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Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About Monarchianism And The Trinity

Early Christian writers mostly rejected Monarchianism and taught that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct, while still insisting on one God. Ignatius, Athenagoras, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Novatian, Gregory Thaumaturgus, and Dionysius of Rome all speak this way, and several tie that teaching to baptism in the threefold name.

The Bible passages most often used in these writers are Matthew 28:19, John 1:1, John 14, and 1 John 5:7, with some writers also using John 10:30 to defend unity without collapsing the persons. The evidence is broad and repeated across the second and third centuries, though some liturgical passages are background rather than direct argument, and a few weak items are only loose matches.

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Key Passages

Jump into the first references before scanning the full Scripture map.

How to Study Monarchianism And The Trinity

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Start with the clearest command or anchor text Read the primary passage in context before building doctrine from supporting references.
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Scripture Map

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31 references

Foundation Texts

John 1:1 primary

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Core Logos passage

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Incarnation of the Word

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Core baptism text

And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit appear together at baptism

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

One God and Father of all

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

One God the Father and one Lord Jesus Christ

Supporting Passages

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

The same was in the beginning with God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

Three that bear witness on earth

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

All things made through the Word

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

I and my Father are one.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Spirit of his Son sent into hearts

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

Acknowledging the Son is linked with the Father

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Voice from heaven at Jesus' baptism

The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

Father loves the Son and gives all things to him

Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.