[ Trias ]  

Vid. Trinity

 THE word [ trias ], translated Trinity, is first used by Theophilus ad Autol. ii. 15. Gibbon remarks that the doctrine of "a numerical rather than a generical unity," which has been explicitly put forth by the Latin Church, is "favoured by the Latin language; [ trias ] seems to excite the idea of substance, trinitas of qualities." ch. 21, note 74. It is certain that the Latin view of the sacred truth, when perverted, becomes Sabellianism; and that the Greek, when perverted, becomes Arianism; and we find Arius arising in the East, Sabellius in the West. It is also certain that the word Trinitas is properly abstract; and only in an ecclesiastical sense expresses [ trias ] or "a three." But Gibbon does not seem to observe that Unitas is abstract as well as Trinitas; and that we might just as well say in consequence, that the Latins held an abstract unity or a unity of qualities, while the Greeks by [ monas ] taught the doctrine of "a one" or a numerical unity. "Singularitatem hanc dico," says S. Ambrose, "quod Græcè [ monotes ] dicitur; singularitas ad personam pertinet, unitas ad naturam." de Fid. v. 3. It is important, however, to understand, that "Trinity" does not mean the state or condition of being three, as humanity is the condition of being man, but is synonymous with "three persons." Humanity does not exist and cannot be addressed, but the Holy Trinity is a three, or a unity which exists in three. Apparently from not considering this, Luther and Calvin objected to the word Trinity. "It is a common prayer," says Calvin, "'Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.' It displeases me, and savours throughout of barbarism." Ep. ad Polon. p. 796. Tract. Theol.