Socinianism

by Matt Slick

Socinianism is a heresy concerning the nature of God.  It is derived from two brothers of the surname Sozinni who lived in the 1500's in Poland.  Socinianism denies the doctrine of the Trinity claiming it denies the simplicity of God's unity.  Instead, God is a single person with the Holy Spirit as the power of God.  Since it emphasizes the unity of God, there could be no divine and human union in a single person as Christ.  Therefore, Socinianism denies the incarnation and deity of Christ as well as Christ's pre-existence.  It teaches that Jesus was only a man.  However, as is separate from the unitarians, it taught that Jesus was a deified man and was to be adored as such.  Nevertheless, since Jesus is not divine by nature, His sacrifice was not efficacious; that is, it did not result in the redemption of people who would trust in it.  Instead it was an example of self sacrifice.  The followers of Socinianism also rejected infant baptism, hell, and taught the annihilation of the wicked.  The Bible was authoritative but was only properly understood through rationalism.

Of course, this system of belief is wrong since it denies the doctrine of the Trinity and deity of Christ.

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