The term "Godhead"

The term Godhead is a term denoting deity or divinity. See also God Conceptions of God can vary widely despite the use of the same term for them all Bahá'ís believe in a single, imperishable God, the creator of all things including all the creatures and forces in the universe Since the time of the Buddha the refutation of the existence of a creator has been seen as a key point in distinguishing Buddhist from non-Buddhist views SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных In Islam, God is believed to be the only real supreme being all-powerful and all knowing Creator Sustainer Ordainer and Judge of the universe Islam puts a heavy emphasis The conception of God in Judaism is Monotheistic. The God of Israel was known by two principal names in the Bible In Hinduism the concept of God is complex and depends on a particular tradition In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Godhead are the objects of worship and devotion within the faith The fundamental belief of Sikhism is that God exists not merely as an idea or concept but as a Real Entity indescribable yet knowable and perceivable to anyone who is prepared to dedicate Though often used interchangeably with the concept of Trinity, the two are not synonymous as Godhead simply means deity or divinity. SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных ^[1]

The term is only used by some English translations (e. g. the King James Bible) in three passages:

• in Acts 17:29 it stands for the Greek word: θεῖον theion, an adjective meaning "divinity, deity"^[2]
• in Romans 1:20 it stands for the Greek word θειότης theiotēs, a noun meaning "divinity, divine nature"^[3]
• in Colossians 2:9 it stands for the Greek word θεότητος theotētos, a noun meaning "deity"^[4]

The nature of the Godhead is defined differently among different Christian denominations. Koine Greek (Κοινὴ Ἑλληνική, "common Greek" or, ciˈni ðiˈale̞kto̞s "the common dialect" is the popular form of Greek which emerged in Church (disambiguation A religious denomination is a subgroup within a Religion that operates under a common name tradition and identity In most branches of Christianity, including Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, and Protestantism, trinitarianism prevails and the Godhead is viewed as the Holy Trinity, and so the word Godhead is often used interchangeably with Trinity. As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных

Contrasting views of the Godhead include the version of tritheism accepted by some denominations of Mormonism, the unitarianism of the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Monotheistic Modalism of the Oneness Pentecostals, the Binitarianism of some Seventh day Church of God groups, the Dualism of Gnosticism, and various other nontrinitarian views of denominations such as the Church of Christ, Scientist, the Unification Church, and Unitarian Universalism. In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Godhead are the objects of worship and devotion within the faith Mormonism is a term used to describe the religious, ideological and cultural elements of certain branches of the Latter Day Saint movement Unitarianism as a theology is the belief in the single personality of God in contrast to the doctrine of the Trinity (three persons in one God Jehovah's Witnesses is a restorationist, millenialist Christian denomination In Christianity, Sabellianism (also known as modalism, modalistic monarchianism, or modal monarchism) is the Nontrinitarian belief Overview Although both Oneness and Trinitarian denominations acknowledge the God of the Bible as the only God in existence and that Jesus was Binitarianism is a Christian theology of two personae two individuals or two aspects in one Godhead (or God as opposed to one ( Unitarianism Dualism denotes a state of two parts The word's origin is the Latin duo, "two". Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems Nontrinitarianism includes all Christian belief systems that reject as non-scriptural wholly or partly the doctrine of the Trinity; the Doctrine The Church of Christ Scientist was founded in 1879 in Boston Massachusetts, USA, by Mary Baker Eddy, author of the book Science and Health with The Unification Church is a New religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. Unitarian Universalism ( UUism) is a theologically liberal Religion characterized by its support for a "free and responsible search for truth

Trinity

The "Hospitality of Abraham" by Andrei Rublev: The three angels represent the three persons of God

Main article: Trinity

The Trinity is considered by most Christians to be a core tenet of their faith; so much so that many Christians consider non-Trinitarians to be non-Christians. SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных There are, nonetheless, Christian sects who either reject the doctrine of the Trinity outright or teach variants of the doctrine which are considered heretical by mainstream Christians. Since post-Nicene times, Trinitarians have constituted the vast majority of Christians.

