1. History of the Doctrine of the Spirit
Pneumatology

2. Council of Constantinople
Hagia Irene (‘Holy Peace’) – Istanbul, rebuilt after 8th c. earthquake
Dates to time of Constantine, retains its original atrium
First church built in Constantinople
Place where Council of Constantinople was held

3. Council of Constantinople
Controversy of the Macedonians
Chief spokesman: Gregory of Nazianzus
“And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-giving, who proceeds from the Father, who is to be glorified with the Father and the Son, and who speaks through the prophets,”

4. Contributions of Augustine
De Trinitate
Each person = entire essence
Each person interdependent on other persons
(Disliked term “persons” but could think of no better)
Spirit proceeded from both Father and Son
The Pelagian controversy
Pelagius: Man able to do good works apart from Spirit
Augustine: Man requires Spirit to do any good work

5. Council of Chalcedon Confirmed Nicaea and Constantinople
Stated that Constantinople merely clarified Nicaea, not replaced
Reaffirms deity of Spirit

6. Synod of Toledo
A Western Question: Does the Spirit proceed from Father and Son, or Father only?
If only from Father, are Son and Father truly one?
If from both, is Spirit subordinate to Son and less than fully God?
West: added ‘filioque’ to the creed – ‘and Son’; affirming procession of Spirit from both
East: rejected ‘filioque’; part of the divide between Orthodoxy and Rome to this day

7. Abelard
Abelard spoke of the Trinity in ways that caused him to be charged with Sabellianism. The name of the Father, he said, stands for power; the Son, for wisdom; the Spirit, for goodness. Sometimes he seemed to indicate real personal distinctions in the Godhead, but his illustrations and expressions at other times were modalistic.
Sabellianism = “Sabellius taught that God is a unity but that He revealed Himself in three different modes or forms.” (Ryrie, 445)

8. Thomas Aquinas The usual orthodox understanding of the Trinity
Little further development during this period up to the Reformation