( PART 3 ) DID THE EARLIEST POST-BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN WRITERS TEACH CHRISTENDOM'S OFFICIAL DOCTRINE OF THE TRI{3}NITY? = CLEMENT OF ROME – LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS – PROLOGUE SUMMARY

So from what we have looked at in Clements introduction or prologue and Irenaeus' information - who would you say is:

Gk., ( Παντοκράτορος Θεοῦ )
...GOD ALL-MIGHTY...”

Namur or Morin
Ltn., ( Omnipotente Deo ):
...ALL-MIGHTY GOD...”

Rufinus of Aquileia
Ltn., ( Omnipotente Deo )
...ALL-MIGHTY GOD...”

IRENAEUS OF LYONS (circa. 130-200 C.E.): “...et annuntians quam in recenti ab Apostolis acceperat Traditionem, annuntianem unum Deum omnipotentem, factorem coeli et terrae, plasmatorem hominis,[...] Hunc Patrem Domini nostri Jesu Christi ab Ecclesiis annuntiari, ex ipsa ( Scriptura ), qui velint, discere possunt, et Apostolicam Ecclesiae Traditionem intelligere...” - (Pages 6-7, Book III, Chapter 3, Section 3, Subheading: “Taught not as the Heretics teach,” THE THIRD BOOK OF AGAINST HERESIES BY ST. IRENAEUS, Bishop of Lyons With Short Notes, And A Glossary, by Henry Deane, B. D. Oxford at the Clarendon Press, M DCCC LXXIV.)

Ltn., ( unum Deum )
...ONE GOD...”

Ltn., ( Omnipotentem )
...THE ALMIGHTY...”

Ltn., ( Factorem coeli et terrae )
...MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH...”

Ltn., ( Plasmatorem hominis )
...THE FORMER OF MAN...”
...THE FASHIONER OF MAN...”
...THE CREATOR OF MAN...”

Ltn., ( Hunc Patrem Domini nostri Jesu Christi ab Ecclesiis annuntiari )

...THIS WAS - ( THE FATHER ) - ( OF ) - OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
[THAT WAS] ANNOUNCED TO THE CONGREGATION(S)...”

IRENAEUS OF LYONS (circa. 130-200 C.E.): “...THAT - ( HE ), - THE FATHER - ( OF ) - OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WAS PREACHED BY THE CHURCHES...” - (Book III, Chapter 3, Section 3, Translated by Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut. 1885.)

IRENAEUS OF LYONS (circa. 130-200 C.E.): “...THAT - ( HE ), - THE FATHER ( OF ) - OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WAS PROCLAIMED BY THE CHURCHE(S)...” - (Pages 85-86, Book III, Chapter 3, Section 3, “AGAINST THE HERESIES,” Translation by F. R. Montgomery Hitchcock, 1916.)

Lets compare this with some important statements in the Bible:

ΠΡΟΣ ΕΦΕΣΙΟΥΣ 1:3 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
...ἵνα ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ πατὴρ τῆς δόξης, δώῃ ὑμῖν πνεῦμα σοφίας καὶ ἀποκαλύψεως ἐν ἐπιγνώσει αὐτοῦ...”

The text would look something similar to this in the Unicial MSS:

ΠΡΟΣ ΕΦΕΣΙΟΥΣ 1:3
...ἵνα ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ πατὴρ τῆς δόξης, δώῃ ὑμῖν πνεῦμα σοφίας καὶ ἀποκαλύψεως ἐν ἐπιγνώσει αὐτοῦ...”

EPHESIANS 1:17: “...that THE GOD - ( OF ) - the Lord of us Jesus Anointed, THE FATHER OF THE GLORY, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in full knowledge of him...” - (The Emphatic Diaglott (Interlinear Text) by Benjamin Wilson 1865.)

EPHESIANS 1:17: "...THE GLORIOUS FATHER WHO IS - THE GOD - ( OF ) - our Lord Jesus Christ to give you the spiritual gifts of wisdom and insight as you come to know him..." - (The Translators New Testament (TTNT) by the British Foreign Bible Society 1973.)

