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ABSTRACT: Tertullian’s theology was similar to Sabellius’:

Like Monarchianism, both taught that Father, Son, and Spirit are a single hypostasis, meaning, a single Person with a single mind.

But, while Monarchianism claimed that Father, Son, and Spirit are merely three names for the same one Being, both distinguished between Father, Son, and Spirit within the one hypostasis.

INTRODUCTION

A hypostasis is a distinct existence.

The church fathers used the Greek word hypostasis for something that exists distinctly from other things.

So, to say that the Father, Son, and Spirit are three hypostases means they are three distinct Beings or Persons. For example:

Hanson explains hypostasis as “individual existence.” (Hanson, p. 193) ¹

Litfin defines hypostases as “distinct personalities” and as “to be existent.” He says, to say that the Father, Son, and Spirit are three hypostases, implying “three distinct existences within the Godhead.” ²

Logos-theology vs Monarchianism

In Logos theology, the Son is a separate hypostasis. In Monarchianism, Father and Son are a single hypostasis.

These were two main views in Tertullian’s time.

Logos-theology – two hypostases

Beginning in the second century, following Justin Martyr, non-Jewish Christianity was dominated by Logos-theology. It taught a two-stage existence for the Logos: He always existed inside God, became a distinct hypostasis (Person) when God decided to create, and is subordinate to the Father. (See – the Apologists.)

Monarchianism – one hypostasis

Opposing Logos-theology, the Monarchians believed that Father, Son, and Spirit are merely three names for the same Person. The Son is not a distinct Being from the Father. Consequently, the Father suffered on the Cross:

“By their opponents they are accused of teaching that the Son and the Spirit do not have real independent existence and are in fact simply modes of the Father’s being.” (Ayres, p. 68) ³

“This ‘monarchian’ view was … suggesting the Father and Son were different expressions of the same being, without any personal distinctions between them. In other words, the Father is himself the Son, and therefore experiences the Son’s human frailties.” (Litfin) ⁴

“The Latin Fathers … called them ‘Patripassians‘ because they have identified the Father and the Son to such an extent that they believed that it was the Father who suffered and died on the cross.” (Willem Oliver)

It is also known as Modalism:

“Adolph Von Harnack coined the term ‘Modalism’ for this 2nd-century doctrine, which referred to the Trinity as consisting of ‘three modes or aspects of one divine existence’.” (Willem Oliver)

SABELLIANISM

Sabellianism is named after the early third-century theologian Sabellius.

Like the Monarchians, he explained the Father, Son, and Spirit as a single hypostasis (one Person with one mind).

He believed “there is but one undivided person in God.” (Von Mosheim) Consequently, Sabellianism has been defined as:

The “refusal to acknowledge the distinct existence of the Persons.” (Hanson, p. 844) ⁵

“The denial of a distinction between the three within the Godhead.” (Hanson, p. 287)⁶

“Believing in only one Person (hypostasis) in the Godhead. … favour the expression ‘one hypostasis’.” (Hanson, p. 801)⁷

In the fourth century, the Arians, in opposition to the Sabellians, claimed three hypostases.

The main purpose of the Dedication Creed of 341 was to oppose Sabellianism. For that purpose, while Sabellianism favors the expression ‘one hypostasis’, that creed explicitly confesses three hypostases:“

“The creed clearly and strongly argues against Sabellian emphases and those emphases were associated with Marcellan theology. We see these emphases, for instance, in the insistence that there are three names which ‘signify exactly the particular hypostasis and order and glory of each’.” (Ayres, p. 119)

Sabellius explained the Father and Son as different parts of one Person, like a human consists of a body, soul, and spirit.

It is sometimes stated that Sabellianism is another name for Monarchianism.

For example: “This movement called themselves ‘Monarchians’, the Greek Fathers called them ‘Sabellians’, as Sabellius was the person who has put this doctrine in its philosophical form, supplying its metaphysical basis.” (Willem Oliver)

However, while the Monarchians taught that Father, Son, and Spirit are merely three names for the same Person, Sabellius maintained that they are three different parts of one Person.

None of Sabellius’ writings have survived. Everything we know about him comes from the writings of his opponents and we know that one’s enemies seldom give a fair reflection of one’s views. But Von Mosheim studied the available documents and concluded that Sabellius, while maintaining that Father, Son, and Spirit are one hypostasis (Person), opposed the Monarchian concept that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are simply three names for the same Person. Rather, he argued that Father, Son, and Spirit are three distinct forms or portions of the one divine Person. He maintained that, just like a man is one person, but has a body, a soul, and a spirit, so God is one Person, yet in that Person, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit can be discriminated:

“While he maintained that there was but one person in God, he yet held that there are three forms, or aspects of the one God. Divers forms of one and the same being involve some real distinction.” (page 218)

“Sabellius … believed that, as a man in just one person, and yet in his person three things may be discriminated, not in thought only, but as having a real existence, namely, the body, the soul, and the spirit, so, also, although there is but one undivided person in God, yet in that person, the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit can be discriminated, not in thought only, but they must be really discriminated and kept distinct.” (219-220)

“As Sabellius held to the simple unity of the person and nature of God, and yet supposed the Father, Son, and holy Spirit to differ really from each other, and not to be three names of the one God, acting in different ways; we are obliged to believe, that he considered the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as being three portions of the divine nature.” (220)

TERTULLIAN

Did not oppose Sabellianism.

