Religion and Theology

Explain how the doctrine of the Trinity affirmed differs from the Arian heresy

The doctrine was indeed affirmed in the council meeting in Nicea through the creed formulated by the delegates in that meeting intended to hammer out issues dividing Christianity during the early part of the third century. The affirmation begins with I believe thus, the affirmation of the doctrine of the Trinity based on the creeds formulated by the Nicean Council is as follows, I believe in God the Father, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, not made, God of God , true God of true God , I believe in the Holy Ghost, the lord and giver of life who proceeds from the father and the son  (p. 431). This affirmation demonstrates the Christian teaching about Gods revelation of himself in relation to humanity in three distinct but equal persons. That is, the person of God the Father (Maker of heaven and earth), the person of the son (by whom all things were made including humans, was the incarnate deity who was crucified dead and buried for the salvation of humanity), and finally, the Holy Spirit (the giver of life).

But this affirmation of the doctrine of the Trinity was simply in response to various doctrinal positions that arise during this meeting especially to the Arian doctrinal controversy. Arius, an elder in the Alexandrian church held that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Sprit are not equally divine but were of similar nature. Arius views therefore relegated the position of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit subordinate to the father. Thus by ranking, the Father is almighty God, Jesus Christ is one step lower than the father, and the Holy Spirit is one step lower than the son and twice lower to the father.

The striking differences therefore between these two doctrinal positions as depicted in the creed formulated in the Nicean Council, were that in the Trinitarian doctrine, God is one but he reveals himself in three distinct persons. In matters of human physical, moral, social, and spiritual needs and accountabilities, God deals with humanity through his divine person as a father. In matters of human salvation, forgiveness of sins, and justification, God deal with all these through the divine person of the son. While in matters of spiritual strength, spiritual life, sustaining grace of God, and in enabling Christian to maintain their justified life, God deals with all these through the divine person of the Holy Spirit. Arius on the hand do not have much explanation except to emphasized that the son, and the Holy Spirit were lesser deities compared to the father, it was this reason  Arius was condemned as heretic. The Trinitarian doctrine differs to Arian heresy in the context of how God deals with humanity pertaining to his physical and spiritual condition.

How the opening verses of John provide support for the Trinitarian view
Apparently, this opening verse of the Gospel of John was an introduction pertaining to the Jesus Christ as the only begotten son of God, in the light of chapter 1 14. In these opening verses, the author of this gospel revealed one of the most important doctrines that could have never been known, its the divine relationship of the son with the father that ultimately confirms the doctrine of the Trinity. First, the writer depicted that the Word (refers to son, 114) was the same substance with father and co-eternal with the father. Second, verse 3 states that all things were made through him. This conforms exactly to the Trinitarian view as it confirms that Jesus was co-equal with the father in terms of power. God cannot create anything with out the word or in other words, the son. Although the Holy Spirit was not mentioned in the opening verse perhaps due to unconsummated function at the moment, (I mean the role Holy Spirit came after Christ crucifixion) but he was introduced by Jesus Christ in the latter part of the gospel as his substitute that will guide Christians towards the final consummations of Gods plan of salvation. That is, the Holy Spirit is co-equal with Jesus Christ and the father.