Word/Logos Library

"History of the Logos Doctrine"

 

#WeAreACTS

“Bridging the Gap between

Oneness and Trinitarianism"

--------Apostolic Theology--------

The History of Logos Doctrine

_____=Biblical Oneness=_____

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Dedications:

Dr. Irvin Baxter, Jr., who has inspired me to pursue Biblical Christianity.

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Apologist Steven Ritchie, who has inspired me to pursue doctrinal continuity and historical succession of the Apostles’ Doctrine within early practitioners.

 

My wife and son, who have afforded me much grace and understanding as I have spent time away from them in study, prayer, worship, ministry, debate and the pursuing of international revival towards Biblical Christianity.

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Introduction:

I am Mark August of A.C.T.S. Think-Tank, a Oneness Pentecostal think-tank, and I am a leader in the minority isle of my movement. What I mean by minority is, my wing affirms a manifested pre-incarnate Logos begotten (manifested) in the beginning, before the creation of the world and "through whom" YHWH made the worlds.

We do not, however, view Logos/Memra as a distinct person than the original Deity source from which Logos is radiated. Rather, we view Logos as the manifested visible image (body) of the invisible One True and Living God and present with YHWH (“face to face with God”) in the beginning and being of the same substance as The Father. An Ontologically identical offspring of The Father.

We also do not accept the 3rd Century Origenian theory of an "eternally generated Son", though we do acknowledge that Logos was resident in the mind of YHWH as Wisdom before the beginning in eternity.

As the original Nicene Creed of 325 A.D., which was signed by Monarchian leaders, affirms, there was never a time when Logos was not, for Logos proceeded from things already in existence, the Wisdom and foreknowledge of God.

Dr. Irvin Baxter Jr. (UPCI) of EndTime Ministries (as seen on TBN and Daystar) is currently our side of the isle’s most well known advocate.

As you may know, the majority of Oneness Pentecostals today teach that Logos was resident in the mind only of YHWH until being begotten at the incarnation.

The most well known proponent of this theory, which I term "mind word only" theory, is Dr. David K. Bernard (UPCI).

This error is largely sourced, from a doctrinal overreach by Marcellus of Ancyra (Monarchian Bishop) against Arius in the 4th century and was quickly rejected.

-Ref: BU Dublin, Harvard University,

"Marcellus of Ancyra (4th Century Bishop) developed a Monarchianism of his own, ("Mind Word Only" Theory) which was carried much further by his disciple, Photinus."

-Catholic Encyclopedia

"Mind word only" adherents also cite small quotes from Ireneaus and Origen to support their position.

Though the reader may not be intimately familiar with the view of my side of the isle on this subject matter, I would like to humbly request the reader to please examine the content of this study objectively and after doing so make an informed decision based on factual information, forsaking tradition.

Please note, this subject has no cause for disunity of the body. It is the timing of the begetting being disputed here, not the identity of Logos.

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Ratification:

"The view you have expressed (Dr. Baxter’s and Pastor August's view of Logos Theology) is closer to the Jewish perspective. (than Dr. Bernard’s view)”

-Dr. Igal German, PhD, Trinitarian, Professor, St. Augustine’s Seminary of Toronto

"I would say that yours (Dr. Baxter’s and Pastor August’s view of Logos Theology) is closer to the Biblical position. (than Dr. Bernard’s view)”

-Dr. Michael Brown, PhD, Trinitarian, Professor, Fellowship for International Revival and Evangelism School, Host of “Ask Dr. Brown” radio show.

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Preamble:

JESUS made the throne, built to be sat in. Wouldn't HE have made a Body to utilize it?

For by HIM were ALL THINGS created, that are in HEAVEN, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be THRONES [ !!! ] or dominions, or principalities, or POWERS: all things were created BY HIM, and FOR HIM:

-Colossians 1:16

The Logos was:

"The Amen,...... The beginning of the creation of God;"

-Revelation 3:14

“The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.”

-Proverbs 8:22-23

Question:

Who rose from the dead???

The "Divine Expression", Strong’s on John 1:1-14 did, in its fleshly form that is.

It was the body of YHWH manifest in flesh that rose, Yeshua's Temple, if you will.

The Spirit gives life, the flesh is not for nothing.

The Spirit or the KJV says, "Ghost" is what Yeshua "gave up" at the cross, His fleshly manifestation just a dead man's body, because remember.....the man Christ Jesus had to be conceived and had to die.

But 3 days later The Spirit that left came back in, just as seen in revelation with the 2 witnesses.

Trinitarians love to refer to the Pre-Incarnate LOGOS becoming flesh.

It's natural for Trinitarians to be intrigued by Christology, their predecessors Proto-Trinitarians were very much curious as to how the "economy" of YHWH works when it comes to the LOGOS.

Yet with all the trinity doctrine does wrong...

Modern Trinitarian Scholars do ask the question. And for that I give great merit.

How can modern "oneness" scholars deny the pre-incarnate logos?

I think they do to a degree because they don't understand the Trinitarian's scholars’ questions, or the Trinitarians are presenting the questions wrong.

