Christian Question - Please Answer :)

[ViaCrucis]

I think you said that 3 prosopa represent the Trinity. Then you said that 3 prosopa represent a Modalistic view .

Yes, because both are true.

Modalists taught that God was one ousia and one hypostasis with three prosopa. Here prosopon is used to speak of the mode, expression, or "face" which the hypostasis (God) puts on when relating to us.

In Trinitarianism the use of prosopon is used differently to correspond with hypostasis; thus the hypostasis of the Father and the prosopon of the Father refer to the same thing.

Hence in the Definition of Chalcedon we read that the two natures (physes) concur en prosopon kai mian hypostasin, "in one person and hypostasis".

Some confusion over the precise use of some of these terms is what played a role in the Christological debates of the 5th century. The formula drawn up at Chalcedon is one which sought to avoid the perils of Nestorianism which asserted such a dichotomy of the two natures in Christ that there were, in fact, two prosopa, the Divine Logos and the man Jesus. This, of course, was what St. Cyril of Alexandria took so much issue with, and was rejected at Ephesus. All of the terms we use in our Christological formulae are kind of messy, and the terminology has had to be defined largely by rejecting certain positions as errant.

It was originally the Modalists that used homoousios, that is why Arius got so zealous when St. Alexander used it; for Arius that term was tainted by Modalism. But, of course, how the Modalists used it is very different than what Alexander meant and what was defined and clarified at Nicea.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ViaCrucis]

"The phrase ‘Fount of Deity’ (often referred to by its Latin translation fons deitatis) is open to misunderstanding. It could be interpreted to mean that the other persons of the Trinity originate at a specific point in time, which is not true; or that there is subordination on the part of the Son and the Holy Spirit where there is none (except in terms of role and function)."

God the Father by R.A. Finlayson – Grace Online Library

Subordinationism - Wikipedia

Monarchianism - Wikipedia

For a helpful understanding, I'd recommend the Symbol of Faith drawn up at the Eleventh Council of Toledo, which I think does a fantastic job in its confession of the Trinity.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Ken-1122]

Plz refer to the following thread:

Godhead vs. Trinity

It sounds like you agree with the point I made back on Post #73. Agree?

 

[Andrewn]

For a helpful understanding, I'd recommend the Symbol of Faith drawn up at the Eleventh Council of Toledo, which I think does a fantastic job in its confession of the Trinity.

Actually, I'm familiar with this excellent document and refer to it often.

 

[Andrewn]

It sounds like you agree with the point I made back on Post #73. Agree?

You didn't notice that I had rated your post "agree" .

 

[Ken-1122]

You didn't notice that I had rated your post "agree" .

Thank-you!

 

[Kris Jordan]

What's the difference? Unless you are saying "being" is only applied to non-intelligent inanimate objects, and "person" is only applied to humans.... but then we are called Human beings. So what's the difference between what something is vs what he or she is?

Would this be like saying that there is only one human race, that is made up of (manifested) 7 billion distinct persons each with their own specific roles on Earth?

Hi Ken-1122,

God is a Truine Divine Being. He is One God in three Persons. Humans are people but they are not divine.

 

[timothyu]

Some confusion over the precise use of some of these terms...

Because as Jesus said, truth comes from the Father and not mankind?

 

[JackRT]

Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad

 

[Ken-1122]

Hi Ken-1122,

God is a Truine Divine Being. He is One God in three Persons. Humans are people but they are not divine.

I wasn't referring to divinity or not, I was talking about 3 persons while being 1 God.

 

[Kris Jordan]

I wasn't referring to divinity or not, I was talking about 3 persons while being 1 God.

Hi Kenn-1122,

You asked about the difference between God as a Being and a Person. God is a Divine Being as opposed to a human being (with the exception of Jesus, who is both 100% God and 100% man; i.e., God manifested in the flesh), and each Member of the Trinity is a distinct Person.

Some of this we're not able to comprehend with our finite minds. It requires faith on our part in what God says about Himself in His Word, the Bible. As the Scriptures say, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

What is your struggle with believing (in) God?

 

[Robban]

Hi Kenn-1122,

You asked about the difference between God as a Being and a Person. God is a Divine Being as opposed to a human being (with the exception of Jesus, who is both 100% God and 100% man; i.e., God manifested in the flesh), and each Member of the Trinity is a distinct Person.

Some of this we're not able to comprehend with our finite minds. It requires faith on our part in what God says about Himself in His Word, the Bible. As the Scriptures say, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

What is your struggle with believing (in) God?

What kind of question is that?

Here you are going on about three in one and one in three then you say you do not comprehend it yourself.

Have you ever watched Dave Allen in his sketch, "Religion"?

 

[Kris Jordan]

What kind of question is that?

Here you are going on about three in one and one in three then you say you do not comprehend it yourself.

Have you ever watched Dave Allen in his sketch, "Religion"?

Hi Robban,

No, what I said was "some of this" we cannot comprehend with our finite minds.

 

[Andrewn]

Here you are going on about three in one and one in three then you say you do not comprehend it yourself.

Ex 33:19 The LORD said, “I will make all My goodness pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD in your presence. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy.” 20 He said, “You cannot see my face, for no human may see me and live.”

In the Hebrew Scriptures, several people saw the LORD. How is it that no human may see the LORD and live?

 

[timothyu]

Hi Robban,

No, what I said was "some of this" we cannot comprehend with our finite minds.

Did God ask us to figure it all out or just experience life? What would that experience be like if we simply followed His will for us rather than our own 7 billion versions?

 

[Ken-1122]

Hi Kenn-1122,

You asked about the difference between God as a Being and a Person. God is a Divine Being as opposed to a human being (with the exception of Jesus, who is both 100% God and 100% man; i.e., God manifested in the flesh), and each Member of the Trinity is a distinct Person.

Yes! My question is what is the difference between a divine being vs a distinct person?

Some of this we're not able to comprehend with our finite minds.

But the guys who originated the concept had finite minds; if they can comprehend it, why can’t we?

It requires faith on our part in what God says about Himself in His Word, the Bible.

The Trinity didn’t come from the Bible, it was originated and voted upon by the Catholic Church.

What is your struggle with believing (in) God?

The concept of the Christian God doesn’t make sense to me.

 

[timothyu]

The concept of the Christian God doesn’t make sense to me.

What concept is that, he asked out of curiosity?

 

[Andrewn]

The concept of the Christian God doesn’t make sense to me.

I agree with you that the concept of God as presented by a lot of Christians doesn't make sense. If you want, you can use their faulty answers as an excuse for your unbelief.

 

[Ken-1122]

What concept is that, he asked out of curiosity?

I would like to explain why, but I'm afraid it might take things off topic and get my hand slapped by the moderators for doing that. How about if you start another thread and I will be more than happy to explain why. Agree?

 

[Ken-1122]

I agree with you that the concept of God as presented by a lot of Christians doesn't make sense.

That's not what I said. If you would like to start another thread, I would be more than happy to explain why the God as described in the Bible doesn't make sense to me.