first occurs in Christian literature.
200.—The word Trinitas is first used by Tertullian.
230.—Origen writes against prayers being offered to Christ.
260.—Sabellius teaches,—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are three names for the same God.
300.—No Trinitarian forms of prayer are yet known to the Church.
310.—Lactantius (orthodox father) writes, "Christ never calls himself "God ".
320.—Eusebius writes, "Christ teaches us to call his Father the true "God, and to worship Him".
325.—The Nicene Council agree to call Christ, "God of God, very "God of very God ".
350.—Great conflicts in the Church about the doctrine of the Trinity. 370.—The Doxology, "Glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy "Ghost", composed, and complained of as a novelty.
381.—The Council of Constantinople gives the finishing touch to the doctrine of "three persons in one God".
383.—The Emperor Theodosius threatens to punish all who will not believe in and worship the Trinity.
From this date Arianism rapidly declines In A.D. 451, the doctrine of the two natures of Christ becomes an established dogma. "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost", is ordered to be sung in all Churches, A.D. 529. The Clergy are commanded, A.D. 669, to commit to memory the Athanasian Creed. Bishop Basil required the Clergy, A.D. 826, to repeat this Creed every Sunday.
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