African Church Father and the Trinity by Samuel H Johnson

 Athanasian Creed Synopsis

Athanasius of Alexandria was one of the African Church Fathers who lived at the 

time of Roman emperor Constantine. He included a treatise of the Trinity in his Athanasian Creed. This Creed is one of the best explanation of the Holy Trinity. It exposes two false doctrines about the Trinity. 

The first is Arianism - the belief that Jesus is not God but a created being and not coeternal with the Father. 

The second is Sabellianism or Modalism.  They believe in transition and not separate persons of the Godhead. So the Father became the Son who became the Holy Spirit. The tip-off for false doctrine is when  they say "The Father in creation, the Son in redemption and the Holy Spirit in sanctification” In these last days, Christians must be able to defend the Bible and expose false christs.

Here is a synopsis of the Creed: (Please read more than once)

"Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the global faith. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled; without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the global faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. 

The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. 

"The Father is God, The Son is God, The Holy Spirit is God; God is the Father, God is the Son, God is the Holy Spirit; The Father is not the Son, The Son is not the Father, The Father is not the Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit is not the Father, The Son is not the Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit is not the Son.

That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord"

Personally this definition has helped me tremendously in understanding the Trinity, which cannot be understood by human reasoning. The central issue is Jesus where critics want to make Him just a prophet, a good person or a great teacher. Their main problem is that Jesus is God. So beware of false teachers, especially those who want to minimize Jesus. As Jesus said on many occasions, "I and the Father are one"

* Image source - ntcanon.org