The next group of Scriptures we’ll review are those that show the Father and Jesus are clearly two separate persons. These Scriptures stand in direct contradiction to a belief in modalism, the idea that God is one person who has simply expressed Himself to us in three different ways. Modalists will often point to John … Continue reading Jesus and the Father are Separate Persons – The Trinity in Scripture
Month: July 2020
God is One – The Trinity in Scripture
The groups that oppose the dogma of the Trinity will often point to the many Scriptural passages that tell us that God is “one.” Passages from the Old Testament that speak to this include Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord,” and Isaiah 45:5 “I am the Lord, and there is … Continue reading God is One – The Trinity in Scripture
Other Ancient Heresies
It seems to me that if you want to commit heresy, the surest and easiest way is to try to explain the Trinity. The catechism in CCC2089 defines heresy as “the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the … Continue reading Other Ancient Heresies
The Development of Christian Doctrine
In my last post I reviewed how the dogma of the Trinity came to be more formalized. This is an example of how Christian doctrine has developed over time. The dogma of the Trinity as articulated by Christians today is not explicitly spelled out in Scripture. In fact, the word “Trinity” is nowhere to be … Continue reading The Development of Christian Doctrine
The Arian Heresy, or Arianiam
The more formal development and decree of the dogma of the Trinity we see in use in most Christian groups today is directly the result of the Arian heresy. This heresy erupted within Christendom in the early fourth century. Arius was an eastern priest who began to teach that Christ as the son of God … Continue reading The Arian Heresy, or Arianiam
The Dogma of the Trinity
A good first step is to review exactly what the dogma of the Trinity is, and is not. The Catechism of the Catholic Church has a lot to say about the subject, but in my view these are some of the most important passages to help our understanding. CCC253 The Trinity is One. We do … Continue reading The Dogma of the Trinity
Introduction to the Trinity
Over the next several posts I’ll be covering the topic of the Trinity. In the life of a Christian, when we consider the nature of God, there is nothing more essential or basic than the understanding that God is three persons, in one God. This dogma is so foundational and important for Christians it usually … Continue reading Introduction to the Trinity
God is Omnipotent
Another characteristic of God generally agreed among Christians is that He is omnipotent, meaning to be almighty or infinite in power. There are many references in Scripture that speak to this: Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of thine can be thwarted. Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked … Continue reading God is Omnipotent
God is Immutable – A Practical Example
Mother Teresa has long been revered by Catholics as a model of Christ’s love, especially toward the poor and destitute of the world. However, she was not without her critics, both from the secular world and sometimes other Christians. One criticism she received from some Christians was that she referred to those she cared for … Continue reading God is Immutable – A Practical Example
God is immutable (He does not change), Part 2
The understanding that God is immutable in general is shared with other Christians. For example, from this Evangelical site: Third, the immutability of God is related to His omniscience. When someone changes his/her mind, it is often because new information has come to light that was not previously known or because the circumstances have changed … Continue reading God is immutable (He does not change), Part 2
Between the Farm and the Cross 