1. Trinitarian Doctrine Challenges to Apostolic Faith

2. Doctrine Dogma A doctrine is an official teaching of the church. A dogma is a doctrine that is central to our faith. A dogma is a doctrine; a doctrine is not always a dogma

3. Why did it develop? To articulate the doctrine of the Trinity – Formulate words that correctly expressed the Church’s doctrine As a response to challenges to the faith – Several heresies and wrong ideas about Jesus had begun to appear and they needed to be addressed

4. How? Ecumenical Councils – Gatherings of the Catholic bishops, called by the Pope to discuss and resolve issues and problems facing the Church Church Fathers – Teachers and writers of the early Church, usually bishops; Their teachings are witness to the apostolic tradition Philosophy: “Love of Wisdom” – Using human logic to succinctly express the teachings of the Church Substance – consubstantial, speaks to the unity of the persons Person- speaks to their distinctness Relation- explains the distinction

5. Early Christological Heresies Jesus is only human – Arianism: Arius claimed Jesus was a higher form of human but not divine and not pre-existent – Nestorianism Nestorius claimed Jesus was two different persons, one human, one divine Mary is NOT the Mother of God Jesus is only divine – Docetism Jesus was disguised as a human. “God in a human suit”, therefore he only appeared to suffer and die – Monophysitism Jesus’ divine nature absorbed the human an at the end he was only divine – Gnosticism Salvation was only available to those who had secret knowledge from God or his agent

6. Church Response A clear teaching on the Incarnation written with concise language – Conceived by the Holy Spirit (divinity) – Born of the Virgin Mary (humanity) The clear teaching of the Incarnation led to the clear and concise wording of the doctrine on the Trinity

7. Ecumenical Councils From 325AD – 787 AD seven councils were convened to respond to the heresies of Jesus’ nature and the Trinity – 325 AD Council of Nicea Nicene Creed- expansion of Apostles Creed- consubstantial with the Father – 381 AD Council of Constantinople Added clauses about the Holy Spirit to the Nicene Creed – 431 AD Council of Ephesus Declared Mary the “Mother of God”, Theotokos – 451 AD Council of Chalcedon Jesus is 100% human and 100% divine – Consubstantial with the Father and US