We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Theology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Trinitarian Theology?

By Emily Daw
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 9,981
Share

Broadly speaking, trinitarian theology is any Christian theology that accepts the doctrine that God is "triune," or three beings in one. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, according to trinitarian theology, are three separate, eternal beings, but one in nature. This doctrine has roots in very early church history, but does not have universal acceptance among Christians. "Trinitarian Theology" may also refer specifically to movements beginning in the 20th century that view the doctrine of the Trinity as the core doctrine of Christian belief and practice.

The doctrine of the Trinity was systematized at the First Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 as an attempt to deal with varying doctrines regarding the relationship between Jesus and God. The most prominent of these doctrines was Arianism, which asserted that Jesus was something in between human and divine, but not sharing in God's divine nature. One key result of the first Council of Nicaea was what has become known as the Nicaean Creed, which affirms the divinity and unity of all three persons of the Trinity and is recited as part of the liturgy of many Christian worship services.

Although trinitarianism has historically been the dominant viewpoint of the major branches of Christianity, many theological traditions reject it for one reason or another. The most common criticism leveled against trinitarian theology is that it is not strictly monotheistic, meaning that it is a logical contradiction to say that there is one God, while also saying that God is three persons. Trinitarians, however, respond that the claim that the three persons constitute one being makes their doctrine monotheistic.

Trinitarian theology is also criticized by some, especially conservative evangelicals, for being non-biblical either in its terminology or in its conclusions. No word used in either the Old Testament or the New Testament can be translated "Trinity," nor does the Bible teach explicitly about the personhood of the members of the Trinity. Conservatives may argue that the use of non-biblical terms will necessarily lead to non-biblical doctrine, but trinitarians believe there is sufficient scriptural support to justify them using the terms anyway.

A number of alternative theories have been proposed to deal with the perceived weaknesses of trinitarian theology. For instance, Unitarian theology asserts that Jesus was a prophet and maybe a supernatural being of some sort, but not God. Oneness Pentecostals, on the other hand, argue that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three separate persons, but rather three different roles played by the same person.

The term "Trinitarian Theology," often capitalized when used in this sense, may also reference the view that trinitarian doctrine cannot be separated from any other Christian belief. Theologians and movements that hold to this view see the Trinity as the means by which God came to earth, and therefore the means by which humans are saved. One such movement is the Grace Communion International Church.

Share
Language & Humanities is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.languagehumanities.org/what-is-trinitarian-theology.htm
Copy this link
Language & Humanities, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Language & Humanities, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.