What is Nontrinitarianism?

Nontrinitarianism is a theological position that rejects the doctrine of the Trinity, the cornerstone of orthodox Christian belief, which teaches that there is one God in three coequal, coeternal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Nontrinitarian views deny this foundational doctrine, proposing alternative understandings of God’s nature that diverge from the historic teachings of the Christian faith. These views are considered heretical by mainstream Christianity, as they undermine the biblical revelation of God and the full divinity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Biblical Foundations

Scriptural Rebuttal to Nontrinitarianism

The doctrine of the Trinity is rooted in the full witness of Scripture, which reveals the triune nature of God. Nontrinitarianism, however, often relies on selective readings of Scripture, ignoring the comprehensive biblical testimony that affirms the Trinity.

• The Oneness and Plurality of God: While Nontrinitarians emphasize the oneness of God, orthodox Christianity understands this oneness as existing within a complex unity that includes the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  • Deuteronomy 6:4 (NIV):
    

    “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”

    This verse, foundational to Jewish and Christian monotheism, is fully compatible with the doctrine of the Trinity, which teaches that God is one in essence but exists in three distinct persons.

  • Genesis 1:26 (NIV):
    

    “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…'”

    The plural language used here suggests a complex unity within God, which is understood in Christian theology as the Trinity.

• The Full Divinity of Christ: Nontrinitarians often deny the full divinity of Jesus Christ, reducing Him to a created being or a lesser divine figure. This is a direct contradiction of the biblical testimony that affirms Jesus as fully God.
  • John 1:1, 14 (NIV):
    

    “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

    This passage clearly identifies Jesus (the Word) as God, directly countering Nontrinitarian claims that Jesus is not divine.

  • Colossians 2:9 (NIV):
    

    “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”

    Paul explicitly states that Christ embodies the fullness of Deity, leaving no room for interpretations that diminish His divinity.

• The Personhood of the Holy Spirit: Nontrinitarians often reject the personhood of the Holy Spirit, viewing the Spirit as merely an impersonal force or manifestation of God’s power. Scripture, however, reveals the Holy Spirit as a distinct person who shares in the divine nature.
  • Acts 5:3-4 (NIV):
    

    “Then Peter said, ‘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.'”

    Peter identifies lying to the Holy Spirit as lying to God, affirming the Holy Spirit’s divinity and personhood.

Theological Rejection of Nontrinitarianism

Nontrinitarianism has been consistently rejected by the Christian Church as heretical because it distorts the biblical understanding of God and undermines key aspects of the Christian faith, particularly the nature of Christ and the Holy Spirit.

• Council of Nicaea (325 AD): The Council of Nicaea condemned Arianism, a major Nontrinitarian heresy, and affirmed the full divinity of Christ, leading to the formulation of the Nicene Creed, which clearly articulates the Trinitarian understanding of God.
  • Nicene Creed: “We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.”

    The Creed unequivocally affirms the coequality and coeternity of the Son with the Father, a direct refutation of Nontrinitarian claims.

• Chalcedonian Definition (451 AD): The Council of Chalcedon further clarified the nature of Christ, affirming that Jesus is fully God and fully man, two natures in one person. This doctrine is essential for understanding the Incarnation and the atonement.
  • Chalcedonian Creed: “We confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ… recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation—the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved.”

    This definition counters any Nontrinitarian view that diminishes the full divinity or humanity of Christ.

Historical Development and Key Figures

Early Church Heresies

Nontrinitarianism emerged early in the history of the Church, often in the form of heresies that sought to redefine the nature of Christ and the Godhead, leading to significant theological conflict.

• Arianism: Arius, a presbyter from Alexandria, taught that Jesus was a created being and not coequal with the Father. This heresy was a major challenge to the early Church and was condemned at the Council of Nicaea.
  • Athanasius of Alexandria: A staunch defender of Trinitarian orthodoxy, Athanasius opposed Arianism, arguing that only a fully divine Christ could provide salvation. His writings were crucial in the defeat of Arianism within the Church.
• Sabellianism (Modalism): Sabellius taught that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not distinct persons but different modes or aspects of one God. This view was rejected because it fails to account for the distinct relationships within the Trinity and leads to a misunderstanding of the Incarnation and the work of Christ.
  • Tertullian: An early Church Father, Tertullian was one of the first to use the term “Trinity” and wrote against Modalism, defending the distinct personhood of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Reformation and Modern Nontrinitarian Movements

During the Reformation and afterward, Nontrinitarian views reemerged in various forms, often in reaction to the established Church’s teachings.

