top of page

The Mystery of the Trinity Part 6

Part 6: Trinitarian Heresies Then and Now

The mystery of the Trinity is the heart of the Christian faith. It is the truth that the one, eternal God exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is not just a doctrine; it is the reality of who God is and how He has revealed Himself to us.

But because this mystery is so profound and unlike anything in creation, it is easy to misunderstand. From the earliest centuries, the Church has had to correct false teachings. These heresies arose either from over-simplifying the Trinity or from denying one part of the mystery in order to preserve another.

In this final part, we will briefly review some of the major Trinitarian heresies, explain why they are incorrect, and connect them to modern errors that still circulate today.


1. Modalism (Sabellianism)

Error: God is one person who reveals Himself in three modes or roles. Sometimes He acts as Father, sometimes as Son, sometimes as Spirit.

Why It’s Wrong: Modalism denies the real distinction between the persons. The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the Spirit. These are not just appearances or functions. They are real and eternal persons in relationship with one another.

Modern Example: Oneness Pentecostalism often holds this view, teaching that Jesus is the Father, Son, and Spirit depending on the situation.


2. Arianism

Error: The Son is a creature, created by the Father and therefore not equal to Him. The Spirit is also considered created or subordinate.

Why It’s Wrong: This denies the full divinity of the Son and the Spirit. The Son is begotten, not made. The Spirit proceeds, not as a creature, but as consubstantial with the Father and the Son. All three persons are eternal, fully divine, and share one being.

Modern Example: Jehovah’s Witnesses are modern Arians. They teach that Jesus is the highest creature but not truly God. They also deny the personhood and divinity of the Holy Spirit.


3. Tritheism

Error: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate gods who cooperate in unity.

Why It’s Wrong: This view divides the divine essence and destroys the unity of God. There is only one God. The persons are not three beings or minds, but three real relations in one divine essence.

Modern Tendency: Some Christians, in trying to explain the Trinity, unintentionally describe it as a team of divine individuals. This language leans dangerously toward tritheism.


4. Subordinationism

Error: The Son and the Spirit are divine but less than the Father in power or dignity.

Why It’s Wrong: This contradicts the Nicene Creed and the Church’s teaching on consubstantiality. The divine persons are not three ranks in a hierarchy. Each is fully God, differing only in relation of origin.

Modern Echo: Mormons teach that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate gods. This directly denies the unity of substance and treats the persons as distinct beings.


5. Partialism

Error: Each person is one-third of God, like slices of a pie.

Why It’s Wrong: The divine essence is not divided. Each person possesses the whole divine nature. The Father is fully God. The Son is fully God. The Spirit is fully God.

Pastoral Note: This misunderstanding often appears in well-meaning catechesis or illustrations. Analogies that emphasize division or partiality usually distort the truth.


Be Cautious with Analogies

Many popular analogies for the Trinity, such as water being ice, liquid, and steam, or a person acting as father, teacher, and friend, often lead to serious errors if taken literally. While they may highlight a certain point, like unity or relationship, they cannot fully express the mystery.

The Church does not rely on analogies alone. Instead, it offers precise theological language: one essence, three persons; one nature, three relations of origin. This language preserves both clarity and mystery.


Why This Matters

Trinitarian heresies are not just ancient debates. They affect how we understand salvation, prayer, worship, and the very identity of God.

  • If the Son is not God, He cannot redeem us.

  • If the Spirit is not a person, He cannot dwell in us.

  • If the Trinity is only a metaphor, then love is not eternal and God remains distant.

Right belief protects the truth that God is both one and three, both perfect unity and eternal communion. The doctrine is not a contradiction. It is a revealed mystery given for our salvation.


Final Reflection

The Trinity is not a puzzle to be solved. It is the life of God, revealed so that we may be drawn into it. From all eternity, God is not alone. He is a communion of love. He created the world not out of lack, but to share that love with us.

The Father sent the Son and the Spirit so that we might become sons and daughters in the Son and temples of the Holy Spirit. The mystery of the Trinity is not far from us. It is the foundation of the Gospel and the goal of our salvation.

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.”

Recent Posts

See All
The Mystery of the Trinity Part 5

Part 5: Missions and Revelation of the Trinity So far in this series, we have looked deeply into the inner life of God. We have seen how...

 
 
 
The Mystery of the Trinity Part 4

Part 4: Relations of Origin and the Distinction of Persons If God is one in essence and simple in being, then how can we say that there...

 
 
 
The Mystery of the Trinity Part 3

Part 3: Processions and the Inner Life of God We have seen that God is one in essence but exists as three persons. These persons: Father,...

 
 
 

Comments


Follow

  • Facebook
  • Spotify
  • Youtube
  • Apple Music
  • Amazon

©2019 by Servus Dei. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page