Christian Understanding of Trinity3
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TRINITY : M. M. NINAN<br />
9<br />
TRINITY THROUGH HISTORY<br />
The word trias (<strong>of</strong> which the Latin trinitas is a translation) is first<br />
found in Theophilus <strong>of</strong> Antioch about A.D. 180. He speaks <strong>of</strong><br />
"the Trinity <strong>of</strong> God [the Father], His Word and His Wisdom (To<br />
Autolycus II.15). The term may, <strong>of</strong> course, have been in use<br />
before his time.<br />
Barnabas (c. A.D. 70):<br />
The Epistle <strong>of</strong> Barnabas is a Greek<br />
writing containing twenty-one<br />
chapters, preserved in complete<br />
form in the 4th century Codex<br />
Sinaiticus where it appears at the<br />
end <strong>of</strong> the New Testament. It is<br />
traditionally ascribed to the<br />
Barnabas who is mentioned in the<br />
Acts <strong>of</strong> the Apostles. Many<br />
scholars today believe it was<br />
probably written in the years AD<br />
70-131, based on the internal<br />
evidence.<br />
“And further, my brethren: if the<br />
Lord endured to suffer for our soul,<br />
He being Lord <strong>of</strong> all the world, to<br />
whom God said at the foundation<br />
<strong>of</strong> the world, Let us make man<br />
after our image, and after our likeness, (Genesis 1:26)<br />
understand how it was that He endured to suffer at the hand <strong>of</strong><br />
men. The prophets, having obtained grace from Him, prophesied<br />
concerning Him. And He (since it behoved Him to appear in<br />
flesh), that He might abolish death, and reveal the resurrection<br />
from the dead, endured [what and as He did], in order that He<br />
might fulfil the promise made unto the fathers, and by preparing<br />
a new people for Himself, might show, while He dwelt on earth,<br />
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