Tertullian did not oppose Sabellius directly. He wrote slightly before Sabellius. His enemy was the Monarchians.

Wikipedia states that Tertullian was “one of the chief critics of Sabellianism.” However, Sabellius (fl. ca. 215) wrote slightly later than Tertullian (ca. 160–225).⁸ Consequently, Tertullian did not oppose Sabellius.

Was a Logos-theologian.

Tertullian is often portrayed as an accurate anticipation Nicene consensus about the Trinity:

“He also offered a formula that, more than a century later, would assume the status of doctrinal orthodoxy. God is … one substance cohering in three’.” (Litfin)

In Tertullian’s theology, “while the Son does share the substance of the Father, both are distinct Persons. This is precisely the trinitarian terminology that would eventually win the day.” (Litfin)

But he did not teach the Trinity doctrine. He was a Logos theologian.

The Son is subordinate.

He believed that the Son and the Spirit are subordinate to the Father.

For example:

“The Father is the entire substance, but the Son is a derivation and portion of the whole, as He Himself acknowledges: ‘My Father is greater than I.’ … Thus the Father is distinct from the Son, being greater than the Son.” (In Against Praxeas 9, Tertullian)

“He tended toward a profound theological subordination of the Son and the Spirit.” (Litfin)⁹ “The Son and Spirit are emissaries of the Father’s will—not ontologically inferior to him, yet ranked lower.” (Litfin)

“For Tertullian, the Son is second in order.” (Ayres, p. 73-74)

Time when the Son was not

Like Arius, Tertullian believed there was a time when the Son did not exist.

Consistent with Logos-theology, Tertullian taught that the Son or Logos was eternally within the being of the Father and only became distinct at a particular point for the purpose of creation, revelation, and redemption. For example:

Tertullian wrote: “There was, however, a time when neither sin existed with Him, nor the Son … He was only to become Lord at some future time: just as He became the Father by the Son.” (see here)

“The notion that the First Person was not essentially and eternally a Father … became anathema to later generations. Yet this was precisely what Tertullian believed, and for this reason his doctrine of temporal paternity and filiation was closer to the Arian point of view.” (Litfin)

“But even more problematic from an orthodox point of view was Tertullian’s firm conviction that a relationship of fatherhood and sonship is not intrinsic to the Trinity.” (Litfin)

“For Tertullian, the Son … comes from the Father in connection with the Father’s decision to create, he also insists that the Son was always in the Father: the same two-stage conception …” (Ayres, p. 73-74)

“Tertullian … believed and taught that, though the Son or Logos was eternally within the being of the Father, he only became distinct … at a particular point for the purposes of creation, revelation and redemption” (Hanson, p. 872)

Far from fully Nicene.

He was not a Trinitarian. He was a typical second-century Logos theologian:

“Tertullian was not really a forward-thinking Nicene trinitarian born a century out of time, but a typical theologian of his day. … We should not be too quick to anoint Tertullian as the Latin foundation upon which the Greek edifice of Nicaea was going to be built.” (Litfin) “Historical theologians need to start admitting that Tertullian was a far cry from being fully Nicene.” (Litfin)

“When he (Tertullian) is examined against the background of his immediate predecessors, he falls into place as a typical second-century Logos theologian.” (Litfin)¹⁰

Used the right words

Tertullian is regarded as important, not for his theology, but for introducing certain words that later became ‘orthodox.

Particularly, he introduced the terms ‘trinity’, ‘substance’, and ‘person’. For example:

“Why such enthusiasm for Tertullian’s trinitarianism? As the above selections demonstrate, the answer is essentially terminological. Historical theologians like to suggest that Tertullian’s use of the term trinitas, and his one substantia/three personae formula, make him a kind of proto-Nicene hero.” (Litfin)

His enemies were the Monarchians.

Since Tertullian was a Logos theologian, his main enemies were the Monarchians, also known as Modalism.

When Tertullian wrote in the early third century, the two main competing Christological views were Logos-theology and Monarchianism.

“Tertullian’s targets here are Monarchian theologians for whom the Word does not exist as a distinct existing thing.” (Ayres, p. 74)

Ayres here uses the word “thing.” He cannot use the word ‘hypostasis’ because Tertullian did not teach that the Son is a distinct hypostasis. But, unlike the Monarchians, Tertullian proposed a distinction between the Father, Son, and Spirit within that one hypostasis.

