church-history

Historical studies on the development of Christian doctrine, early church writings, councils, and controversies.

Phil. 2:5-11, God’s Form & Novatian Members Public

Paul seems to be quoting either an early Christian hymn, creed and/or poem, which celebrates Christ’s prehuman divine existence, subsequent human incarnation, and post-resurrection exaltation to divine status, thereby resulting in his being worshiped by the entire creation:  “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
philippiansjesus-christtrinity

St. Augustine, the Trinity & the Filioque Members Public

The following excerpt is taken from St. Augustine’s Tractates on the Gospel of John wherein he discusses the procession of the Holy Spirit from both the Father and the Son. All emphasis will be mine. Tractate 99 John 16:13 1. What is this that the Lord said of

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
trinityholy-spirittheology

St. Augustine on John 17:3 & Predestination Members Public

In this post I will be citing from St. Augustine’s Tractates on the Gospel of John where he discusses our Lord’s statement to the Father being the only true God, and where he also explains our Lord’s words in v. 5 as referring to God having predestined

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
theologytrinityjesus-christ

TATIAN ON THE HOLY TRINITY Members Public

In this post I will be quoting from the works of Tatian who was a second century AD Assyrian Christian apologist and a disciple of St. Justin Martyr. Tatian taught that God is an immaterial Spirit, and that Christ is the Logos (Word) who always subsisted within God and then

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
trinitychurch-historytheology

Syriac Sinaiticus’ Gospel Variants Members Public

The Syriac Sinaiticus codex is a 4th century AD manuscript, which contains the oldest translations of the Gospels into the Syriac language: The Syriac Sinaiticus,  a late 4th century codex also known also as the Sinaitic Palimpsest or the Codex Syriacus, contains a translation of the four canonical gospels of

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
biblegospelchurch-history

Hilary: God is the Trinity Members Public

Here I cite from St. Hilary of Poitier’s work On the Trinity, Book VII, where this holy saint affirms that the term God refers the divine Persons who share the same name and nature. All emphasis will be mine. 31. We see how the living Son of the living

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
trinitygodtheology

Epiphanius’ Refutation of the Arians Pt. 2 Members Public

In this post I will be quoting from the English rendering of The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis Books II and III. De Fide (Second, revised Edition), translated by Frank Williams [Brill, Leiden-Boston 2013], Volume 39, 368-374. Epiphanius refutes the Arian misuse of Acts 2:36 and Mark 13:32/

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
church-historytrinityjesus-christ

Epiphanius on Jesus as the Divine Angel Members Public

The extracts in this post are taken from the English rendering of The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis Books II and III. De Fide (Second, revised Edition), translated by Frank Williams [Brill, Leiden-Boston 2013], Volume 39,, pp. 362-66. Epiphanius affirms that Jesus is the divine Angel who appeared in the

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
angelsjesus-christtheology
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