Ancient Christian Witness

Quote:
Originally Posted by the answer

IS YHWH God the father or the
trinity?


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It depends on the context. If we are talking about Essence then the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit would be called YHWH.

If we are talking about Personas then we would call the Father God, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Spirit.

(As seen from both scripture as well as from some of the writings of the Early Christians)




So it all depends on the context.




The Eastern Christian understanding of things is a bit different from the Western Protestant one. I can't speak for Rome for I don't have a clue what she believes (in modern times) about this issue.

I ussually know what she believes, but I must admit, in regards to this issue I am unsure.


But as far as the East goes.....I would say:

1.) The Father is the only unbegotten YHWH

2.) The Son is the Only begotten YHWH

3.) The Spirit is YHWH who proceeds from the only unbegotten YHWH


The Christian East believes that only the Father has "asiety". To us, the idea of each person having asiety means tri-theism or three eternal separate gods. To us, "Asiety" is linked to the ideas of "independance", "division", "autonomy".

Now with this said.....only some in the west believe that each person has asiety. Most in the west don't believe that.

The Eastern mind may think differently than the western mind, when it comes to unity. In the east, Union means that we have to be linked together. If the Son & Holy Spirit are always linked to the Father then it's easy to understand God being one and undivided. But I don't know what Rome believes so the West might believe just like the East in regards to "being linked".....so I'm trying not to generalize the west....for it may have more than one view. I know that it sometimes look as if it has modalistic/Sebellian tendencies, but I need to find out more about the modern western system/systems.

so with that said:

The Son is YHWH because He is eternally begotten from the Unbegotten YHWH. Before creation we view it as an Internal begetting within the bosom of the Unbegotten YHWH.

When the Son was sent by the Father to create all things, then we see it as an External begetting from the Father.

And this is why it is said that the Father created all things through the Son.


And the reason why the East believes in One God is because both the Son and Holy Spirit are literally(in a spiritual sense, because God is Spirit) undivided from the Father.

They are literaly(in a spiritual sense, because God is Spirit) connected to Him. And we see it as being that way in all eternity. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit always existed because the Son was always begotten from the Father, and the Holy Spirit was always proceeding from the Father.


That is how the East views it. So it all depends on the context



Also, I would like to add....


Since every doctrine is related to another....or is influenced by another doctrine. I would like to talk about Panentheism, and some of the Attributes of God in regards to the Trinity.


When the Father sent the Son to create all things visible and invisible (creation), all things exist within the Son. And since the Son is of the Father's Being, one could say that "all things" exist within the Father. And since the Holy Spirit is also of the Father's Being, one could say that "all things" exist within the Holy Spirit.

And this is how we understand Panentheism. Everything that exist......exists in God's Presence.


And since both the Son and Holy Spirit share the Father's Being, it is ok to call them both YHWH.



And in regards to the Attributes of God, one can see a small glimpse of how it is possible for God to know all things, be everywhere, and power everything.........when everything exist in His Presence/Being.


This is why I look at the differences in one's walk with God as a matter of "degree". Everything to me is pretty much looked at that way.

The deeper one goes in the Ocean, the greater the water pressure.....likewise, the deeper one's walk is with God, the greater His Presence pressure is. And if His Presence is greater in you than so is His power, intimate knowledge, and Love.....as well as any other Attributes that I missed.


My views of free will, Predestination, God's Providence, and almost everything else I believe in......can be derived from God's Omni-Presence......OMNI-BEING

If everything exist in God's Presence, then God ordains everything. However, the way I understand that is different from both King Neb & SEAL. (two friends who are Strong Monergistic high Calvinists)


Since I am a pure Synergist, I believe certain parts of our make up....as Moral Agents allow us to constantly wrestle with God. While Other parts of our make up is automatic.....and thus, we have no control over those parts...They are irresistible, but some parts of our make up allows us to ressist.

And it is this part of our make up which allows us to wrestle with our Creator from our conception in the womb to the grave in our caskets.






JNORM888