10. Jahrgang • 2013 MBS T 179 exTe Thomas K. Johnson The Trinity in the Bible and Selected Creeds of the Church: Resources for Study B U C N E I R T S RR E A M I M N A R 2 1 : E 4 P H Theological Accents Theologische Akzente Table of Contents Inhaltsverzeichnis I In the Bible .....................................................................................3 II Early Christian Creeds ....................................................................4 The Creed before the Apostles’ Creed .............................................4 The Apostles’ Creed ........................................................................4 The Nicene Creed ...........................................................................5 The Definition (or Creed) of Chalcedon .........................................6 The Athanasian Creed ....................................................................7 III The Trinity in the Medieval Reform Movements ............................8 IV The Trinity in Classical Protestant Confessions ............................10 The Augsburg Confession .............................................................10 The Thirty Nine Articles of the Anglican Church .........................11 The Second Helvetic Confession ...................................................11 The Bohemenian Confession of 1575 ............................................12 The London Baptist Confession of 1689 .......................................14 V The Doctrine of the Trinity, Recent Developments ........................15 The Amsterdam Declaration 2000 .................................................15 The Capetown Commitment of 2010 ...........................................16 Recent Mennonite Theology and Ethics .......................................17 The Filioque: A Church Dividing Issue? An Agreed Statement, 2003 ..........................................................19 Annotation .........................................................................................21 The Author .........................................................................................22 Study Centers .....................................................................................23 Imprint ..............................................................................................24 1. Aufl. 2013 2 The Trinity in the Bible and Selected Creeds of the Church: Resources for Study The Trinity in the Bible and Selected Creeds of the Church: Resources for Study Thomas K. Johnson I In the Bible This study assumes that the classical Though the teaching about the Trinity Christian teaching on the Trinity is comes mostly in the New Testament, consistent with the Bible, though this there are many places where the Old claim will not be documented at length. Testament points toward understand- The reader who is uncertain that the ing God as a Trinity. This is sometimes Triune nature of God is taught in the connected with descriptions of com- Bible should carefully consider some of plexity within the Godhead, some- the many relevant biblical texts on this times with clear distinctions between theme. Though the technical language the work of God as Creator and as of the classical Christian creeds is not Redeemer. used in the Bible, this careful way of Some of these texts are: speaking about God flows organically o Genesis 1:26–27 from the entire Bible. A few selected texts which the reader may want to o Isaiah 43:10–11; 44:6; 48:16; consider: 63:7–16 o Psalm 2 o Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–13; o Psalm 45:6–7 Luke 3:21–22; John 1:29–34 o M atthew 28:18–20 o Psalm 110 o J ohn 1:1–18 Our understanding of the Trinity is o John 14:16, 26; 15:26–27; John closely associated with our understand- ing of Jesus, the Christ, who is fully 16:5–15 God and fully man, yet one Person. o R omans 1:1–6 This classical Christian teaching is also o 2 Corinthians 13:14 assumed in this study, though it will o E phesians 1:3–14; 2:14–22 not be defended at length. A few bib- o C olossians 1:15–18 lical texts the reader may wish to con- sider on this topic, in addition to the o 1 Peter 1:1–2 Psalms mentioned above: Theologische AkzenTe 3 Thomas K. Johnson o Isaiah 9:6–7 And in one Christ Jesus, the Son of o Daniel 7:13–14 God, who became incarnate for our salvation o Zechariah 12:10 And in the Holy Spirit, who pro- o Matthew 9:1–8; 11:25–30; 14:22–32 claimed the [divine] dispensations o Mark 4:35–41 through the prophets, including the o John 3:16–36; 5:16–27; 20:24–29 advents, the birth from a virgin, the o Romans 5:15–17; 9:1–5 passion, the resurrection from the dead and the bodily ascension into o 1 Corinthians 2:6–10 heaven of the beloved Christ Jesus o Colossians 2:9 our Lord, as well as his [future] o Hebrews 1:1–13; 2:5–18; 4:14–16; coming from heaven in the glory of 5:7–9 the Father, when he will ‘gather all o 1 John 1:1–4; 4:1–3 things in one,’1 And to raise up again o 2 John 7–8 alI flesh of the whole human race, in order that ‘every knee should bow and every tongue confess’2 to Christ Jesus, our Lord and God, our Sav- II Early Christian Creeds ior and king, according to the will The Creed before the Apostles’ Creed of the invisible Father, and that he should execute righteous judgment From the early centuries of the church toward all. That he may send ‘the Christians used summaries of the faith spirits of wickedness’3 and the angels to maintain consistency of basic teaching who transgressed and became apos- among the churches and from generation tates, together with the ungodly and to generation. There were a few very simi- unrighteous, wicked and profane lar creeds that were slowly replaced by the among human beings, into everlast- ‘Apostles’ Creed.’ As an example of a creed ing fire, but in the exercise of his of which we have a complete text that was a grace may grant immortality to the forerunner of the Apostles’ Creed we include righteous and holy, and to those who the creed of Irenaeus (130–202 AD). have kept his commandments and A lthough the church is dispersed persevered in his love and may clothe throughout the world, even to the ends them with everlasting glory.4 of the earth, it has received this common faith from the apostles and their disciples: The Apostles’ Creed [ We believe] in one God, the Father The Apostles’ Creed was not written Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth by the apostles but it contains the cen- and the sea, and everything that is in tral elements of the gospel proclaimed them by the apostles and is apostolic in that 4 MBS TexTe 179 The Trinity in the Bible and Selected Creeds of the Church: Resources for Study sense. (We have not seen convincing H e ascended into heaven and sits evidence for the claim, repeated occa- at the right hand of God the Father sionally in Christian history, that there Almighty; was a council of the apostles in the first F rom thence he shall come to judge century which wrote this creed.) With the living and the dead. very slight variations in wording, it has I believe in the Holy Spirit, been used as a simple summary of cen- Th e Holy Catholic Church, the tral Christian beliefs since very early communion of the saints, in Christian history. Almost this exact wording has been used since about 390 Th e forgiveness of sins, the resurrec- AD. tion of the body, and the life ever- In early Christian history it was lasting. recited, especially at the time of bap- tism, as a Triune statement of faith The Nicene Creed which nicely explained baptism ‘in the The ‘Nicene Creed’ contains the teach- name of the Father and of the Son and ing approved by the Council of Nicea of the Holy Spirit.’ This creed is one of in 325, but the exact wording and for- the sources of the common Christian mat come from the Council of Con- way of talking about ‘Three Articles’ of stantinople in 381. (In contrast, the the faith, about the Father, about the exact wording of the creed approved at Son, and about the Holy Spirit. This Nicea is sometimes called ‘The Creed of outline shows how the early church Nicea.’) For this reason it is sometimes saw the doctrine of the Trinity as not also called ‘The Creed of Constantino- only central to knowing God but also ple’ or ‘The Nicene-Constantinopolitan the leading way to outline the entire Creed.’ The teaching of the creeds from faith. Nicea and Constantinople were fully I believe in God the Father approved at the Council of Chalcedon Almighty, Maker of heaven and in 451. The text of the Nicene Creed earth; follows: And in Jesus Christ his only Son, W e believe in one God the Father our Lord: All-sovereign, maker of heaven and Who was conceived by the Holy earth, and of all things visible and Spirit, invisible; Born of the Virgin Mary, A nd in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was only-begotten Son of God, Begot- crucified, dead, and buried; ten of the Father before all the ages, Light of Light, true God of true God, He descended into hell; begotten not made, of one substance The third day he arose again from (homoousion) with the Father, the dead, Theologische AkzenTe 5 Thomas K. Johnson through whom all things were made; human. It was adopted by the Council who for us men and for our salvation of Chalcedon (also called the Fourth came down from the heavens, and Ecumenical Council) in 451 AD. It was made flesh of the Holy Spirit has been generally accepted by most and the Virgin Mary, and became Christians except those who belong to man, and was crucified for us under the Oriental Orthodox Churches. Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was W e, then, following the holy buried, and rose again on the third Fathers, all with one consent, teach day according to the Scriptures, and people to confess one and the same ascended into the heavens, and sits Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same on the right hand of the Father, and perfect in Godhead and also perfect comes again with glory to judge the in manhood; living and the dead, of whose king- t ruly God and truly man, of a rea- dom there shall be no end; sonable [rational] soul and body; And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and c onsubstantial [co-essential] with the Life-giver, that proceeds from the the Father according to the God- Father,5 who with the Father and the head, and consubstantial with us Son is worshipped together and glo- according to the Manhood; rified together, who spoke through i n all things like unto us, without the prophets: sin; In one holy Catholic and Apostolic b egotten before all ages of the Father Church: according to the Godhead, and in We acknowledge one baptism unto these latter days, for us and for our remission of sins. We look for a res- salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, urrection of the dead, and the life of the Mother of God, according to the the age to come.6 Manhood; o ne and the same Christ, Son, The Definition (or Creed) of Chalcedon Lord, only begotten, to be acknowl- This creed is often called a defini- edged in two natures, inconfusedly, tion, not a creed, because its focus is unchangeably, indivisibly, insepara- on defining the relation between