Patripassianism is a term used in early Christian theology to describe a specific form of the heresy known as Modalism or Sabellianism. Patripassianism posits that God the Father suffered and died on the cross, effectively collapsing the distinction between the Father and the Son within the Trinity. The term comes from the Latin words pater (father) and passio (suffering), literally meaning “the Father suffers.” This view was deemed heretical by the early Church because it contradicted the orthodox understanding of the Trinity as three distinct persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—within one Godhead.

Historical Context of Patripassianism

The Development of Trinitarian Doctrine

The doctrine of the Trinity is central to Christian theology, affirming that God is one in essence but three in persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This understanding developed over the first few centuries of the Church as theologians sought to articulate the nature of God in light of biblical revelation.

• Matthew 28:19: “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 is foundational for the doctrine of the Trinity, as it names the three distinct persons of the Godhead.
• John 10:30: “I and the Father are one.” This statement by Jesus affirms the unity of the Father and the Son in essence, but it does not imply that they are the same person.

Modalism and Patripassianism

Patripassianism arose within the broader context of Modalism, a heresy that taught that God is a single person who manifests Himself in different modes or forms—sometimes as the Father, sometimes as the Son, and sometimes as the Holy Spirit—rather than being three distinct persons. Modalism was an attempt to preserve the oneness of God, but it ultimately failed to account for the personal distinctions within the Trinity.

• Sabellius (c. 3rd century): Sabellius was an early proponent of Modalism, and his teachings led to the development of Patripassianism. Sabellius taught that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were not distinct persons but rather different modes or aspects of one God. According to this view, God revealed Himself as the Father in creation, as the Son in redemption, and as the Holy Spirit in sanctification.
• Tertullian (c. 155-240): Tertullian, an early Christian theologian, was one of the most vocal opponents of Patripassianism and Modalism. In his work Against Praxeas, Tertullian argued for the distinct persons of the Trinity, emphasizing that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are co-equal and co-eternal. He famously quipped that Praxeas “put the Holy Spirit to flight and crucified the Father,” highlighting the absurdity of the Patripassian view.

The Church’s Response to Patripassianism

The early Church rejected Patripassianism as heretical because it undermined the biblical teaching on the Trinity and the distinct roles of the Father and the Son in the work of salvation.

• Council of Nicaea (325 AD): The Council of Nicaea was a pivotal moment in the development of Trinitarian doctrine. While the primary focus of the council was to address the Arian controversy, which denied the full divinity of the Son, the council also affirmed the distinction between the persons of the Trinity, indirectly condemning Modalistic views like Patripassianism.
• Athanasius (c. 296-373): Athanasius, a key defender of Nicene orthodoxy, argued forcefully against any theology that compromised the distinct persons of the Trinity. He emphasized that the Son is fully God but is not the same person as the Father, and that the Son became incarnate and suffered on the cross, not the Father.

Biblical Refutation of Patripassianism

The Distinction Between the Father and the Son

The New Testament clearly teaches that the Father and the Son are distinct persons, even though they share the same divine essence.

• John 1:1-2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” This passage highlights the distinction between the Word (the Son) and God (the Father), while also affirming their unity in essence.
• John 17:1: “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.'” Jesus’ prayer to the Father demonstrates the personal distinction between the Father and the Son.
• Matthew 3:16-17: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'” The baptism of Jesus presents all three persons of the Trinity simultaneously—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each playing a distinct role.

The Suffering of the Son, Not the Father

The New Testament teaches that it was the Son, not the Father, who became incarnate and suffered for the sins of the world.

• Philippians 2:6-8: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” This passage emphasizes that it was the Son who took on human flesh and suffered on the cross, not the Father.
• 1 Peter 2:24: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” The emphasis is on the Son’s suffering and atonement for sin.

The Father’s Role in the Work of Redemption

The Father plays a distinct role in the work of redemption, particularly in sending the Son and raising Him from the dead.

• John 3:16: “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.” The Father’s role is that of sending the Son into the world for the salvation of humanity.
• Romans 8:11: “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” The Father is identified as the one who raised Jesus from the dead, emphasizing the distinct roles within the Trinity.

Protestant Emphasis in the Rejection of Patripassianism

Sola Scriptura and the Authority of Scripture

Protestant theology emphasizes the authority of Scripture as the ultimate guide for doctrine and practice. The rejection of Patripassianism is based on the clear biblical teaching of the Trinity and the distinct roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The doctrine of the Trinity is derived from careful exegesis of the entire biblical witness, and any teaching that deviates from this is seen as a departure from biblical truth.

The Centrality of the Atonement

Protestant theology places a strong emphasis on the atoning work of Christ. The distinction between the Father and the Son is essential for understanding the nature of the atonement, as it was the Son who bore the sins of humanity.

• 2 Corinthians 5:21: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” The Father’s role in making the Son to be sin for us, and the Son’s role in becoming sin, highlight the distinct persons of the Trinity in the work of salvation.

The Trinity as the Foundation of Christian Faith

The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to Christian faith and worship. Protestant theology affirms the mystery of the Trinity, recognizing that while God is one in essence, He exists eternally in three persons.

• Matthew 28:19: The Trinitarian formula for baptism underscores the importance of acknowledging the distinct persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Christian faith and practice.

Conclusion

From a Christian worldview, Patripassianism is a heretical view that conflates the persons of the Father and the Son, suggesting that the Father suffered and died on the cross. This view was rejected by the early Church because it undermined the biblical teaching on the Trinity and the distinct roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the work of redemption.

Historically, Patripassianism arose within the context of Modalism and was opposed by early Church theologians such as Tertullian and Athanasius. The doctrine of the Trinity, as affirmed by the Council of Nicaea and other early ecumenical councils, maintains the distinction between the persons of the Godhead while affirming their unity in essence.

Biblically, the New Testament clearly teaches that the Son, not the Father, became incarnate, suffered, and died for the sins of the world. The Father’s role in sending the Son and raising Him from the dead is distinct and complementary within the Trinitarian framework.

Protestant theology, with its emphasis on the authority of Scripture and the centrality of the atonement, firmly rejects Patripassianism as a distortion of the biblical doctrine of the Trinity. The recognition of the Trinity as one God in three persons is essential for understanding the nature of God, the work of Christ, and the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church.