Trinity

TRINITY & OTHER DOCTRINES OF GOD:
PROF. M. M. NINAN
Therefore, wonders (Greek dynameis) were not wrought in him until the Spirit (which
Theodotus called Christ) came down and was manifested in Him. (Philosophumena, VII,
xxiii)
This doctrine, called "Dynamic Monarchianism" or "Adoptionism",
was declared heretical by Pope Victor I, and Theodotus was
excommunicated in 198 AD.
Theodotus had then founded an organized sect, with a bishop named
Natalius to whom they paid a salary. Its leading men in the time of
Victor's successor were Asclepiades and another Theodotus, a banker.
These two undertook to clear the text of N.T. of corruptions, but our
authority describes what they called "corrected" copies as simply
ruined, the two not even agreeing as to their corrections. Theodotus
the banker (ho trapezites) added to his master's doctrine the view that Melchisedech
was a celestial power, who was the advocate for the angels in heaven, as Jesus Christ
was for men upon earth (a view found among later sects). This teaching was of course
grounded on Hebrews, vii, 3, and it is refuted at length by St. Epiphanius as Heresy
Theodotus' followers formed a separate heretical community at Rome ruled by another
Theodotus, the Money Changer, and Asclepiodotus. Natalius, who was tortured for his
faith during the persecution, was persuaded by Asclepiodotus to become a bishop in
their sect in exchange for a monthly stipend of 150 denarii. The story goes that Natalius
then reportedly experienced several visions warning him to abandon these heretics.
According to an anonymous work entitled The Little Labyrinth and quoted by Eusebius,
the story goes: Natalius was whipped a whole night by an angel. The next day he donned
sackcloth and ashes, and weeping bitterly threw himself at the feet of Pope Zephyrinus.
Theodotus chiefly relied on texts of Scripture, specimens of which are given by
Epiphanius (Haer. 54). He evidently acknowledged the authority of St. John's Gospel, for
one of these texts was John 8. 40. He appealed to the prophecy, Deut. 18: 15, of the
prophet who was to be like unto Moses, and therefore man, and quoted also Is. liii. 3, Jer.
17. 9 (LXX), and other texts in which our Lord is called man. Our sole other primary
authority for this Theodotus is Hippolytus. . There is an article on Theodotus in the later
treatise of Hippolytus (Ref. 7. 35). The influence of Theodotus did not extend much
beyond his own generation.The sect that lasted into the 3rd century under another
Theodotus, the Money-changer.
Peter explains how it is possible. Notice how Jesus said that David was speaking "in the Spirit."
David was speaking prophetically and this is also affirmed by Peter:
Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by
God... this man... you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
But God raised him up again... Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the
patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. And
so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him an oath to seat
one of his descendants on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the
resurrection of the Christ.... This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all
witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having
received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you
both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:
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