The point of the article is not to say that the baptist faith and message provides us with the most thorough description of the trinity. But this is in response to a claim that the baptist faith and message does indeed confess the trinity and therefore excludes the doctrine known as modalism
"The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, "
So is this a clear statement of the trinity?
Distinct
/dəˈstiNG(k)t,dəˈstiNGk(t)/
1.
recognizably different in nature from something else of a similar type.
"the patterns of spoken language are distinct from those of writing"
2.
"a distinct smell of nicotine"
DISTINCT, adjective [Latin See Distinguish.]
1. Literally, having the difference marked; separated by a visible sign, or by a note or mark; as a place distinct by name.
So it is here saying that "distinct" is referring thre separate sets of "personal atributes". Now some theologians may not like the term " "personal attributes" because it does not emobody the whole term person. But if we look deeper to the context we see this hangs upon the term "triune".
Dictionary
consisting of three in one (used especially with reference to the Trinity)
There are numerous passages that teach that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are distinct persons and yet each hold the attributes of deity.
But the Bible also emphatically and unambiguously declares that there is only one God (Isaiah 44:8; Isaiah 45:18; Deuteronomy 6:4; Malachi 2:10, James 2:19; Mark 12:29 ). Hence, taking all the Scriptures into account, orthodox Christian theology has always affirmed that the one true God is triune in nature—three co-equal and co-eternal persons in the Godhead.
"God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. "
"Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary"
"Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. "
"He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man."
"The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. "
" He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. "
salvation
"It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ."
"It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ."
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead.
God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness."
"A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. "
https://answersingenesis.org/who-is-god/the-trinity/god-is-triune/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1qO0BhDwARIsANfnkv_rNzslbZZ0Z8g4ZqD8-9osZL4FxEdfujarumLZqbe8WtvzceLtI_EaApJPEALw_wcB
So we find nothing nefarious in this statement by BF&M 2000 and it is expressing the trinity,
Now the confession describes the 3 persons in detail.
A. God the Father
God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.
Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7.
B. God the Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.
Genesis 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8,24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.
C. God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Romans 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8,14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Revelation 1:10; 22:17.
So we see here pain staking effort here to describe each person of the trinity. Which a modalist would simply not waste their time on.
Some other factors worthy of mention
"Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
the majority of modalists in contemporary culture are known as "oneness" and have "jesus only" doctrine. They argue that we should baptize in the name of Jesus and only and would the southern baptist doctrine of baptism to be blasphemy.
"God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men." the Father
"Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race." family
"He exalts Christ. "Holy SPirit
Here in the BF&M we see two statements that show distinctions between the work of the fsther vs the work of the Son. God the father plays the role of Father to the believers. God the Son plays the role of bride to the believers. Of course the Bible teaches incest is forbidden so this is a problem for modalist theology but not for trinitarianism. Finally the Holy spirit does the earthly work as Jesus and the Father are in Heaven. The Son submits to His father and so the spirit is the exalting Christ. thus distinguishing 3 person.
BF&M 2000 trinitarian scripture references.
1 john 5:7 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." II.God. A. The father
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." XI. Evangelism and missions
matthew 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." VII baptism and the Lord's Supper
While this is not an exhaustive study I believe this makes a cummulative case that the baptist Faith and message is thoroughly Trinitarian.
At the Southern baptist convention 2024. The notion was brought up that the SBC should adopt the nicene creed should be inserted into the baptist Faith and message. That this should be required because the BF&M supposedly did not address the trinity.
First of all. the BF&M does explain the trinity. Secondly, the BF&M is not the Final authority, scripture is the final authority. Thirdly the Nicene creed though good at cobnfessing the trinity was designed with specifric ties to the Roman Catholic church. The creed has issues of sacramanetlism and hooks into a series of catholic creeds which draws people to a false roman catholic gospel and towards works based salvation. Fourthly, the nicene creed and the creedalist system has been and utterly should be a source of historical embarasssment. As the fruit of this document has been a dark history of forced conversions, genocide, wars and is currently used as a shield of protection for bible attacking liberalism. it is very simple and easy to simply espouse the trinity without paying homage to this heathen system.
Thus southern baptist have historically stould for peace.
"The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and nations, and the practical application of His law of love. " XVI Peace and War
