Subtitle: Is teaching or believing in alternate views of the Trinity truly a heresy? Does that mean such beliefs and teachings are no longer Christian?
Synopsis:
For nearly 2000 years, people have been coming up with alternative teachings about the Trinity. The origins of these teachings have ranged from unintentional misunderstandings to calculated attempts at creating new religions. While it may seem extreme, by definition alternate views on the Trinity is considered a heresy. Reinterpreting the Trinity either becomes a form of polytheism (worship of multiple gods) or denies the deity of Jesus. Both of those beliefs are something other than Christianity and can mean the loss of our only means of salvation.
Key Takeways:
- The Trinity can be difficult for humans to understand, but it is backed up by scripture.
- Because the term “Trinity” is not found in the Bible, some believe that is proof that it is open to interpretation.
- Many teach that the Trinity is a concept that was made up 300 years after Jesus’s earthly ministry.
- Most of the heretical teachers throughout history taught alternate views on the Trinity.
The Deep Details For Those That Want To Know:
Without a doubt, this topic is a controversial one, but it is also extremely important to Christians. While it may not be something that you will hear regular sermons about, it is one of the biggest challenges Christians face when it comes to having accurate faith. Over the centuries, there have been many attempts at redefining the Trinity. Even today, there are several denominational groups that have alternative views on the Trinity and these views create problems for their Christian faith- often without the believers actually understanding the theological dangers of what they have been taught.
Many years ago, I served with a group of people as a moderator on a Christian social media page. The page had over 50,000 subscribers from around the world and might host hundreds of posts each day. One of the jobs of the moderators was to make certain that people were not leading others astray with teachings that did not align with the Scriptures. As you can imagine with so many people online, keeping false doctrine in check or just dealing with people intent on mocking Christians was a constant battle.
As moderators we were always careful to separate what we referred to as secondary issues from full blown heresies.
Subscribers were free to discuss secondary issues as they liked (unless the online conversation eroded into a disruptive debate), but the teaching of heresies was not permitted. Since heretical teachings are anti-Christian at their core, those discussion threads would be closed down with an explanation of the problem. Secondary issues are considered to be those things that different Christians believe in that would not necessarily prevent them from being saved or keep them from being true Christians. An example of a secondary issue would be whether someone believed that the Rapture was to take place before the Tribulation, in the middle of the Tribulation, or after the Tribulation. A person’s salvation is not dependent on when they think the Rapture will take place.
Heresies, on the other hand, are dangerous teachings that are contrary to the foundation of being Christian.
What is a Heresy?
A heresy, is a belief that denies or reinterprets some part of Christian doctrine that could prevent a person’s salvation. An example of this would be teachings that claim Jesus was only a man and not divine. Or that Jesus did not participate in Creation, but that He was instead created by God, in direct conflict with verses like John 1:3 or Colossians 1:16-17:
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.( John 1:3 ESV)
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17 ESV)
Where Do Heresies Come From?
Heresies typically come from two places. This first is sometimes innocent and occurs when someone tries to understand the nature of God through shortcuts. They ponder on a topic and arrive at a conclusion without doing careful study or readings of scripture. They base everything on what makes sense to them without understanding the full implications. An example of this would be the resurrection of Christ. A person may not fully accept the idea that Jesus arose from the dead nor truly understand that belief in the resurrection is one of the core principles of being a Christian. Instead, they invent a “what if” scenario in their mind where Jesus didn’t really die or that He arose only as a spiritual being. This is because that is what makes sense to their limited knowledge. They are either not aware of verses like 1 Corinthians 15:14-17 or they do not know why such verses are important.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:14-17 ESV)
What Paul is saying here is that if Jesus was not raised from the dead physically, then there is no salvation and that the teachings of Christianity are not true. This is strong language, but Paul wants to make the point very clear. Many might argue that what Paul is saying in these verses doesn’t mean that Jesus was physically resurrected, but such an argument contradicts a number of other scriptures. One example of these scriptures comes from Luke 24:
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. (Luke 24: 36-40 KJV)
In these passages, Jesus is specifically correcting the disciples because they assumed he was appearing as a spirit. He demonstrates to them that He is appearing in physical form. This is also found in other verses such as John 20:27 and Matthew 28:9.
Heresies that Intentionally Mislead
The second place heresies come from is significantly less innocent. These anti-Christian teachings are not due to a lack of understanding, but are intentionally misleading. Their purpose is to create a new faith other than original Christianity and give the impression that the teacher has secret or special knowledge. In other cases the heresies are promoted to simply lead people away from the true teachings.
