The Athanasian Creed
Athanasius
The Trinity was defined more fully in the Athanasian Creed. Athanasius was a clergyman who supported Constantine at Nicaea. The creed that bears his name declares: "We worship one God in Trinity...The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God; and yet they are not three gods, but one God."
Well-informed scholars agree, howwever, that Athanasius did not compose this creed. The New Encyclopedia Britannica comments: "The creed was unknown to the Eastern Church until the 12th century.
Since the 17th century, scholars have generally agreed that the Athanasian Creed was not written by Athanasius (died 373) but was probably composed in southern France during the 5th century...The creed's influence seems to have been primarily in southern France and Spain in the 6th and 7th centuries. It was used in the liturgy of the church in Germany in the 9th century and somewhat later in Rome."
So it took centuries from the time of Christ for the Trinity to become widely accepted in Christendom. and in all of this, what guided the decisions? Was it the Word of God, or was it clerical and political considerations? In Origin and Evolution of Religion, E. W. Hopkins answers: "The final orthodox definition of this trinity was largely a matter of church politics."
Well-informed scholars agree, howwever, that Athanasius did not compose this creed. The New Encyclopedia Britannica comments: "The creed was unknown to the Eastern Church until the 12th century.
Since the 17th century, scholars have generally agreed that the Athanasian Creed was not written by Athanasius (died 373) but was probably composed in southern France during the 5th century...The creed's influence seems to have been primarily in southern France and Spain in the 6th and 7th centuries. It was used in the liturgy of the church in Germany in the 9th century and somewhat later in Rome."
So it took centuries from the time of Christ for the Trinity to become widely accepted in Christendom. and in all of this, what guided the decisions? Was it the Word of God, or was it clerical and political considerations? In Origin and Evolution of Religion, E. W. Hopkins answers: "The final orthodox definition of this trinity was largely a matter of church politics."
Next: Apostasy Foretold! - Watch out for Chapter 8, Post number 8!
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