Picturing Theology

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P i c t u r i n g T h e o l o g y

God’s Three-In-Oneness: The Trinity (continued)

5. At the baptism, the Spirit descended on Jesus and God’s power flowed through him. 6. This view never became popular. C. Modalistic Monarchianism 1. There is one Godhead which may be designated as Father, Son, or Spirit. 2. These terms do not stand for real distinctions of different personalities or members, but names appropriate for God’s one working at different times. 3. Father, Son, and Spirit are the identical, ongoing revelations of the same, single person. 4. One person with three different names, activities, or roles 5. This view insufficient to take full biblical data seriously D. The Orthodox Formulation (Erickson, pp.102-103) 1. The Council of Constantinople (381) and the view of Athanasius (293-373) and the “Cappadocian fathers” (Basil, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa) 2. One ousia [substance] in three hypostases [persons] (a common substance but multiple, separate persons) a. The Godhead exists of only one essence b. The Godhead exists at one and the same time in three modes or beings or hypostases (persons) 3. The Cappadocian focus a. Individual hypostases is the ousia of Godhead. b. Each of the persons are distinguished by the characteristics or properties unique to him (like individual humans are to universal humanity).