Niatero
*banned*
Note that I’m saying a Trinity doctrine, not the Trinity doctrine, because I’ve seen more than one Trinity doctrine. This is about the one that is contained in the creed that is mislabeled “the Nicene Creed,” which Christian churches have to say they believe to be considered “mainstream.”
The points of controversy are mostly:
1. The consubstantiality and equality of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
2. The Holy Spirit as a person.
The Nicene Creed doesn’t actually say anything about equality or hierarchy, other than whatever anyone wants to think about the meaning of the words “consubstantial” “begotten” and “proceeds.” The Greek word that is translated as “consubstantial” was negotiated as a way for anyone to think it means whatever they want it to mean. At least one of the bishops interpreted it as having the same attributes and qualities and not as being composed of the same substance. In English the part about the Holy Spirit uses words that imply a person, but it doesn’t say so explicitly. I haven’t searched for information about the Greek.
That is not my defense of the Trinity doctrine in the Nicene Creed. It’s just some background information. My defense of that Creed is that maybe some of the bishops honestly thought that signing that agreement would help stop the feuding between Christians, and honestly did not realize how it might actually be used.
The points of controversy are mostly:
1. The consubstantiality and equality of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
2. The Holy Spirit as a person.
The Nicene Creed doesn’t actually say anything about equality or hierarchy, other than whatever anyone wants to think about the meaning of the words “consubstantial” “begotten” and “proceeds.” The Greek word that is translated as “consubstantial” was negotiated as a way for anyone to think it means whatever they want it to mean. At least one of the bishops interpreted it as having the same attributes and qualities and not as being composed of the same substance. In English the part about the Holy Spirit uses words that imply a person, but it doesn’t say so explicitly. I haven’t searched for information about the Greek.
That is not my defense of the Trinity doctrine in the Nicene Creed. It’s just some background information. My defense of that Creed is that maybe some of the bishops honestly thought that signing that agreement would help stop the feuding between Christians, and honestly did not realize how it might actually be used.
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