Arians and Trinitarians, Part 1

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Orthodox: of, relating to, or conforming to the approved form of any doctrine.

Approved by whom?

Orthodoxy: the right opinion.

Who exactly determines whether something is the right opinion or not?

In answer to both of these questions we would say it’s generally the ones in charge, whether this is an individual or a group of individuals, as the old saying goes, “Majority Rules”. In matters of religion this is no different. It is the majority, those in power, in control who govern doctrine and interpretation of scripture who decide what is and what is not acceptable, what is right (or approve in their eyes), and what is wrong (or false).

Many have lost sight of this basic fact and have felled to rightly consider it when studying doctrine that is doctrines whose interpretation is in questioned. Is the questionable doctrine one which is held by the majority or the minority? This could weigh in heavily in determining the truth.

How soon many have forgotten that the Lord warned us of this very thing taking place when he relayed the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. It is common knowledge (at least amongst farmers) that weeds will easily overtake a crop if left unchecked, and so our Lord insinuated in the parable viz. the false element in the church (the “tares”) would eventually overtake the wheat field, controlling it and as such choke off the wheat and their influence. Being in the majority they would soon begin to corrupt the doctrine once delivered to the saints incorporating into it the doctrines and teaching of men, destructive heresies, many of which were of pagan origins, one such doctrine being the doctrine of the Trinity.

Even before the Gospel Age, the concept of a trinity was widespread throughout the Pagan world.

The oldest known mention of a triune God dates back to Nimrod and the Tower of Babel (later called Babylon), the “Sun God” composed of Nimrod, Tammuz and Semiramis. The pagans in Siberia, Persia, and Scandinavia likewise worshiped triune Gods. In Egypt this triune God was composed of Osiris, Horus and Isis. In Greece it was Zeus, Apollo and Athena, in Pagan Rome, Jupiter, Mars and Venus. In India the trinity was called, “Eko Deva Trimurtti,” (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) “One God, three forms.” These are but a few but in all the many cultures and pagan systems of worship, we find the ultimate worship of their gods always ends up in three.

Long after the apostles died, the teaching that God is a trinity began to be introduced into the Christian church. It was championed chiefly by the educated converts from Paganism and resisted by ordinary believers.

The victory of orthodoxy (of the controlling element) was a triumph of priests and theologians over the indeed deeply rooted faith of the people…” (1)

That the Father and the Son are equal, however, was at first denied by all. Early church writers, such as Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, Novatian, Arnobius, and Lactantius were very explicit in affirming that the Heavenly Father alone is the supreme God and that Jesus is completely subordinate to his authority and will.

Not my will, but thy will be done” (Luke 22:42) Compare also 1 Cor 15:28

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(1) Adolf Harnack, Outlines of the History of Dogma, trans. E. K. Mitchell (Starr King Press), l 957, p. 266. (A Trinitarian source)

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