Other versions are a lot more blunt and to the point:

EPHESIANS 1:17: “...That THE GOD - ( OF ) - our Lord Jesus Christ, THE FATHER OF GLORY, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation, in the knowledge of him...” - (Douay-Rheims Bible)

EPHESIANS 1:17: “...that THE GOD - ( OF ) - our Lord Jesus Christ, THE FATHER OF GLORY, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him...” - (New American Standard Bible 1995.)

And even the venerable old King James 1611:

EPHESIANS 1:17: “...That THE GOD- ( OF ) - our Lord Jesus Christ, THE FATHER OF GLORY, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him...” - (King James Bible 1611.)

BRUCE M. METZEGER (circa. 1914-2007 C.E.): “...Certain internal features of the letter [...] have led many commentators to suggest that this letter was intended as an encyclical, copies being sent to various churches, of which that at Ephesus was the chief...” - (Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament 3rd Edition, United Bible Societies, 1975, Page 601.)

ΠΡΟΣ ΚΟΡΙΝΘΙΟΥΣ Α΄ 8:4 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
“...Περὶ [4.] τῆς βρώσεως οὖν τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὐδὲν εἴδωλον ἐν κόσμῳ, καὶ ὅτι οὐδεὶς
Θεὸς εἰ μὴ εἷς. [5.] καὶ γὰρ εἴπερ εἰσὶν λεγόμενοι θεοὶ εἴτε ἐν οὐρανῷ εἴτε ἐπὶ γῆς ὥσπερ εἰσὶν θεοὶ πολλοὶ καὶ κύριοι πολλοί, [6.] ἀλλ’ ἡμῖν εἷς Θεὸς ὁ Πατήρ, ἐξ οὗ τὰ πάντα καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς αὐτόν, καὶ εἷς Κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, δι’ οὗ τὰ πάντα καὶ ἡμεῖς δι’ αὐτοῦ...”

1ST CORINTHIANS 8:4-6: “...Therefore, concerning the act of eating things that have been sacrificed to idols, we know positively that an idol is a nonentity in the world and THAT THERE IS NO - ( GOD ) - BUT - ( ONE ). For, indeed, assuming that there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, even as there are gods many and lords many, YET TO - ( US ) - THERE IS - ( ONE GOD ), - ( THE FATHER ), - OUT FROM WHOM AS A SOURCE ARE ALL THINGS and we for Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whose intermediate agency all things exist and we through Him...” - (Weust's Expanded New Testament 1961.)

ΠΡΟΣ ΕΦΕΣΙΟΥΣ 4:6 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
“...
εἷς Θεὸς καὶ Πατὴρ πάντων, ὁ ἐπὶ πάντων καὶ διὰ πάντων, καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν...”

EPHESIANS 4:6: “...( ONE GOD ) - AND - ( FATHER ) - OF ALL, WHO IS - ( ABOVE ) - ALL, through all, and in all...” - (International Standard Version (©2008).)

EPHESIANS 4:6: “...( ONE GOD ) - AND - ( FATHER ) - OF ALL, WHO RULES - ( OVER ) - ALL, acts through all, and dwells in all...” - (Weymouth New Testament.)

EPHESIANS 4:6: “...( ONE GOD ) - AND - ( FATHER ) - OF ALL, WHO IS - ( OVER ) - ALL, and through all, and in you all..” - (Young's Literal Translation.)

MALACHI 2:2-10 ( LXX ): “...ἐὰν [2.] μὴ ἀκούσητε καὶ ἐὰν μὴ θῆσθε εἰς τὴν καρδίαν ὑμῶν τοῦ δοῦναι δόξαν τῷ ὀνόματί μου λέγει Κύριος Παντοκράτωρ καὶ ἐξαποστελῶ ἐφ' ὑμᾶς τὴν κατάραν καὶ ἐπικαταράσομαι τὴν εὐλογίαν ὑμῶν καὶ καταράσομαι αὐτήν καὶ διασκεδάσω τὴν εὐλογίαν ὑμῶν καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν ὅτι ὑμεῖς οὐ τίθεσθε εἰς τὴν καρδίαν ὑμῶν […] [10.] οὐχὶ Θεὸς εἷς ἔκτισεν ὑμᾶς οὐχὶ Πατὴρ εἷς πάντων ὑμῶν τί ὅτι ἐγκατελίπετε ἕκαστος τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ τοῦ βεβηλῶσαι τὴν διαθήκην τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν...” - (Malachi 2:2 Greek OT: Septuagint with Diacritics.)