To trinitarian Christians, God the Father is not at all a separate god from God the Son and the Holy Spirit, the other divine persons. SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных In many religions the supreme Deity ( God) is given the title and attributions of Father. God the Son is the second person of the Trinity in Christian Theology. In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance Trinitarian Christians describe these three persons as a Trinity. SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных This means that they always exist as three distinct "persons" (Greek hypostases), but they are one God, each having full identity as God himself (a single "substance"), a single "divine nature" and power, and a single "divine will". God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity.

Others nonetheless held alternative ideas about the Trinity. Some have described the Father, Son and Spirit as each a distinct, eternally existent being (tritheism), or as a different "manifestation" of a single being (modalism). Tritheism is the belief that there are three distinct powerful gods who form a triad In Christianity, Sabellianism (also known as modalism, modalistic monarchianism, or modal monarchism) is the Nontrinitarian belief Some have theorized that the relationship of Father and Son began at some point probably outside of normal "history" (Arianism); and others have believed that God became a Father when he uttered his creating Λογος ("logos" or "word"), who is both a principle of order and a living being to whom God bears the relationship as Father (some gnostics). Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems Others found strong affinity with traditional pagan ideas of a savior or hero who is begotten by deity, an idea of the Father similar to Mithraism or the cult of the Roman emperor. Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world The Mithraic Mysteries or Mysteries of Mithras (also Mithraism) was a Roman mystery religion which became popular among the military in the late

In Christianity, the doctrine of the Trinity states that God is one being who exists, simultaneously and eternally, as a mutual indwelling of three persons: the Father, the Son (incarnate as Jesus of Nazareth), and the Holy Spirit. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Doctrine (Latin doctrina) is a codification of beliefs or "a body of teachings quot or "instructions" taught principles or positions as the God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. For the Celtic Frost album see Monotheist (album In Theology, monotheism (from Greek grc [[wiktμόνος μόνος]] While in the popular mind eternity often simply means existing for a limitless amount of Time, many have used it to refer to a timeless existence altogether outside of Perichoresis in Christian theology, refers to the mutual inter-penetration and indwelling of the Father and the Son. In many religions the supreme Deity ( God) is given the title and attributions of Father. Son of God is a phrase found in the Hebrew Bible, various other Jewish texts and the New Testament. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Nazareth (ˈnæzərəθ (נָצְרַת Hebrew Natz'rat or Natzeret, الناصرة an-Nāṣira or an-Naseriyye) is the capital and largest In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance Since the 4th century, in both Eastern and Western Christianity, this doctrine has been stated as "three persons in one God," all three of whom, as distinct and co-eternal persons, are of one indivisible Divine essence, a simple being. Ousia () is the Ancient Greek noun formed on the feminine present participle of ( to be) it is analogous to the English participle In Theology, the doctrine of divine simplicity says that God is without parts Supporting the doctrine of the Trinity is known as Trinitarianism. The majority of Christians are Trinitarian, and regard belief in the Trinity as a test of orthodoxy. Opposing, nontrinitarian positions that are held by some groups include Binitarianism (two deities/persons/aspects), Unitarianism (one deity/person/aspect), the Godhead (Latter Day Saints) (three separate beings) and Modalism (Oneness). Nontrinitarianism includes all Christian belief systems that reject as non-scriptural wholly or partly the doctrine of the Trinity; the Doctrine Binitarianism is a Christian theology of two personae two individuals or two aspects in one Godhead (or God as opposed to one ( Unitarianism Unitarianism as a theology is the belief in the single personality of God in contrast to the doctrine of the Trinity (three persons in one God In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Godhead are the objects of worship and devotion within the faith In Christianity, Sabellianism (also known as modalism, modalistic monarchianism, or modal monarchism) is the Nontrinitarian belief

In addition to teaching that God comprises three persons, the doctrine also teaches that the Son Himself has two distinct natures, one fully divine and the other fully human.

