There is a tendency to attack any 3-language in the New Testament. Especially the heavenly witnesses and
Matthew 28:19.
Here is confirmation from an early church writer. He is often dated to c. 90 AD., however he may well be pre-70 AD.
Clement of Rome, First Epistle
http://www.earlychristianwritings.co...lightfoot.html
Quote:
1 Clement 58:2
Receive our counsel, and ye shall have no occasion of regret. For as God liveth, and the Lord Jesus Christ liveth, and the Holy Spirit, who are the faith and the hope of the elect, so surely shall he, who with lowliness of mind and instant in gentleness hath without regretfulness performed the ordinances and commandments that are given by God, be enrolled and have a name among the number of them that are saved through Jesus Christ, through whom is the glory unto Him for ever and ever. Amen.
|
This does not mean any real "Trinity" doctrine, as the term came to be defined later, however it does show that 3-language is fine as Christian, 1st century.
This has been largely overlooked, although Alfred Resch did show this and more.
The Critical Review of Theological & Philosophical Literature (1895)
Resch's Aussercanonische Paralleltexte
Review by John Marshall Turner
https://archive.org/details/critical...e/n50/mode/2up
p. 35-43
======================
James Moffatt, a contra, does mention Clement of Rome, it is unclear whether it is the quote above, and it is unclear whether there really is a reference to
Matthew 28:19 from Clement of Rome.
The Historical New Testament (1901)
James Moffatt
https://books.google.com/books?id=uBkVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA648
... the earliest reference to it, outside this passage, is in Clem. Rom. and the
Didache (Justin Martyr,
Apol. i. 61).
======================
Threaded Mode
