WCF 2.3 In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding: the Son is eternally begotten of the Father: the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.
This is one doctrine that has generated lots of heresy over the last 2,000 years. And I even held to a heretical belief of the Trinity for most of my life up until now. I was listening to a message by Dr Joe Morecraft III on the history of the early church. In this message, he also addressed many of the early heresies that plagued the church and as he briefly explained what each one was, I realised that my belief in the Trinity was condemned as heresy. It was my belief that God was one person and that at the same time he was three persons. I had just taken it for granted that I had the correct belief in the Trinity. However, I now know that God is not one person and also three persons, but in fact he is of one Godhead and three persons.
What is the Godhead? All of those characteristics and attributes that the previous two sections discussed about God apply to the Godhead. God is eternal, almighty, immutable, loving, hates the wicked and so forth. The Holy Ghost is no more God than the Father is and the Father is no less God than Christ is. This means that all are equally God. This means that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are also all eternal; never having beginning or end.
Then there are three distinct, separate, distinguishable persons that are the Godhead. God the Son was begotten of the Father (John 1:14). The Holy Ghost proceeded from the Father and the Son (John 15:26 & Galatians 4:6). Yet God the Father was not begotten of either nor did he proceed from any.
You might ask how it is possible for someone who is begotten to be eternal. I think that once you understand how a being can be eternal, that is never having beginning and never having any end, you will be able to understand how an eternal being can be begotten. Until then, we must believe in the testimony of the entire counsel of God.
This is one doctrine that has generated lots of heresy over the last 2,000 years. And I even held to a heretical belief of the Trinity for most of my life up until now. I was listening to a message by Dr Joe Morecraft III on the history of the early church. In this message, he also addressed many of the early heresies that plagued the church and as he briefly explained what each one was, I realised that my belief in the Trinity was condemned as heresy. It was my belief that God was one person and that at the same time he was three persons. I had just taken it for granted that I had the correct belief in the Trinity. However, I now know that God is not one person and also three persons, but in fact he is of one Godhead and three persons.
What is the Godhead? All of those characteristics and attributes that the previous two sections discussed about God apply to the Godhead. God is eternal, almighty, immutable, loving, hates the wicked and so forth. The Holy Ghost is no more God than the Father is and the Father is no less God than Christ is. This means that all are equally God. This means that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are also all eternal; never having beginning or end.
Then there are three distinct, separate, distinguishable persons that are the Godhead. God the Son was begotten of the Father (John 1:14). The Holy Ghost proceeded from the Father and the Son (John 15:26 & Galatians 4:6). Yet God the Father was not begotten of either nor did he proceed from any.
You might ask how it is possible for someone who is begotten to be eternal. I think that once you understand how a being can be eternal, that is never having beginning and never having any end, you will be able to understand how an eternal being can be begotten. Until then, we must believe in the testimony of the entire counsel of God.
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