It may also be that the majority house of Oneness scholars, in the face of accusations of heresy, have gone to great lengths to distance the Oneness movement from the Origenian “eternal Son” theory. Overreaching against a prominent departure just as Marcellus did.

However, within Ante-Nicene documents of antiquity, sourced from "early church fathers", there is an idea that is shared.

The following list of viewpoints, recorded in order of predominance, shows that the shared idea is fully demonstrated across the board and establishes doctrinal continuity.

Monarchians

(1st-2nd-3rd Century)

[Majority View]

Arians

(3rd-4th Century)

[Median View]

Proto-Trinitarians

(2nd-3rd Century)

[Minority View]

Trinitarians

(4th Century)

[Roman Law]

The shared idea is a manifested Pre-Incarnate LOGOS.

This is NOT surprising, seeing that scripture teaches The "SON" created all things.

-Hebrews 1:2

"in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the ages,"

"And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:"

-Ephesians 3:9

The doctrinal cohesiveness amongst the early factions concerning the timing of the Logos’s begetting being identified in the beginning is why so many early writers sounded both Monarchian and "Semi-Arian", to the confusion of many modern theologians.

Due to the historical evidence, and after exercising due diligence in research, it is my assertion that the concept of a Pre-Incarnate LOGOS being begotten in the beginning, much like the practice of Pentecostalism, was carried over from Monarchianism into the developing thoughts of Proto-Trinitarianism in the 2nd-3rd Centuries and into Arianism in the late 3rd and 4th Centuries.

Most Modern "Oneness" Theologians are forming their view of Logos by taking a few excerpts from a couple of early Writers and IMPOSING the clips onto scripture, aiding in producing a rejection of a Pre-Incarnate LOGOS.

This is interesting because one excerpt they employ comes from the same letter, same author, (Ireneus), where a pre-incarnate Logos is explicitly taught. They also extract from Origen, who, as an opponent to Monarchian Theology, can hardly be trusted to dictate to us what was believed by Oneness folks of the day.

The majority of modern "oneness" theologians teach that the Logos was Pre-Infinite in the mind of YHWH, until the incarnation.

Though the majority is correct to reject a pre Infinite manifested Logos, the doctrine of a pre- infinite Logos in the mind ONLY of YHWH until the incarnation is the same in principle as the Origenian/Athanasian Trinitarian view but wrapped in a monotheistic package. Both concepts secure the Logos as static from eternity until the incarnation.

Directly, a Pre-Infinite, Pre-Beginning manifested Son is non existent in scripture or anywhere prior to Origen (3rd Century) in Bible or Patristic writings. Likewise, in the clergy, the "mind word only" theory is absent until the 4th Century.

John 1:1 and Rev 3:14 among others speak of the Logos having a begetting in the beginning. We will explore some of these later in the study.

The minority view is found also in abundance while studying documents of antiquity and is most thankfully explained quite thoroughly by the writers. We will also explore some of these later in the study.

The practice of the majority house of modern "oneness" scholars to create a pre infinite mind word is a grave error.

It is the same practice utilized by Proto-Trinitarians in the 3rd Century, imposing teachings of men (Plato) into the scriptures.

I would also submit that the question Trinitarians ask and the answer oneness scholars are looking for can both be found within the confines of this study.

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Doctrinal Development:

In John 1, Logos, a Greek philosophy term, was used by John to explain to the Greek speaking world of his day the Orthodox Jewish concept of Memra or Shekhinah.

The writing of Heraclitus (535– 475 B.C.) was the first place where the word logos was used in ancient Greek philosophy. He spoke of a cosmic conscience or abstract thought that held the universe together. Of course philosophy, in part, employs the co-mingling of religious knowledge from around the world and Logos was sourced from the ancient Jewish concept of Memra.

In ancient Orthodox Jewish thought, Memra or Shekhinah, was the body of YHWH or vehicle through which YHWH is seen. They viewed the “beginning” as encompassing the moment at or just before creation, and taught that the image (Memra, Shekhinah) of YHWH was present “with God” at this time and used to create all things.

-Ref: Talmud

This shows that an individual is spot on with ancient Jewish teaching when linking John 1:1 and Gen 1:1. In reality, these Jewish principles of the creation story are exactly what John was referencing in John 1.

"…in Jewish thought in the Second Temple era and for a thousand years beyond among traditionalists and free-thinkers, the Memra or Logos was broadly considered....the means to God’s Self-Revelation..."

-Dr. Raymond L. Gannon, Ph.D,

Ref: YESHUA: THE ETERNAL MEMRA

Philosophy was brought to Greece by Pythagoras in the 6th Century B.C. from the ancient Pagan school of Alexandria, Egypt.

Philo, a Jewish student of Philosophy, in the first century A.D., taught a cooperative dualism within Judaism, showing Logos (Memra) to be distinct and also a God, beside The Father as a separate God.

-Ref: Harvard University

Philo’s theory was rejected and condemned by Orthodox Judaism and is sourced from specific rules in Philosophy, one such rule being the "Demiurge".

The same rule used by Philo was the rule that Justin and Turtullian (both philosophy school graduates) used in the late 2nd century to begin the development of the Trinity doctrine. After imposing this philosophy rule onto the Christian Faith, the Proto-Trinitarians’ theory was rejected and condemned by Orthodox Christianity and by her seated Bishops.

