The early Judeo-Christian manuscripts, primarily written by the apostles and early Jewish followers of Christ, originated within a strict monotheistic tradition deeply rooted in Jewish thought, expressing an inseparable, undivided view of God’s nature. While these original texts were considered inspired, they were eventually lost to time, mainly due to fragile materials, heavy use, persecution, and the passage of centuries. A few early manuscript fragments exist, but the complete originals did not survive. This loss led to a growing reliance on copied manuscripts and later doctrinal interpretations that increasingly diverged from early Jewish monotheism.
The shift from a strictly monotheistic perspective to a Trinitarian interpretation can be traced to the influence of Greek philosophical thought, especially in the Roman Empire, where the early church gradually distanced itself from its Jewish roots. Greek philosophy, with its concepts of plurality within unity and metaphysical distinctions, became influential, as exemplified by thinkers like Origen of Alexandria (185–253 AD) and Tertullian (160–225 AD), who first used the term Trinitas. This influence accelerated with the Roman Emperor Constantine, who called the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. This council, convened in Nicaea (modern-day İznik, Turkey), sought to resolve conflicts, particularly with Arianism—a view that saw Jesus as a created being distinct from the Father.
The Nicene Creed, formulated in 325 AD and later expanded in 381 AD at the Council of Constantinople, emphasized the concept of Jesus as “begotten, not made,” co-eternal with the Father, laying the groundwork for the doctrine of the Trinity. This doctrine established a formalized belief in three co-equal persons within one Godhead, which diverged sharply from the indivisible oneness taught in early Jewish monotheism and the teachings of Jesus and His apostles.
Historically, this adoption of Greek-influenced terminology and thought marked a theological departure from the original Judeo-Christian view. Jewish-Christian monotheism emphasized a single, undivided God (Deuteronomy 6:4), while the Trinitarian model suggested a God comprised of multiple persons. For many early Christians, especially those of Jewish origin, this was foreign to the original teachings of Scripture and appeared to introduce division within God’s nature. The adoption of Trinitarian doctrine, influenced by Greek philosophy, has since been a significant source of debate, with Oneness theology advocating for a return to the early, monotheistic understanding of God’s nature as wholly unified and undivided.
In summary, the loss of original texts, combined with the Hellenization of early Christianity, led to doctrinal shifts that reshaped Christianity, moving it away from its strictly monotheistic Jewish origins and into a framework that allowed for an interpretation of God as a Trinity, which diverges from the original apostolic understanding.
