The doctrine of the Trinity states that God is one being who exists eternally as three distinct persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All three persons of the Trinity share the same divine nature and are co-equal and co-eternal.
Partialism is a heretical view that divides God into parts or separates the persons of the Trinity in a way that contradicts the doctrine of the Trinity. Partialism essentially teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not fully God individually, but only become fully God when they come together. This view denies the co-equality of the persons of the Trinity.
There are different forms of partialism:
Tritheism
Tritheism teaches that there are three separate gods rather than one God in three persons. This view essentially makes the Trinity into three different deities. This destroys the unity of God and the co-equality of the persons of the Trinity. The Bible is clear that there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4) and the three persons of the Trinity make up the one God.
Modalism
Modalism, also called Sabellianism, teaches that God exists in three different modes or roles rather than being three distinct persons. In this view, God is the Father at one time, the Son at another time, and the Holy Spirit at yet another time – like an actor playing three different roles. This view denies the distinct personhood of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by teaching they are just modes or manifestations of the one divine being.
Arianism
Arianism denies the full deity of Christ and teaches that Jesus was a created being. In this view, only God the Father is truly God, while Jesus and the Holy Spirit are lesser divine beings or creations. This view denies the co-equality and co-eternality of the Son with the Father and Holy Spirit. The early church strongly condemned Arianism as heresy.
Subordinationism
Subordinationism teaches that the Son and Holy Spirit are subordinate to God the Father in nature, being, or authority. In this view, the Son and Spirit derive their existence from the Father. While not a full denial of the deity of the Son and Spirit, subordinationism improperly places the Father as supreme over the other persons of the Trinity. This contradicts the co-equality of the divine persons taught in Scripture.
Adoptionism
Adoptionism teaches that Jesus was a normal human who was adopted as God’s Son either at his baptism, resurrection, or ascension. Similar to Arianism, this view denies the deity of Christ by asserting he only became divine at a certain point rather than being eternally divine. This view divides the persons of the Trinity and denies Christ’s true deity.
Partialism Violates Key Aspects of the Trinity
All of these partialist views distort the biblical doctrine of the Trinity in one way or another. By dividing God into parts, separating the persons too distinctly, or not viewing all three persons as fully God, they violate the unity of God and the co-equality of the Trinity.
At the heart of the doctrine of the Trinity are several key truths we must uphold:
– There is only one God in three co-equal, co-eternal persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
– All three persons of the Trinity share the same divine essence or nature.
– The persons of the Trinity relate to one another eternally in a loving communion.
– Each person of the Trinity plays a unique role but all are undivided in their shared divine work.
The only way to hold these truths consistently is to avoid partialism and affirm the full deity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as one God in three persons.
Biblical Basis for the Trinity
The Bible clearly presents Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as fully God without dividing God into parts. Throughout Scripture we see all three persons referred to as God, sharing divine attributes, and doing divine works. Let’s survey some of the key evidence:
The Father is God
Numerous verses identify God the Father as the one true God. For example:
“This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)
“There is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist…” (1 Corinthians 8:6)
The Father is presented as the source of all, yet intimately involved with sending the Son and empowering believers by the Spirit.
Jesus Christ is Fully God
In a powerful passage, the apostle John writes:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
Jesus is identified with the divine term “Word” and declared to be God. Other verses confirm the full deity of Christ:
“He is the image of the invisible God…” (Colossians 1:15)
“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)
“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.'” (John 8:58)
Jesus shares divine attributes like eternity, creative power, and divine glory. He performs divine works like forgiving sins, raising the dead, receiving worship, and judging the world.
The Holy Spirit is Fully God
The Holy Spirit is directly called God:
“But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit… You have not lied to man but to God.’” (Acts 5:3-4)
The Holy Spirit also possesses divine attributes and performs divine works – omnipresence, sanctification, etc.
