The Doctrine of the Trinity Jim Ellis 2019
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TheDoctrineoftheTrinity
JimEllis2019
TheDoctrineoftheTrinity
TheTrinityisclearlyrevealedtousintheNewTestament.• Ma?.28:19,ThereforegoandmakedisciplesofallnaFons,bapFzingtheminthenameoftheFatherandtheSonandtheHolySpirit.
• 2Cor.13:14,MaythegraceoftheLordJesusChrist,andtheloveofGod,andthefellowshipoftheHolySpiritbewithyouall.
UnderstandingtheTrinity
96%88%
22%
16%
51%
OfprofessingevangelicalssaidtheybelieveintheTrinity.
saidtheybelieveJesusisfullyGodandfullyman.
saidthatGodtheFatherwasmoredivinethanJesus.9%weren’tsure.
saidthatJesuswasthefirstcreaturecreatedbyGodwhile11%weren’tsure.
saidthetheHolySpiritwasaforcenotapersonwhile7%weren’tsure.
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UnderstandingtheTrinity• ThereareobviouslymisunderstandingsevidentamongprofessingEvangelicals.
• ThedoctrineisoYentreatedasanappendagetotheChrisFanfaith/liferatherthansomethingsignificantandintegral.
• ButthereasontostudytheTrinityismuchdeeperandpersonalthanmemorizingasetofstatementstodefineit.
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TheSignificancetheTrinity
TheTrinity...
Informsthe
Gospel
Shapesour
Prayers
Groundsour
Worship
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TheTrinityinformstheGospelTheTrinityisnecessaryforacoherentunderstandingoftheGospelandredempFon:• TheFathersendstheSontoofferasacrificethatsaFsfiestheFather’swrathagainstsinandextendtheFather’sloveandmercytorepentantsinners.
• TheIncarnateSonisabletoprovidethisatonementbecauseheisbothGodandman.TheGod-manconquersdeathandsinthroughhisgloriousresurrecFonfromthedead.
• TheHolySpiritisdirectlyresponsibleforuniFnguswithChrist,ournewbirthinChrist(regeneraFon),andthebeliever’slifejourneyofsancFficaFon.
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TheTrinityshapesourPrayersPrayerisenteringintodivinedialoguewithourTriuneGod:• Thereisa‘doublemovement’toit:Godgiveshimselftous,throughtheSon,intheHolySpirit.Werespondwithourpraise,confession,andpeFFonmadeintheSpirit,throughtheSon,totheFather.
• JesusChrististhemeansbywhichwehaveaccesstotheFatherinthepoweroftheHolySpirit.
• WhenweprayintheSpirit,wepraypastourselvesandbeyondourselves.
• “Forwedonotknowwhattoprayforasweought,buttheSpirithimselfintercedesforuswithgroaningstoodeepforwords.”
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TheTrinityGroundsourWorship• BoththegroundofworshipandtheproperexpressionofworshipareFednecessarilytotheonenessandthreenessofGod.
• WorshipfindsitsnecessarygroundinginGodhimself,inhisbeingandhischaracter.
• WorshipfindsitsonlyrighiulexpressioninresponsetotherevelaFonoftheoneGodwhoisFather,Son,andHolySpirit.
• Inworship,ourTriuneGoddesirestodrawusintocommunionwithHim.
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TheSignificanceoftheTrinity
• TheBibledescribestheexistenceofonetrueGod,yeta?ributesthecharacterisFcsofthisGodtotheFather,SonandHolySpirit.
• TheBiblicalevidencemaintainsthesingularityofGodaswellasthedeityoftheFather,SonandHolySpirit,individually.
• ThedoctrineoftheTrinityisnotacreaFvewhim.ItistheteachingofScripture,formalizedintheecumenicalcreeds.
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TheSignificanceoftheTrinity
TheTrinityaccountsforandupholdsthedeityofChrist.• AlldeviaFonsfromhistoricalTrinitarianismhavecompromisedtheeternaldivinenatureofJesusChrist.It’sthatsimple.
• InthesedeviaFons,Christiseitherdemoted,subordinated,orsubjugatedasalessorbeing.
