The early church fathers ran ahead of the simple and clear line of the NT by introducing philosophical categories and complex theological terms to explain the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The NT presents a functional distinction between the Father, Son, and Spirit, but leaves the ontological nature of their relationship largely unexplored. Later theologians, in their efforts to preserve the orthodox faith and combat heresies, sought to create a more systematic understanding by using terms like "substance", "person", and "eternally begotten", which were not present in the NT but were seen as necessary to explain the divinity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This development ran ahead of the simpler, clearer biblical message and complicated the original simplicity of the biblical oneness of God, which centered on the Father as the one true God.
John, in his second epistle, warns against “running ahead” (2 John 1:9), cautioning believers not to go beyond the teaching of Christ. This can be understood as a warning against adding new ideas or explanations that were not explicitly given in Scripture. Similarly, Peter advises in his letters to avoid “breaking the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Peter 3:16), urging believers to hold firmly to the simple and direct message of the gospel without overcomplicating it with additional philosophical reasoning. Paul also warns about the dangers of being “taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy” (Colossians 2:8), reminding Christians not to let complex human ideas lead them away from the foundational truths of the gospel. These warnings highlight the danger of moving beyond the clear and straightforward teachings of Scripture and introducing unnecessary philosophical concepts that were not part of the original message, a tendency that the later church fathers fell into as they sought to explain the nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in ways not fully found in the New Testament.
Stephen D Green and AI, March 2025