Neither the Old Testament nor New Testament uses the term "Trinity," though Trinitarians believe the concept is implicit in various biblical passages (see Scripture section below). In Western Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the books that form the first of the two-part Christian Biblical canon. SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных The doctrine of the Trinity is the result of continuous exploration by the church of the biblical data, argued in debate and treatises. ^[5] It was expressed in early writings from the beginning of the second century forward. ^[5] The First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD established a nearly universal Trinitarian dogma and expressly rejected any heresies. The First Council of Nicaea, held in Nicaea in Bithynia (present-day İznik in Turkey) convoked by the Roman Emperor Constantine The most widely recognized Biblical foundations for the doctrine's formulation are in the Gospel of John. The Gospel of John (literally According to John; Greek, Κατὰ Ἰωάννην Kata Iōannēn) is the fourth Gospel in the canon

Most Christians believe that God is spirit (John 4:24), an uncreated, omnipotent, and eternal being, the creator and sustainer of all things, who works the redemption of the world through his Son, Jesus Christ. Omnipotence ( Omni Potens: "all Power " is unlimited power With this background, belief in the divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit is expressed as the doctrine of the Holy Trinity,^[6] which describes the single Divine substance existing as three distinct and inseparable persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ the eternal Word), and the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7). Christology (from Christ and Greek grc -λογία -logia) is a field of study within Christian theology which is concerned with SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных Ousia () is the Ancient Greek noun formed on the feminine present participle of ( to be) it is analogous to the English participle In many religions the supreme Deity ( God) is given the title and attributions of Father. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) In Christology, the conception that the Christ is the Logos ( λóγος, the Greek for "word" "wisdom" or In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance According to this doctrine, God is not divided in the sense that each person has a third of the whole; rather, each person is considered to be fully God (see Perichoresis). Perichoresis in Christian theology, refers to the mutual inter-penetration and indwelling of the Father and the Son. The distinction lies in their relations, the Father being unbegotten, the Son begotten of the Father, and the Holy Spirit proceeding. "Begotten," in these formulae, refers to the idea that Jesus was uncreated and "eternally begotten" of the Father.

Christians of Reformed theology also conceive salvation to be one work of the triune God in which "the three divine persons act together as one, and manifest their own proper characteristics" with the agency of the Holy Spirit as an essential element. Calvinism (sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a theological system and an approach to the In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance "^[7]

Trinitarian Christians trace the orthodox formula of the Trinity — The Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost — back to the resurrected Jesus himself who spoke these words, and which words were subsequently recorded in Matthew 28:16-20, and are commonly referred to as the Great Commission. The Great Commission, in Christian tradition is the instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to his disciples, that they spread his teachings

Ambivalence to Trinitarian doctrine

Some Protestant Christians, particularly restorationists, are ambivalent about the doctrine of the Trinity. For other usages see Restoration (general disambiguation Apokatastasis (universal restoration Christian Zionism (restoration of Israel and While not specifically rejecting Trinitarianism or presenting an alternative doctrine of the God's relationship with humanity, they are neither dogmatic about the Trinity nor hold it as a test of true Christian faith. Some, like the Society of Friends (Quakers) and Christian Unitarians, may reject all doctrinal or creedal tests of true faith. Unitarianism as a theology is the belief in the single personality of God in contrast to the doctrine of the Trinity (three persons in one God Others, like the restorationist Churches of Christ, in keeping with a distinctive understanding of "Scripture alone," say that since the doctrine of the Trinity is not clearly articulated in the Bible, it cannot be required for salvation. The Churches of Christ discussed Sola scriptura ( Latin ablative, "by scripture alone" is the assertion that the Bible as God's written word is self-authenticating Still others may look to church tradition and say that there has always been a Christian tradition that faithfully followed Jesus without such a doctrine. They point out that the Trinitarian doctrine, which they see as being steeped in Greek philosophical distinctions, was not clearly articulated for some centuries after Christ.

Nontrinitarians commonly refer to the following points in objection to Trinitarian teaching.