Very often those teaching heresies follow similar patterns. The first and most common is a denial of the Trinity, or some other teaching that mixes up God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The true nature of how these three are one, yet distinct is difficult for we humans to understand, but it is fundamental to Christian belief. The people teaching these heresies have often reinvented the relationship between God, the Messiah, and the Holy Spirit in a way that denies clear Bible doctrine. They attempt to teach and argue their reinvention of the Trinity to other believers. This is also a common sign among followers of cults. As moderators on the Christian social media page, when we saw anyone begin teaching something contrary to Christian belief in the Trinity, we knew trouble was brewing.
Old Heresies Taught as Something New
Another similar pattern that occurred on the site was the rehashing of old heresies that had been identified and refuted hundreds or even thousands of years ago. People would come online and try to teach dangerous ideas as if they were new revelations, but these were concepts that had been proven false many times over the centuries.
Unless a person was already aware of these heresies, it might be difficult to spot them. To help other moderators recognize these false teachings, in the private chat we would post something we called “The Heresy of the Day”. This was a quick explanation of the heresy, where it came from, and how it contradicted scripture. Later in this article we will do much the same and explain several of the more common heresies.
About The Term “Trinity”
Since so many of the common heresies are based on reinterpretations of the Trinity, we will begin there. Up front, it should be understood that nowhere in the Bible is the word Trinity found. Some people use this fact as a criticism against Christianity (especially those teaching a reinvented version of God), but an honest examination of what is found in scripture shows that the Trinity is described and defined many times. As a term, the Trinity came into use when Christians were referring to the nature of God having three distinct persons. During the same period of time as the early Christian church there were a number of heretical groups that were attempting to redefine Christian beliefs to fit their own agendas. To discuss and correct these heresies it became important to have a shared understanding that defined the relationship of God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Rather than explain this repeatedly in every letter and conversation, the word Trinity became used by Christianity to define and explain exactly what was meant.
The first recorded example we have found of the use of the word “Trinity” comes from a letter written by Theophilus of Antioch to a person named Autolycus (between 180 and 185 AD). In this letter, Theophilus is explaining Christian beliefs to the pagan Autolycus. Scholars agree that how Theophilus uses the word Trinity indicates that the term was not new, but was already a Christian practice for describing the Christian beliefs to others.
Oddly enough, in the early church, Trinity was not the only word used by Christians to refer to the relationship between God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the third century the word Economy began to be sometimes used in Christian writings. This was taken from the Greek word oikonomia, which means “household management”. The word was intended to describe how God’s arrangement with us, through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit works. Use of the word oikonomia can be found in 1 Timothy.
3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.( 1 Timothy 1: 3-4 ESV)
In the original Greek language of 1 Timothy, the word stewardship is oikonomia in verse 4. In these verses, what Paul is saying is that people should not teach different doctrines that are spin-offs of the true teachings of Christianity, nor myths (legends) and genealogies (who is descended from who), because those things all cause speculation and conjecture about the nature of our relationship with God and the spiritual realm. Instead, people should focus on understanding how God does things and His relationship with us in regard to each part of the Trinity.
Thankfully, Christians eventually settled on sticking with the term Trinity, instead of the more confusing Economy.
References to the Trinity in the Bible
The Trinity is a complex concept that is difficult for us to comprehend. We are finite beings that struggle with understanding the nature of God. How can three persons be one, yet somehow also be different or distinct? Part of the problem comes from trying to comprehend God in a total perspective when we simply do not have the ability to do so. The attempts of others to try to define what we cannot fully understand is what drives them to try to reinvent the Trinity in ways that make sense to them. It is why they come up with ideas that are outside of scripture. They invent concepts like Jesus was not really human but instead was a spirit that only appeared to be real, or that He was not divine until the Holy Spirit came on Him. Instead, it is better for us to take for granted that God explained Himself to us in the best way possible (given our limited understanding) and that we should follow Paul’s advice to focus on our relationship with God the Father, Jesus our Savior, and the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.
In order to make this more clear, we will now look at scripture that directly supports the Christian belief in the Trinity.
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.(1 John 5:7 KJV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,(Matthew 28:19 ESV)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.(2 Cor. 13:14 ESV)
I and the Father are one. (John 10:30 ESV)
These are just a few of the Bible quotes that lay out the Trinity in the best way for us to understand.
What about the Trinity in the Old Testament?
Another argument used by those that would try to reinvent the Trinity is that there is no reference to the three persons of God in the Old Testament. While that is true, there are many quotes that leave the possibility open. An example is found in Daniel 7: 13-14.
