Trinity

TRINITY & OTHER DOCTRINES OF GOD:
PROF. M. M. NINAN
Other Appearances of Docetism
Docetism has cropped up in a number of Christian belief systems, and even has some
adherents still. The main reason that it keeps coming up, is that, in one form or another,
it rationally answers the question, How could God be human? How could God have died?
The Docetist answer, of course — whatever the reasoning might be — is that God never
was human and never actually died.
More orthodox Christians consider Docetism to be among the most severe threats to
their beliefs, since it denies the resurrection, which they consider to be the most
important facet of Christianity. Without it, one might as well not believe in Christ at all!
Docetism was unequivocally rejected at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 and is
regarded as heretical by the Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, and Coptic Church.
B: EBIONISM
Ebionites (Greek: Ἐβιωναῖοι Ebionaioi,) derived from Hebrew ebyonim, ebionim,
meaning "the poor" or "poor ones", is a patristic term referring to a Jewish Christian
movement that existed during the early centuries of the Christian Era. They regarded
Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah while rejecting his divinity and insisted on the
necessity of following Jewish law and rites. They used only one of the Jewish–Christian
gospels, revered James the brother of Jesus (James the Just), and rejected Paul the
Apostle as an apostate from the Law. Their name suggests that they placed a special
value on voluntary poverty. Ebionim was one of the terms used by the sect at Qumran
that sought to separate themselves from the corruption of the Temple. Many believe
that they were Essenes.
Ebionitism regarded Jesus ordinary human being, human son of Mary and Joseph
who was annointed to be Christ and adopted by God as his special Son to redeem
mankind. It certainly was not acceptable to Christians since Jesus was recognised and
worshipped soon after his resurrection.
It appears that they survived partially as a Judaic sect for several centuries.
have little information about them.
But we
C: SUBORDINATIONISM
Eusebius of Caesarea (263–339) taught that the Son and the Spirit are divine persons,
distinct from the Father but inferior to him. All three persons are truly God, but they
exist in a hierarchy of power and authority. Doesn’t the very terms Father and Son
indicate it. Holy Spirit is female gender suggest subordination to male domination of
the period. This family is based on hierarchial system of relationship lest they fight each
other like humans.
This is indicated in the submission of Jesus to the will of the Father even though it meant
pain to the extent of death. Matthew 26:39: “. . . not as I will, but as you will.”
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