• That it does not follow the strict monotheism found in Judaism and the Old Testament, of which Jesus claimed to have fulfilled.
• That it is an invention of early Christian church fathers, such as Tertullian. Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, Anglicised as Tertullian, (ca
• That it is paradoxical and therefore not in line with reason.
• That it reflects the influence of pagan religions, some of which have divine triads of their own.
• That the doctrine contradicts the Holy Scriptures, such as when Jesus states that the Father is greater than he is, or the Pauline theology: "Yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him. Pauline Christianity is a term used to refer to a branch of Early Christianity associated with the beliefs and doctrines espoused by Paul the Apostle through "^[8]
• That the doctrine relies almost entirely on non-Biblical terminology. Some notable examples include: Trinity, Three-in-one, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, Person in relation to anyone other than Jesus Christ being the image of God's person (hypostasis).
• That the scriptural support for the doctrine is implicit at best. For example, the New Testament refers to the Father and the Son together much more often than to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the word "Trinity" doesn't appear in the Bible.

God the Father

Main article: God the Father

In the New Testament, God the Father has a special role in his relationship with the person of the Son, where Jesus is believed to be his Son and his heir (Hebrews 1:2-5). In many religions the supreme Deity ( God) is given the title and attributions of Father. According to the Nicene Creed, the Son (Jesus Christ) is "eternally begotten of the Father", indicating that their divine Father-Son relationship is not tied to an event within time or human history. See Christology. Christology (from Christ and Greek grc -λογία -logia) is a field of study within Christian theology which is concerned with The Bible refers to Christ as the beginning of God's creation, and hence as God's "firstborn. "

In Eastern Orthodox theology, God the Father is the "arche" or "principium" (beginning), the "source" or "origin" of both the Son and the Holy Spirit (which gives intuitive emphasis to the threeness of persons); by comparison, Western theology explains the "origin" of all three hypostases or persons as being in the divine nature (which gives intuitive emphasis to the oneness of God's being). The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world In Theology, the doctrine of divine simplicity says that God is without parts The Cappadocian Fathers used this Eastern Orthodox monarchian understanding to explain why trinitarianism is not tritheism: "God is one because the Father is one," said Basil the Great in the fourth century. Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great (c 330 – January 1, 379) (Άγιος Βασίλειος ο Μέγας Latin

In Christianity, God is called "Father" in a previously unheard-of sense, besides being the creator and nurturer of creation, and the provider for his children, his people. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings The Father is said to have an eternal relation to his only Son, Jesus; which implies an exclusive and intimate familiarity that is of their very nature: "No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) " (Matthew 11:27). The Gospel of Matthew (Gk Κατά Ματθαίον Ευαγγέλιον is one of the four Canonical gospels in the New Testament and is a Synoptic gospel In Christian theology, this is the revelation of a sense in which Fatherhood is inherent to God's nature, an eternal relationship.

To Christians, God the Father's relationship with humanity is as a father to children. Thus, humans in general are sometimes called children of God. To Christians, God the Father's relationship with humanity is that of Creator and created beings, and in that respect he is the father of all. The New Testament says, in this sense, that the very idea of family, wherever it appears, derives its name from God the Father (Ephesians 3:15), and thus God himself is the model of the family. Described by William Barclay as the "Queen of the Epistles" the Epistle to the Ephesians is one of the books of the Bible in the New

However, there is a deeper sense in which Christians believe that they are made participants in the eternal relationship of Father and Son, through Jesus Christ. Christians call themselves adopted children of God. ^[9]

God the Holy Spirit

Main article: Holy Spirit

In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three divine persons of the Holy Trinity who make up the single substance of God; that is, the Spirit is considered to act in concert with and share an essential nature with God the Father and God the Son (Jesus). In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных Ousia () is the Ancient Greek noun formed on the feminine present participle of ( to be) it is analogous to the English participle In many religions the supreme Deity ( God) is given the title and attributions of Father. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) The Christian theology of the Holy Spirit, or pneumatology, was the last piece of Trinitarian theology to be fully explored and developed. Pneumatology is the study of spiritual beings and phenomena especially the interactions between humans and God. For this reason, there is greater theological diversity among Christian understandings of the Spirit than there is among understandings of the Son (Christology) and understandings of the Father. Christology (from Christ and Greek grc -λογία -logia) is a field of study within Christian theology which is concerned with Within Trinitarian theology, the Holy Spirit is usually referred to as the "Third Person" of the Triune God - with the Father being the First Person and the Son the Second Person.