• WhenthefulldeityofJesusChristisdenied,theTrinityislostorabandoned.
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TheTrinity–ABriefDefiniFon• ThereisbutoneGod,• ThisoneGodeternallysubsistsinthreepersons:theFather,Son,andHolySpirit,eachofwhomisfullyGod.
• TheFatherisunbego?en,theSoniseternallybego?en,andtheSpiriteternallyproceedsfromboth.
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Usingtheword“Person”• “Person”isanimperfectwordtodenotethedisFncFonsintheGodhead.
• Because,inourwayofthinking,apersonisadisFnctindividualbeing.
• I.e.EverypersonisadisFnctindividualwithhisownpersonalizedhumannatureandwill.
• ButinGodtherearenotthreebeingsalongsideorseparatefromoneanother.
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Usingtheword“Person”• OurTriuneGodisonebeing,withonedivinenature,oneessence,onemind,andonewill.
• Therearethreemannersofsubsistence,buteach“person”isoftheonedivinesubstanceandnature.
• Wedoseepersonalself-disFncFonswithintheTrinity,indicaFngrelaFons,yettheyaregenericallyandnumericallyoneDivineBeing.
• Self-disFncFonsintheDivineBeingareevidentastheyrefertoeachotheras“I”and“you”,and“he”;yetthereisonlyoneGod.
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MoFveforDoctrinalDevelopment• ClarificaFonandformalizaFonoftheearlychurch’sTrinitariantheologywasrequiredbyinteracFonwithhereFcalideaspoppingupinvariousplaces.
• HereFcalteachingsthreatenedthetruenatureofGodandJesusChrist,essenFaltothefaithfularFculaFonofthegospel.
• But,theabilitytoeffecFvelycombathereFcalteachingwasinhibitedbythepoliFcalenvironment.
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EarlyHeresies
GnosFcism Monarchianism Arianism
AdopFonism Modalism
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GnosFcismGnosFcism–Theteachingthatma?eriseitherevilordoesnotreallyexist.• FromtheGreekwordgnosis(knowledge).• Thoseteachingitprofessedaspecial“hidden”or“higherknowledge”oftranscendencearrivedatbyinternal,intuiFvemeans(experienFal).
• ChiefdenialwastheincarnaFonoftheSonofGod.Inthisview,the“Logos”couldnotbeunitedtohumanflesh(ma?er).
• DevelopedtheirowngnosFcChrisFan“Scriptures”.
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NTagainstIncipientGnosFcism• Jn.1:14AndtheWordbecamefleshanddweltamongus,
• 1Jn.4:2BythisyouknowtheSpiritofGod:everyspiritthatconfessesthatJesusChristhascomeinthefleshisfromGod,andeveryspiritthatdoesnotconfessJesusisnotfromGod.
• 1Tim.6:20AvoidtheirreverentbabbleandcontradicFonsofwhatisfalselycalled“knowledge,”forbyprofessingitsomehavedepartedfromthefaith.
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Monarchianism• FromtheGreekindicaFngthemonarchyofasinglesovereign.
• Fiercelysoughttoprotectmonotheism.• InsistedthatGodwasoneinessenceandpersonhood.
• CouldnotacceptanyideaofmorethanonepersonintheGodhead.
• Manifesteditselfinacoupleofdifferentforms,AdopFonismandModalism.
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AdopFonism• EmphasizedthatGodisonebeingandoneperson.
• TeachesthatJesuswasbornasanyotherhuman.
• JudgedrighteousenoughtobeadoptedasGod'sSonandgrantedaporFonofthedivinenature.
• TheHolySpiritwasadivineforceorpresence.
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Modalism• Godisonebeing,andagain,oneperson.• TheFather,Son,andSpiritarebutthethreemodesorformsofrevelaFon.
• SomeFmesGodmanifestshimselftousasFather,someFmesastheSon,etc.
• AlsoknownasSabellianismwheretheOTFatherbecametheNTSon,andthenbecametheHSatPentecost.
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Modalism• Inmodalism,Godisonedivineperson.
