– Advertisement –

Heresy of the Day #3: Sabellianism / Modalism

by | Jun 15, 2021 | heresy, Heresy of the Day, The Church | 0 comments

Heresy: Sabellianism

Sabellianism, named for its seminal proponent Sabellius (3rd century) generally is another denial of the triune nature of God which maintains a single person in the eternal godhead which is manifested in three varying aspects or modes of God. Hence the more widely known label of “modalism.”

Sabellius did hold to monotheism, the belief in one God, and also defended the deity of Jesus Christ as true God.

Where he went wrong was in the refusal to recognize that the apostolic writings taught that in nature and being of the one true God there existed three distinct persons, The Father who is unbegotten, the Son, who is eternally begotten of the Father, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

A full exposition of the triune nature of the one true and living as well as its primary importance in the biblical Christian faith is beyond the scope of a short synopsis like this, but it is far more than simply an academic and optional affirmation.

Though Sabellius and his doctrine of God were rejected in the early with near unanimity his influence continues to this day.

Key tenets of Sabellianism include:

  • The rejection of the triunity of the nature and being of God as irrational.
  • The assertion of the oneness of God.
  • The affirmation of the full deity of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
  • The idea that God manifests himself in three different modes as an explanation for three persons each being recognized as God in scripture.

Modern-Day Proponents of Sabellianism:

Join Us and Get These Perks:

✅ No Ads in Articles
✅ Access to Comments and Discussions
✅ Community Chats
✅ Full Article and Podcast Archive
✅ The Joy of Supporting Our Work 😉



  • Today, the Oneness Pentecostals, which began as an excommunicated subgroup of the assemblies of God in 1916, maintain a modified version of Sabellian modalism.
  • A number of individuals, largely within charismatic groups, most famously TD Jakes and the contemporary Christian music group Phillips, Craig, and Dean also hold this heretical view today.

Three Ways to Support DISNTR


The Dissenter is primarily supported by its readers. The best way to support us is to subscribe to our members-only Substack site where you will receive all of our content ad-free, plus you will get member-only exclusive content.

Support us with a monthly donation on Patreon

Support us with membership to our ad-free Substack

Make one-time or monthly donation on Donorbox


👕 Or make a purchase from our online store. 👕
Make a Dogecoin Donation

- Advertisement -

Latest

Why Public Trust in the Church Continues to Erode

Why Public Trust in the Church Continues to Erode

For centuries, at least in the West, the church held an unparalleled position of trust and reverence. They were seen as the stewards of moral clarity in a world ever-increasing in cultural chaos. They were the shepherds who guided their flocks with conviction and...

- Advertisement -

Subscribe

Store

Follow Us

- Advertisement -

- Advertisement -

You Might Also Like…

Why Public Trust in the Church Continues to Erode

Why Public Trust in the Church Continues to Erode

For centuries, at least in the West, the church held an unparalleled position of trust and reverence. They were seen as the stewards of moral clarity in a world ever-increasing in cultural chaos. They were the shepherds who guided their flocks with conviction and...

Moody Pastor Says Mary “Gave Her Consent” to Conceive Jesus

Moody Pastor Says Mary “Gave Her Consent” to Conceive Jesus

Philip Miller, the current pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, succeeded the long-tenured Erwin Lutzer, is bringing his own pastoral approach to the historic pulpit by weaving contemporary social themes into his preaching. Before Christmas, Miller preached a sermon out...

Man in a Dress Struts Down Red Carpet at Golden Globes

Man in a Dress Struts Down Red Carpet at Golden Globes

Stop the world, I want to get off! If you needed one more nail in the coffin of Western civilization’s utter moral bankruptcy, look no further than the Golden Globes, where Jonathan Van Ness, a “Queer Eye” male star strutted down the red carpet in a gown that would...

No, Charisma Magazine, Blood Moons Do Not Mean Anything

No, Charisma Magazine, Blood Moons Do Not Mean Anything

Good grief. Charisma Magazine—which is akin to Joel Osteen at a flea market checking out fake Rolex watches—has once again proven its unquenchable lust for all things sensational, diving headfirst into yet another delirious obsession with whatever glitzy,...

- Advertisement -

Want to go ad-free with exclusive content? Subscribe today.

This will close in 0 seconds

Three Ways to Support DISNTR



The Dissenter is primarily supported by its readers. The best way to support us is to subscribe to our members-only Substack site where you will receive all of our content ad-free, plus you will get member-only exclusive content.

 

Support us with a monthly donation on Patreon

Support us with membership to our ad-free Substack

Make one-time or monthly donation on Donorbox


👕 Or make a purchase from our online store. 👕

This will close in 0 seconds