-Ref: Hippolytus, Refutation of all heresies

-Ref: Turtullian, Against Praxeas

-Ref: Justin, Dialogue with Trypho

In fact, lines of Bishops were successively Monarchian, especially in the Church of Rome, until the Proto-Trinitarians seized power in the middle 3rd Century. Moreover, the early seated Bishops are depicted in history as refusing to fellowship with Proto-Trinitarian leaders and even excommunicating them, leading the Proto-Trinitarians to form an Anti-Church movement, establishing their own “churches” and “schools” and installing their own “Bishops”.

Ex:

Clement of Rome, Monarchian, 1st Century,

Elutherus of Rome, Monarchian, 2nd Century,

Callistus of Rome, Monarchian, 3rd Century,

etc…

“The Modalists were the successors to the Apostles, NOT the Trinitarians.”

-Dr. Friedrich Loofs, Trinitarian Historian, Professor, University of Halle

Ref: “The History of the Primitive Church”

"This Platonic philosophy was adopted by such of the learned at Alexandria, who wished to be accounted Christians, and yet to retain the name, the garb, and the rank of philosophers. In particular, all those who in this second century presided in the schools of the (anti) Christians at Alexandria, Athenagoras, Pantaenus and Celmens Alexandria, are said to have approved of it. These men were persuaded that true philosophy, the great and most salutary gift of God, lay in scattered fragments among all the sects of philosophers: therefore it was the duty of every wise man, and especially of a Christian teacher, to collect those fragments from all quarters, and to use them in defense of religion." (J. Mosheim. An ecclesiastical history. Charlestown; 1694-1755 :1:152)

The pagan philosophy rule utilized by Justin and Turtullian (both philosophy school graduates), which they imposed onto the Christian faith, mandates that Logos be a separate person than the original Deity from which Logos is radiated. This utilization of a rule in philosophy and it’s interjection into the Christian faith is surely what the Apostle Paul, under Divine inspiration, warned about in the book of Colossians.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

-Ref: Col 2:8-9

Triune thinking is sourced from the ancient Babylonian and Egyptian mystery religions which are types of pluriform monotheism. This shows that Proto-Trinitarian thought, like it’s predecessors, is a form of pluriform monotheism and NOT a true monotheistic religion at all.

“The Christian Bible, including the New Testament, has NO Trinitarian statements of speculations concerning a Trinitarian Deity. It is evident that Trinitarian speculation greatly resembles the way of thinking of pluriform monotheism.”

-Encyclopedia Britannica

Morenz defines pluriform monotheism below.

“…the trinity was a major preoccupation of Egyptian Theologies….three gods are combined and treated as a single being addressed as singular. In this way the spiritual force of Egyptian religion shows a direct link with Christian (Trinitarian) Theology.”

-S. Morenz, Egyptian Religion, Cornell University Press, 1973, pgs 254-257

Even though the Proto-Trinitarian writers injected a philosophy rule into Christianity, making Logos a separate person from the original Deity, they maintained the teaching of Monarchians that Logos was resident in the mind of YHWH as Wisdom until being begotten (manifested) in the beginning.

Scripture identifies Logos as the Wisdom of God begotten (manifested) in the beginning.

" Christ, the power of God and the Wisdom of God. "

-1st Corinthians 1:24

"We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life.

-1st John 1:1 NLT

This thought process of Logos being begotten (manifested) in the beginning after having been resident in the Mind of God as Wisdom is also consistent with the historical record.

" The realistic Judeo-Christian tendency. Setting out from the manifestation of the Divine, (Memra),...they advance to the position that in Christ the manifestation, (Memra), became a person, then that personal Word, (Logos), was pre-existent, and also world-creative, and...., was the Wisdom, " of God...

-Dr. J.A. Dorner, Professor of Theology, University of Gottingen

" Wisdom is the indwelling tenant of the mind of God, Word is the bringing forth and enunciating of the Wisdom from within; the branch of YHWH points also to the oneness of nature between the tree and the offspring, and 'the brightness of His glory', to the identity of essence between the ray emitted and the generating focus of light. "

-Francis Bassett, M.A., 1883, Oxford University

The position that God "had no image" until the incarnation was first purposed by a bishop of the Church when Marcellus of Ancyra, a Monarchian, in the 4th Century used the theory as a doctrinal overreach to combat Arianism. Marcellus's theory stated that the Logos was resident in the mind only of God until the incarnation. His theory, being that it was against all prior orthodoxy, was universally rejected.

-Ref: BU Dublin, Harvard University, Catholic Encyclopedia, Bernard, Ritchie

It may be shocking, at this point, for the Oneness reader to learn that during the early modern Oneness Pentecostal movement of the 20th Century, some prominent founders maintained the view held by Myself and Dr. Baxter.

These Prominent Oneness leaders include:

G.T. Haywood, Frank Ewart, C.H. Yadon, Theodore Fitch, Gordon Magee, John Patterson, Oscar Vouga, etc…

Below are quotes from some of these early modern American Oneness Pioneers.