MALACHI 2:2-10 ( LXX ): “...If [2.] you will not listen and IF YOU WILL NOT PLACE IT IN YOUR HEART TO GIVE GLORY TO - ( MY NAME ), - SAYS - ( THE LORD ALMIGHTY ), - then I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessing ; indeed I will curse it. And I will scatter your blessing, and it shall not be among you, because you did not place it in your heart. [...] [10.] DID NOT - ( ONE GOD ) - CREATE US? IS THERE NOT - ( ONE FATHER ) - OF US ALL? Why then did each of you forsake his brother, to profane the covenant of your our fathers?...” - (NETS – A New English Translation Of The Septuagint 2007.)

The Bibles teaching is pretty clear as to who the True God really is when we consider the following testimony:


TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

"...THE GOD - ( OF ) - our Lord Jesus Christ..." (Eph 1:17).

ΠΡΟΣ ΕΦΕΣΙΟΥΣ 1:3 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
...ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ Πατὴρ τῆς δόξης...”

The Emphatic Diaglott Interlinear Text by Benjamin Wilson 1865
...the God of the Lord of us Jesus Anointed, the Father of the glory...”

"...THE GOD - AND FATHER - ( OF ) - our Lord Jesus Christ..." (Rom 15:6).

ΠΡΟΣ ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ 15:5 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
τὸν Θεὸν καὶ Πατέρα τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.

The Emphatic Diaglott (Interlinear Text) 1865 by Benjamin Wilson
...the God and Father of the Lord of us Jesus Anointed...”

"...THE GOD - AND FATHER - ( OF ) - our Lord Jesus Christ..." (2 Cor 1:3).

ΠΡΟΣ ΚΟΡΙΝΘΙΟΥΣ Β΄ 1:3 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
ὁ Θεὸς καὶ Πατὴρ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

The Emphatic Diaglott (Interlinear Text) 1865 by Benjamin Wilson
the God and Father of the Lord of us Jesus Anointed

"...THE GOD - AND FATHER - ( OF ) - the Lord Jesus Christ..." (2 Cor 11:31).

ΠΡΟΣ ΚΟΡΙΝΘΙΟΥΣ Β΄ 11:31 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
...ὁ Θεὸς καὶ Πατὴρ τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ...”

The Emphatic Diaglott (Interlinear Text) 1865 by Benjamin Wilson
...The God and Father of the Lord of us Jesus Anointed...”

"...THE GOD - AND FATHER - ( OF ) - our Lord Jesus Christ..." (Eph 1:3).

ΠΡΟΣ ΕΦΕΣΙΟΥΣ 1:3 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
...ὁ Θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ...”

The Emphatic Diaglott (Interlinear Text) 1865 by Benjamin Wilson
the God and Father of the Lord of us Jesus Anointed.

"...THE GOD - [THE] FATHER - ( OF ) - our Lord Jesus Christ..." (Col 1:3).

ΠΡΟΣ ΚΟΛΟΣΣΑΕΙΣ 1:3 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
...τῷ Θεῷ Πατρὶ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

The Emphatic Diaglott (Interlinear Text) 1865 by Benjamin Wilson
...the God [and] Father of the Lord of us Jesus Anointed...”



TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLE PETER

"...THE GOD - AND FATHER - ( OF ) - our Lord Jesus Christ..." (1 Pet 1:3).

ΠΕΤΡΟΥ Α΄ 1:3 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
...ὁ Θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ...”

