Person and Trinity

[Jim_Baur]

When was Person first used of the Trinity?

When was Trinity first used (in Latin or Greek)?

THANKS!!!

 

[dmar198]

When was Trinity first used (in Latin or Greek)?

According to Wikipedia: “The Apology to Autolycus [by Theophilus of Antioch]…c. 169–c. 183…is most notable for being the earliest extant Christian work to use the word “Trinity” (Greek: τριας trias), although it does not use the words “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” to describe the Trinity. Rather, Theophilus himself puts it as “God, his Word (Logos) and his Wisdom (Sophia).” [Ad Autolycum ii.15.] It is possible that the word may have been used before this time as many Greek Christian works before Theophilus were lost. … Afterwards the term “Trinity” appears in Tertullian, for the first time, in Latin, as trinitas (Tertullian, De Pudicitia chapter 21.)]”

The Latin De Pudicitia was written in 222 A.D.
The Greek Ad Autolycum was written between 169 and 183 A.D.

These two books are apparently the earliest Latin and Greek works to use the word “Trinity,” unless there are other, undiscovered works before them or unless a book that scholars assign to a later date was actually written earlier.

Also, it should be noted that the Greek term used in Ad Autolycum, “trias,” is not quite the same as the modern Greek word for Trinity, which, I think, is “triadas.”

 

[Jim_Baur]

Thanks!!!

 

[Catholic_Dude]

When was Person first used of the Trinity?

When was Trinity first used (in Latin or Greek)?

THANKS!!!

It should be noted that while “Trinity” doesn’t appear in the Bible, nor does the term “person,” the personal pronouns - “he” & “I” & “we”- are used of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This signifies personhood.

 

[Jim_Baur]

Catholic Dude:

THANKS!!!