Historical Reflections on Early Adventist Anti-Trinitarianism
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Abstract
The prevalence of anti-Trinitarianism in early Seventh-day Adventism has been well documented. The purpose of this essay is to look for reasons, the historical background for the Adventist views. It discusses two unrelated historical perspectives: The Restorationist movement of the 19th century America which contributed to the Adventist rejection of the Trinity, and the historical interpretation of the prophecies which further convinced them that doctrines that were slow in development represent apostasy. Two of the leading Adventists pioneers came from an anti-Trinitarian Restorationist background but all of them lived in a theological climate permeated with doubts concerning the Trinity. While Arianism never was an official doctrine of the movement it was taught in numerous articles until, after about three decades, the church gradually moved closer to mainline Protestantism. Historicist prophetic interpretation was the foundation on which the young Adventist church was building its doctrines. The identification of papacy or Roman Catholicism as the antichrist was central for the early Adventist hermeneutic. Their views on the Trinity were further confirmed by the fact that Trinitarianism took several centuries to develop and the early Adventists identified it as a Roman Catholic doctrine. The last part of this essay seeks to stimulating discussion and debate on the Trinity and on the important formative years of Adventism. It includes some reflections and questions on the Trinitarian creeds as well as on the related Biblical data. The latter, rather than historical considerations, must in the end be the Adventist paradigm for understanding the Godhead. The prevalence of anti-Trinitarianism in early Seventh-day Adventism has been well documented since Erwin Gane’s ground-breaking research on the topic more than four decades ago.i Russell Holt, LeRoy Edwin Froom, Merlin Burt, Jerry Moon, and others built on and substantiated Erwin Gane’s conclusions.ii It is now understood that that not only Joseph Bates, James White, or the well known case of Uriah Smith, represent Adventist anti-Trinitarian sentiments but that virtually all key Adventist pioneers including J.N. Andrews, Daniel Bourdeau, D. M. Canright, Hiram Edson, D. W. Hull, J. N. Loughborough, E.J. Waggoner, J.H. Waggoner, and S. B. Whitney, held views varying from mildly Arian (Christ not eternal but born at a point of time) to a full rejection of Trinitarianism. The one notable exception was Ellen G. White and even her orthodoxy during the pre-1888 phase of Adventism has been questioned at times.iii The first part of this exploration discusses the Restorationist movement which was an important part of the intellectual and theological climate of 19th century America. This is followed by a short overview of the historical development of Trinitarianism to provide further background for early SDA comments on the Trinity. Both sections are interspersed with samples of Adventist pioneers’ comments, in particular ones which reflect historical reasons behind their rejection of the Trinity. The final part is intended to stimulate discussion on Adventism and the Trinity. It presents the traditional creeds as the standard definitions of the Trinity and presents questions and reflections related to the Biblical data which, rather than historical considerations, must be the ultimate Adventist paradigm for understanding the Godhead. The purpose of this research is to provide examples and illustrations and possible clues that may help understand the early Adventist position on the Trinity. They are not presented as a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the topic but as insights or stimuli for discussion and debate on the important formative years of Sabbatarian Adventism.
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References
ii E.g. Moon Jerry, Andrews University Seminary Studies, Vol. 41, No. 1, 113-129. Copyright © 2003 Andrews University Press.
iii Jerry Moon observes that EGW,s statements from the 1850’s and early 1860’s are ambiguous. According to Moon’s research her earliest clearly Trinitarian statements are from 1869. Moon, Jerry, The Role of Ellen G. White, The Adventist Trinity Debate, Andrews University Seminary Studies, No. 2 (Autumn 2003), 275-292; http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/moon/moon-trinity2.htm (April 29, 2008).
iv Smith, Timothy L, Social Reform: Some Reflections on Causation and Consequence; Gaustad, Edwin S, ed. Rise of Adventism, New York, Evanston, San Francisco, London, 1974, p. 18.
v Hudson, Winthrop S, A Time of Religious Ferment; Gaustad, Edwin S, ed. Rise of Adventism, New York, Evanston, San Francisco, London, 1974, p. 6f.
vi Millard, David, History of the Christians or the Christian Connexion, in Vinebrenner, John, ed. History of All the Religious Denominations in the United States, Harrisburg, PA, 1848, pp. 164-170. http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/dmillard/HCCC.HTM (April 15, 2008).