“The treatise Against Praxeas is widely recognized as Tertullian’s greatest work on the Trinity. The view apparently taught by Praxeas has come to be called ‘modalism’, thanks to that designation appearing in Adolf von Harnack’s History of Dogma (1897). Tertullian simply calls his opponent a ‘monarchian’.” (Litfin)

Tertullian’s “efforts were directed against a view whose chief error was to conflate the Father and Son, meaning that, among other things, the Father suffered on the Cross—a view known as ‘patripassianism’, which Tertullian found abhorrent.” (Litfin)

Was a Sabellian

To show that Tertullian was a Sabellian, we must first show that he taught that the three Persons are a single hypostasis.

The Monarchians criticized the Logos theologians for teaching that the one God divided into two Gods.

The Monarchians said:

“The theology of the Apologists involves a division in the being and unity of God that is unacceptable.” (Ayres, p. 68) ¹¹

In response, Tertullian described God as three Persons in one substance.

Tertullian developed his theology in response to this criticism. He deviated from the standard Logos theory by describing God as three Persons in one substance:

“In Tertullian’s new trinitarian schema, God is characterized by a single divine ‘substance’ of rulership over the cosmos. Yet he is fundamentally arranged or disposed in three personae.” (Litfin)

Tertullian believed that the Father, Son, and Spirit are a single hypostasis (a single Person with a single mind).

But the question remains, is that a distinction within one hypostasis (Person), as Sabellius proposed? Or did he understand Father, Son, and Spirit as three hypostases (three Persons with three distinct minds)? What did he mean by “personae?” For the following reasons, Tertullian’s God is one single hypostasis; not distinct Persons with distinct minds:

Part of the Father – Tertullian said, “For the Father is the entire substance, but the Son is a derivation and portion of the whole.” (Against Praxeas, Chapter 9) Therefore, the Son is part of the Father and not a distinct Person.

A Single Discrete Entity – Litfin said, “The term substantia as Tertullian used it signified the existence of a single, discrete entity (here, the One God).” In other words, the entire substance is a “discrete entity;” not the individual parts.

One hypostasis – Hanson explicitly states that the entire substance is one hypostasis: “The word in Greek translation of Tertullian’s una substantia would not be the word homoousios but mia hypostasis (one hypostasis).” (Hanson, p. 193)

We see this also in his spiritual followers; Alexander, Athanasius, and the fourth-century Western church.

We can also see the nature of Tertullian’s doctrine in the views of his spiritual children. The pro-Nicenes of the fourth century continued Tertullian’s understanding. Both Alexander and Athanasius described the Father, Son, and Spirit as a single hypostasis, with the Logos being part of the Father. (See here) And the manifesto compiled by the Western delegates at the Council of Serdica explicitly confesses one hypostasis.

Tertullian’s Persons are not real.

Tertullian’s ‘Persons are not ‘Persons’ in the sense of distinct Beings with distinct minds.

While the Logos theologians said that the Logos separated from the Father to become a distinct hypostasis, Tertullian proposed that the Logos became more clearly distinguished but remained part of the Father. Consequently, Father and Son remained a single hypostasis (one single Mind):

“Tertullian believed … (that) God, while not ceasing to be what he always was, nonetheless extended himself or projected himself forward, so that the three Persons became more clearly distinguished. By means of these now-more-distinct Persons, the one God creates the world, rules over it, and enters into it for salvation.” (Litfin)

The term for ‘person’ (prosopon) was also used by Sabellius. (Hanson, p. 328) It is sometimes translated as “role.” (Hanson, p. 649) Basil of Caesarea “can readily use prosopon in the traditional exegetical sense of ‘character’ or ‘part’ (almost as in a play) which God or Christ or others were supposed to have assumed.” (Hanson, p. 692)

The Trinity doctrine follows Tertullian.

Like Tertullian, the Trinity doctrine teaches that the three Persons are one Being with one mind and will.

Both the traditional Trinity doctrine and Tertullian:

- - Assert three Persons in one substance.
  - Use the term ‘Person’ misleadingly because the ‘Persons’ are not distinct and do not each have a mind. The Three are a single Being with a single mind. (See here for a discussion of the Trinity doctrine.)
  - Equate the ‘substance’ with the Being of God.

The Trinity doctrine is Athanasius’ ‘one hypostasis’ theology with ‘three Persons’ misleadingly added.

Athanasius taught one hypostasis. Basil of Caesarea was the first three-hypostasis pro-Nicene. He said that Father, Son, and Spirit are three distinct Persons with the same type of substance and, therefore, equal divinity. As stated, the difficulty with that view is tritheism. For that reason, the traditional Trinity doctrine says that Father, Son, and Spirit are one Being. Essentially, that reverts to Athanasius’ one-hypostasis view but adds Basil’s ‘three Persons’ (three hypostases). However, since the hypostases are not real persons, that is misleading. The traditional Trinity doctrine is camouflaged Sabellianism!

Conclusion

It is valid to classify Tertullian as a Sabellian if we define Sabellianism as teaching that Father, Son, and Spirit are only one Person within whom the Father, Son, and Spirit are somehow distinguished.

Category: Pre-Nicene

Tertullian was a Sabellian.