• Socinianism: Developed by Fausto Sozzini in the 16th century, Socinianism denied the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, and the atonement, arguing for a strictly monotheistic view of God. This movement influenced later Unitarianism and other rationalist approaches to Christianity.
  • Counter-Reformation Responses: The Roman Catholic Church and Protestant Reformers alike rejected Socinianism, reaffirming the doctrine of the Trinity as essential to Christian faith.
• Unitarianism: Emerging in the 17th century, Unitarianism rejected the Trinity and embraced a view of God as a single person. Unitarians view Jesus as a great moral teacher but deny His divinity.
  • Biblical Refutation: Trinitarians argue that Unitarianism misinterprets key biblical texts and ignores the broader scriptural witness that affirms the divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit.
• Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons: These modern Nontrinitarian groups continue to propagate views that diverge from orthodox Christianity. Jehovah’s Witnesses view Jesus as a created being (the archangel Michael), while Mormons teach that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate beings, rejecting the unity of essence within the Trinity.
  • Christian Apologetics: Christian apologists consistently refute these views by demonstrating that they are incompatible with the biblical witness and the historic teachings of the Church.

Broader Theological Implications

The Nature of God and Salvation

Nontrinitarianism has profound implications for the Christian understanding of God and the nature of salvation. By denying the Trinity, Nontrinitarians fundamentally alter the nature of God as revealed in Scripture, leading to a deficient understanding of the Incarnation, the atonement, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

• Undermining the Incarnation: The denial of the full divinity of Christ undermines the Incarnation, where God became man to redeem humanity. Without the Trinity, the significance of God becoming flesh in Jesus Christ is lost, as is the true understanding of His work of salvation.
  • John 1:14 (NIV):
    

    “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

    The Incarnation is central to the Christian faith, and any view that diminishes the divinity of Christ distorts the Gospel.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

By rejecting the personhood and divinity of the Holy Spirit, Nontrinitarian views impair the Christian understanding of the Spirit’s work in the life of believers and the Church.

• Loss of the Comforter: The Holy Spirit is described in Scripture as the Comforter, Advocate, and Spirit of Truth who guides believers into all truth (John 14:26). Nontrinitarian views reduce the Holy Spirit to an impersonal force, stripping away the personal relationship that believers have with the Spirit.
  • Ephesians 4:30 (NIV):
    

    “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

    This verse highlights the personhood of the Holy Spirit, who can be grieved—a concept incompatible with the Nontrinitarian view of the Spirit as a mere force.

Legacy and Influence in Christian Doctrine

The persistence of Nontrinitarianism throughout Christian history underscores the ongoing challenge of heretical teachings that distort the biblical understanding of God. While these views have been condemned by the Church, they continue to resurface, requiring vigilance and a firm commitment to orthodox doctrine.

Conservative Reflection on Nontrinitarianism

From a conservative Christian perspective, Nontrinitarianism is unequivocally viewed as a heresy that distorts the biblical revelation of God and undermines the core tenets of the Christian faith. The Trinity is not a secondary issue but a central doctrine that defines the very nature of God as revealed in Scripture. Conservative Christians are called to defend the doctrine of the Trinity against all forms of heresy and to proclaim the truth of God’s triune nature as essential to the Gospel.

• 2 John 1:9 (NIV):
  

  “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”

  This verse warns against departing from the true teaching of Christ, which includes the full revelation of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Final Thoughts on God’s Love and Jesus

The doctrine of the Trinity reveals the depth of God’s love in the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Nontrinitarianism, by denying this relationship, obscures the fullness of God’s love and the profound mystery of the Incarnation.

• John 3:16 (NIV):
  

  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

This verse encapsulates the Gospel, which is rooted in the Trinitarian understanding of God’s nature. The Father’s love is expressed in the giving of the Son, and the Son’s sacrificial love is empowered by the Holy Spirit. The rejection of the Trinity diminishes this divine love, leading to a distorted and incomplete understanding of the Gospel. As Christians, it is vital to uphold the truth of the Trinity, recognizing that it is through this divine relationship that we come to know the fullness of God’s love and grace in Jesus Christ.