Frank Ewart was the first of the modern Apostolic movement to see that Jesus Name baptism was the fulfilling of Matt 28:19, he writes:

“There is not a single scripture that asserts Jesus existed eternally as a Son. He is called ‘The Word’ , ‘God’s Wisdom’, ‘Back in the Beginning’, but never God’s Son. See John 1:1, Prov. 8:22-31…He asserts that His existence was inseparable from the One True God. He asserted that back in the beginning He was in ‘the bosom of The Father’, It is written in Zechariah that He was ‘God’s Fellow’. Micah said the babe of Bethlehem was ‘from everlasting’. Isaiah says He was the ‘Everlasting Father’…”

-Ref: Revelation of Jesus Christ, pg 37, Frank Ewart

G.T. Haywood was the first Bishop of the P.A.W., he writes:

“Elohiym is God, the living God, the power of creation (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-17; Rev. 3:4-11). He first assumes a creature form, though spiritual in nature (Gen. 12:7, 32:24-30, Isa. 6:1, 5); afterwards, the human form for the purpose of redeeming mankind. (John 1:14, Heb. 2:9, 14, 16, 17; Phil. 2:7, Rom 8:3). That Elohiym, in His creature form spiritually, who appeared to the Patriarchs and Prophets is the same who appeared in a human form 1,900 years ago to Israel can be clearly seen by reading the following Scriptures: Gen. 17:13, Ex. 6:23, with John 8:56-58, Isa. 6:1, 2, 5, 9, 10 with John 12:39-40, 41, 44, 45.”

-Ref: Divine Names and Titles of Jehovah, pgs 7-8, G.T. Haywood

John Patterson has work printed by G.T. Haywood and A.D. Urshan. His work cited below is published by Word Aflame Press, he writes:

“The visible being who appeared to Jacob and declared Himself to be God, and who was recognized by Jacob as God, is variously described in the Bible as ‘the Angel of Jehovah’ (over 50 references), ‘the Angel of the Covenant’ (Mal. 3:1, 1 Cor. 10:9), and ‘the Angel who can refuse to pardon iniquity, because the Name of Jehovah is in Him’ (Ex. 23:21, Psalm 2:12). Surely no one will deny the Power to forgive, or the right to refuse pardon, belongs solely to God. Who is this Angel if He is not the Pre-Existent Christ?...Likewise, the fact that Christ was not ‘just another Angel, did not prevent Him from being the Angel of God’s Presence and the Angel of the covenant who ‘suddenly came to His Temple’ (as foretold in Malachi 3:1 and fulfilled in John 2:13-16)”

-Ref: God in Christ Jesus, pgs 48-49, John Patterson

Modern advocates for Mine and Dr. Baxter’s view, which I am terming “Biblical Oneness” are John Eckstat (UPC) and Ross Drysdale (PAW).

Unfortunately, in the early 1980's, what I term the "mind word only" theory (Marcellus's doctrine) gained great advances in the oneness movement through many oneness theologians employing the theory when faced with tough theological questions from their Trinitarian counterparts, (Trinitarian theologians always have asked very tough questions).

Modern Champions of the "mind word only" theory were Dr. Nathaniel Urshan and Dr. David K. Bernard.

In close, I will reiterate here, that Dr. Baxter's and my view is supported by the vast majority of early writers, both Monarchian and Proto-Trinitarian.

-Ref: Ignatius, Hermes, Theophilus, Irenaeus, Melitto, Athanageros, Hippolytus, Tatian, Turtullian, Novatian, Methodius, Justin, etc...

The factual argument dictates that both early Monarchians and Proto-Trinitarians taught Dr. Baxter’s and My view of the Logos being begotten in the beginning and are sometimes falsely labeled as semi-Arians by historians, though Arianism did not show up in the historical record until the very late 3rd and early 4th Century.

Note: Arius taught that The Logos was a "created" being, “made from nothing”, (a "similar substance" as God), and did not exist prior to "creation". His position, however flawed, placed the "creation" of The Logos in the “beginning”, which further illustrates the continuity of thought maintained from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd century writers, even to his time.

It is my professional assertion that the teaching of The Logos being Begotten (not made) in the beginning (before all ages) originated, not with the Proto-Trinitarians, but with the 1st Century Christians. This concept was then passed down through the Monarchians, to the Proto-Trinitarians and was continued by the Arians. Additionally, the late 3rd Century and 4th Century Proto-Trinitarians may have chosen to utilize the earlier rejected “eternal Son” theory of Origen as a doctrinal overreach to combat the growing Arian menace, a movement which Proto-Trinitarians thoroughly hated.

It is beneficial to note here that Origin first developed the doctrine of a pre-beginning "eternal Son" in the 3rd century, which stood against all prior orthodoxy, and was initially rejected. However, Origin's theory is held by most Trinitarians today.

“Modalists were predominant within the mid third century….the later Athanasian (eternal Son) idea of the Son of God was “scarcely preached in the Churches”.”