the bly; two natures of Christ, not on con- t he distinction of natures being by fessing our entire trinitarian Chris- no means taken away by the union, tian faith. It is included here because but rather the property of each the Christian understanding of the nature being preserved, and concur- Trinity is closely associated with the ring in one Person and one Subsis- Christian understanding of Jesus, the tence, not parted or divided into Christ, being both fully God and fully two persons, but one and the same 6 MBS TexTe 179 The Trinity in the Bible and Selected Creeds of the Church: Resources for Study Son, and only begotten God (mono- and another of the Holy Ghost. gene theon), the Word, the Lord But the Godhead of the Father, of Jesus Christ; the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is as the prophets from the beginning all one; the Glory equal, the Maj- [have declared] concerning Him, esty coeternal. Such as the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is; such is the Son; and such is the has taught us, and the Creed of the Holy Ghost. The Father uncre- holy Fathers has handed down to us. ated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and The Athanasian Creed the Holy Ghost unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; This creed was named after the impor- and the Holy Ghost eternal. And tant pastor and writer of the fourth cen- yet they are not three eternals; but tury, Athanasius (293–373), but it was one eternal. As also there are not probably written in the fifth or sixth three uncreated; nor three infi- century, long after the time of Atha- nites, but one uncreated; and one nasius. In this text the term ‘catholic’ infinite. So likewise the Father is refers to all those Christians who did Almighty; the Son Almighty; and not follow one of the important her- the Holy Ghost Almighty. And esies of the ancient world; the Christian yet they are not three Almighties; church was not yet divided between but one Almighty. So the Father Protestant and Roman Catholic, nor is God; the Son is God; and the between eastern and western churches. Holy Ghost is God. And yet they It has been used by many Evangelical are not three Gods; but one God. churches, though its didactic character So likewise the Father is Lord; the makes it more suitable to a classroom or Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost personal use than to a worship service. Lord. And yet not three Lords; Whosoever will be saved, before all but one Lord. For like as we are things it is necessary that he hold compelled by the Christian ver- the catholic faith. Which faith ity; to acknowledge every Person except every one do keep whole by himself to be God and Lord; and undefiled; without doubt he So are we forbidden by the catho- shall perish everlastingly. And the lic religion; to say, There are three catholic faith is this: That we wor- Gods, or three Lords. The Father is ship one God in Trinity, and Trin- made of none; neither created, nor ity in Unity; Neither confound- begotten. The Son is of the Father ing the Persons; nor dividing the alone; not made, nor created; but Essence. For there is one Person begotten. The Holy Ghost is of of the Father; another of the Son; the Father and of the Son; neither Theologische AkzenTe 7 Thomas K. Johnson made, nor created, nor begotten; Man is one Christ; Who suffered but proceeding. So there is one for our salvation; descended into Father, not three Fathers; one Son, hell; rose again the third day from not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, the dead. He ascended into heaven, not three Holy Ghosts. And in he sitteth on the right hand of the this Trinity none is before, or after God the Father Almighty, from another; none is greater, or less whence he will come to judge the than another. But the whole three quick and the dead. At whose Persons are coeternal, and coequal. coming all men will rise again So that in all things, as aforesaid; with their bodies; And shall give the Unity in Trinity, and the Trin- account for their own works. And ity in Unity, is to be worshipped. they that have done good shall He therefore that will be saved, let go into life everlasting; and they him thus think of the Trinity. that have done evil, into everlast- Furthermore it is necessary to ing fire. This is the catholic faith; everlasting salvation; that he also which except a man believe truly believe faithfully the Incarnation and firmly, he cannot be saved. of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and III The Trinity in the Medi- confess; that our Lord Jesus Christ, eval Reform Movements the Son of God, is God and Man; While the various medieval reform God, of the Essence of the Father; movements within Christianity often begotten before the worlds; and focused on moral reforms and concerns Man, of the Essence of his Mother, regarding the sacraments, some of the born in the world. Perfect God; many movements desired to be clear and perfect Man, of a reasonable that their reforms were based on clas- soul and human flesh subsisting. sical Christian doctrine. As an example Equal to the Father, as touching we mention the Waldenses Confession his Godhead; and inferior to the of 1120. It not only explicitly affirms Father as touching his Manhood. the Apostles’ Creed; the fourteen arti- Who although he is God and cles of the Waldenses appear to be a Man; yet he is not two, but one development of the twelve articles of Christ. One; not by conversion the Apostolicum. of the Godhead into flesh; but by 1. We believe and firmly maintain all assumption of the Manhood by that is contained in the twelve arti- God. One altogether; not by con- cles of the symbol, commonly called fusion of Essence; but by unity of the apostles’ creed, and we regard Person. For as the reasonable soul as heretical whatever is inconsistent and flesh is one man; so God and with the said twelve articles. 