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Modalism

A reference page linking a name, group, or concept to the materials that discuss it.

Label for positions opponents argued erased Father/Son/Spirit distinction.

Modern diagram of debate, showing arguments, politics and worship together. No claim that one decision immediately made all Christians agree
Modern diagram of debate, showing arguments, politics and worship together. No claim that one decision immediately made all Christians agreeIL Archive · original diagram · CC BYImage source

Text

These positions are partly known through opponents’ polemics, including TertullianTertullianLatin Christian author of the late second and early third centuries with a distinctive body–spirit vocabulary.Glossary · Click to read the explanation’s Against Praxeas. A polemical description is not a neutral record of every adherent. [1]

Three masks illustrates an objection without exactly describing every position or explaining hypostasisHypostasisTerm later used for distinguishing Father, Son and Spirit within one divinity.Glossary · Click to read the explanation’s origin. The diagram shows debate history, not the divine being.

References and notes

  1. Tertullian, Against Praxeas 2–3, translated in ANF 3. Unity of substance and Father/Son/Spirit distinction in Tertullian’s polemic; his terminology is not identical to later usage. Opponent description is polemical testimony. Return to the text ↑

Research history

Substantive changes are retained here. Minor copy edits remain in the internal operational log.

  1. Edition 2 · 11 October 2026 · editor:aladmin

    Substantive record update

    Read this revision in its original language (Arabic)

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IL Archive, «Modalism», Edition 2, https://ilarchive.com/en/entities/modalism