-Steven Ritchie, Apologist, Ref: “ORIGEN, THEOLOGY OF”

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Patristically:

In review, the Proto-Trinitarians, who cannot be found until the late 2nd Century, having been rejected by the seated bishops and the vast majority of believers (Ref: Turtullian, “Against Praxeas” and Origen, “Commentary on the gospel of John”) formed an Anti-Church movement that taught contrary to the established Church. The outcasts started their own “churches” and “schools” and appointed their own “bishops”.

Though Proto-Trinitarians were refused fellowship by seated bishops (Elutherus, Callistus, Zephrinus, etc…) and their doctrine of Logos being a distinct person condemned, they still retained the teaching from the Monarchians of Logos being begotten in the beginning.

Below are some examples of Early Christian as well as Proto-Trinitarian thought concerning the begetting of Logos taking place in the beginning. I have only provided two quotes per writer, as I feel it is best that the reader study patristic writings on their own to further examine these things.

As stated above, the Ante-Nicene writers, both Monarchian and Proto-Trinitarian, agree with Mine and Dr. Baxter’s position.

Ignatius was ordained Bishop of Antioch by the Apostle John who wrote Jn 1:1-3 and 1st Jn 1:1. Listen to what Ignatius says:

"He (Jesus Christ), being begotten by the Father before the beginning of time, was God the Word, the only-begotten Son, and remains the same for ever; for

‘of His kingdom there shall be no end,’

says Daniel the prophet."

-Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, Monarchian, 1st Century,

Ref: The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians

Monarchians:

" God then, having His own Word internal within His own bowels, begat Him, emitting Him along with His own Wisdom before all things. "

-Theophilus, Bishop of Antioch, Monarchian,2nd Century

“God by His own Word and Wisdom made all things.”

-Theophilus, Bishop of Antioch, Monarchian, 2nd Century

“….if we say that the Father is the origin of the Son and greater than the Son, we do not suggest any precedence in time or superiority in nature of the Father over the Son or superiority in any other respect save causation. And we mean by this, that the Son is begotten of the Father and not the Father of the Son, and that the Father naturally is the cause of the Son.”

-Clement, Bishop of Rome, Monarchian, 1st Century

"And we, too, being called by His will to Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding or godliness, or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all men; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

-Clement, Bishop of Rome, Monarchian, 1st Century

(NOTE: It is extremely likely that Clement and Hermes held the same beliefs, as the two were friends and Clement distributed “the Shepherd” of Hermes to the Churches.)

" The Son of God is older than all His creatures, so that He was a fellow counselor with the Father in His work of creation. "

-Hermes of Rome, Friend of Bishop Clement, Monarchian, 1st Century

“He is the Lord of the people, having received all authority from His Father.”

-Hermes of Rome, Friend of Bishop Clement, Monarchian, 1st Century

" This being is perfect Reason, the Word of God. He was begotten before the light. He is Creator, together with the Father. He is the Fashioner of man.... He is God who is from God. He is the Son who is from the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the King forever more.... this was the first born of God, who was begotten before the sun. "

-Melito, Bishop of Sardis, Monarchian, 2nd Century

“Then did the whole creation see clearly that for man’s sake the Judge was condemned, and the Invisible was seen, and the Illimitable was circumscribed, and the Impassible suffered, and the Immortal died, and the Celestial was laid in the grave.”

-Melito, Bishop of Sardis, Monarchian, 2nd Century

" Jesus Christ was with the Father before the ages, and in the end, He was revealed. "

-Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, Monarchian,1st Century

" As He was born of Mary in the last days, so did He also proceed from God as the first begotten of every creature. "

-Ireneaus, Bishop of Lyons, Monarchian,2nd Century

" Christ Himself, therefore, together with The Father, is the God of the living, Who spoke to Moses and Who was also manifested to the fathers. "

-Ireneaus, Bishop of Lyons, Monarchian, 2nd Century

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Proto-Trinitarians:

“His Son, …also was with Him and was begotten before the works, when at first He created and arranged all things by Him.”

-Justin Martyr, Proto-Trinitarian, 2nd Century

“God speaks in the creation of man with the very same design, in the following words: ‘Let us make man after our image and likeness.’…From this, we can indisputably learn that God conversed with someone who was numerically distinct from Himself, and was also a rational Being….For I would not say that the Dogma of that heresy which is said to be among you Jews is true, or that the teachers of it can prove that God spoke to Angels, or that the human frame was the workmanship of Angels. But this Offspring, who was truly brought forth from the Father, was with the Father before all the creatures. And the Father communed with Him. It is even as the Scripture by Solomon has made clear, that He whom Solomon calls Wisdom was begotten as a Beginning before all His creatures.

-Justin Martyr, Proto-Trinitarian, 2nd Century

" this solitary and supreme Deity, by an exercise of reflection, brought forth the Logos First.... Him alone did the Father produce from existing things. For the Father Himself constituted existence, and the being born from Him was the cause of all things that are produced. The Logos was in the Father Himself, bearing the will of His begetter and not being unacquainted with the mind of the Father. "

-Hippolytus, Proto-Trinitarian, 3rd Century

“God, subsisting alone, and having nothing contemporaneous with Himself, determined to create the world, ….When He willed, and as He willed, He manifested His Word in the time determined by Him. And by Him He made all things….And as the Author, Fellow-Counselor, and Framer of the things that have been created, He begat the Word. He uttered the first voice, begetting Him as Light of Light. And He sent Him forth to the world as it’s Lord.

