The Ancient Witnesses

Chapter 2: The Time Before Time • 67

How Can God Be One and Three? Mentor now announced the first question to be put to the witnesses— How can God be one and yet also three? 5 He told the witnesses to prepare, and also gave us time to talk among ourselves. “How can God be one and three—that was the central question at the Nicene Council,” said Father Greg. “Why’d they need a council for that?” asked Preacher. “The Nicene Council invented the Trinity,” said Cesar confidently, “didn’t you know?” “You did not learn that in my class!” said Father Greg, shocked. “No,” Cesar admitted, “I heard that on a YouTube video.” “I thought the Church had always believed in the Holy Trinity,” I said. “That’s correct,” said Father Greg, “and the Nicene Council did not invent the Holy Trinity.” “What was the Council for?” asked Preacher. “Politics,” said Cesar, the Fathers had to decide who would be in charge of the Church.” “Not true,” said Father Greg, shaking his head. “Cesar,” I interrupted, “you can’t learn Church history from the internet—there were no politics at the Nicaea Council!” “I wouldn’t say that,” Father Greg disagreed. “So the Nicene Council was political?” asked Joseph.

5 Says Karl Barth, “In every Christian confession…the deepest question is this, how can God be one and yet also three.” See his Church Dogmatics: The Doctrine of the Word of God I.1, 302.