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• TheFather,Son,andSpiritaredifferentmanifesta/onsoftheonedivineperson;likeGodpuongondifferentmasks.
• But,inorthodoxChrisFanity,wehaveonedivinebeingwhoexistsinthreepersons.
ArianismAriusofAlexandria(c.310)rejectedmodalismbutwasinfluencedbyAdopFonism.HetaughtthattheFatheraloneiswithoutabeginning.JesuswasnotGodbutanenFtycreatedbyGodinorderthathemightcreatetheworld.• Ariusfamouslysaid,“TherewasaFmewhentheSonwasnot.”
• Inhisview,ChristisneitherGodnorisHeman,butsomethinginbetween.ThereisGodandthereistheSonandthereistherestofcreaFon.
ArianismwasastubbornheresyOriginallyrejectedattheCouncilofNicaeain325AD.• ArianismconFnuedintheEasternchurcheswithmanyadherents.
• ConFnuedtohaveproponentsforanotherhalf-centuryspawningvariaFonsofitself.
• AthanasiusofAlexandria(298-373)roseupasitschiefopponent.
• ArianismwasmoreemphaFcallyrejectedattheCouncilofConstanFnoplein381AD.
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TheHeresiesConFnueTodayGnosFcism• ChrisFanScience,• ReligiousScience,• NewAgeMovement,• Anumberofeasterngroups(e.g.theTheosophicalSociety).
AdopFonism• Mormonism• Unitarianism
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TheHeresiesConFnueToday
Modalism• United(JesusOnly)Pentecostals,• OnenessPentecostals(e.g.TDJakes),• TheLocalChurch(WitnessLee).Arianism• Jehovah’sWitnesses,• Christadelphianism,• Unitarianism(initsvariousdenominaFons).
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TheHeresiesConFnueToday
Understandingofthedoctrinesof“Trinity”andthe“PersonofChrist”providesthegroundnecessarytodiscernhereFcalorunorthodoxteachingintoday’spost-modernenvironment.
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TheNiceneCreed• ThedoctrineoftheTrinitywasfirstformalizedbythechurchattheCouncilofNicaea(325AD)
• ThefocuswasoncorrecFngerroneousteachingregardingthepersonofChrist.
• ItwaslaterrevisedandexpandedasaresultoftheCouncilofConstanFnople(381AD)
• TheNiceneCreedusedtodayistherevisedversionof381AD.
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TheNiceneCreedof381ADWebelieveinoneGod,theFatherAlmighty,Makerofheavenandearth,andofallthingsvisibleandinvisible.AndinoneLordJesusChrist,theonly-bego?enSonofGod,bego?enoftheFatherbeforeallworlds;GodofGod,LightofLight,veryGodofveryGod;bego?en,notmade,beingofonesubstancewiththeFather,bywhomallthingsweremade.Who,forusmenandforoursalvaFon,camedownfromheaven,andwasincarnatebytheHolySpiritofthevirginMary,andwasmademan;hewascrucifiedforusunderPonFusPilate,andsufferedandwasburied;
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TheNiceneCreedof381AD(cont’d)AndthethirddayHeroseagain,accordingtotheScriptures;andascendedintoheaven,andsitsontherighthandoftheFather;fromthenceHeshallcomeagain,withglory,tojudgethequick(living)andthedead;whosekingdomshallhavenoend.AndintheHolySpirit,theLordandGiveroflife;whoproceedsfromtheFatherandtheSon;whowiththeFatherandtheSontogetherisworshippedandglorified;whospokebytheprophets.InoneholycatholicandapostolicChurch.WeacknowledgeonebapFsmfortheremissionofsins;andwelookfortheresurrecFonofthedead,andthelifeoftheworldtocome.AMEN.
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TheNiceneCreed
• TheoneGodsubsistsintheFather,Son,andHolySpirit.• ThethreearedisFnguishedbyeternalrelaFonsoforigin-begeongandproceeding-andnototherwise.• TheFather,Son,andHolySpirittogetheraretobeworshipedandglorified.