-Hippolytus, Proto-Trinitarian, 3rd Century

" What is meant by the Son? I will state briefly that He is the first product of the Father. "

-Athenagoras, Proto-Trinitarian, 2nd Century

“The Son of God is the Logos of the Father, in idea and in operation. For all things were made after the pattern of Him and by Him, the Father and the Son being one. The Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son, in oneness and power of Spirit. The Understanding and Reason of the Father is the son of God.”

-Athenagoras, Proto-Trinitarian, 2nd Century

" He was the Logos of God, the primordial first begotten Word. "

-Turtullian, Proto-Trinitarian, 3rd Century

“We need not dwell any longer on this point, as if it were not the very Word Himself, who is spoken of under the Name of both Wisdom and Reason, and of the entire Divine Soul and Spirit. He became also the Son of God and was begotten, when He proceeded forth from Him.”

-Turtullian, Proto-Trinitarian, 3rd Century

" He is therefore God because He was before the world and held His glory before the world. "

-Novatian, Proto-Trinitarian, 3rd Century

“Christ is called by the Apostle ‘The First-Born of ever creature.’ Now, how could He be the First-Born of every creature, unless it is because The Word proceeded from The Father, according to His Divinity, before every creature?”

-Novatian, Proto-Trinitarian, 3rd Century

“Since He truly was and is, being in the beginning with God, and being God, He is the Chief Commander and Shepherd of the heavenly ones.”

-Methodius, Proto-Trinitarian, 3rd Century

“”He had neither recently attained to the relationship of Son, nor again, having begun before, had an end after this. Rather, He had previously been begotten, and He was to be, and was the same. …He…existed before the ages in heaven….”

-Methodius, Proto-Trinitarian, 3rd Century

“Christ is the First-Born. He is the Wisdom of God, by whom all things were made. Solomon says in the Proverbs: ‘The LORD made me in the beginning of His ways, into His works. He founded me before the world. In the beginning….the LORD begot Me….When He prepared the heaven, I was present with Him’…also, in the same, in Ecclesiasticus: ‘I went forth out of the mouth of the Most High, First-Born before every creature.”

-Cyprian, Proto-Trinitarian, 3rd Century

“Of this mercy and grace, the Word and Son of God is sent as the Dispenser and Master….he is the Power of God. He is the Logos. He is His Wisdom and Glory. He enters into a virgin. Through The Holy Spirit, He is clothed with flesh. God is mingled with man. This is our God, this is Christ, who, as the Mediator of the two, puts on man that He may lead them to the Father. What man is, Christ was willing to be, so that man may also be what Christ is.”

-Cyprian, Proto-Trinitarian, 3rd Century

“God was in the beginning. But the beginning, we have been taught, is the power of the Logos. For the Lord of the universe, who is Himself the necessary ground of all being, was alone. For no creature was in existence yet. Nevertheless, inasmuch as He was all power, Himself necessary ground of things visible and invisible, with Him were all things. The Logos Himself was in Him and subsides with Him by Logos-Power. And by His simple will, the Logos springs forth. So the Logos, not coming forth in vain, becomes the first-begotten work of the Father.”

-Tatian, Proto-Trinitarian, 2nd Century

“The Logos, too, before the creation of men, was the Framer of the Angels.”

-Tatian, Proto-Trinitarian, 2nd Century

“The best thing on earth is the most pious man. The best thing in heaven, the nearer in place and purer, is an Angel the partaker of the eternal and blessed life. But the nature of the Son, which is nearest to Him who is alone the Almighty One, is the most Perfect, most Holy, most Potent, most Princely, most Kingly, and most Beneficent. This is the highest excellence, who orders all things in accordance with The Father’s will and holds the helm of the universe in the best way….The Son of God is never displaced….being always everywhere and being contained nowhere. He is complete mind, complete Paternal Light. He is all eyes, seeing all things, hearing all things, knowing all things….All the host of Angels and gods are placed in subjection to Him. He, the Paternal Word, exhibits the Holy administration for Him who put [all things] in subjection to Him.”

-Clement of Alexandria, Proto-Trinitarian, 3rd Century

(NOTE: There are allusions to an “eternally generated Son” found in some writings attributed to Clement of Alexandria, however, these fragments are sourced from a 6th Century compiler of writings named Cassiodorus and he admitted to correcting Clement liberally.)

“Pointing to the First-Begotten Son, Peter writes, accurately comprehending the statement, ‘In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth’. And He is called Wisdom by all the prophets. This is He who is the Teacher of all created beings.”

-Clement of Alexandria, Proto-Trinitarian, 3rd Century

"The Greeks speak of Him as the Logos, more appropriately than we Romans do as the word or speech. The Logos means both speech and reason and HE is both the VOICE and the WISDOM of God."

-Lactantius, Proto-Trinitarian, 3rd Century

“In the 109th Psalm, David teaches the same, saying, ‘Before the morning star, I begot you’.”

