Th 503 Chapter 40

1. GOD’S UNITY AND TRINITY
CHAPTER 40
Geisler, NormanGeisler, Norman
Systematic TheologySystematic Theology
PPt prepared by Mark E. Hardgrove, Ph.D.

2. Systematic Theology
Systematic Theology
Geisler, Norman
Geisler, NormanChapter 40
Chapter 40
““God’s Unity and Triunity”
God’s Unity and Triunity”

3. God’s UnityGod’s Unity
Definition of God’s Unity:
God is one Being, in contrast to many beings. There is one
and only one God (monotheism) as opposed to many
gods (polytheism).
There are three related words that should be distinguished:
1. Unity—There are not two or more gods’
2. Simplicity—There are not two or more parts in God.
3. Triunity—There are three persons in the one God.
(Geisler)

4. Biblical Basis for God’s UnityBiblical Basis for God’s Unity
Gen. 1:1
Deut. 6:4
Ex. 20:3
Isa. 44:6; 45:18
Mark 12:29
1 Cor. 8:4
Eph. 4:6
1 Tim. 2:5

5. God’s TriunityGod’s Triunity
God is not only a unity, He is a triunity;
that is, there is not only one God
(monotheism), but there are three
persons in that one God. This is the
orthodox teaching of the Trinity.
(Geisler)

6. What Trinity is NotWhat Trinity is Not
Trinity does not mean that there are three gods
(tritheism), it does not mean that God as three
modes of one and the same being (modalism).
Tritheism denies the absolute simplicity of
God, and modalism denies the plurality of the
persons of God. The former claims there are
three beings in the Godhead, and the later
affirms there are not three persons in God.

7. What Trinity IsWhat Trinity Is
Trinity means that God is a triunity; He is
plurality within unity. God has a pluraity of
persons and a unity of essence; God is three
persons in one nature. There is only on
“What” (essence) in God, but there are three
“Whos” (persons) in that one What. God has
three “I’s” in His one “It”—there are three
Subjects in one Object.
(Gielser)

8. God’s TrinityGod’s Trinity
Definition of God’s Trinity:
The doctrine of the Trinity is based on two basic
biblical teachings:
1)There is one and only one God.
2)There are three distinct persons who are God: The
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

9. PersonhoodPersonhood
In addition to declaring God to be one in
nature or essence, the Scriptures affirm that
there are three distinct persons who are God.
All are called God, and all have the essential
characteristics of a person.
(Geisler)

10. PersonhoodPersonhood
Personhood is traditionally understood as
one who has intellect, feelings, and will. All
three of these characteristics are attributed
to all three members of the Trinity in
Scripture. Essentially, personhood refers to
an “I” a “who,” or a subject. Each I in the
Trinity possesses the power to think, feel,
and choose.
(Geisler)

11. Biblical Support for Teaching the TrinityBiblical Support for Teaching the Trinity
Please look at the biblical support
offered by Geisler, pp. 540-548.
Also, know the functional order in the
Trinity, pp. 548-549.

12. Poor Illustrations of the TrinityPoor Illustrations of the Trinity
Know why the following are poor illustrations
of the Trinity:
Three States of Water
Three Links in Chain
Human, Body, Soul, and Spirit
One Actor Playing Three Roles
One Family Member with Three Roles (Father, Son,
Husband)

13. Better Illustrations of the TrinityBetter Illustrations of the Trinity
Please be familiar with the better illustrations of the
Trinity and why they are better (Geisler, 551-552)
A Triangle
One to the Third Power
Love is Trifold
Mind, Ideas, and Words

14. Heresies Regarding God and ChristHeresies Regarding God and Christ
Know the difference between these heresies (Geisler,
p. 552-554):
•Tritheism
•Modalism
•Arianism
•Docetism
•Nestorianism
•Monophysitism
•Patripassionism
•Monotholitism
•Apollinarianism
•Subordinationism
•Monarchianism
•Adoptionism
•Binitarianism

15. Heresies
Tritheism – the belief that there are three gods or
three separate beings in the Godhead.
Modalism – holds that God is only one person who
appears in different modes or roles at different times
in the divine economy. (Also called saballianism
after its founder Sabellius [c. 217- c. 220].) This is
the view of the United Pentecostal Church
Arianism - Founded by Arius (c. 250 – 336) denies
that Jesus is fully God, allowing Him a created status
below God. This is the view of Jehovah Witnesses.

16. Heresies
Docetism – affirms the deity of Christ but denies
His humanity, claiming He only “seemed” to be real
human.
Nestorianism – proposed that Jesus had two
natures and two persons. While orthodox
Christianity would affirm two natures, it would
disavow the claim that He was two persons.
Monophysitism – confuses the two natures of
Christ, so that divine and human natures intermingle
in an eternal an uncreated blending of human and
divine.

17. Heresies
Patripassianism – literally means the “Father
suffered,” it holds that God the Father suffered on
the cross as well as Christ. However, the divine
nature of Christ did not die or suffer because God is
impassible.
Monotholism – held that Jesus has only one will,
not both a human and a divine will. It confuses His
two natures.
Apollinarianism – diminished the humanity of
Christ while affirming His full deity, claiming that
logos replaced the human spirit in Christ.

18. Heresies
Subordinationism – asserts that the Son is
subordinate in nature to the Father. In orthodox
belief, Jesus is functionally subordinate to the
Father, but in essence Jesus is equal with the Father.
Monarchainism – stressed the unity (monarchy)
of God to the neglect of Christ’s deity, viewing Jesus
as only a power or influence from God. There were
two types: modalists and adoptionists.

19. Heresies
Adoptionism – rooted in monarchianism,
flourished in the 8th
century. Viewed Jesus as only a
man who was adopted by God because of Jesus’
divine powers. Said to have occurred when God
declared from heaven: “This is my Son” (Matt. 3:17).
Binitarianism – holds that there are two persons
in the Godhead by denying the personality of the
Holy Spirit as the third member of the Godhead.