Do trinitarians know that the trinity "first saw the light in the fourth century"?

[M&M]

(Catholic Encyclopedia)

 

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02033b.htm

The Athanasian Creed

 

At various points the author calls attention to the penalty incurred by those who refuse to accept any of the articles therein set down.

 

The Father Incomprehensible, the Son Incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost Incomprehensible

 

So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not Three Almighties but One Almighty.

 

So there is One Father, not Three Fathers; one Son, not Three Sons; One Holy Ghost, not Three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore or after Other, None is greater or less than Another, but the whole Three Persons are Co-eternal together, and Co-equal

 

Who, then, is the author? The results of recent inquiry make it highly probable that the Creed first saw the light in the fourth century, during the life of the great Eastern patriarch, or shortly after his death

 

The "damnatory", or "minatory clauses", are the pronouncements contained in the symbol, of the penalties which follow the rejection of what is there proposed for our belief. It opens with one of them: "Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith". The same is expressed in the verses beginning: "Furthermore, it is necessary" etc., and "For the right Faith is" etc., and finally in the concluding verse: "This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved". Just as the Creed states in a very plain and precise way what the Catholic Faith is concerning the important doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation, so it asserts with equal plainness and precision what will happen to those who do not faithfully and steadfastly believe in these revealed truths..

.From a dogmatic standpoint, the merely historical question of the authorship of the Creed, or of the time it made its appearance, is of secondary consideration.  The fact alone that it is approved by the Church as expressing its mind on the fundamental truths with which it deals, is all we need to know. 

 

Edited June 5, 2017 by M&M
Add source as Catholic Encyclopedia

[Sheep]

Many trinitarians are well aware of the fact the Athanasian Creed was not accepted universally until the fourth century. That would mean it wasn't accepted by first century Christians. And yet trinitarians today believe it anyway.

 

One trinitarian I spoke to explained it this way. No one believed the Trinity in the first century church. It wasn't understood yet. It wasn't until well along in Christian history that the Church Fathers could finally see what God had been getting at in the Scriptures!

 

And if you believe that explanation... 

[M&M]

Interesting, thanks. I've often been told something like that just cause the word trinity isn't in the Bible doesn't mean that the Bible writers didn't believe in it just like the word Bible isn't in the Bible.

 

Quote: " And if you believe that explanation...  "

LOL

[Thesauron]

Many trinitarians are well aware of the fact the Athanasian Creed was not accepted universally until the fourth century. That would mean it wasn't accepted by first century Christians. And yet trinitarians today believe it anyway.
 
One trinitarian I spoke to explained it this way. No one believed the Trinity in the first century church. It wasn't understood yet. It wasn't until well along in Christian history that the Church Fathers could finally see what God had been getting at in the Scriptures!
 
And if you believe that explanation... 

These people should really spend some time studying where the idea of a trinitarian God came from, and how it set the Israelites apart.


Johan

[dove]

3 hours ago, M&M said:

Interesting, thanks. I've often been told something like that just cause the word trinity isn't in the Bible doesn't mean that the Bible writers didn't believe in it just like the word Bible isn't in the Bible.

 

Quote: " And if you believe that explanation...  "

LOL

Bible is a word; trinity is a belief, a central teaching of the church. It wouldn't even be mentioned in God's Word?

[M&M]

You would think that if the trinity was true, being a central teaching, that it would be mentioned. But Satan is a hard worker hence the blindness.

I think that their thinking in making a point out of the Bible not being mentioned in the Bible is that we believe in the Bible like they believe in the trinity. 

[minister159]

18 hours ago, Sheep said:

Many trinitarians are well aware of the fact the Athanasian Creed was not accepted universally until the fourth century. That would mean it wasn't accepted by first century Christians. And yet trinitarians today believe it anyway.

 

One trinitarian I spoke to explained it this way. No one believed the Trinity in the first century church. It wasn't understood yet. It wasn't until well along in Christian history that the Church Fathers could finally see what God had been getting at in the Scriptures!

 

And if you believe that explanation... 

And do they realize that by the fourth century the so-called Church Fathers were all apostate Christians teaching commands of men as doctrine?

 

"However, even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond the good news we declared to you, let him be accursed." --- Gal. 1:8

 

[M&M]

1 hour ago, minister159 said:

And do they realize that by the fourth century the so-called Church Fathers were all apostate Christians teaching commands of men as doctrine?

 

"However, even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond the good news we declared to you, let him be accursed." --- Gal. 1:8

 

True that.

(1 Corinthians 4:6) Now, brothers, these things I have applied to myself and A·polʹlos for your good, that through us you may learn the rule: “Do not go beyond the things that are written,” so that you may not be puffed up with pride, favoring one against the other.
(Acts 20:29-31) I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness, 30 and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 “Therefore keep awake, and bear in mind that for three years, night and day, I never stopped admonishing each one of you with tears.