8 MBS TexTe 179 The Trinity in the Bible and Selected Creeds of the Church: Resources for Study 2. We believe that there is one God – and priest, who died for the salva- the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. tion of all who should believe, and 3. We acknowledge for sacred canon- rose again for their justification. ical scriptures the books of the Holy 8 . And we also firmly believe, that Bible. (Here follows the title of each, there is no other mediator, or advo- exactly conformable to our received cate with God the Father, but Jesus canon, but which it is deemed, on Christ. And as to the Virgin Mary, that account, quite unnecessary to she was holy, humble, and full of particularize.) grace; and this we also believe con- 4. The books above-mentioned teach cerning all other saints, namely, that us: That there is one GOD, almighty, they are waiting in heaven for the unbounded in wisdom, and infinite resurrection of their bodies at the in goodness, and who, in His good- day of judgment. ness, has made all things. For He cre- 9 . We also believe, that, after this ated Adam after His own image and life, there are but two places – one likeness. But through the enmity of for those that are saved, the other the Devil, and his own disobedience, for the damned, which [two] we call Adam fell, sin entered into the world, paradise and hell, wholly denying and we became transgressors in and that imaginary purgatory of Anti- by Adam. christ, invented in opposition to the 5. That Christ had been promised to truth. the fathers who received the law, to 1 0. Moreover, we have ever regarded the end that, knowing their sin by all the inventions of men [in the the law, and their unrighteousness affairs of religion] as an unspeak- and insufficiency, they might desire able abomination before God; the coming of Christ to make satis- such as the festival days and vigils faction for their sins, and to accom- of saints, and what is called holy- plish the law by Himself. water, the abstaining from flesh on 6. That at the time appointed of certain days, and such like things, the Father, Christ was born – a but above all, the masses. time when iniquity everywhere 1 1. We hold in abhorrence all abounded, to make it manifest that human inventions, as proceeding it was not for the sake of any good from Antichrist, which produce in ourselves, for all were sinners, but distress (Alluding probably to the that He, who is true, might display voluntary penances and mortifica- His grace and mercy towards us. tion imposed by the Catholics on 7. That Christ is our life, and truth, themselves), and are prejudicial to and peace, and righteousness – our the liberty of the mind. shepherd and advocate, our sacrifice Theologische AkzenTe 9 Thomas K. Johnson 1 2 We consider the Sacraments as The Augsburg Confession signs of holy things, or as the visible This was and is the primary doctrinal emblems of invisible blessings. We standard of the Lutheran churches, regard it as proper and even neces- written and officially accepted in 1530. sary that believers use these sym- bols or visible forms when it can be 1] Our Churches, with common done. Notwithstanding which, we consent, do teach that the decree maintain that believers may be saved of the Council of Nicaea concern- without these signs, when they have ing the Unity of the Divine Essence neither place nor opportunity of and concerning the Three Persons, is observing them. true and to be believed without any doubting; 2] that is to say, there is 1 3. We acknowledge no sacraments one Divine Essence which is called [as of divine appointment] but bap- and which is God: eternal, with- tism and the Lord’s supper. out body, without parts, of infinite 1 4. We honour the secular powers, power, wisdom, and goodness, the with subjection, obedience, prompti- Maker and Preserver of all things, tude, and payment.7 visible and invisible; and 3] yet there are three Persons, of the same essence and power, who also are coeternal, IV The Trinity in Classical the Father, the Son, and the Holy Protestant Confessions Ghost. And the term ‘person’ 4] they From the beginnings of Protestantism, use as the Fathers have used it, to sig- the ancient and classical doctrine of nify, not a part or quality in another, the Trinity was affirmed and taught as but that which subsists of itself. 5] a central theme of the Christian faith. They condemn all heresies which This is seen in the several branches of have sprung up against this article, as Protestantism that developed from the the Manichaeans, who assumed two time of the Reformation in the 16th cen- principles, one Good and the other tury. There is overwhelming consensus Evil: also the Valentinians, Arians, regarding the Trinity in the Protestant Eunomians, Mohammedans, and confessions. The following selections all such. 6] They condemn also the show that similarity among churches Samosatenes, old and new, who, con- that had disagreements on questions tending that there is but one Person, regarding sacraments, liturgy, and sophistically and impiously argue other church policies. that the Word and the Holy Ghost are not distinct Persons, but that ‘Word’ signifies a spoken word, and ‘Spirit’ signifies motion created in things. 10 MBS TexTe 179