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UnfathomablebutKnowable
• WecannotcompletelycomprehenditorfullyplumbthedepthsoftheTrinity.“Forastheheavensarehigherthantheearth,soaremywayshigherthanyourwaysandmythoughtsthanyourthoughts.”Isa.55:9
• GodhascommunicatedwithmantrulybutnotexhausFvely.“ThesecretthingsbelongtotheLordourGod,butthethingsthatarerevealedbelongtousandtoourchildrenforever,thatwemaydoallthewordsofthislaw.”Deut.29:29
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UnfathomablebutKnowable
• ThedoctrineoftheTrinityispartoftherevelaFonofGod(whoisinfinite)tothosewhoarefinite.
• TheTrinityulFmatelyremainsamystery.• However,thebiblicalevidencepresentsuswithaTriuneGod.
• IftheScripturesteachit,wecanknowitistrueevenifwecannotfullycomprehendit.
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TheDoctrineofGod
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TheDoctrineofGodformstheframeworkandpresupposiFonsfordevelopmentoforthodoxTrinitariandoctrine.
OurTriuneGod
Godisone(monotheism) Godisincomprehensible
Godistheoneperfectspiritualbeing
Godisimmutable
Godistranscendent(totallyother)
God’sbeingissimple(notcomposedofparts)
Godisimpassible(doesnotsuffer)
Ontologyvs.EconomyWhenaddressingwhatGodis,inhisessenceandbeing,wearespeaking“Ontologically”,adintra.Alsoreferredtoasthe“imminent”Trinity.– Ontologically,thethreepersonsoftheTrinity
areequallydivine,holy,unchanging,sharingoneessence/being.
WhenaddressingwhatGoddoesinregardtocreaFon,wearespeakingofhisoperaFonsinthe“Economy”,adextra.– HowtheFather,Son,andSpiritrelateto
creaFon/worldespeciallyintheworkofredempFon.
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TheDoctrineoftheTrinityPart2Lastweek:• ThesignificanceoftheTrinity• Theword“person”inreferencetotheTrinity
• EarlyheresiesprompFngtheCouncilsofNicaea(325AD)andConstanFnople(381AD)
• TheNiceneCreed–formalizedTrinitarianism• Ontology(adintra)vs.Economy(adextra)
TheTrinityinTheNiceneCreed• ThereisbutoneGod,• ThisoneGodeternallysubsistsinthreepersons:theFather,Son,andHolySpirit,eachofwhomisfullyGod.
• TheFatherisunbego?en,theSoniseternallybego?en,andtheSpiriteternallyproceedsfromboth.
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PersonalProperFeswithintheTrinity• TheFatherisunbego?en,theSonisbego?enof
theFather,theSpiritproceedsfromtheFatherandtheSon.
• ThesepersonalproperFesdisFnguishthethreeandestablishtheir“relaFonsoforigin”adintra.
• However,theserelaFonsareeternal,spontaneous,andnecessarytotheverynatureandbeingofGod.
• I.e.Goddidn’twilltheSonandtheSpiritintoexistence.Theyareofhisverybeing.
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PersonalProperFeswithintheTrinity• Paternityistheunbego?enFather’spersonalpropertybecauseheandhealoneisfathertotheSon.
• Filia;on(orsonship)isthebego?enSon’spersonalpropertybecauseheandhealoneissonoftheFather.
• Procession(orSpiraFon)isthepersonalpropertyoftheSpiritbecauseheandhealoneproceedsfromtheFatherandtheSon.
• BecausethesepersonalproperFesarewhatdisFnguishthethree,wemaydefinethedivinepersonsas“subsisFngrelaFons.”
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PersonalProperFeswithintheTrinity
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• GodexistsessenFallyandactuallyasGodtheFatheroftheSon,asGodtheSonoftheFather,andasGodtheHolySpiritwhoproceedsfromthemboth.
• GodhasnoconcreteexistenceapartfromhisthreefoldsubsistenceastheFather,theSon,andtheHolySpirit.
• Whileeachdivinepersonisreallydis/nctfromtheothersonthebasisofhispersonalproperty,eachdivinepersonisiden/calwiththeself-existentbeingandessenceoftheonetrueGod.