vii Restorationism, Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restorationism (Oct 10, 2008).
viii See e.g. Knight, George R, A Search for Identity; Hagerstown, MD., 2000, pp 30-37.
ix Miller William, Rules of Interpretation; Midnight Cry, Nov 17, 1842; Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology; (Joshua V. Himes) Boston, 1842, pp 20-24. Miller’s rules have been republished several times, frequently in later edited versions. Hale Apollos, Second Advent Manual, Boston 1843, 103-106; Bliss, Sylvester, Memoirs of William Miller, Boston, 1853, pp. 70-72; Damsteegt, P. Gerard, Foundations of the Seventh-day Adventist Message and Mission, (Diss.) Grand Rapids, Mi., 1977, 299f; Harrison, John F.C., The Second Coming, London and Henley, New Brunswick, 1979, 200f; Judd, William Miller, Disappointed Prophet, in Numbers, Ronald L and Butler, Jonathan L. eds. The Disappointed, Bloomington and Indianapolis, 1987, 20f; Arasola Kai, The End of Historicism, (Diss.) Sigtuna Sweden, 1990, pp. 50-53.
x See e.g. Arasola Kai, The End of Historicism, (Diss.) Sigtuna Sweden, 1990, pp. 53-59.
xi Millard, David, History of the Christians or the Christian Connexion, in Vinebrenner, John, ed. History of All the Religious Denominations in the United States, Harrisburg, PA, 1848, pp. 164-170. http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/dmillard/HCCC.HTM (April 15, 2008). Interestingly this thought pattern can still be seen in the work of some scholars. E.g. Adolf Harnacks massive History of Dogma implies that original Christianity had no doctrines and that doctrinal definitions watered down the genuine original Christian faith. See e.g. Harnack, Adolf, History of Dogma….
xii Froom, LeRoy Edwin, Movement of Destiny, Washington DC, 19…. p. . Froom’s comments reflect an apologetic agenda as he tries to show that only one in seven Millerite preachers were from an Anti-Trinitarian background. However, in the process he ignores the “Christian” background of some of the listed pastors. Considering the 19th C views one should also keep in mind that all in Connexionist churches were not necessarily Anti-Trinitarian and some in traditional churches may have had Arian or semi-Arian views (e.g. it would be worth checking Stetson’s, Storrs,’ Wenham’s views). Himes standing in Connextionism is reflected in his being called to write a description of Christian Connexion or Christian Churches into Edwards, B.B. ed., Fessenden & co’s Ecyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Brattleborough, VT, 1838. http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/jvhimes/CC-ERK.HTM, April 16, 2008.
xiii Knight, George R, A Search for Identity; Hagerstown, MD., 2000, pp 31.
xiv McGaughhey, Ken, Seventh-day Adventist Roots VII, LandMarks Magazine, December 1998. http://www.stepstolife.org/php/view_article.php?article_id=1114 (Aril 20, 2008).
xv E.g. Kastrati Julian, Against Historical Adventists: The Whites and the Divinity of Christ. © 2004, 2007. http://juliankastrati.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html (April 15, 2008).
xvi Millard, David, History of the Christians or the Christian Connexion, in Vinebrenner, John, ed. History of All the Religious Denominations in the United States, Harrisburg, PA, 1848, pp. 164-170. http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/dmillard/HCCC.HTM (April 15, 2008).
xvii Bourdeau, Daniel T. Sanctification, or Living Holiness, p. 13. Cf. “In every age there is a new development of truth, a message of God to the people of that generation. The old truths are all essential; new truth is not independent of the old, but an unfolding of it. It is only as the old truths are understood that we can comprehend the new.” White, Ellen G., Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 127.
xviii White, James, Untitled introductory note Present Truth 1/1 July 1849. Guy, Fritz, Mapping the Past: Exploring the Development of Adventist Theology, [Being Adventist in 21st Century Australia], http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/doctrines/au2002conference/guy/guy-past.htm, (April 29, 2008).
xix Bull, Malcolm, Lockhart, Keith, Seeking a Sanctuary, Indiana 1989, p. 42; (Google Book Search, Oct 9, 2008).