The Emphatic Diaglott (Interlinear Text) 1865 by Benjamin Wilson
...the God and Father of the Lord of us Jesus Anointed...”



TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLE JOHN

"...Jesus Christ [...] - ( HIS ) - ( GOD ) - AND FATHER..." (Rev 1:5-6).

ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΨΙΣ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ 1:6 Greek NT: WH / UBS
“...τῷ Θεῷ καὶ Πατρὶ αὐτοῦ...”

The Emphatic Diaglott (Interlinear Text) 1865 by Benjamin Wilson
...to the God and Father of him[...]...”



THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS HIMSELF!

"...( MY ) - FATHER - and your Father, to - ( MY ) - ( GOD ) - and your God..." (John 20:17).

ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ 20:17 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
...τὸν Πατέρα μου καὶ Πατέρα ὑμῶν, καὶ Θεόν μου καὶ Θεὸν ὑμῶν...”

The Emphatic Diaglott (Interlinear Text) 1865 by Benjamin Wilson
the Father of me and Father of you, even God of me and God of you.

"...these are the things the Son of God says [...] before - ( MY ) - ( GOD )..." (Rev 2:18-3:2).

ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΨΙΣ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ 2:18-3:2 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
...Τάδε λέγει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ […] ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ μου...”

King James 2000 Bible 2003 &
The Emphatic Diaglott (Interlinear Text) 1865 by Benjamin Wilson
...These things says the Son of God […] in presence of the God of me...”

"...the temple of - ( MY ) - ( GOD )..." (Rev 3:12(A))

ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΨΙΣ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ 3:12 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
...τῷ ναῷ τοῦ θεοῦ μου...”

The Emphatic Diaglott (Interlinear Text) 1865 by Benjamin Wilson
...the temple of the God of me...”

"...the NAME OF - ( MY ) - ( GOD )..." (Rev 3:12(B))

ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΨΙΣ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ 3:12 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
...τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ μου...”

The Emphatic Diaglott (Interlinear Text) 1865 by Benjamin Wilson
...the name of the God of me...”

"...the city of - ( MY ) - ( GOD )..." (Rev 3:12(C))

ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΨΙΣ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ 3:12 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
...τῆς πόλεως τοῦ θεοῦ μου...”

The Emphatic Diaglott (Interlinear Text) 1865 by Benjamin Wilson
...of the city of the God of me...”

"...out of heaven from - ( MY ) - ( GOD )..." (Rev 3:12(D))

ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΨΙΣ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ 3:12 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics
...ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ μου...”

The Emphatic Diaglott (Interlinear Text) 1865 by Benjamin Wilson
...out of the heaven from the God of me...”



You can look up any translation you want of the above, but it is pretty clear that these verses ( qualify ) any statements that may call Jesus "...a god..."

These verses also ( qualify ) any statement that could appear ambiguious as to wether the Father or Jesus is in view.

Plus the apostle Paul's inspired statement and ( rule of interpretation ) at 1st Corinthians 15:27, should always be kept in mind:


THE RULE OF THE - “( EVIDENT ) - EXCEPTION!”


1 CORINTHIANS 15:24-28 ( NWT ): "...[27.] [...] it is evident that it is with the exception of the one who subjected all things to him..."

1 CORINTHIANS 15:24-28 ( NWT ): "...[27.] [...] IT - ( IS ) - ( EVIDENT ) - THAT IT IS WITH THE - ( EXCEPTION OF ) - THE - ( ONE WHO ) - SUBJECTED ALL THINGS TO HIM..."

Who exactly is this?