• Godisthreepersonsallthewaydown.
PersonalProperFeswithintheTrinity
• TheeternalrelaFonsadintraarereflectedintheTrinity’smissionintheeconomyadextra.
• Itwasfiongfortheunbego?enFathertosendthebego?enSonintotheworldtoaccomplishredempFon.
• ItwasfiongfortheSpiritwhoproceeds(Lit.isbreathedforth)fromtheFatherandtheSontobesenttoapplyredempFonandsancFfyGod’select.
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InseparableOperaFons• InhisexternalworksofcreaFon,providence,andredempFon,theTriuneGodisundivided.
• IneveryworkoroperaFonofGod,thethreepersonsoftheTrinity,havingonemindandonewill,parFcipateandworktogetherinseparably.
• TheunityofthethreepersonsintheexternalworksoftheTrinity(adextra)stemsfromtheunityofbeing/essenceoftheTriuneGodineternity(adintra).
• WhiletheexternalworksoftheTrinityareundivided,specificworksmaybepredicatedofonepersonoranother.
• TheFathercreates(Isaiah44:24),theSonredeems(Gal.3:13),andtheHolySpiritsancFfies(Rom.15:16).
• However,itistheoneTriuneGodthatcreates,redeems,andsancFfies.
• "AstheFatherandSonandHolySpiritareinseparable,sodotheyworkinseparably.”Augus/ne
InseparableOperaFons
BalancingUnityandDiversity• IfyouoveremphasizeGod’soneness,youcanendupsayingsomethinglikethethreepersonsaresimplythreemanifestaFonsofasingledivineperson(modalism).
• Ifyouoveremphasizethethreeness,youendupwiththreegods(theheresyoftri-theism)orasenior“God”andtwolesser“gods”(ArianismorMonarchianism).
• ThetruthoftheNiceneCreedprecludesbothextremes.
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TheProvidenceofGod• TheearlyCreedsarenotverballyinspiredorinfalliblelikeScripture.
• TheyaretoberecognizedandendorsedonlyinsofarastheyagreewithScripture,whichwastheconsensusoftheearlychurchfathers.
• Also,it’salsohardtobelievethatGodwouldallowanassemblyofbishopsrepresenFngvirtuallyallofChristendomtoconcludeerroneousteaching.
• ThisisGod’sprovidenFalcareofthechurch.44
ChristologyandtheTrinity• WenowturntosomespecificdoctrinalconsideraFonsregardingJesusChrist,theGod-man.• TheearlyheresiesspecificallyquesFonedthepersonofJesusChristinrelaFontoGod.• ThereforetheclarificaFonofthedoctrinesoftheTrinityandChristologygohand-in-hand.
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TheIncarnaFon• IntheincarnaFon,theWord(theeternalSonofGod)becamefleshanddweltamongus,John1:14.• ToborrowaphrasefromthepuritanThomasGoodwin:HeavenkissedearthwhenGodbecameman.• TheSonofGodtookonahumannaturethatwascreated/conceivedbythepoweroftheHolySpiritofthevirginMary.
TheIncarnaFon
• ThedivineSonofGodtooktohimselfahumannatureandwasbornJesus,theChrist,theGod-man.• AberrantteachingsaroseregardingthepersonofChrist,contrarytotheorthodoxunderstanding.• ThisledtotheCouncilofChalcedonin451ADa?endedby520bishopsandtheirrepresentaFves.
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ChalcedonianCreedThepurposeoftheChalcedonianCreedwastoformalizeorthodoxdoctrineregardingtheIncarnaFonandthepersonofChrist.• Indoingso,itprecluded:• Eutychianism-ThatChristhadonlyonenature,amixtureofhumananddivine.
• Nestorianism–Thattwopersons,onedivineandonehuman,inhabitedtheonebodyofJesusChrist.