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.( Daniel 7: 13-14 ESV)
In Mark 14, Jesus quotes the verse from Daniel in a way that leaves little room for misunderstanding. This happens before His crucifixion, when Jesus is taken before the council. In the following verses He is being questioned by the High Priest Caiaphas.
61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.(Mark 14: 61-64 ESV)
Not only is Jesus stating that He is the person Daniel saw in the vision, but that He is to be seated at the right hand of God. For the High Priest Caiaphas, there is no longer a need to question Jesus further. In Caiaphas’s mind, by claiming to be the person seen in Daniel’s vision, Jesus has committed blasphemy.
Keep in mind that when the Old Testament was written, neither Jesus nor the Holy Spirit had yet been fully revealed. As a result what was mentioned was often interpreted to mean something else. For example, most Hebrews believed the Messiah would be a political leader that would come to save the nation of Israel from its enemies. They did not imagine He would be the Son of God with both a human and divine nature, sent to save all mankind for eternity. Many people of that period were simply not ready to fully understand that at the time.
The First Council of Nicaea Decides on the Trinity
In 325 AD, bishops and theologians from around the world met at a council called for by the Emperor Constantine I. The purpose of this council was to reach a consensus on several disagreements that had arisen among a few teachers. It could be said that the main focus of this meeting was to settle the matter of the Trinity since the major debate was about the divine nature of God the Son and His relationship with God the Father. The main representatives and their positions for each side of the debate were:
- Archbishop Alexander of Alexandria, who maintained that Jesus as God the Son was eternally generated from the Father.
- Arius and his followers (who had been exiled from Alexandria by Alexander). They insisted that God the Father was eternal, but that the Son was created or begotten by the Father, had a defined beginning and was therefore subordinate to the Father.
Arius accused Alexander of Sabellianism which complicated matters even more (Sabellianism is a different heresy that maintains that God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all the same being without any personal distinctions).
The Council decided in favor of Alexander and issued a statement of faith “begotten not from non-existence, but from the Father, not as made, but as genuine product”. A simpler way of stating this is that Jesus was not a being created by God, but that He was part of God. Today, most churches and denominations believe in the Trinity, but a few do not and are considered non-trinitarian. These include Jehovah’s Witness and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, among others.
The Belief in the Trinity During the Time the Early Church
Earlier it was mentioned that some claim the idea of the Trinity was not a part of the Christian faith until after the Council of Nicaea. Anyone making this claim is doing so out of ignorance or in an attempt to deceive others.
In addition to the dozens of times the idea of the Trinity is referenced in the Bible by the mention of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, there have been plenty of other writings by church fathers that refer to the concept long before the Council of Nicaea. What follows are a few examples.
Clement of Rome references the three “persons” of the Trinity before 100 AD by stating in a letter“Do we not have one God, and one Christ, and one gracious Spirit that has been poured out upon us, and one calling in Christ?” (1 Clement 46:6)
Another example is found in the first century Christian writing known as the Didache, which instructs believers to “baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
In 110 AD, Ignatius of Antioch says in a letter that we should be obedient to “Christ, and to the Father, and to the Spirit” (Ignatius Letter to the Magnesians, Ch. XIII).
Justin Martyr (AD 100 – c.165) also writes, “in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit”. (First Apology, LXI)
Common Heresies
What follows now will be examples of some of the more common heresies. Most of these are based on reinterpretations of the Trinty, but there are a few others included here. While most of these come from ancient times, they often crop up again and are presented as new revelations in the present day. What makes a belief a heresy is that it claims to be Christian but contradicts parts of essential doctrine or authoritative teachings from Scripture.
The Heresy: Apollinarianism
What they believed: Jesus began as a human (and must have sinned). The Logos of God came upon Jesus and replaced His human mind, thus making Him no longer human.
Where it came from: Apollinaris of Laodicea (died 382 AD), an opponent of Arianism
The Scripture that best refutes it and why:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.(John 1:14 ESV)
This verse says the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. If Apollinarianism was correct it would need to say the Word later came on the flesh (of the man Jesus) and transformed Him into God.
The Heresy: Arianism
What they believed: Rejects the traditional Trinity and considers Jesus to be a creation of God. Jesus is not truly divine.
Where it came from: Arius (c. AD 256–336), a teacher from Alexandria, Egypt.
The Scripture that best refutes it and why:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3 ESV)
The Word (the Son) was with God and was God in the beginning. All things were made through Him. In other words, Jesus was always with God and always was God. If Jesus made all things, as God, He could not make Himself.
