Question about the Trinity
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Perfectly? Hardly! Good as far as it goes, but a better or more complete and succinct elaboration of the Creed IMO is as follows:
The main points of Christian orthodoxy implicit in this statement can be explained or elaborated as follows:
The main points of Christian orthodoxy implicit in this statement can be explained or elaborated as follows:
- There is a/one all-loving and just Lord or God (DT 6:4, JN 3:16, 2THS 1:6), who is both able (2TM 1:12) and willing (1TM 2:3-4) to provide all morally accountable human beings salvation or heaven—a wonderful life full of love, joy and peace forever.
- Human beings are selfish or sinful (RM 3:23, 2TM 3:2-4, CL 3:5), miserable (GL 5:19-21), and hopeless (EPH 2:12) when they reject God’s salvation or DOD (JN 3:18).
- Jesus is God’s Messiah/Christ or the way (means of providing salvation) that God has chosen (JN 3:16, ACTS 16:30-31, PHP 2:9-11), although pre-NT truthseekers could/can learn a proto-gospel via general revelation combined with conscience.
- Thus, every person who hears the NT Gospel needs to repent and accept God in Jesus as Christ/Messiah the Lord or Supreme Commander (LK 2:11, JN 14:6, ACTS 16:31), which means trying to obey His commandment to love one another (MT 22:37-40, JN 13:35, RM 13:9)—forever (MT 10:22, PS 113:2).
- Then God’s Holy Spirit will establish a saving relationship with those who freely accept Him (RV 3:20) that will eventually achieve heaven when by means of persevering in learning God’s Word everyone cooperates fully with His will (RM 8:6-17, GL 6:7-9, EPH 1:13-14, HB 10:36, 12:1, JM 1:2-4).
The Athanasian Creed is most watertight in explaining the trinity doctrine. Since denial of any point of the Creed is clear indicator of a damnable heresy, the Athanasian Creed is actually quite complete and absolute in explaining the trinity doctrine. The wording of the Creed leaves wouldbe cults no room for their pernicion in either adding to or taking away from the trinity doctrine. Since the Athanasian Creed is a perfect summary of the Bible regarding the trinity doctrine it cannot be overthrown nor manipulated by man, but will only instead reveal the pernicion of a cult that makes the attempt and thus make them certify their own eternal damnation.
Well for one we're talking about the trinity doctrine. For two all these points are contained within the Athanasian Creed, namely in the second half of the Creed which largely summarizes the Bible about the role of Jesus. The Athanasian Creed is written in such a way that the first half of the Creed explains the nature of the trinity doctrine and the correct view of God while the second half of the Creed summarizes the Bible perfectly in explaining the role of Jesus. Taken together both halfs of the Athanasian Creed give a perfect understanding of the holy faith of Christianity by which faith if any holds fully he will be saved and without this faith they will be damned.
Well your assertion that the Athanasian Creed is imperfect or extra-biblical is incorrect. It is actually a perfect summary of the Bible as well as a perfect summary of the Christian religion. Hence why by the Creed you can identify the pernicion of any heresy and any pagan religion. Touching the trinity doctrine as is the topic, the whole chapter of John 1 is by far the go-to scripture in proving the trinity doctrine, the divinity of Jesus, the eternal generation of Jesus, and many other such correct doctrines. Rather than rendering the Athanasian Creed imperfect this episode, along with many other scriptures actually simply confirms that the Athanasian Creed is a perfect understanding of the trinity doctrine.
Well that's where you're incorrect, the Athanasian Creed does actually explain the trinity doctrine as well as the religion of Christianity in a complete, absolute, and authoritative way because it is taking the Bible as a whole and correctly interpretted as well certified by all the saints official. This is why denial of any part of the Creed will result in certain damnation and why understanding and believing the contents of the Creed, which is the trinity doctrine and the role of Jesus, are essential to having true and firm faith in Christianity and this holy faith is the only way to attain salvation.
The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity.
Begotten is how Jesus is eternally fathered by the Father. Proceeding is the how the Holy Spirit is eternally emanating from the Father and the Son. Thus besides just containing the perfect understanding of the trinity doctrine the Athanasian Creed also contains the correct doctrines of the Eternal Generation of Jesus and the Eternal Procession of the Holy Spirit. These points are seen taking then the entirety of the first half of the Athanasian Creed as a whole which explains the trinity doctrine and eternal quality of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Furthermore these correct doctrines demonstrate the authority of the Athanasian Creed as an accurate summary of the scriptures which detail Jesus as being eternally begotten of the Father as his Word in Genesis 1:3 and the aspiration of the Holy Spirit by both the Father and the Son in Genesis 1:2 and John 20:22, among other scriptures.
Well it's the correct doctrine of the Eternal Generation of Jesus as I just told you. Since Jesus is eternal and is also begotten he is eternally begotten of the Father. What you want is just more examples, and sure I can elaborate more on this. As the Word of God Jesus is begotten every time God speaks in the Bible, Jesus is begotten in the flesh to the virgin Mary, Jesus is begotten from the dead at the resurrection, Jesus is begotten in the hearts of the faithful when they hear the Word of God, etc. Jesus is eternally begotten even before God speaks for the first time in Genesis 1 as Jesus has always been eternally with the Father. Likewise the Holy Spirit has always been with the Father and the Son and eternally proceeds from both. That's just the nature of eternity, there is no end to eternity nor any beginning.
Gen 1:26, God said "Let us make man in our image after our likeness." Jesus came in the image of God. Isa 9:6, His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isa 11:2, The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him. John 1:1, The Word was God. Jesus is the Living Word. John 14:9-10. He who has seen me has seen the father, Jesus came in the flesh with the Father and Holy Spirit dwelling within him. There is only one God and Jesus was him dwelling in the flesh.