Quote:
Originally Posted by UntoHim
I think some have made this point in the past, but I'll briefly reiterate:
Witness Lee did not teach classic modalism, but rather a modified form of modalism. Lee was also atypical in that he also taught the orthodox view of the Trinity along side of his modalistic teaching. Over the years, Lee used modalistic terms such as "stages" and "steps". He also interchanged orthodox terms with unorthodox/heretical terms. At times he taught God was "three persons" and at other times he claimed God was "one person". Of course what got him in the most trouble was his "Processed Triune God" teaching. I personally have never read or heard anything like it, and I don't think anyone has taught such a thing down through church history. Many of Lee's teachings were nothing more than home-brewed, make-it-up-as-he-went-along, unbiblical, unintelligible gobbledygook.
The best thing to say about Lee's teachings regarding the Trinity is that they are highly inaccurate, woefully imprecise, and in many cases just plain sloppy. As far as the proper interpretation/understanding of 2 Corinthians 3:16, I will defer to others for now. I have studied this passage in the same manner as 1 Corinthians 15:45. And just as in 2 Cor 3:16, there is much more to it than meets the eye.
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To be real accurate and fair here, it is the Apostle Paul who I find to be the most woefully imprecise. He has dozens of terms for God. Check the concordance. Why don't we have an honest and sober discussion about Paul's incredibly imprecise and inconsistent language concerning God? His concluding verse to the Corinthians might be the only time he got it right! I have suggested this on several occasions, but no one seems courageous enough to attempt such a discussion. I understand why though.
But let's be honest folks. WL is only a modified modalist when compared to the so-called historic definition of "3 Persons in One God." I definitely agree with that. But then I read the New Testament, and I find Paul too is a modalist. We just can't have it both ways folks. I Cor 15.45 is just one verse that violates the historic church scheme. Lee may seem to you to be a one off modified modalist, but there are many other 19th century teachers who are similar.
Now, when it comes to the "processed" stuff, I surely agree with you.
Now regarding "stages" and "steps," I need to see some context. But there have been numerous posters on this forum that deny the virgin birth, and others who deny that the baby born to Mary was even deity. Some deny God Himself, either One Person or 3 Persons.