So-called heresies against the trinity

list and explain all the so-called heresies against the trinity

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Heresies against the doctrine of the Trinity—also called Trinitarian heresies—are theological positions that deviate from the orthodox Christian understanding of the Trinity as formulated in the Nicene Creed (325/381 AD): that there is one God in three co-equal, co-eternal persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

These heresies emerged mostly during the early centuries of Christianity as theologians and church leaders debated the nature of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Here is a list of the major heresies considered to contradict the doctrine of the Trinity, along with explanations:

1. Modalism (Sabellianism / Patripassianism)

Summary: Denies that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons.

Core idea: God is one person who reveals Himself in three different “modes” or “manifestations” at different times.
- Example: In the Old Testament, God was the Father; during Christ’s life, He was the Son; after Pentecost, He is the Holy Spirit.
Why heretical: It denies the simultaneous existence of the three persons. In orthodox Trinitarianism, all three persons are distinct yet coexist eternally.
Key figures: Sabellius (3rd century)
Alternative name: Patripassianism (“the Father suffered”)—since it implies the Father suffered on the cross.

2. Arianism

Summary: Denies the full divinity of the Son.

Core idea: The Son (Jesus) is a created being, not eternal or of the same essence (Greek: homoousios) as the Father.
- “There was a time when the Son was not.”
Why heretical: It denies the co-eternity and co-equality of the Son with the Father.
Key figure: Arius (c. 256–336)
Condemned at: First Council of Nicaea (325 AD)

3. Subordinationism

Summary: The Son and/or Spirit are subordinate to the Father in essence or nature.

Core idea: While the Son and Spirit may be divine, they are ontologically inferior to the Father.
Why heretical: The Trinity teaches co-equality of the three persons. Subordination of function is acceptable in orthodoxy (e.g., the Son obeys the Father), but not subordination of being.
Often overlaps with: Arianism

4. Tritheism

Summary: Overemphasizes the distinction of the persons, resulting in belief in three gods.

Core idea: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate gods, rather than one God in three persons.
Why heretical: Christianity is monotheistic. Tritheism denies the unity of God.
Notable proponents: No major church figures, but often used as a critique of overly rigid Trinitarian explanations.

5. Adoptionism

Summary: Jesus was a mere man who was “adopted” as God’s Son.

Core idea: Jesus was not God by nature but was adopted as the Son of God at His baptism or resurrection because of His sinless life.
Why heretical: Denies the pre-existence and divinity of Christ.
Key figures: Paul of Samosata; Theodotus of Byzantium
Related to: Dynamic Monarchianism

6. Dynamic Monarchianism

Summary: Emphasizes the monarchy (oneness) of God to the extent of denying real distinction between the persons.

Core idea: God is one person, and Jesus was just a man empowered (dynamically) by God.
Why heretical: Denies both the divinity of the Son and the personal distinction within the Trinity.

7. Partialism

Summary: Each person of the Trinity is only part of God.

Core idea: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together make up the whole God (like parts of a pie).
Why heretical: In orthodox Trinitarianism, each person is fully and completely God, not just one-third of God.
Often arises from: Misguided analogies (like “the Trinity is like the three leaves of a clover”).

8. Pneumatomachianism (“Spirit-fighters”)

Summary: Denies the full divinity of the Holy Spirit.

Core idea: The Holy Spirit is not God but a created power or force.
Why heretical: Denies that the Holy Spirit is consubstantial with the Father and the Son.
Key figure: Macedonius (4th century)
Condemned at: First Council of Constantinople (381 AD)

9. Unitarianism (in the post-Reformation context)

Summary: Rejects the Trinity altogether.

Core idea: God is one person, usually the Father alone. Jesus is seen as a prophet, moral teacher, or even divine in some sense, but not God Himself.
Modern forms: Found in Unitarian Universalist churches, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and some liberal Protestant theology.
Why heretical: Rejects the foundational Christian claim of one God in three persons.

Summary Table

Heresy	Problem with the Trinity
Modalism	Denies distinction of persons
Arianism	Denies full divinity of the Son
Subordinationism	Denies equality of the persons
Tritheism	Denies the unity of God
Adoptionism	Denies eternal Sonship/divinity
Dynamic Monarchianism	Denies personal distinctions
Partialism	Denies each person is fully God
Pneumatomachianism	Denies divinity of Holy Spirit
Unitarianism	Denies Trinity entirely