God the Father, Mentor's Guide, MG06

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G O D T H E F A T H E R

II. Views of the Trinity from History

A. The Economic View: the three persons are involved in various dimensions through both creation and redemption.

1. Hippolytus and Tertullian (early fathers of the Church)

2. This view made no attempt to explore the relations among the three members of the Trinity.

3. Focused on creation and redemption: Son and Spirit are not the Father, but are connected to God in his eternal being

B. Dynamic Monarchianism: God coming in power upon the person Jesus

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1. Developed in the late 2nd and 3rd centuries, originated by Theodotus

2. God was present in the life of the man, Jesus of Nazareth.

a. God was a working force upon, in, or through Jesus, but no real presence within Jesus.

b. Before his baptism, Jesus was simply an ordinary man (although a remarkably virtuous one), cf. Matt. 3.16-17.

c. At the baptism, the Spirit descended on Jesus, and God’s power flowed through him from that point onward.