The Year 325 and the Doctrine of the Trinity

In 325 Constantinople, modern day Instanbul, was seething with discussion.  The buzz in the city was not about a sports team or about an election.  People were talking about the doctrine of the Trinity.  One church leader said, if in this city you ask someone for change, he will discuss with you whether God the Son is begotten or unbegotten.  If you ask about the quality of the bread, you will receive the answer that ‘God the Father is greater, God the Son is less. . .”

So Constantine called a council of the Church in what is now modern day Turkey.  When the Church leaders began to study the issues in a relatively short period of time they worked out the Nicean Creed and the doctrine of the Trinity.  The debate was far from over.  And, it continued over the years.  But, because of Athanasius and other great leaders, the doctrine of the Trinity was summarized in a way that continues to serve the church now nearly 1700 years later.

So what is the doctrine of the Trinity?  We can summarize it with two statements.  (1) God is one in essence or being.  (2) God is three persons.

Wayne Grudem wrote.  “We may define the doctrine of the Trinity as follows: God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God.”

The next time you hear some careless remark that the doctrine of the Trinity just developed out of political pressure, go out the web and google the phrase, “Nicene Creed.”  Then time to read one of the greatest theological summaries in church history.  It is a magnificent statement written in 325 that summarizes the bounds of what all Christians must believe about our Triune God.