In the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit is one of the three members of the Trinity. SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных The Holy Spirit's existence is affirmed in the Apostles Creed and responsibility for the Immaculate Conception or Virgin Birth of Jesus is asserted. For dogmatic context see Roman Catholic Mariology. For artistic depictions see Roman Catholic Marian art. The virgin birth of Jesus is a religious Tenet of Christianity and Islam which holds that Mary miraculously conceived Jesus while In the Nicene Creed (an extensive elaboration of the Apostles Creed), the Holy Spirit is further affirmed to proceed from one or both of the other members of the Trinity (God the Father and God the Son) (see Filioque controversy). The Nicene Creed (ˈnaɪsiːn is an ecumenical Christian statement of faith accepted in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных In many religions the supreme Deity ( God) is given the title and attributions of Father. God the Son is the second person of the Trinity in Christian Theology. Filioque, a Latin phrase meaning "and (from the Son" In Western Christianity, it was added to the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed This is taken to further imply that the Holy Spirit is co-substantial and co-eternal with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is also asserted to be the "Lord and Giver of Life". This Holy Spirit is often interpreted to be the same entity as The Angel of the Lord or the Spirit of the Lord referenced in the Old Testament. The Angel of the Lord (or the Angel of God) is a Biblical, Old Testament character often viewed as a Theophany or Christophany In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance In Western Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the books that form the first of the two-part Christian Biblical canon.

The Holy Spirit is also known as the "Holy Ghost".

Mainstream Christianity

Christians believe that the Holy Spirit leads people to faith in Jesus and gives them the ability to lead a Christian life. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings The Holy Spirit dwells inside every Christian, each one's body being His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Holy Spirit is depicted as a 'Counselor' or 'Helper' (paracletus in Latin, derived from Greek), guiding people in the way of the truth. For the school of Peter Abelard, see Oratory of the Paraclete. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly The Holy Spirit's action in one's life is believed to produce positive results, known as the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is a concept from the Christian New Testament of The Bible, specifically the Epistle to the Galatians chapter The Holy Spirit manifests these gifts by enabling a person to access his or her own innate abilities. Through the influence of the Holy Spirit a person sees more clearly the world around him or her and can use his or her mind and body in ways that exceed his or her previous capacity. A list of gifts that may be bestowed include the charismatic gifts of prophecy, tongues, healing, and knowledge. Religious meaning A charism (plural charismata. From the Greek charis - grace the divine influence on the receiver's heart and its reflection in his Prophecy, generally describes the disclosing of Information that is not known to the Prophet by any ordinary means Glossolalia is commonly called "speaking in tongues" For other uses of "speaking in tongues" see Speaking in Tongues (disambiguation. Christians holding a view known as cessationism believe these gifts were given only in New Testament times. In Christian Theology, cessationism is the view that the Charismatic Gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as tongues, Prophecy Christians almost universally agree that certain "spiritual gifts" are still in effect today, including the gifts of ministry, teaching, giving, leadership, and mercy (see, e. Spiritual gifts (or Charismata, according to some Christian denominations such as Pentecostal, are gifts that are bestowed on Christians each having his or her g. Romans 12:6-8). The experience of the Holy Spirit is sometimes referred to as being anointed. To anoint is to pour or smear with perfumed oil milk water melted butter or other substances a process employed ritually by many religions and races

Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as the promised "Advocate" (i. e. "strengthener", "fortifier") in John 14:26. After His resurrection, Christ told His disciples that they would be "baptized with the Holy Ghost", and would receive power from this event (Acts 1:4-8), a promise that was fulfilled in the events recounted in the second chapter of Acts. Within the body of Christian beliefs the resurrection of Jesus is a core event on which much of Christian doctrine and theology depend In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted On the first Pentecost, Jesus' disciples were gathered in Jerusalem when a mighty wind was heard and tongues of fire appeared over their heads. Pentecost (πεντηκοστή, pentekostē, "the fiftieth day" is one of the prominent feasts in the Christian Liturgical year, celebrated the Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the A multilingual crowd heard the disciples speaking, and each of them heard them speaking in his or her native language. A language is a dynamic set of visual auditory or tactile Symbols of Communication and the elements used to manipulate them

Nontrinitarianism

Main articles: Nontrinitarianism and Unitarianism

Some Christian traditions reject the doctrine of the Trinity. Nontrinitarianism includes all Christian belief systems that reject as non-scriptural wholly or partly the doctrine of the Trinity; the Doctrine Unitarianism as a theology is the belief in the single personality of God in contrast to the doctrine of the Trinity (three persons in one God In the early centuries of Christian history Arians, Ebionites, Gnostics, Marcionites, and others held nontrinitarian beliefs. The Ebionites ( Greek: grc Ἐβιωναῖοι Ebionaioi from Hebrew; he '''אביונים''' he-Latn ''Ebyonim'' "the Poor Ones" were an Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems Marcionism is the dualist Belief system that originates in the teachings of Marcion of Sinope at Rome around the year 144. These views were rejected by many bishops such as Irenaeus and subsequently by the Ecumenical Councils. Saint Irenaeus (Greek Ειρηναίος (2nd century AD - c 202 was Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, Roman Empire (now Lyons France This is a general introduction to ecumenical councils For the Roman Catholic councils, see Catholic Ecumenical Councils. The Nicene Creed raised the issue of the relationship between Jesus' divine and human natures. Monophysitism ("one nature") and monothelitism ("one will") were heretical attempts to explain this relationship. Monophysitism (from the Greek monos meaning 'one alone' and physis meaning 'nature' or Monophysiticism is the Christological position that Monothelitism (a Greek Loanword meaning "one will" is a particular teaching about how the divine and human relate in the person of Jesus, known as a During more than a thousand years of Trinitarian orthodoxy, formal nontrinitarianism, i. e. , a doctrine held by a church, group, or movement, was rare, but it did appear.

The Protestant Reformation of the 1500s also brought tradition into question. At first, nontrinitarians were executed (such as Servetus), or forced to keep their beliefs secret (such as Isaac Newton). Michael Servetus (also Miguel Servet or Miguel Serveto; 29 September, 1511 &ndash 27 October, 1553) was a Spanish Sir Isaac Newton, FRS (ˈnjuːtən 4 January 1643 31 March 1727) Biography Early years See also Isaac Newton's early life and achievements The eventual establishment of religious freedom, however, allowed nontrinitarians to more easily preach their beliefs, and the 19th century saw the establishment of several nontrinitarian groups in North America and elsewhere. These include Christadelphians, Christian Scientists, Jehovah's Witnesses, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Unitarians. Christadelphians (from the Greek for Brothers of Christ / Christ's Brethren: Christou Adelphoi; cf The Church of Christ Scientist was founded in 1879 in Boston Massachusetts, USA, by Mary Baker Eddy, author of the book Science and Health with Jehovah's Witnesses is a restorationist, millenialist Christian denomination The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known Unitarianism as a theology is the belief in the single personality of God in contrast to the doctrine of the Trinity (three persons in one God Twentieth-century nontrinitarian movements include Iglesia ni Cristo, Oneness Pentecostals, and the Unification Church. The Iglesia ni Cristo (ɪˈgleʃɐ ni ˈkɾisto Tagalog for Church of Christ; also known as INC, formerly called Iglesya ni Kristo or Overview Although both Oneness and Trinitarian denominations acknowledge the God of the Bible as the only God in existence and that Jesus was The Unification Church is a New religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. Nontrinitarian groups differ from one another in their views of Jesus Christ, depicting him variously as a divine being second only to God the Father, Yahweh of the Old Testament in human form, God (but not eternally God), prophet, or simply a holy man.

