What is the doctrine of Sabellianism?

Definition

Sabellianism, also known historically as Modalism or Modalistic Monarchianism, asserts that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three distinct Persons within the one Godhead but merely three modes, manifestations, or aspects of one divine Person. This teaching attempts to preserve the oneness of God by insisting the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are identical in person but different in name or role. In other words, it teaches that the same God appears at times as the Father, at times as the Son, and at times as the Holy Spirit, rather than existing eternally as three co-equal, co-eternal Persons.

Historical Background

The name “Sabellianism” derives from Sabellius, an early third-century teacher in Rome. Church Fathers such as Tertullian (in Against Praxeas) and Hippolytus (in Refutation of All Heresies) wrote against this doctrine, which they regarded as heretical. Early Christian writings reveal that the doctrine spread quickly and concerned many in the Church due to its departure from what was recognized as the apostolic teaching on the distinct Persons of the Trinity.

Sabellius proposed that God’s essential unity could not be divided into distinct persons, but rather that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were a sequence of divine revelations or “modes.” Hence the label “Modalism.” This belief was censured by various local synods and was a topic of contention leading up to later ecumenical councils that formally defined Trinitarian orthodoxy.

Primary Teachings of Sabellianism

1. One Person, Three Modes: Sabellius taught that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one Person with different designations. For example, God functioned as Father in creation, then as Son in redemption, and finally as the Holy Spirit in sanctification.

2. Denial of Eternal Trinitarian Distinctions: Sabellianism rejects the idea that the Son and Holy Spirit have eternally existed as distinct Persons alongside the Father. Instead, distinctions among them arise only in God’s self-revelation.

3. Monarchian Concerns: Proponents of this view emphasized the “monarchy” (or singular rule) of God. They feared that speaking of three Persons weakened the fundamental premise of monotheism.

Biblical Refutation

Sabellianism conflicts with numerous passages in Scripture that describe the interactions between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Key examples include:

• Jesus Praying to the Father: “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). In this prayer, the Son’s will and the Father’s will are clearly distinct.

• Baptism of Jesus: “When all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased’” (Luke 3:21–22). The Father’s voice comes from heaven, the Son is physically present on earth, and the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove—all at once, indicating distinct Persons.

• Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Jesus commands His disciples to baptize in the single name (indicating one essence) of three Persons—an explicit reference to the triune nature of God.

• Bearing Witness: “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me” (John 15:26). The Son sends the Spirit from the Father, and the Spirit testifies about the Son. These are clear role distinctions, consistent with three eternal Persons, rather than sequential modes.

Additionally, even the earliest Greek manuscripts of the Gospel of John (like p66 or p75) present clear textual distinctions in passages such as John 1:1–2 and John 14–17, indicating that the earliest believers recognized the Word (the Son) as both with God and being God. These textual witnesses show that the apostolic community viewed the Son as distinct from the Father and that thus Sabellianism was out of step with Scripture’s original intent.

Consequences for Christology

Sabellianism impacts the doctrine of Christ by undermining His role as a true mediator. If the Father and the Son are merely different modes of one Person, Christ’s real, relational submission to the Father becomes symbolic rather than actual. Moreover, the doctrine of the incarnation (John 1:14) presupposes a real distinction between the divine Persons: the Son takes on human nature, while the Father does not.

The resurrection of Christ as recorded in all four Gospels (e.g., Matthew 28:5–7) and testified to by hundreds of eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:3–8) is also vital, demonstrating the Father’s power to raise the Son from the dead (Romans 6:4). If there is no true distinction between the Father and the Son, one of the cornerstone truths about Christ’s role in redemption may be lost or confused.

Modern Implications

Although ancient in origin, variations of Sabellian thought reappear in some modern movements. These teachings tend to emphasize God’s oneness to the extent of denying the eternal distinction of persons. They may rely on philosophical arguments or selective biblical interpretations to defend their view.

However, careful and prayerful reading of scriptural texts—along with consistent teaching throughout Church history—points out that God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit eternally exist as three Persons of one divine Being. Such a balanced view safeguards the fullness of who Christ is, the authenticity of His prayers and atoning work, and the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Archaeological and Historical Insights

Archaeological finds of early church meeting places and textual fragments (such as the John Rylands Papyrus fragment of John 18, dated to the early second century) reveal a community life already oriented around the triune God of Scripture. Early creeds and baptisms in the “Trinitarian formula” have been discovered referenced on ancient inscriptions, demonstrating that even the earliest believers pronounced faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as distinct Persons.

Council affirmations, beginning with local synods prior to the Council of Nicaea (AD 325), highlight that Sabellian teachings conflicted with widely accepted doctrinal statements regarding God’s triune nature. The Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed, while not Scripture, reflect how early Christians were drawing from biblical texts to articulate the Trinity against views that collapsed all Persons into one.

Conclusion

Sabellianism (Modalism) is a doctrine that teaches the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not distinct co-eternal Persons but different modes of one Person. By doing so, it diminishes the scriptural testimony of how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit interact and relate to one another.

Within a confident reading of Scripture—from the earliest textual evidence to comprehensive surveys of passages that display an eternal distinction of the Persons—God’s triune nature stands consistently affirmed. While the unity of God remains foundational, the biblical witness to three co-eternal Persons remains indispensable for a proper understanding of Christ’s mediation, the Spirit’s role, and the Father’s sovereignty.