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ChalcedonianCreedof451AD“We,then,followingtheholyFathers...,teachmentoconfessoneandthesameSon,ourLordJesusChrist,thesameperfectinGodheadandalsoperfectinmanhood;trulyGodandtrulyman,...inallthingslikeuntous,withoutsin;bego?enbeforeallagesoftheFatheraccordingtotheGodhead,andinthesela?erdays,forusandforoursalvaFon,bornoftheVirginMaryaccordingtotheManhood;
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ChalcedonianCreed(cont’d)oneandthesameChrist,Son,Lord,onlybego?en,tobeacknowledgedintwonatures,inconfusedly,unchangeably,indivisibly,inseparably;thedisFncFonofnaturesbeingbynomeanstakenawaybytheunion,butratherthepropertyofeachnaturebeingpreserved,andconcurringinonePersonandoneSubsistence,notpartedordividedintotwopersons,butoneandthesameSon,andonlybego?en,GodtheWord,theLordJesusChrist...
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TheHypostaFcUnion
• Thisunionoftwonatures(onedivineandonehuman)inthepersonofJesusChristiscalledtheHypostaFcUnion.
• FromtheGreek:hypostasis,whichcametomean“individualreality”or“person”.
• Thetechnicalterm“HypostaFcUnion”inChristologyisusedtodescribetheunionofChrist'shumanityanddivinityinonehypostasis,i.e.oneperson.
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TheHypostaFcUnion
• IntheincarnaFon,thedivinenatureoftheSonwasforeverjoinedtothehumannatureofmanintheGod-manJesusChrist.
• HeisnothalfGodandhalfman.JesusChristis100%Godand100%man.
• The2ndpersonoftheTrinityremainsonepersonbutnowhastwonatures(humananddivine)whichremaindisFnctintheonepersonJesusChrist.
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TheHypostaFcUnion
• DoesthisimplythatintheincarnaFonGodchanged?Isn’tGodimmutable?
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TheHypostaFcUnion• AstoJesus’divinenature,Heisunchanging.AstoHishumannature,Heischangeable.
• AsGod,Jesusisunchangeable,infinite,ever-supremeineveryway.
• ButastoHishumannature,Heischangeable,subjecttoweakness,abletosuffer,abletodie.
• Heissimultaneouslydivineandhuman.HeistheGod-man.
TheHypostaFcUnion
• TheSonofGoddidnotchangeHisnatureattheIncarnaFon.Goddidnotchange.
• Thedivinenaturedidnot“blend”withthehumannature—thatwouldhaverequiredchange.
• Rather,thedivinenatureresideswiththehumannatureinthePersonofChrist.TheIncarnaFonmeansthatJesuscanlayclaimtobothHisdivinenatureandHishumannature.
TheHypostaFcUnion• InJohn17:5,JesuspraystotheFather,“GlorifymeinyourpresencewiththegloryIhadwithyoubeforetheworldbegan.”
• BothofJesus’naturesareevidentinthisrequest.
• HereferstoHispre-existencewithGodinwhichHehasalwayssharedtheFather’sglory,evidenceofHisdivinenature,
• andHeasksnowtobeglorifiedwiththatsamegloryasthe“Christ”,theGod-man.
TheHypostaFcUnion
• Godmustbeimmutable,sinceHecannotdegradeintoaworsestateandHecannotimproveintoabe?erstate.Heisever-perfectand,asGod,cannotbeotherwise.PerfecFonisanabsolute,anditisimpossibleforHimtobe“moreperfect.”
TheHypostaFcUnion• Bycontrast,humannaturelacksinfinitecapaciFes.Ahumanisfiniteandmutableandalwayshasroomforimprovement.
• SoitwaswithJesus’humannature.• WhichexplainsthefactthatJesus“grewinwisdomandstature,andinfavorwithGodandmen”(Luke2:52).
TheHypostaFcUnion
Yetthe2ndpersonnowandforevermorehastwonatures,
divineandhuman.
Godisoneinbeing,essence,andnature.
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Onewillortwowills?• Heb.2:17Thereforehehadtobemadelikehisbrothersineveryrespect,sothathemightbecomeamercifulandfaithfulhighpriest...,tomakepropiFaFonforthesinsofthepeople.
• GregoryofNazianzus(c.375),“ThatwhichChristhasnotassumedhehasnothealed.”
