Refuting Socinianism

 

Socinianism in itself is one of the most unedifying heresies that came about in the 16th century. The belief that Jesus was simply a mere man that was deified and before his deification held no divine attributes and was deemed as a human with no divine-like nature. But we can see through scripture that this belief is completely absurd, as we can see 1 John 4:9 “the love of God was made manifest among us [in] that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” Proving that Christ was pre-existing and eternal before assuming flesh. He was already identified and attributed the Title of the begotten son. We can also see another analogous assertion in John 1-1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” It's quite simple to grasp that Christ is the word and that he assumed flesh, making him the eternal begotten son. 

The Fathers would also hold to this belief such as,

“Jesus Christ . . . was with the Father before the beginning of time, and in the end was revealed” (Letter to the Magnesians 6 [A.D. 110]). - Ignatious of Antioch

“Jesus Christ is the only proper Son who has been begotten by God, being his Word and first-begotten, and power; and, becoming man according to his will, he taught us these things for the conversion and restoration of the human race” (First Apology 23 [A.D. 151]). - Justin Martyr

“So also Wisdom, since he proceeds from God, is generated from the very substance of God” (Commentary on Hebrews [A.D. 237]). - Origen

“We believe . . . in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages, light of light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father” (The Nicene Creed [A.D. 381]) . - 1st Council of Constantinople 

“The Father is not made nor created nor begotten by anyone. The Son is from the Father alone, not made or created, but begotten. . . . Let him who wishes to be saved, think thus concerning the Trinity. But it is necessary for eternal salvation that he faithfully believe also in the incarnation. . . . He is God begotten of the substance of the Father before time, and he is man born of the substance of his mother in time” (Athanasian Creed [A.D. 400]). - Athanasian Creed

“He is called Son because he is identical to the Father in essence; and not only this, but also because he is of him. He is called only-begotten not because he is a unique Son . . . but because he is Son in a unique fashion and not in a corporeal way. He is called Word because he is to the Father what a word is to the mind” (Orations 30:20 [A.D. 380]). - Gregory of Nazianzus