During the Reformation (though most Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, and Protestants accepted the value of many of the Councils) some groups rejected these councils as spiritually tainted. ^[10] Clemens Ziegler[1], Casper Schwenckfeld, and Melchior Hoffman, advanced the view that Christ was only divine and not human. Caspar (or Kaspar Schwen(ckfeld von Ossig (1489 or 1490 &ndash December 10 1561) was a German nobleman who became a Protestant Reformer and Melchior Hoffman or Hofmann (c 1495 &ndash 1543 was an Anabaptist prophet and a visionary leader in northern Germany and the Netherlands Michael Servetus denied that the traditional doctrine of the Trinity was necessary to defend the divinity of Christ. Michael Servetus (also Miguel Servet or Miguel Serveto; 29 September, 1511 &ndash 27 October, 1553) was a Spanish He claimed that Jesus was God Himself in the flesh. ^[11]

Latter-day Saints (commonly called Mormons) accept the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but deny that they are the same being. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known Mormonism is a term used to describe the religious, ideological and cultural elements of certain branches of the Latter Day Saint movement Rather, they believe them to be separate beings united perfectly in will and purpose. ^[12] They believe that the Father, like the Son, has a glorified physical body. (see Godhead)

Present day groups who do not consider Jesus to be God include: Unitarians,^[13] descendants of Reformation era Socinians, Christadelphians,^[14] and Jehovah's Witnesses. In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Godhead are the objects of worship and devotion within the faith Unitarianism as a theology is the belief in the single personality of God in contrast to the doctrine of the Trinity (three persons in one God Socinianism is a form of Antitrinitarianism, named for Laelius Socinus (died 1562 in Zürich) and of his nephew Faustus Socinus Christadelphians (from the Greek for Brothers of Christ / Christ's Brethren: Christou Adelphoi; cf Jehovah's Witnesses is a restorationist, millenialist Christian denomination ^[15]

Christology

Main article: Christology

Further information: Chalcedonian creed, Christ the Logos, Monophysitism, and Arianism

Jesus the Christ

Main article: Christ

Throughout the history of Christianity, Christological questions have been very important in the lifespan of the church. Christology (from Christ and Greek grc -λογία -logia) is a field of study within Christian theology which is concerned with The Confession of Chalcedon (also Definition or Creed of Chalcedon) also known as the "Doctrine of the Hypostatic Union" or the "2-Nature Doctrine" In Christology, the conception that the Christ is the Logos ( λóγος, the Greek for "word" "wisdom" or Monophysitism (from the Greek monos meaning 'one alone' and physis meaning 'nature' or Monophysiticism is the Christological position that Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " Christology was a fundamental concern from the First Council of Nicaea (325) until the Third Council of Constantinople (680). The First Council of Nicaea, held in Nicaea in Bithynia (present-day İznik in Turkey) convoked by the Roman Emperor Constantine Events By Place Roman Empire Gladiatorial combat is outlawed in the Roman Empire The Sixth Ecumenical Council met on November 7, 680 for its first session it ended its meetings said to have been eighteen in number on September 16 Events By Place Europe The Bulgars subjugate the country of current-day Bulgaria. In this time period, the Christological views of various groups within the broader Christian community led to accusations of heresy, and, infrequently, subsequent religious persecution. Heresy, as a blanket term describes a practice or belief that is labeled as unorthodox Religious persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group of individuals as a response to their religious beliefs of affiliations. In some cases, a sect's unique Christology is its chief distinctive feature; in these cases it is common for the sect to be known by the name given to its Christology.

