Summary: The Development of the Neo-Platonist Model (No. 17z)



Christian Churches of God

No. 17z

Summary:

The Development of the

Neo-Platonist Model

(Edition 3.2 19940415-19991027)

This paper traces the development of the neo-Platonist trinitarian system from Greek Philosophy into the post-Christian synthesis. It shows the origin of the Cappadocian system using both ancient philosophy and modern Catholic theology in admission of the origin of the doctrine.

Christian Churches of God

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(Copyright 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999 2001 Wade Cox

Summary by Patti Gambier, Ed. Wade Cox)

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The Development of the Neo-Platonist Model

John 17:17 Sanctify (set apart for holy use) them by your truth. Your word is truth.

True worship of God is done in spirit and in truth (Jn 4:23). Mainstream Christianity worships a Trinity, but is this biblical truth? Let us examine the development of this doctrine, uncover its origin, and determine its validity.

The concept of God as three hypostases of a superior entity is developed from Greek thought and is non-biblical.

In ancient writings, Plato uses Parmenides as his model, and Plotinus developed a scheme of three hypostases as One, Intellect and Soul, which prefigured the Trinity of Father, Word and Spirit.

The language of the Greek scholars, regarding the concepts of Unparticipated Divine, soul, monads, henads, a ‘transcendent One’, ‘the many as One’ ‘the many as the parmenidean One’, ‘that the first member in every triad is an analogue of the rest’, is not the way we think. We think in biblical terms, and this Greek philosophical language is foreign to us.

The monotheist concept of the Bible is that God is One, and that through His spirit, others are joined to him, and that the plurality is unity under God’s will, and that is how plurality becomes one. Plurality devoid of unity is contrary to His will.

However, plurality as unity does not require only ONE entity, as Trinitarians try to present. That is, that the Trinity is three in one, indivisible, yet capable of individual action.

The early Greeks had no concept of the agape love of God. ‘Agape’ is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew term ‘ahabah’ from the Song of Songs in the LXX so they could not understand the sharing of godliness in the love of God to others, by His Holy Spirit. This blighted any understanding of the plan of salvation as presented in the Bible.

The relationship between God/Jesus Christ, God/us, and Jesus Christ/us, requires the agape love of God, through the Holy Spirit to bind us.

Greek philosophy could not accept that Christ’s sacrifice, as a man, was adequate for the purpose of reconciliation of mankind to God.

The concept of the Father as creator, and as supreme God, is clearly understood in the Chaldean systems and original Greek texts. Neo-Platonism perverted the clear supremacy of God the Father over His creation by making Him immanent in all His material creation, and then worshipping that creation in animism, pantheism and polytheism.

Because of their lack of understanding of agape love, the Greeks then asserted that Christ was co-eternal and co-equal with God, which the Bible clearly says he is not – only God is immortal (1Tim. 6:16).

Socrates declared that ‘the first principle is ungenerated’, and the ancients held the first principle to be One, so the Trinitarians claim that while Christ is a generation of the Father, he was nevertheless, eternal. The New Catholic Encyclopaedia says Christ is a generation of the Father.

Jesus is the Son of God by generation, as is Satan and the demons, and the spiritual host of heaven. We can become sons of God by God’s calling (Jn. 6:44) and our obedience. There is no other way to become part of the One, and certainly not by individual determination could we possibly become one with God. You cannot become one with God, as God, by mystical contemplation as part of the ascent thereto.

The Cappadocians, in the continuing development of Trinitarianism, leave out the biblical revelation of the plan of God for the salvation of man, and thus destroy the distinction between the identity of God and the identity of Christ. The early Church knew the distinction very well. Trinitarians now don’t address all biblical texts, or misquote and mistranslate, or ignore the ones they can’t alter.

The Cappadocians argue against the position that God is knowable. The Bible is clear that God is knowable (Jn.10:4-14) and that we are required to know Him to obtain eternal life (Jn. 17:3) and had better know Him (2Thes. 1:5-8). He can be known (Rom. 1:19-21) and that it is to your shame if you do not (1Cor. 1:15; Rev. 3:14; Job 1:6, 2:1 & 38:7).

The authority of Christ was delegated from the Father (Jn. 5:26-28, 10:18) and that authority was carried in the name of God. Paul’s writings are subordinationist, as were Christ’s words.

The point is that man can also become a son of God, and upon resurrection, a spirit being. Satan obscures this wonderful truth by the promulgation of the great lie of the Trinity, which limits the family of God to three beings in one.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia article ‘Trinity’ states: the term ‘Trinity’ is not a biblical term. Neither is the word ‘Trinity’ to be found in the Bible.

Further Reading

The Oracles of God (No. 184).

The Holy Spirit (No. 117)

Consubstantial with the Father (No. 81).

The Purpose of the Creation and the Sacrifice of Christ (No. 160).

The Government of God (No. 174).

The Elect as Elohim (No. 1)

God Revealed Chapter 1

Ancient Monotheism (No. G1).

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