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In Christian theology, patripassianism is the view that the Father suffers. This view is opposed to the classical theological doctrine of divine apathy. According to classical theology it is possible for Christ to suffer only in virtue of his human nature. The divine nature is impeccable of suffering. Classical theology is heavily influenced by Greek metaphysics and especially Neo-Platonic and Stoic conceptions of God. As a result, there is considerable debate among Christian theologians as to how much of classical theology is actually required for Christian orthodoxy.
The term patripassianism is also sometimes used as a synonym for Sabellianism.[1]
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History
Cyprian famously accused the Modalistic Monarchians of patripassianism.[2] The Monarchians taught the unity of the Godhead in Christ and that as the Son suffered the Father also experienced the sufferings. They did not teach that the Father died on the cross, though they were sometimes accused of this.
One early version of the Apostles' Creed, recorded by Rufinus, explicitly states that the Father is 'impassible.' This reading dates to about 390 AD. This addition was made in response to patripassianism, which Rufinus evidently regarded as a heresy (see next section).[3]
Is Patripassianism a Heresy?
Patripassianism is typically associated with modalism and other forms of nontrinitarianism which the Christian Church has historically regarded as heresies. However, it is not incompatible with orthodox trinitarianism as such, and bears some resemblance to theopaschite theology, which is generally regarded as orthodox.
According to Williston Walker, Pope Kallistos was an adherent of patripassianism. Walker says that Kallistos held that "Father, Son, and Logos (Holy Spirit) ... are all names of 'one indivisible spirit.' Yet Son is also the proper designation of that which was visible, Jesus; while the Father was the spirit in him. This presence of the Father in Jesus is the Logos. Kallistos was positive that the Father did not suffer on the cross but suffered with the sufferings of the Son, Jesus."[4]
Oneness Pentecostalism
Oneness Pentecostalism is often associated with patripassianism. According to Dr. Gary Reckart, Sr. an Apostolic Messianic : "If as Oneness believe, that God the Father was incarnate in Christ, which Jesus confessed ("it is the Father in me that doeth the work"), the Father was in Christ during all of the sufferings and being nailed to the cross. Thus the Father did suffer or experience the sufferings of the Son up to the time the Father departed from the body".[citation needed] Dr. Reckart emphasizes that Oneness do not believe (as also the ancient patripassians did not) that the Father died on the cross as the Son, nor that the Father died to replace the death of the Son.
See also
References
- ^ "Patripassianism" in F. L. Cross and E. A. Livingstone, eds., The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford: Oxford University Press). Accessed via Oxford Reference Online August 21, 2009.
- ^ Williston Walker, History of the Christian Church, Page 73, Charles Scribner's Sons 1949
- ^ Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 2007): vol. 2, pp. 49-50.
- ^ Williston Walker, History of the Christian Church, Page 72-75, Charles Scribner's Sons 1949
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