xx “Seventh-day Adventist Eschatology,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh-day_Adventist_eschatology Wikipedia
xxi Lohse, Bernhard, A Short History of Christian Doctrine, Philadelphia 1985, pp. 66-90.
xxii Bromiley, Geoffrey W., Historical Theology, An Introduction. Edinburgh, 1978. P. 133.
xxiii Doings of the Battle Creek Conference, Oct. 5 & 6, 1861, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 18 (8 Oct. 1861): 148.
xxiv White, James S. Biography p. 454.
xxv Cf. references to creeds in Guy, Fritz, Uncovering the Origins of the Statement of Twenty-seven Fundamental Beliefs, Part I, http://www.goodnewsforadventists.com/home/skypage.php?keyid=235&parentkeyid=166 (April 10, 2008)
xxvi Scragg, Walter R. L., Doctrinal Statements and the Life and Witness of the Church, unpublished paper presented at workers’ meetings in Vasteräng, Sweden and Manchester, England, between 24 Aug. and 4 Sept. 1981.
xxvii Athanasios, Christian History & Biography (Christianity Today); http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/special/131christians/athanasius.html (April 26, 2008).
xxviii Arius, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arius (April 26, 2008).
xxix Guy, Fritz, Uncovering the Origins of the Statement of the Twenty-seven Fundamental Beliefs, Part 1, http://www.goodnewsforadventists.com/home/skypage.php?keyid=235&parentkeyid=166, (April 29. 2008).
xxx Unitarianism refers to belief in the oneness of God, strict monotheism and opposition to the doctrine of the Trinity, and represented other somewhat liberal theological views. See e.g. Unitarianism, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarianism (Oct 14, 2008).
xxxi Unitarians shared the Connexionist and Millerite distaste for creeds and Church organizations. Unitarianism The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Questia, Columbia University, 2004. http://www.questia.com/library/encyclopedia/unitarianism.jsp (April 27, 2008).
xxxii Fischer, Chris, A Brief History of Unitarian Christianity. American Unitarian Conference. http://www.americanunitarian.org/fisherhistory.htm. (April 27, 2008).
xxxiii Gaston, John W. III, A Theological History of Unitarianism. American Unitarian Conference, 2000. http://www.americanunitarian.org/gastonhistory.htm, (April 28, 2008).
xxxiv Stark, Rodney, The Rise of Christianity, San Franciscio, 1997, pp. 49ff.
xxxv Hippolytos, Refutation, 9.11; Walker, Williston A History of the Christian Church, Edinburgh 1959, p 70.
xxxvi Stark, Rodney, Rise of Christianity, San Franciscio, 1997, pp. 59ff.
xxxvii Irenaeus, Proof of the Apostolic Preaching, ch 47. ACW 16, 78.
xxxviii Lohse, Bernhard, A Short History of Christian Doctrine, Philadelphia 1985, p.44.
xxxix Wikipedia, Tertullian, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertullian, (April 23.2008). Sometimes also Theophilus of Antioch is claimed as the first to use the term. However, his term is “triad” rather than “Trinity” when he compares the three first days of creation with God – first day for God, second for his Word and the third for his Wisdom.
xl Harnack, Adolf, History of Dogma II, Eugene OR, 1997. Pp 231, 257.
xli Tertullian,
xlii Lohse, Bernhard, A Short History of Christian Doctrine, Philadelphia 1985.
xliii Harnack, Adolf, History of Dogma II, Eugene OR, 1997. Pp 358.
xliv Harnack, Adolf, History of Dogma III, Eugene OR, 1997. Pp 51-73.
xlv Harnack, Adolf, History of Dogma IV, Eugene OR, 1997. Pp 2-13.
xlvi Harnack, Adolf, History of Dogma IV, Eugene OR, 1997. Pp 18,19.
xlvii Harnack, Adolf, History of Dogma IV, Eugene OR, 1997. Pp 120, 126.
xlviii Bromiley, Geoffrey W., Historical Theology, An Introduction. Edinburgh 1978, Pp. 81-95.
xlix See e.g. James White’s defence of Adventism as a turn to the true Bible message. Bible Adventism, Introduction, http://dedication.www3.50megs.com/jswhite5.html.
