Trinity

TRINITY & OTHER DOCTRINES OF GOD:
PROF. M. M. NINAN
VI
PNEUMATOMACHIANISM
OR
'COMBATORS AGAINST THE SPIRIT'.
The Council of Nicaea in 325 had not ended the Arian controversy which it had been
called to clarify. Arius and his sympathizers, e.g. Eusebius of Nicomedia were admitted
back into the church after ostensibly accepting the Nicene creed. Athanasius, bishop of
Alexandria, the most vocal opponent of Arianism, was ultimately exiled through the
machinations of Eusebius of Nicomedia. After Bishop Alexander's death in 336 his
orthodox followers supported Paul I of Constantinople, in contrast the Arians rallied
round Macedonius. After the death of Constantine, his son emperor Constantius II
came to power, who was a semi-Arian. He came to Constantinople, convened a synod
of Arian bishops, banished Paul I, and, to the disappointment of Macedonius, translated
Eusebius of Nicomedia to the vacant see. This was thought to have been in 338. Open
discussion of replacing Nicene creed itself began. Up until about 360, theological
debates mainly dealt with the divinity of the Son, the second person of the Trinity.
Macedonius, is known in history for his persecution of Novatians and Catholics, as both
maintained the consubstantiality of Christ, the Son, with the Father.
However, because the Council of Nicaea had not clarified the divinity of the Holy
Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, it became a topic of debate.
The Macedonians denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit.
Pneumatomachian concept was that the Holy Spirit was a creation of the Son, and a
servant of the Father and the Son.
Hence the Council of Constantinople after deliberations added:
“And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father,
Who with the Father and the Son is equally worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the
Prophets,”
into the Nicene Creed
This closed the issue of the Holy Spirit.
However, neither the Nicene Creed nor the
canons of the Council provided a detailed
explanation of how God became human in the
person of Jesus, leaving the door open for
speculation. How can God be Man? What is
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