Early Christian Binitarianism – as read at NAPS 2001). Early Christian Binitarianism: the Father and the Holy Spirit. it is accurate to offer the judgment that most commonly when someone speaks of a Christian “binitarian” theology the “two” in God are the Father and the Son.A substantial amount of recent scholarship has been devoted to exploring the implications of the fact that Jesus was ''worshipped'' by those first Jewish Christians, since in Judaism "worship" was limited to the worship of God (Barnes M. The word “binitarian” is typically used by scholars and theologians as a contrast to a trinitarian theology: a theology of “two” in God rather than a theology of “three”. Scripture shows that God is one eternal divine Family consisting of two, God the Father and the Word, at this time (Genesis 1:26 Ephesians 2:19 3:14-15 John 1:1,14), ( Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God).Ī non-Church of God scholar explains the binitarian belief this way
The Father and Son comprise the Godhead (Romans 1:20 Colossians 2:9) and work through the Holy Spirit. This article will attempt to provide biblical and historical evidence on the binitarian nature of God. What is God? Is God a trinity? How is God one? What is the Godhead comprised of? Modern Scholars Properly Conclude That Binitarianism is Not a New ConceptĪppendix A - Addressing Unitarian Objections We Are to Be One With the Father and the Son Trinitarian History Supports Binitarianism I chose to use the term binitarian or binitarianism to describe the correct belief about the Godhead as it is currently used by scholars and is clearer than Semi-Arian (or Semi-Arianism) which, though also historically used (by critics), would not be at all understood by most today. Although some might prefer to use the term Ditheist or Dualist instead of Binitarian, those terms suggests that God is not one (yet God is one family). Although often overlooked many certain academics in the past, modern scholars are now coming to the same conclusion.
This was also the view of the immediate post-New Testament Church and this so-called "binitarian" belief has been clearly held throughout Church history. Binitarian View: Two Beings from the Beginning Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning By COGwriter (portions of this paper were originaly published in The Journal: News of the Churches of God).Ībstract on Binitarianism: Was either unitarianism or trinitarianism the original view of the New Testament Church? The Bible clearly teaches from the beginning that God is one, yet currently composed of two members essentially with a third (those begotten by the Holy Spirit, then born-again into the family of God) at the resurrection.