Monarchianism

During the patristic period, Christian theologians attempted to clarify the relationship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Monarchianism developed in the 2nd century and persisted further into the 3rd century. Monarchianism (from the Greek monarkhia, meaning "ruling of one," and -ismos, meaning "practice or teaching") stresses the absolute, uncompromising unity of God . Monarchians were opposed by Logos theologians (Tertullian, Hippolytus, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen of Alexandria). The Trinitarian view gained prominence and was adopted at the First Council of Constantinople in 381. Monarchianism was considered a heresy after the 4th century. ==Types==

Adoptionism Two types of monarchianism were propounded. The terms "Father" and "Son" are then used to describe the distinction between the transcendence of God and the incarnation. Lastly, since God is understood as a Spirit in the context of the Gospel of John, it is held that the Holy Spirit should not be understood as a separate entity but rather as a mere descriptor of God's action. Notable adherents included Noetus, Praxeas, and Sabellius, hence why the view is commonly called Sabellianism. Nevertheless, Sabellius's writings did not survive and so the little that is known about his beliefs is from secondary sources. The name "Monarchian" properly does not strictly apply to the Adoptionists, or Dynamists, as they (the latter) "did not start from the monarchy of God, and their doctrine is strictly Christological". ==See also==