l Hull, D.W., The Bible Doctrine of Divinity, Review and Herald (November 10, 1859), Gane, Erwin, The Arian or AntiTrinitarian Views Presented in Seventh-day Adventist Literature and the Ellen G. White Answer. Chapter III. http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/gane-thesis/e-gane03.htm#a01, (April 27, 2008).
li E.g. Docetism, Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docetism (Oct 12, 2008)
lii Kangas, Ron, Modalism, Tritheism, or the Pure Revelation of the Triune God According to the Bible. Contending for the Faith, http://www.contendingforthefaith.org/responses/booklets/modalism.html, (Oct 12, 2008)
liii Frisbie, J.B., The Seventh day-Sabbath Not Abolished. Review and Herald (March 7, 1854). In Gane, Erwin, The Arian or Anti-Trinitarian Views Presented in Seventh-day Adventist Literature and the Ellen G. White Answer. Chapter III. http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/gane-thesis/e-gane03.htm#a01, (April 27, 2008).
liv Moon, Jerry, Early Adventists Struggle with the Truth about Trinity. http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/Trinity%20Review%20art.htm#N_12_ (April 26, 2008). The same view was also presented by Hull, D.W., The Bible Doctrine of Divinity, Review and Herald (November 17, 1859), Gane, Erwin, The Arian or Anti-Trinitarian Views Presented in Seventh-day Adventist Literature and the Ellen G. White Answer. Chapter III. http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/gane-thesis/e-gane03.htm#a01, (April 27, 2008).
lv E.g. Expulsion of Sabellanians. Lohse, Bernhard, A Short History of Christian Doctrine, Philadelphia 1985, pp. 58f.
lvi Loughborough, J.H. Questions for Bro. Loughborough. Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 18 (Nov 5, 1861), p. 184. Moon, Jerry, Early Adventists Struggle with the Truth about Trinity. http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/Trinity%20Review%20art.htm#N_12_ (April 26, 2008). lvii ANF I, p. 164. E.g. Lohse translates his text in this way. Lohse, Bernhard, A Short History of Christian Doctrine, Philadelphia 1985, p. 43.
lviii Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, ch 56, ANF I, 223ff. Cf. Harnack Adolf, History of Dogma II, Eugene OR, 1997. Pp 111f.
lix Harnack, Adolf, History of Dogma II, Eugene OR, 1997. Pp 208-213.
lx Stephenson, J.M., The Atonement; Review and Herald, Nov 14, 1854. In Gane, Erwin, The Arian or Anti-Trinitarian Views Presented in Seventh-day Adventist Literature and the Ellen G. White Answer. Chapter III. http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/gane-thesis/e-gane03.htm#a01, (April 27, 2008).
lxi Stephenson, J.M., The Atonement; Review and Herald, Nov 14, 1854. In Gane, Erwin, The Arian or Anti-Trinitarian Views Presented in Seventh-day Adventist Literature and the Ellen G. White Answer. Chapter III. http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/gane-thesis/e-gane03.htm#a01, (April 27, 2008).
lxii World Council of Churches website, http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/creed.html (April 26, 2008).
lxiii Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod website, http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=3357 (April 26, 2008).
lxiv http://www.bible.ca/trinity/trinity-text-triadic.htm (April 23.2008).
lxv Lohse, Bernhard, A Short History of Christian Doctrine, Philadelphia 1985, p. 38-41. lxvi As a historical curiosity one may note that there was a Trinitarian text in some of the earlier editions of KJV, based on Erasmus’ 1522 rendering of the so called comma Johanneum, John 5.7,8. “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”lxvi While this form of the text is known from as early as the 4th century, there is no early manuscript support for the section in italics. lxviiLohse, Bernhard, A Short History of Christian Doctrine, Philadelphia 1985, p. 38.
lxviii Mathison, Keith, Book Review May 26, 2008, The Holy Trinity by Robert Letham; http://www.ligonier.org/blog/2008/05/book-review-the-holy-trinity.html (Oct 12, 2008).
lxix This might also suit better the postmodern mindset that usually shuns detailed and dogmatic definitions.
lxx Augustine On the Trinity Bk XV, 28.51. NPNF 3, 228. Lohse Bernhard, A Short History of Christian Doctrine, Philadelphia 1985, pp. 70.