God in 3 Persons - In Theology

Within the past decade or so, the doctrine of the Trinity has become an issue both in the Seventh-day Adventist Church and in the wider Evangelical world. Within the latter, the resurgence of Trinitarian discussions seems to center around the question of subordination with some links to gender issues.

August 20, 2019

Download Document


Written by Kwabena Donkor

Within the past decade or so, the doctrine of the Trinity has become an issue both in the Seventh-day Adventist Church and in the wider Evangelical world. Within the latter, the resurgence of Trinitarian discussions seems to center around the question of subordination with some links to gender issues. The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s situation, however, shows a resurgence of Arianism and anti-Trinitarianism with obvious links to the denomination’s history on the subject. Some who take the anti-Trinitarian position have accused the Church of capitulating to what they see as a Roman Catholic doctrine, and therefore charge the Church with apostasy. This is a grievous charge that demands a response. This paper is motivated by the present situation in the Adventist Church, but a proper evaluation of the Adventist doctrine of the Trinity requires that it be placed within the wider discussion of the historical development of the doctrine and responses to it.