Thought that this might be interesting. While looking West, I find that they were much more focused on the Unity, while the East, even now, seems to be focused on the Plurality.
Nov 17 2009
2nd Peter 1.1-2, Two or One?
This post is directly related to one over the weekend in which I was asked about this passage of Scripture. This deals only with the theology of 2nd Peter, primarily – I hope – from a translation standpoint.
I will consider the ESV as the standard for literalism, and NLT/GWN as the standard for thought for thought:
Nov 12 2009
Tertullian’s Formula in Greek
Tertullian’s Formula was never used for much of the 4th century Christological debates, surprisingly enough. It was, however, redefined by Damasus in the late 4th century to mesh with the Eastern viewpoint. Personally, I like Tertullian in the Greek.
Nov 12 2009
Doctrinal Development and the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
While much of the first four centuries of Church History concern the deity of Christ, His relationship with the Father, the nature of the union of God and Man, and even the generation of the Son, less attention was paid to the development of the Holy Spirit, or the 3rd Person of the Trinity. For most of the formative years, the Holy Spirit was not seen as a separate person, and indeed, during the great debates of the 4th century, was pushed to side as a topic. It was only after the council in 381 that a doctrine of the Spirit as an entity separate and distinct from the Father and the Son began to develop.
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Nov 12 2009
4th Century Christianity: Damasus and Theodosius, 381
As we close the 4th Century, at least in this aspect (we must remember that Augustine did his fair share of doctrinal development regarding the Trinity) we find that in the end, a young Emperor used the force of Rome to settle the councils and their questions.
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Nov 12 2009
4th Century Christianity: Marcellus’ Fight
Continuing our look at the 4th Century and doctrinal development.
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Nov 09 2009
4th Century Christianity: The Trinity in Pictures
As we explore the development of the Doctrine of the Trinity in the 4th Century, I thought that I might show the various takes on it by artists across the spectrum.
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Oct 30 2009
On the Question of My Doctrine
Friends, recently I’ve had a few emails stating that
And by the way, some bloggers think you are way off on your doctrine of God besides me.
Oct 28 2009
Amen, Brother Calvin: The Essentials of Doctrine
When we say that the pure ministry of the word and pure celebration of the sacraments is a fit pledge and earnest, so that we may safely recognise a church in every society in which both exist, our meaning is, that we are never to discard it so long as these remain, though it may otherwise teem with numerous faults. Nay, even in the administration of word and sacraments defects may creep in which ought not to alienate us from its communion. For all the heads of true doctrine are not in the same position. Some are so necessary to be known, that all must hold them to be fixed and undoubted as the proper essentials of religion: for instance, that God is one, that Christ is God, and the Son of God, that our salvation depends on the mercy of God, and the like. (Institutes 4.1.12)
What else is there is to add?
Sep 23 2009
Can Oneness and Trinitarians Unite Around the Creeds?
Jason Dulle has a very interesting post about the historic creeds of Christendom, from a oneness pentecostal angle. If Oneness Pentecostals would approach it the way Jason has done, I believe that in at least one Creed those who hold to the deity of Christ could start to understand one another, and more than that, find some common ground:
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