-Lactantius, Proto-Trinitarian, 3rd Century

___________________

Biblically:

Though there are many more scriptures that can be addressed on top of the passages specifically provided here, I feel it is best to provide these choice few and encourage the reader to study the Bible to find additional supportive verses.

-Ph 2:6 (New Testament)

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

-Is 43:10 (Old Testament)

"...before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me."

"from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:"

-Eph 3:9 KJB

"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;"

-Col 1:12-19 KJB

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him."

-Hebrews 1:1-6 KJB

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

-John 1:1-3, 14 KJB

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;"

-Rev 3:14 KJB

“The LORD formed me from the beginning,

before he created anything else.

I was appointed in ages past,

at the very first, before the earth began.

I was born before the oceans were created,

before the springs bubbled forth their waters.

Before the mountains were formed,

before the hills, I was born—

before he had made the earth and fields

and the first handfuls of soil.

I was there when he established the heavens,

when he drew the horizon on the oceans.

I was there when he set the clouds above,

when he established springs deep in the earth.

I was there when he set the limits of the seas,

so they would not spread beyond their boundaries.

And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,

I was the architect at his side.

I was his constant delight,

rejoicing always in his presence.

And how happy I was with the world he created;

how I rejoiced with the human family!"

-Proverbs 8:22-31 NLT

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."

-1st John 1:1-3 KJB

________________

The Angel of the Theophany:

This angel is spoken of as "the angel of Yahweh," and "the angel of the presence (or face) of Yahweh." The following passages contain references to this angel: Ge 16:7 ff--the angel and Hagar; Ge 18--Abraham intercedes with the angel for Sodom; Ge 22:11 ff--the angel interposes to prevent the sacrifice of Isaac; Gen 24:7; Gen 24:40(refs2)--Abraham sends Eliezer and promises the angel's protection; Ge 31:11 ff--the angel who appears to Jacob says "I am the God of Beth-el"; Ge 32:24 ff--Jacob wrestles with the angel and says, "I have seen God face to face"; Ge 48:15 f--Jacob speaks of God and the angel as identical; Ex 3(compare Ac 7:30 ff)--the angel appears to Moses in the burning bush; Exod 13:21; Exod 14:19 (refs2)(compare Nu 20:16)--God or the angel leads Israel out of Egypt; Ex 23:20 ff--the people are commanded to obey the angel; Ex 32:34-33:17 (compare Isa 63:9)--Moses pleads for the presence of God with His people; Jos 5:13-6:2--the angel appears to Joshua; Jud 2:1-5--the angel speaks to the people; Jud 6:11 ff--the angel appears to Gideon.

-ISBE

I would add walking with Adam and Eve, walking with Enoch, Eating with Abraham, in the fiery furnace with the 3 Hebrew young men, and Melchizedek, and talking with the parents of Sampson, etc…

"The doctrine of the Incarnation, which speaks of God visiting us and living among us in the person of Yeshua the Messiah, is nothing other than the most thorough explanation of the many theophanies (meaning, divine appearances) of YHWH in the Hebrew Scriptures."

-Ref: "7 Secrets of the Real Messiah", pg5, Dr. M Brown Phd

________________

CONCLUSION:

From the data exhibited herein, we can deduce the following:

1st - 3rd Century professing Christians, BOTH Monarchians and Proto-Trinitarians taught that Logos (Memra) was begotten (manifested) in the beginning after having been resident in the Mind of God as Wisdom.

This thought process is consistent with 2nd Temple era Jewish thinking concerning Logos (Memra), theology.

-Ref: Harvard University

A "Pre-Beginning" manifested Logos as an eternal distinct divine person is directly contrary to Scripture and is contrary to Orthodox Christian thought up until the middle 3rd Century and beyond.

We, however, CAN identify a pre-incarnate manifested LOGOS both in scripture and in ancient Christian thought.

-Ref: John 1:1

-Ref: Ireneus of Lyons, Theophilus of Antioch, Turtullian, Justin, etc...

If Trinitarians would forsake the error of Origen's "eternal Son theory"

AND

If Oneness would forsake the error of Marcellus's "mind word only" theory,

our ONLY disagreement, going back to the original argument, would be:

are we dealing with 1 person or 3...?

And the Bible answers that plainly in Heb 1:3:

The Son is the "exact copy" of The Father's singular "Person".

There are a few key thoughts from this study that can be identified by theologians and I would like to share those with the general public here:

1.) Today, the overreach of Marcellus, placing the begetting of Logos at the incarnation, is held by the MAJORITY of Oneness believers. It was initially rejected at it's inception.

-Ref: BU Dublin, Harvard University, Catholic Encyclopedia, Bernard, Ritchie

2.) Today, the overreach of Origin, placing the begetting of Logos in eternity, is held by a MAJORITY of Trinitarian believers. It was initially rejected at it's inception.

-Ref: Schaff, Bernard, Ritchie

3.) The Proto-Trinitarian orthodox doctrine of The Logos being begotten in the beginning is currently the MINORITY in Trinitarian circles, Dr. Walter Martin being a well known advocate.

4.) The Monarchian orthodox doctrine of The Logos being begotten in the beginning is currently the MINORITY in Oneness circles, Dr. Irvin Baxter being a well known advocate.