The Heresy: Circumcisers (or following old law)
What they believed: Believing that circumcision is required for membership in the New Covenant
Where it came from: Some Jewish Christians believed that it was necessary to adhere to the Law of Moses. This includes circumcision (among other beliefs).
The Scripture that best refutes it and why:
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.(Galatians 5:6 ESV)
Though there are many other scriptures that say similar things, Galatians 5:6 is a clear example. Others would include Romans 2:28-29, Colossians 2:11, and 1 Corinthians 7:19. Additionally, Acts 15:1-29 details the debate between the early church leaders whether Gentile converts needed to be circumcised to be saved. The council concluded that it was unnecessary and decided that salvation comes through the grace of Jesus, not by following Mosaic law.
The Heresy: Docetism
What they believed: The belief that Jesus did not fully take on human flesh. His appearance as human was only an illusion and He was fully spirit.
Where it came from: The origin of this idea not clear. The term comes from the Greek word that means “illusion”. The first reference to this heresy that has been found is in a letter written by the Bishop Serapion of Antioch (197-203 AD). In the letter Serapion was referring to groups who denied the humanity of Jesus.
The Scripture that best refutes it and why:
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.(1 John 4:2-3 ESV)
The 1 John quote leaves no doubt, yet there are a few small groups that hold on to this heresy. These groups and others like them often claim that the Scripture has been rewritten to twist the true understanding of Jesus’s nature, and that only they have the real truth.
The Heresy: Eutychianism (also called Monophysitism)
What they believed: Jesus did not have two natures (both human and divine). The divine nature absorbed the human nature. Therefore He was not just a human, but was not quite fully divine either, making him a unique hybrid.
Where it came from: Eutyches of Constantinople (c. 380 – c. 456). He was known for his opposition to the teachings of the Nestorians and attempted to refute their heresy with this argument. He later changed his mind about all of this.
The Scripture that best refutes it:
17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.(Romans 5:17-19 ESV)
The logic here is that if the trespass of Adam brought condemnation to all men, then it would take a man to undo that. If Jesus was no longer human, but something else, then He would not be able to fulfill such a requirement.
The Heresy: Gnosticism
What they believed: Denying the bodily resurrection of Christ (among other things)
Where it came from: Gnosticism developed among several early Christian sects which focused on personal spiritual knowledge (gnosis) and revelation. These groups developed beliefs that were in strong opposition to what was taught in the Bible. Some of the more radical ideas were that the God of the Old Testament was a malevolent deity and that Jesus’s resurrection was not in the body, but in the spirit only. There were a number of different Gnostic groups with far too many varying beliefs to cover here. There are two facts about Gnosticim that are worth knowing as a Christian. The first is that there are several “Gnostic Gospels” that are rewritten accounts that align with heretical beliefs, as well as several forgeries (such as the Gospel of Judas) that were intended to give validity to Gnostic teachings. The second interesting fact is that for the last few decades many scholars have tried to re-frame Gnosticism as a mainstream form of Christianity that existed, but was suppressed by more orthodox groups.
The Scripture that best refutes it and why:
O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” (1 Timothy 6:20 ESV)
In the 1 Timothy quote, the word knowledge is specifically the Greek word “gnoseos”.
The Heresy: Marcionites
What they believed: The belief that the God of the Hebrew Bible was evil and separate from the God of the New Testament
Where it came from: originated from the teachings of Marcion of Sinope, a wealthy shipowner who was expelled from the church in Rome around 144 CE. His beliefs included a rejection of the Old Testament and that there were two separate gods (the harsh creator god of the Old Testament and the benevolent god of the New Testament). He created his own edited version of New Testament scriptures and formed a separate, influential religious sect.
Scripture that refutes it and why:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17 ESV)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV)
Along with many other scriptures, these quotes provide direct links and support of the Old Testament and the continuity of God’s plan. Many people unwittingly follow versions of this heresy today without realizing it, by inventing ideas that there is some difference between the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament.
The Heresy: Modalism (also called Sabellianism)
What they believed: Taught that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were one person and that He existed in different “modes” through time (first the Father, then the Son, then the Holy Spirit)
Where it came from: Sabellius (around 215-220 AD)
The Scripture that best refutes it and why:
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”(Matt 3:16–17 ESV)
These verses show the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit existing at the same time, not as different “modes” of the same being that changed over time.
The Heresy: Nestorians
What they believed: The belief that Jesus’ human and divine natures remained separate and were not fully united.
