The beginning of Adoptionism in Christianity
Adoptionism was the basis of Christianity, it appears, near the end of the the first century and for centuries was the principal doctrine for all the middle eastern and north African Christianity. The Adoptionists believed that Jesus was a creation of God and was begotten of God at his baptism. They took the concept of the ‘son of God’ in a metaphysical way, like a son that has been adopted and not literally.
The cardinal tenet of early Jewish Christians was that Jesus was not divine.
The church at Jerusalem, around the end of the first century, was by this time composed mainly of the sect of the Nazarenes. Rabbi Gamaliel who was president of the Sanhedrin at that time, determined that the Jerusalem church was ‘authentically Jewish’. The early Christian church was headed up by James the brother of Jesus and the followers of Jesus.
In view of these facts, it would in no way have been possible for them to be determined authentically Jewish had they held the belief that Jesus was God. To the authentically Jewish, calling Jesus God would be heresy. Jewish Christians considered Jesus human, the biological son of Joseph and Mary, and not God come in the flesh.
The doctrine of the Trinity started around Europe with the style of Christianity that Paul created. The theory of the Trinity began with Jesus and God the Father.
The Holy Spirit was officially added on to the godhead close to the closing of the fourth century.
With this addition all three persons were believed to be composed of the same substance. It is believed that the concept of the Trinity was formed in order to compete with the pagan triune god in order to gain proselytes for Christianity.
Constantine succeeds in uniting his kingdom
During the late third and early fourth centuries Arianism became very popular involving most of the cardinals and bishops and the controversy became so intense that it threatened to cause Christianity to fall apart.
Constantine, the emperor of Rome needed to make his political position more secure, so in 313 the edict of Milan was delivered which basically made Christianity legal earning him the support of Christians and strengthening his political position.
Because of the controversy about the nature of Jesus that was threatening his kingdom, in 325 Constantine called together the bishops for what is known as the council of Nicaea, for them to sort out the problem of the nature of Jesus.
Many bishops didn’t show up since it was such a long distance and most of those that did go were pressured to vote for what is known as ‘the Nicaean solution’ even though they were believers in Adoptionism. However, as soon as they returned they reversed their decision.
Why Constantine didn’t back Arianism
Later in life, Constantine was baptized by Eusebius of Nicomedia who was an Adoptionist, which reveals that Constantine was a believer in Adoptionism.
However, Constantine needed friends closer to him and him since the adherents of Adoptionism were far away, he opted for siding with the bishop of Rome who later became the first pope. The bishop of Rome was on the side of the Trinitarians, not the Adoptionists.
So Constantine conveniently exchanged his beliefs in Adoptionism in trade for political power by becoming a partner with the bishop of Rome. This is how the controversy was resolved at the council of Nicaea and the concept that ‘God the Son’ and ‘God the Father’ are of the same substance became ingrained in Christology. Thus began the Doctrine of the Trinity.
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