5.) Recent scholarship identifies the following early writers to be Monarchian:

- Clement of Rome, Bishop, 1st Century

- Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop, 1st Century

- Irenaeus of Lyons, Bishop, 2nd Century

- Theophilus of Antioch, Bishop, 2nd Century

These men are recognized by ALL leading scholars as Bishops of the Historical Christian Church. They all taught a Pre-Incarnate manifested Logos.

6.) The doctrine of The Logos being begotten and present in the beginning can be found in the Bible.

"from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:"

-Eph 3:9 KJB

(-Ref: Col 1:12-19, Hebrews 1:1-3, John 1:1-3, Rev 3:14, Prov 8:22-31, 1st John 1:1, Ph 2:6, Is 43:10, etc...)

7.) The doctrine of The Logos being begotten and present in the beginning can be systematically shown to be passed down from Monarchians to Proto-Trinitarians in Patristics.

8.) The only major contrast when speaking of The Logos doctrine in Turtullian's "3 in 1" theory in comparison to Monarchianism, is his insistence upon identifying The Logos as a distinct person (Hupostasis). A doctrine that was rejected upon it's conception and a thought process one can find in Arius's doctrine as well.

9) Apostolic succession of Logos being begotten (manifested) in the beginning can be established from Biblical Christians to the Monarchians. This fact destroys claims of doctrinal continuity by Trinitarian scholars who must acknowledge Proto-Trinitarian thought beginnings of development being native to the late 2nd Century. These findings prove the trinity theory to be an extra-biblical argument.

“It is impossible to document what we now call Orthodoxy (the trinity) in the first 2 centuries of Christianity.”

-Dr. Harold Brown, Trinitarian Professor, Reformed Theological Seminary,

Ref: “Heresy and Orthodoxy in the History of the Church.

“Trinitarians CANNOT claim Apostolic succession through the Roman Bishops, if the earliest 1st Century Roman Bishops were Modalists.”

-Apologist Steven Ritchie, Oneness,

Ref: “Clement, Theology of”

“The Modalists were the successors to the Apostles, NOT the Trinitarians. The Trinitarians expropriated the term ‘Catholic’ (Universal) from the writings of Ignatius. When they increased in power and numbers they branded the Modalists, who preached One God as heretics and styled their group as Catholic.”

-Dr. Friedrich Loofs, Trinitarian Historian, Professor, University of Halle

Ref: “The History of the Primitive Church”

I would like to add, on a personal level, that It saddens me that not many Oneness believers, outside of the Churches that teach Mine and Dr. Baxter’s view, even know that our doctrine exists and in their ignorance viciously attack us when we point out our personal position. I have even been called “not Oneness”. If I would be determined to be “not Oneness” because of my personal views on this subject, then every early patristic Monarchian writer, along with G.T. Haywood and Frank Ewart, etc., would have to be thrown into that same boat.

In close, I hope this explanation clarifies this subject for many who are unaware of the historical record and doctrinal developments of the different views concerning The Logos doctrine within the Oneness movement.

It is my greater hope that this explanation sparks further discussion on these matters in the interest of truth and pursuit of Biblical Christianity. I pray that this study opens dialogue and research opportunities for a moving back towards Biblical Christianity by both Oneness and Trinitarians.

The minority of both Oneness and Trinitarians agree that the Logos is begotten in the beginning, a teaching that literally takes Origenian Trinitarians’ arguments against Oneness completely away from them, bringing Trinitarians ever so much closer to truth and reconciliation with Biblical Christianity. Dr. Irvin Baxter Jr., Oneness and Dr. Walter Martin, Trinitarian, essentially hold the same view on this subject, identifying consensus and a starting point for further dialogue.

If we discard our presuppositions and study together, we may see a healing between the factions and a revival like has never been seen before.

The general acceptance of the “mind word only theory” by Oneness folks must be questioned, as it has created a situation where Trinitarians can argue basic points in debate against Oneness peoples and win in the face of scientific examination, like in the realm of Greek grammar, for instance. Unfortunately, these events diminish Oneness credibility in Scholastic circles.

The “Mind Word Only” theory, which partially denies the very Jewish concept of Memra, also does hinder Jewish converts from embracing Oneness doctrine, in effect pushing them into Trinitarian arms. This is, in my opinion, a great atrocity and cannot be allowed to continue.

Why would, in light of the data presented, the most influential Oneness scholars, such as Dr. David K. Bernard, continue to teach the 4th century "mind word only" theory, when it hinders our credibility in scholarly discussion, when it allows Origenian Trinitarians to retain their most suitable arguments and when it turns away most Jewish converts (Messianic Jews) who may very well otherwise be Oneness ? This question, naturally, also leads directly into soteriology.

I believe that great revival and healing can occur between the Oneness and Trinitarian factions as well as the general acceptance of Biblical Oneness, if our movement (Apostolic) can discard the error of Marcellus and renounce the “mind word only” theory.

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"

--Hebrews 1:1-2

==================

Mark August; M.Div

Writing for:

Academy of Christian

Theological Studies

A.C.T.S. Think-Tank

acts2216.org

==================

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