Where it came from: Nestorius of Constantinople (c. 386– c. 451)
The Scripture that best refutes it and why:
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,(Colossians 2: 8-9 ESV)
The statement from Colossians says that the whole fullness of Jesus’s divine nature is within a body.
The Heresy: Pantheism
What they believed: That God and the Universe are one and the same.
Where it came from: Ancient Greece and ancient India. Popularized in Western culture by Baruch Spinoza during the 17th century.
The Scripture that best refutes it and why:
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 ESV)
And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars.(Genesis 1:16 ESV)
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. (Psalm 33:6 ESV)
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16 ESV)
Pantheism does not separate the Creator from the creation, but maintains that the universe (the creation) is God (the Creator). Several places in scripture make clear statements about God creating the heavens, the earth, and the stars. If God creating all things, then how can they be Him?
The Heresy: Pelagianism
What they believed: Denies the existence of original sin and the need for divine grace. Followers taught that humans are born innocent and can achieve salvation thought there own freewill and good works. This heresy came from the idea that God would not create anyone who was evil by nature. Although well-intentioned, the teaching denied the need for salvation through Christ.
Where it came from: Pelagius (c. 355 – c. 420 AD)
The Scripture that best refutes it and why:
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned(Romans 5:12 ESV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV)
Many other verses refute this idea, but Romans chapter 5 explains it in detail.
The Heresy: Reincarnation
What they believed: This is the belief that people can be reincarnated and live more than one life. Some followers of this heresy claim their religious leaders are actually important figures mentioned in scripture that have been reincarnated. Some believe their reincarnated leaders to be Jesus or angels.
Where it came from:The concept of reincarnation comes from religions that began in India (Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.) Some early heretical sects also taught this, such as the Gnostics. but it has also been adopted by New Age and other esoteric traditions. Where this falls into the category of heresy is when it is mixed with Christianity. This concept has been taught by several cults that make the claim their leader is actually Jesus, the archangel Michael, or one of several other figures mentioned in the Bible.
The Scripture that best refutes it and why:
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,(Hebrews 9:27 ESV)
Though this may seem to be a strange addition to a list of common heresies, people fall into this error often enough to warrant mention. Going back through history there are many religious sects that believed similar things and there are even several active today with a combined membership of over six million around the world who believe their leader is a reincarnated figure from the Bible.
The Heresy: Universalism
What they believed: It is believed that everyone goes to Heaven, regardless of their faith in Christ.
Where it came from: The idea came from the teachings of Origen of Alexandria, though he only proposed the idea that God’s love is so powerful that all rational creatures (including fallen angels) will be eventually restored to Him. These ideas were later developed into Universalism by others, including several religious movements that began in the 17thand 18thcenturies.
The Scripture that best refutes it and why:
And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46 ESV)
5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,(2 Thessalonians 1: 5-9 ESV)
Conclusion
Many of these heresies are alive today. They come from a lack of understanding and from human teachers that have developed their own beliefs based on how they think things should be, not what has been taught through scripture. As pointed out early in this article most of the ideas that are considered heresies come from attempts at reinterpreting the Trinity in a way that seems more logical to them. These can be dangerous because they introduce beliefs that do not truly follow Christian teachings, but only make the claim to be “Christian”. Reinterpreting the Trinity ignores or dismisses many of the scriptures. It also create a false image of God and can be the cause of other inaccuracies in our faith. But by far, the greatest danger is in not believing in the Trinity as laid out in Christian doctrine. Simply put, reinterpreting the Trinity either becomes a form of polytheism (worship of multiple gods) or denies the deity of Jesus. Both of those beliefs are something other than Christianity and can mean the loss of our only means of salvation.
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:1-3 KJV)
References
The links below are provided as references and resources for additional study. We do not have any affiliation with these Websites or the organizations that publish them. We do not necessarily agree or disagree with anything on the sites or endorse any of the information found at the links. The links are for additional research on the part of the reader and are based on supporting sources that could be verified through an Internet search. Which links the search produced was more due to ease and dependability of access than church or denominational association.
Biblical References on the Trinity and Christian Orthodoxy
Scripture References
Supporting References
- The Trinity (Triunity) of God – Bible.org
- The Blessed Trinity – New Advent
- Theophilus of Antioch’s letter to Autolycus (Found in Book II, Chapter 15)
- The First Council of Nicaea
- Clement of Rome (1 Clement 46:6)
- Ignatius’s Letter to the Magnesians (Ch. XIII)
- Justin Martyr (First Apology, LXI)
- List of Christian Heresies