“Where shall I go from your Spirit?… If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me.” (Psalm 139:7-10)
“God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit…” (2 Thessalonians 2:13)
The Three Persons are Distinct
While one in essence, the persons of the Trinity relate to one another in Scripture in a way that shows their distinct personhood:
At Jesus’ baptism, the Father speaks from heaven while the Spirit descends on the Son. (Matthew 3:16-17)
Jesus prays to the Father and promises to send the Spirit. (John 14-16)
The Father gives a kingdom to the Son and puts everything under His feet. (1 Corinthians 15:24-28)
These interactions would make no sense if the distinctions between the persons of the Trinity were imaginary or modalistic. The distinct relationships point to real and eternal distinctions between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Trinity Works Inseparably
While distinct, the persons of the Trinity also act inseparably in creation and redemption:
“Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” (1 Corinthians 8:6)
“The Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said let there be light.” (Genesis 1:2-3)
At Jesus’ baptism, all three persons of the Trinity were audibly and visibly present. (Matthew 3:16-17)
The inseparable working of Father, Son, and Spirit shows their unified divinity.
The Trinity in Christian Practice
Christians participate in the truth of the Trinity in many ways:
– Baptism into the single name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)
– Bearing witness of the Son by the Spirit to the glory of God the Father. (1 Peter 1:11-12)
– Invoking Christ to share in the communion of the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
– Placing faith in one God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (1 Peter 1:2)
The doctrine of the Trinity is not just an abstract theological concept. It provides the framework for Christian salvation, worship, and living.
Why Partialism Must Be Avoided
With this biblical understanding of the Trinity in place, we can clearly see why partialist views that divide God or downgrade the deity of Father, Son, or Holy Spirit must be rejected.
Partialism Misrepresents God’s Identity
The doctrine of the Trinity flows from who God is eternally in Himself. To change the doctrine is to present a false God who does not match the identity of the one true God revealed in Scripture. We must be diligent to guard the doctrine of the Trinity revealed in God’s Word against distortion.
Partialism Misunderstands the Incarnation
By denying Christ’s full deity, partialist views undermine the significance of the incarnation. Scripture teaches that the eternal divine Son added a human nature to Himself. Partialism renders Jesus something less than fully and eternally God, destroying the meaning of God becoming man.
Partialism Distorts the Gospel
A Jesus who is not fully God could not bear the full wrath of God for our sins or provide divine redemption. Eternal salvation is only possible because of the incarnation of the divine Savior. Partialism presents a false Christ insufficient to save.
Partialism Disrupts Divine Relations
By dividing the Trinity, partialism undermines the eternal relationships that exist within the Godhead. The unity and love shared between the real persons of the Trinity is essential to God’s blessedness. Partialism introduces false division into the life of God.
Partialism Threatens Worship
Worshipping a God who is different than God’s true Trinity identity amounts to idolatry. We must worship God in spirit and truth according to how He is accurately revealed in Scripture. Partialism leads people to put their trust in an imaginary God of human ideas rather than the true God.
For these reasons, faithfulness to Scripture requires upholding that the Father is fully God, the Son is fully God, and the Holy Spirit is fully God – and yet there is only one God. Compromising the full deity of any member of the Trinity means departing from biblical teaching about God’s identity.
Guarding Against Partialism
How can the church guard against partialist teachings and remain grounded in the doctrine of the Trinity revealed in Scripture? Here are a few key suggestions:
– Be wary of theological innovations that leave behind historical, creedal formulations of the Trinity. Novel, partialist ideas often distort orthodoxy.
– Stick closely to biblical language about the persons of the Trinity, even when it leads to hard concepts like eternal generation or processions.
– Avoid speculation beyond what Scripture clearly teaches about inner-Trinitarian relationships. Mystery remains.
– Remember salvation is bound up in who God is. Getting the Trinity right matters for experiencing God’s saving grace.
– Celebrate and teach about how all three persons of the Trinity work together in creation, revelation, salvation, and Christian living.
– Make the Trinity central to worship services, prayers, creeds, and discipleship. Keeping God’s triune identity front and center protects against partialist ideas.
– Preach and counsel with the true gospel of Jesus Christ – the eternal Son incarnated to save us – central. Christ’s deity is too important to compromise.
– Read church history and learn from how previous generations upheld biblical truth about the Trinity. The rule of faith remains reliable.
With vigilance, humility, and careful handling of Scripture, the church can confess the historic, orthodox doctrine of the Trinity without distortion. The triune God revealed in Scripture deserves nothing less. Partialism must be avoided for the glory of the one true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
