Trinity and the Fathers (Jesus Christ, Earth, gospel, crucified, salvation)

[Victor]

Thought this would come in handy as a resource for those who wish to have it. I will be adding more as time permits.

~Victor

St. Theophilus of Antioch (c. 181 A.D.)
"The three days before the luminaries were created are types of the TRINITY [this is the first recorded use of the term referring to the Godhead]: GOD [the Father], HIS WORD [the Son], AND HIS WISDOM [the Holy Spirit]."

To Autolycus 2:10; 2:15; 2:22; Jurgens, p. 75-76

Athenagoras of Athens (c. 180 A.D.)

"The Son of God is the Word of the Father, in thought and in actuality. BY HIM AND THROUGH HIM ALL THINGS WERE MADE, the Father and the Son BEING ONE. Since the Son is IN the Father and the Father is IN the Son BY THE UNITY AND POWER OF THE SPIRIT, the Mind and Word of the Father is the Son of God. And if, in your exceedingly great wisdom, it occurs to you to inquire what is meant by 'the Son', I will tell you briefly: He is the First-begotten of the Father, NOT AS HAVING BEEN PRODUCED -- FOR FROM THE BEGINNING GOD HAD THE WORD IN HIMSELF... Who, then, would not be astonished to hear those called atheists, who speak of GOD THE FATHER AND OF GOD THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, and who proclaim THEIR power in UNION and THEIR distinction in order...Just as we assert that there is a God, and a Son who is His Word, and a Holy Spirit, UNITED IN POWER -- THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE SPIRIT...."

Supplication for the Christians 10, 24; Jurgens, p. 70

St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 140 - 202 A.D.)

"We hold, however, the rule of truth, according to which there is ONE ALMIGHTY GOD, who formed ALL things through His Word, and fashioned and made ALL things which exist out of that which did not exist; in which regard the Scripture says: 'For by the Word of the Lord were the heavens established, and all their strength by the Spirit of his mouth' [Psalm 33:6]. And again, 'All things were made through Him, and WITHOUT HIM WAS MADE NOTHING' [John 1:3]. From ALL, however, THERE IS NO EXCEPTION [that would include the SON]; and the Father made ALL things through Him, whether visible or invisible, whether of sense or of intelligence, whether temporal and for a certain dispensation or eternal and through the ages." (1:22:1)

excerpts from AGAINST HERESIES; Jurgens, p. 84-104

[James the Persian]

Good post Victor. Now we'll have somewher to refer the anti-Trinitarians to when they say the Trinity was invented at Nicea. If I find any other ante-Nicene Church Father quotes on the Trinity, I'll add them here later.

James

[glasgowchick]

Thanks victor, good post...

[Scott1]

Nice job Victor... I pray that more Christians educate themselves about the history of their faith.

Justin Martyr, First Apology, 13 (A.D. 155)
"Our teacher of these things is Jesus Christ, who also was born for this purpose, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea, in the times of Tiberius Caesar; and that we reasonably worship Him, having learned that He is the Son of the true God Himself, and holding Him in the second place, and the prophetic Spirit in the third, we will prove."

Martyrdom of Polycarp 14 (A.D. 157)
"[T]he ever-truthful God, hast fore-ordained, hast revealed beforehand to me, and now hast fulfilled. Wherefore also I praise Thee for all things, I bless Thee, I glorify Thee, along with the everlasting and heavenly Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, with whom, to Thee, and the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and to all coming ages. Amen."

Origen, First Principles, 4:28 (A.D. 230)
"[T]he statements made regarding Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are to be understood as transcending all time, all ages, and all eternity. For it is the Trinity alone which exceeds the comprehension not only of temporal but even of eternal intelligence; while other things which are not included in it are to be measured by times and ages."

[michel]

Very interesting, Victor - puts a different perspective on the Trinity for me; thanks.

[Victor]

Ignatius of Antioch
"[T]o the Church at Ephesus in Asia . . . chosen through true suffering by the will of the Father in Jesus Christ our God" (Letter to the Ephesians 1 [A.D. 110]).

Irenaeus
"For the Church, although dispersed throughout the whole world even to the ends of the earth, has received from the apostles and from their disciples the faith in one God, the Father Almighty . . . and in one Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became flesh for our salvation; and in the Holy Spirit" (Against Heresies 1:10:1 [A.D. 189]).

Tertullian
"We do indeed believe that there is only one God, but we believe that under this dispensation, or, as we say, oikonomia, there is also a Son of this one only God, his Word, who proceeded from him and through whom all things were made and without whom nothing was made. . . . We believe he was sent down by the Father, in accord with his own promise, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the sanctifier of the faith of those who believe in the Father and the Son, and in the Holy Spirit. . . . This rule of faith has been present since the beginning of the gospel, before even the earlier heretics" (Against Praxeas 2 [A.D. 216]).

[Polaris]

I have no problem with the definition of trinity that states that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one -- I believe that they are perfectly one in purpose and unity. However where I disagree is when the term trinity implies that they are of one substance. So my question is... when you say trinity are you referring to them as being of the same substance? If so, when was the first known reference that defines the Godhead in those terms?

[Victor]

Originally Posted by Polaris

I have no problem with the definition of trinity that states that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one -- I believe that they are perfectly one in purpose and unity. However where I disagree is when the term trinity implies that they are of one substance. So my question is... when you say trinity are you referring to them as being of the same substance? If so, when was the first known reference that defines the Godhead in those terms?

What exactly are you looking for here? The atomic break-down or something?

[Polaris]

Originally Posted by Victor

What exactly are you looking for here? The atomic break-down or something?

Are the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost the same person or are they three separate beings? If we were to see them all together would we see a single being or three beings?