HISTORY OF THE DOCTRINE CONCERNING THE NATURE OF GOD IN THE EARLY CENTURIES OF CHRISTIANITY Part 3 MONARCHIANISM Modalistic Monarchianism made its way to Rome <at the end of the first century> and in the first quarter of the second century Monarchianism identified the father, son and holy spirit so completely that they were thought of only as different aspects of or different moments in the life of one divine person, called now father, now son, now spirit, as his several activities came successively into view. This doctrine in the second, and third centuries almost succeeded in establishing itself as the doctrine of the church at large. [4] (The term "Modalistic Monarchianism" refers to the "ism" {belief} of "mono" {one} "arch" {ruler} in various modes or manifestations.) This was a fairly widespread popular trend of thought; and the driving force behind it was the two-fold conviction, passionately held, of the oneness of God and the full deity of Christ. <what forced it into the open> was the mounting suspicion that the <former truths> were being endangered by the new logos doctrine and by the efforts of theologians to represent the godhead as having revealed itself in the economy as <tri-personal>. As early as Justin's time, we read of objections to his teaching that the logos was something numerically other than the Father. [21] Modalism was exceedingly difficult to overcome. It was shared by the majority of the common people and was in harmony with the dominant peity of the age. Modalism, in fact, was offensive only to the theologians, particularly to those who felt the influence of the platonic philosophy. [12] Nor is it surprising that these Monarchians should have had a strong following. God is one. For this monotheism the prophets had fought and prevailed. [16] Of those who took up the Monarchian defense, the more noted were HERACLITUS of the early second century; NOETUS, PRAXEUS, a follower of Noetus who transplanted these views to Rome about 190; Epigonus and Cleomenes, two other disciples of Noetus; and Sabellius, who was excommunicated for his views in 217. [5]. Continue to part 4 Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9 Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17 More Bible Study Lessons