Theses A and B below represent the complementary pair, Unity and Diversity, as they apply to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. The upper theses offer a moderate synthesis that can be affirmed without contradiction. The lower theses, -B and -A, represent exaggerations of A and B respectively that are commonly stated. Click the 'more' links for more details on each of the views. This is one of three complementary pairs linked by the left and right arrows. Overview of this dilogic diagram.
Unity and Diversity | |||
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A: Unity: God is one eternal and self-existent
Being in essence or nature, and all-sufficient, as the Bible
teaches. |
B: Diversity: God eternally exists as a unity of
three distinct Persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as
the Bible teaches. |
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-B: Exaggeration of unity leads to monism, in
which all distinctions are subsumed into the
One. |
-A: Exaggeration of diversity leads to
polytheism, in which there are many gods. This in turn leads
to confusion about the origin and self-sufficiency of
God. |
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Theses B and C below represent the complementary pair, Diversity and Equality, as they apply to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. The upper theses offer a moderate synthesis that can be affirmed without contradiction. The lower theses, -C and -B, represent exaggerations of B and C respectively that are commonly heard. Click the 'more' links for more details on each of the views. This is one of three complementary pairs linked by the left and right arrows. Overview of this dilogic diagram
Diversity and Equality | |||
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B: Diversity: The members of the Trinity are
distinct Persons with different characteristics and
relationships to each other, and have a particular order or
procession. |
C: Equality: The members of the Trinity are equal
in power and authority, and all equally and eternally share
the divine nature. |
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-C: Exaggeration of diversity leads to a
hierarchy of levels or ranks among the Persons; God is
relativized into a minor power among others. |
-B: Exaggeration of diversity leads to
polytheism, in which there are many gods. This in turn leads
to confusion about the origin and self-sufficiency of the
"gods". |
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Theses C and A below represent the complementary pair, Equality and Unity, as they apply to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. The upper theses offer a moderate synthesis that can be affirmed without contradiction. The lower theses, -A and -C, represent exaggerations of C and A respectively that are commonly heard. Click the 'more' links for more details on each of the views. This is one of three complementary pairs linked by the left and right arrows. Overview of this dilogic diagram
Equality and Unity | |||
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C: Equality: The Persons of the Trinity are
equal, but this does not mean that they are identical. The
Scriptures reveal three different Persons in the
Godhead. |
A: Unity: God eternally exists as a unity of
three distinct Persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as
the Bible teaches. |
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-A: Exaggeration of equality leads to a
conformity, with one Person existing in different
manifestations that are interchangeable. |
-C: Exaggeration of unity leads to a dualism
between two equally powerful opposite principles of good and
evil (Manicheism). |
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