The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Nicene Creed and Eternal Generation

I have not read in Berkhof, Dabney nor Edwards that the Trinity was anything but eternal in the three persons. The only denial of that doctrine have been heretics such as Arius, et al, and the modern cults. And, my understanding of the Nicean Creed is the same; One God consisting of three persons who share all the same attributes including eternality and aseity. The problem seems to be with this teacher's comprehension of the Creed and the three persons he mentions of whom he claims teach that the Son and Spirit were "created", which clearly is not taught in the Creed nor by any of those mentioned.

Perhaps he has not studied the history that led to the formulation of the Athanasian and Nicene creeds? The Nicene Creed used carefully selected verbiage to counter the views of Arius who denied the deity of Jesus and thus stated that the Son (and Spirit) were created. Arius used the term "Homoiousios" to describe the "Son/Jesus", i.e., was of a similar, but not identical, essence (or substance) with God the Father. The Nicene Creed countered that heresy by using the word "Homoousios" (notice the omission of the "i") which means of the very same essence, substance, being as the Father. Since the Son is of the same being, He shares ALL of the attributes of which God consists, not excluding eternality.

Perhaps the following Theopedia article might help?
ADDENDUM: Eternal Generation of the Son