Former Adventists Philippines Statement of Faith #2: The Doctrine of the Trinity

Preamble

We, the members and leadership of Former Adventists Philippines, joyfully affirm the biblical, historic, and orthodox doctrine of the Trinity as foundational to the Christian faith. This confession reflects both the testimony of Holy Scripture and the faithful witness of the early Church.

Article of Faith on the Trinity

We believe in one eternal, living, and true God, who has revealed Himself as three distinct, co-equal, and co-eternal Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are one in essence (Greek: ousia) and three in persons (Greek: hypostases), worthy of the same worship, honor, and glory.

Biblical Basis

The Old Testament declares, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4, Hebrew: YHWH echad), affirming both the oneness of God and allowing for a unified plurality (Genesis 1:26-27; 3:22; Isaiah 6:8).

The New Testament manifests the Trinity in full clarity at the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:16-17) and commissions believers to baptize “in the name [singular, Greek: onoma] of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

The deity of the Son is declared in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Greek: kai Theos ēn ho Logos), and the Holy Spirit is affirmed as God in Acts 5:3-4.

Historical Affirmation

This doctrine was preserved and confessed by the early undivided Church.

Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110 A.D.) proclaimed “Jesus Christ our God” (Epistle to the Ephesians 18:2).

Justin Martyr (c. 150 A.D.) affirmed the pre-existent and divine Logos.

The Nicene Creed (325 A.D.) declared belief “in one God, the Father Almighty… and in one Lord Jesus Christ… true God from true God… and in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life.”

FAP Confessional Commitment:

We humbly submit to this doctrine as essential to the Christian gospel and to the faith “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). We reject all forms of Unitarianism, Arianism, Modalism, and other anti-Trinitarian errors as contrary to biblical teaching and historic Christianity. To the glory of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit—one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Key Scriptural References

Deuteronomy 6:4; Genesis 1:26-27; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1, 14; Acts 5:3–4; Jude 3

Approved by:

Former Adventists Philippines Council of Elders

Date: June 15, 2025