The development of the concept of divinity over time has led to heretical interpretations, primarily through theological conflicts that have distorted the understanding of the relationship between the Father and the Son. Both Trinitarianism and Oneness theology, though seemingly opposed, are guilty of heresy by failing to acknowledge the true independence of the Father and the Son as distinct beings. According to scripture, Jesus himself attested that his testimony and the Father's are independent, which is required by law to fulfill the need for two witnesses, proving they are two separate beings and not merely two persons of one essence. The notion of a shared essence, as preached by Trinitarians, undermines this independence, while the true unity between Father and Son, as Jesus expressed, is one of mind, love, spirit, and purpose—not substance. This same unity is echoed in Jesus’ relationship with his disciples, who are one with each other and with him in purpose, not in being. Furthermore, the longstanding dispute between the Eastern and Western churches regarding the co-equality of the Father and the Son has deepened the heretical confusion. The West, through Catholicism and Protestantism, falsely claims co-equality in the Trinity, while the East, through Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy, rightly holds that the Father is greater than the Son. This view is grounded in the truth that the Son’s divinity is given to him by the Father and that, as Paul wrote, the Son will forever subject himself to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:28). The East’s position, based on apostolic writings, affirms the natural order of the Father’s supremacy, and to deny this truth is to distort the divine relationship. The real heresy lies in the Western insistence on co-equality and in the very existence of divided allegiances between these traditions, which forces believers to align with one side or the other. This division, rooted in human tradition rather than divine truth, reflects a worldly heresy that distorts the clear teaching of scripture about the Father’s greater authority over the Son.
By Stephen D Green / wording by ChatGPT, 2024
