Binitarianism is a theological perspective that acknowledges two persons within the Godhead: God the Father and God the Son (Jesus Christ), while typically either downplaying or omitting the Holy Spirit as a distinct person of the Trinity. This view contrasts with the orthodox Christian doctrine of the Trinity, which holds that there is one God in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. From a Christian biblical worldview, Binitarianism presents challenges to the traditional understanding of God’s nature and raises important theological questions about the role and personhood of the Holy Spirit.

Historical Context and Development

Early Church Context

In the early Christian Church, various understandings of the nature of God and Jesus Christ were debated. While Trinitarianism eventually became the orthodox position, early Christianity included a variety of theological perspectives, some of which can be seen as binitarian.

Subordinationism

Some early theologians, such as Origen, suggested a hierarchy within the Godhead, with the Father being superior to the Son. This idea, known as subordinationism, shares some similarities with binitarian thought in its emphasis on the Father and the Son.

Arian Controversy

The Arian controversy in the 4th century revolved around the nature of the relationship between the Father and the Son. Arius argued that the Son was a created being and not co-eternal with the Father. While Arianism is distinct from binitarianism, both perspectives highlight the complexity and diversity of early Christian theological debates about the Godhead.

Semi-Arianism

Semi-Arianism, which emerged during the same period, taught that the Son was of a similar substance to the Father but not identical. This view also did not fully embrace the concept of the Holy Spirit as a distinct person, aligning somewhat with binitarian ideas.

Understanding Binitarianism

Key Beliefs of Binitarianism

1. Two Divine Persons: Binitarians believe in the full divinity of both God the Father and God the Son, seeing them as distinct persons who share one divine essence. This view aligns with much of traditional Christology, which affirms the deity of Christ alongside the Father.
2. Diminished Role of the Holy Spirit: Binitarianism often either rejects or minimizes the personhood of the Holy Spirit, seeing the Spirit more as an impersonal force or the power of God rather than a distinct person within the Godhead. Some Binitarians might acknowledge the Holy Spirit but not as a co-equal and co-eternal person with the Father and the Son.
3. Historical Roots: Binitarian views have been found in some early Christian sects and have reappeared in various forms throughout church history. However, these views have generally been considered heretical by mainstream Christian theology, which upholds the doctrine of the Trinity.

Contrast with Trinitarianism

• Trinitarianism: Orthodox Christian theology teaches that there is one God in three co-equal and co-eternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This doctrine is based on the biblical revelation of God as a triune being, where each person is fully God, sharing the same divine essence, yet distinct in personhood.
• Binitarianism vs. Trinitarianism: The key difference lies in the treatment of the Holy Spirit. While Trinitarians affirm the Holy Spirit as a distinct person who is fully God, Binitarians typically either deny the personhood of the Spirit or do not fully integrate the Spirit into the Godhead.

Biblical Critique of Binitarianism

From a Christian biblical worldview, Binitarianism is problematic because it fails to account for the full biblical teaching on the nature of God, particularly the personhood and divinity of the Holy Spirit.

The Personhood of the Holy Spirit

The Bible provides clear evidence that the Holy Spirit is not merely an impersonal force but a distinct person within the Godhead.

• John 14:16-17: Jesus says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” The use of personal pronouns (“him”) and the description of the Spirit as an “advocate” or “helper” (Greek: parakletos) indicate the Spirit’s personhood.
• John 16:13-14: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” These verses depict the Holy Spirit as having personal attributes—teaching, guiding, speaking, and glorifying Christ—actions that are characteristic of a person, not an impersonal force.

The Divinity of the Holy Spirit

The Bible also affirms the divinity of the Holy Spirit, presenting the Spirit as fully God, co-equal with the Father and the Son.

• Acts 5:3-4: In the story of Ananias and Sapphira, Peter confronts Ananias by saying, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit… You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” This passage equates lying to the Holy Spirit with lying to God, affirming the Spirit’s divinity.
• 2 Corinthians 3:17-18: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom… And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” This verse links the Holy Spirit with the Lord (a title typically reserved for God), further supporting the Spirit’s divinity.

The Trinitarian Nature of God

The doctrine of the Trinity, though not explicitly named in the Bible, is supported by numerous passages that present the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as distinct persons who together make up the one God.

• Matthew 28:19: Jesus commands His disciples, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” This verse presents the three persons of the Trinity together in a way that suggests their equal standing and shared divine authority.
• 2 Corinthians 13:14: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Paul’s benediction places the three persons of the Trinity together, highlighting their distinct roles in the lives of believers.

Theological Implications of Binitarianism

Incomplete Understanding of God

Binitarianism offers an incomplete picture of God’s nature by excluding or diminishing the role of the Holy Spirit as a distinct person within the Godhead. This can lead to a misunderstanding of how God interacts with creation and the believer.

• John 14:26: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” The work of the Holy Spirit is essential for understanding and living out the teachings of Jesus, and neglecting the Spirit’s personhood undermines this aspect of Christian life.

Implications for Christian Worship and Practice

The doctrine of the Trinity has significant implications for Christian worship, prayer, and the overall understanding of God’s work in the world.

• Romans 8:26-27: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in the believer’s prayer life, interceding on their behalf and aligning their prayers with God’s will. Neglecting the Spirit’s personhood and role can diminish the richness of this aspect of the Christian experience.

The Integrity of Christian Doctrine

Orthodox Christian doctrine, as expressed in the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds, affirms the Trinity as a foundational belief. Departing from this doctrine, as Binitarianism does, risks distorting other key aspects of Christian theology.

• Nicene Creed: The creed, formulated in 325 AD, explicitly affirms belief in the Holy Spirit as “the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.” This statement reflects the church’s understanding of the Holy Spirit as a co-equal person of the Trinity, essential to the Christian faith.

Conclusion

From a Christian biblical worldview, Binitarianism is viewed as a deficient understanding of the nature of God. While it rightly affirms the divinity of the Father and the Son, it fails to fully recognize the personhood and divinity of the Holy Spirit, which are clearly taught in Scripture. The orthodox doctrine of the Trinity, which encompasses the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as co-equal and co-eternal persons, provides a more complete and biblically grounded understanding of the Godhead. This doctrine is foundational to Christian faith, shaping how believers understand God, engage in worship, and experience the fullness of the Christian life. Binitarianism, by contrast, presents a truncated view of God that does not adequately account for the rich biblical testimony of the triune nature of the one true God.