As indicated by the name "Christianity," the focus of a Christian's life is a firm belief in Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah or Christ. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) This article is about the concept of a Messiah in religion notably in the Christian Islamic and Jewish traditions Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed "

A depiction of Jesus and Mary, the Theotokos of Vladimir (12th century)

Christians believe that, as the Messiah, Jesus was anointed as ruler and savior of humanity, and hold that Jesus' coming was the fulfillment of messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. The Theotokos of Vladimir,( Greek Θεοτόκος του Βλαντιμίρ also known as Our Lady of Vladimir, the Virgin of Vladimir or Vladimirskaya Jesus of Nazareth is universally accepted as the Messiah by Christians. In Western Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the books that form the first of the two-part Christian Biblical canon. The Christian concept of the Messiah differs significantly from the contemporary Jewish concept. Messiah ( משיח; mashiah, moshiah, mashiach, or moshiach, ("anointed " is a term used in the Hebrew Bible ^[16] The core Christian belief is that, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, sinful humans can be reconciled to God and thereby are offered salvation and the promise of eternal life. Within the body of Christian beliefs the resurrection of Jesus is a core event on which much of Christian doctrine and theology depend Original sin is according to a doctrine in Catholic theology, humanity's state of Sin resulting from the Fall of Man. Immortality (or eternal life) is the concept of living in physical or spiritual form for an Infinite length of Time. [Ref. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13 KJB]

While there have been theological disputes over the nature of Jesus, Christians generally believe that Jesus is God incarnate and "true God and true man" (or both fully divine and fully human). The Incarnation is the belief in Christianity that Jesus Christ is the God of Israel in the flesh Hypostatic union (from the Greek, "hypostasis" translated reality or person) is a technical term in Christian Theology employed Jesus, having become fully human in all respects, suffered the pains and temptations of a mortal man, yet he did not sin. The Incarnation is the belief in Christianity that Jesus Christ is the God of Israel in the flesh As fully God, he defeated death and rose to life again. According to the Bible, "God raised him from the dead,"^[17] he ascended to heaven, to the "right hand of God,"^[18] and he will return again^[19] to fulfil the rest of Messianic prophecy such as the Resurrection of the dead, the Last Judgment and establishment of the physical Kingdom of God. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin The general and most common understanding of the Christian Doctrine of Ascension holds that Jesus bodily ascended to Heaven in the presence In Christianity, the Second Coming is the anticipated return of Jesus Christ from Heaven to earth an event that will fulfill aspects of Messianic This article is about the concept of a Messiah in religion notably in the Christian Islamic and Jewish traditions This article concerns itself with the belief in the final Resurrection at the End of time, commonly found in the Abrahamic religions. In Christian eschatology, the Last Judgment or Day of the Lord is the judgment by God of every human who ever lived

According to the Gospels, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born from the Virgin Mary. This article is about the canonical books of the New Testament In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance For depictions in painting and sculpture see Nativity of Jesus in art. Little of Jesus' childhood is recorded there in comparison to his adulthood, especially the week before his death. The Biblical accounts of Jesus' ministry include: his baptism, miracles, preaching, teaching, and deeds. In the Synoptic gospels, Jesus is baptised by John the Baptist. According to the canonical Gospels Jesus worked many Miracles in the course of his ministry, which may be categorized into cures Exorcisms

Notes

See also

• Christianity and Neoplatonism
• God in Abrahamic religions

External links

• Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings from Before the Beginning
• Comprehending God - Part 1 mp3 sermon/study from Hope Video Ministries
• Comprehending God - Part 2 mp3 sermon/study from Hope Video Ministries
• Augustine On the Holy Trinity
• The Timelessness of God and the Deity of Christ
• Trinitarian Universalism
• Jon Explains the Trinity
• Doctrine of the Trinity
• ReligionFacts, 2005. Overview of history, doctrinal statements and critics of the doctrine of the Trinity
• Site devoted to theories about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, especially as developed by recent Christian philosophers
• The Hospitality of Abraham. Neoplatonism was a major influence on Christian theology throughout Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages in the West notably due to (1 St Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Bahá'í Faith see God as a being who created the world and who rules over the universe 2005. (ed. , Andrei Rublev's icon of the "Old Testament Trinity," with discussion of the history of the Trinity in iconography. )
• The Blessed Trinity Article in the Catholic Encyclopedia
• The Trinity at WikiChristian
• Trinity article at Theopedia
• Trinity article in Jewish Encyclopedia