• MaximustheConfessor(c.600)recognizedthatsinenteredtheworldthroughhumanwillatthefall,andthat,inaccordancewithGregory,theSonmusthaveassumedahumanwillinordertoredeemit.
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“Two-Will”Christology• DyotheleFsm:FromtheGreek:dyo(two)+thelemata(wills)
• FormallyadoptedaYeratthe3rdCouncilofConstanFnopleinresponsetotheMonothelite(onewill)controversy.
• Inhisoneperson,JesusChristhastwowills(divineandhuman)whichcorrespondtohistwonatures(divineandhuman).
• Thereforethe“will”isproperlyviewedasapropertyofone’snature,notone’sperson.
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“Two-Will”Christology• ThisisconsistentwithScripturewherethereisadisFncFonmadebetweenthewillsoftheFatherandChristduringhisearthlyministry.
• Willistoberegardedasapropertyofnature(notperson);justaswithourtriuneGod,havingonenatureandbeing,thereisproperlyonlyonedivinewillintheGodhead.
• TheTwo-willChristologyisalegiFmateextrapolaFonoftheChalcedonianCreed,andhasbeenheldbythevastmajorityofChrisFansdownthrutheages.
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TwonaturesinChrist• JesusChrist,theGod-manactsaccordingtobothnatures.Thepersonacts,notthenatures.
• Christ’sauthoritaFveworks(e.g.forgivingsins,subsFtuFonarydeath)arepossiblebecauseofhisdivinenature.
• Yet,hisworksofministrywerefromhismanhoodinthepoweroftheHolySpirit.
• Sincebothnaturesareunitedinoneperson,hisworksarethatoftheGod-man,notsimplytheworksofaman.
TheHumanityofJesus• AcknowledgingthetwonaturessolvesmanyexegeFcalproblems.
• Ma?.26:39,“ifitbepossible,letthiscuppassfromme;nevertheless,notasIwill,butasyouwill.”
• Jesus,willedhumanlyinobediencetohisFatherallthathehadwilleddivinelywiththeFatherandtheHolySpiritforoursalvaFon.
• Thushehasspokenhereaccordingtohishumanity.
TheHumanityofJesus• Mark13:32,“Butconcerningthatdayorthathour,nooneknows,noteventheangelsinheaven,northeSon,butonlytheFather.”
• Inhisdivinityhecertainlywouldknowthehour.Inhishumanity,astheSonofman,hewouldnotnecessarilyknow.
• Thushehasspokenhereaccordingtohishumanity.
TheHumanityofJesus• ThehumannatureassumedintheincarnaFonconsistedofbothahumanbodyandraFonalsoul(mindandspirit).
• HeassumedthefrailFesandinfirmiFesofmankind,yetwithoutsin.
• Diseasecanbea?ributedtotheFall(sin).Therefore,asfarasweknow,Jesusneversuffereddisease.
• Yet,‘hewasamanofsorrows,acquaintedwithgrief’(Isa.53:3),consistentwithatruehumannature.
TheGod-man• JesusmustbeunderstoodasheisGod,asheisman,andasheistheGod-man(mediator).
• AsGod,heisequalwiththeFatherandtheSpirit.
• Asman,heis–andalwayswillbe–subordinatetotheFather.
• Asmediator,theGod-manintercedesonbehalfofGod’speople.
• ThevalueofChrist’slifeanddeathisinfinitebecauseoftheinfinitevalueofhisperson.
InSummary
• “IntheGodheadthereisbutonesubstance,oneintelligence,onewill,etc.,andyetthreepersonseternallyco-existofthatoneessence,andexercisethatoneintelligenceandonewill,etc.InChristonthecontrary,therearetwospirits,twointelligences,twowills,andyetallthewhileoneindivisibleperson”Hodge,OutlinesofTheology,p.167
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InSummary• TheearlyCreedsandEcumenicalCouncilsuptoandincluding“thedecisionoftheCouncilofConstanFnople(681AD)...closedthegraduallyperfecteddefiniFonofthechurchdoctrineastothePersonofChrist,andhavebeenacceptedbyallProtestants.”Hodge,OutlinesofTheology,p.386.
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