1 CORINTHIANS 15:27
Gk., ( τοῦ ὑποτάξαντος )
...THE ( ONE WHO ) SUBJECTED...”

He is:

1 CORINTHIANS 15:24
Gk., ( τῷ Θεῷ καὶ πατρί )
...THE GOD AND FATHER...”



GREEK TEXT: “...εἶτα [24.] τὸ τέλος, ὅταν παραδιδῷ τὴν βασιλείαν τῷ Θεῷ καὶ Πατρί, ὅταν καταργήσῃ πᾶσαν ἀρχὴν καὶ πᾶσαν ἐξουσίαν καὶ δύναμιν. [25.] δεῖ γὰρ αὐτὸν βασιλεύειν ἄχρι οὗ θῇ πάντας τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ. [26.] ἔσχατος ἐχθρὸς καταργεῖται ὁ θάνατος· [27.] πάντα γὰρ ὑπέταξεν ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ. ὅταν δὲ εἴπῃ ὅτι πάντα ὑπὸτέτακται, δῆλον ὅτι ἐκτὸς τοῦ ὑποτάξαντος αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα. [28.] ὅταν δὲ ὑποταγῇ αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα, τότε [καὶ] αὐτὸς ὁ υἱὸς ὑποταγήσεται τῷ ὑποτάξαντι αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα, ἵνα ᾖ ὁ Θεὸς πάντα ἐν πᾶσιν...”

1 CORINTHIANS 15:24-28: “...Next, [24.] the end,{*} when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power. [25.] For he must rule as king until [God]{*} has put all enemies under his feet. [26.] As the last enemy, death is to be brought to nothing.{*} [27.] For [God] “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that it is with the exception of the one who subjected all things to him. [28.] But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself{*} will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone{*}...” - (NWT - New World Translation)
*** Rbi8 1 Corinthians ***
Or, “accomplished (completed) end.” Gr., te′los.
Lit., “he.”
Or, “is to be destroyed.” Lit., “is being made ineffective.” Gr., ka·tar·gei′tai.
Or, “will be subjected.”
Or, “all things among all persons.”

1 CORINTHIANS 15:24-28: "...Afterwards [24.] the end, when he delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when he will abolishes all rule, and all authority and power. [25.] For he must reign until he will put all his enemies under his feet. [26.] The last enemy abolished is death. [27.] For he subordinated all things under his feet. But when he says that all things have been subordinated, it is clear that he who subordinated all things under him, is excepted. [28.] And when all things are made subordinate to him, then the Son himself will also be made subordinate to him who subordinated all things to him, so that God may be all in all...” - (ACV - The Holy Bible A Conservative Version)

1 CORINTHIANS 15:24-28: “...Then [24.] comes the end, when he delivers up the kingdom to God the Father, after abolishing every kind of domination, authority, and power. [25.] For he is destined to reign until God has put all enemies under his feet; [26.] and the last enemy to be abolished is death. [27.] [ Ps.8.6. ] Scripture says, 'He has put all things in subjection under his feet.' But in saying 'all things', it clearly means to exclude God who subordinates them; [28.] and when all things are thus subject to him, then the Son himself will also be made subordinate to God who made all things subject to him, and thus God will be all in all...” - (NEB - The New English Bible 1962)

1 CORINTHIANS 15:24-28: "...Then [24.] comes the end, whenever He yields up the kingdom to God, even the Father, whenever He shall abolish all rule and authority and power. [25.] For it is a necessity in the nature of the case for Him to be ruling as King until that time when He will put all His enemies under His feet. [26.] As a last enemy, death is being abolished, [27.] for all things He put in subjection under His feet. But when He says that all things He has put in subjection, it is clear that He is excluded who put all things in subjection to Him[self].{*} [28.] But whenever all things are put under subjection to Him, then also the Son himself shall be in subjection to Him who subjected all things under Him in order that God the Father may be all in all..." - (WENT - Wuest's Expanded NT)
[FOOTNOTE *]: Kenneth Wuest is a hyper tri{3}nitarian and could not resist tampering and twisting his translation - if only just a little bit - by saying “...put all things in subjection to Him[self]...” instead of it's obvious and straight forward meaning of “...put all things in subjection [Gk., ( αὐτῷ )] to Him...” as all other translators I know of have done. Not to mention that he would be potentially promoting a kind of Modalism or Sabelianism. Though, I have noticed, that tri{3}nitarians tend go for a form of Sabelinism any day over any sort on “Arianism” or non-tri{3}nitarian translation – as the lesser of two evils from their point of view.