Q&A#6 Trinity and Modalism
May 19, 2018

Alastair Roberts
Today's Question: I follow what you are saying about the error of saying that there are three 'centers of consciousness' in God's Triune nature, and how that would involve a denial of the unity and simplicity of the Divine Being and ultimately involve tritheism. However, isn't that different from affirming three subsistent consciousnesses, or three self-conscious Persons within the nature of God? Would not a denial of that involve the opposite error of modalism? I am concerned that in our right concern to flee from tritheism, we are not seeing an implicit embrace of modalism.
Leave your own questions in the comments, on my blog, or on my Curious Cat account.
More From Alastair Roberts

Q&A#7 Ruth the Moabitess and the Moabite Women of Nehemiah
Alastair Roberts
May 20, 2018
Today's Question: Having recently read both Ruth and Nehemiah, I was struck by the very different ways they relate to the recurring entanglement of Mo

Q&A#8 The Chronology of Genesis 38
Alastair Roberts
May 21, 2018
See this article for context: https://alastairadversaria.com/2006/12/08/the-judah-and-tamar-story-in-its-context/
Today's Question: The story of Juda

Looking for supporters for more regular videos!
Alastair Roberts
June 28, 2018
You can now support me on Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/zugzwanged

Q&A#5 Exegesis, Authorial Intention, and Typology
Alastair Roberts
May 18, 2018
Today's Question: Is the task of exegesis limited to discovering the author's original intention, or can meaning somehow overflow intention? If so, in

Q&A#4 The Threefold Personhood of God
Alastair Roberts
May 17, 2018
Today's Question: You've challenged the idea that the Persons of the Trinity are three distinct 'centers of consciousness'. But, reading the gospels,

Q&A#3 A Biblical Theology of the Household
Alastair Roberts
May 16, 2018
Today's Question: Is there a biblical theology of the household you could outline for us in a YouTube video?
Leave your own questions in the comments
More on OpenTheo

How Did a Fisherman Write the Book of Peter?
#STRask
September 18, 2025
Questions about how a fisherman could have written the book of Peter, why people say that not mentioning the destruction of the temple indicates an ea

Do Christians Need to Believe that Jesus was Raised Bodily from the Dead? Licona vs. Patterson
Risen Jesus
October 15, 2025
In this episode, Dr. Stephen Patterson, New Testament professor at Eden Theological Seminary, argues against the bodily resurrection of Jesus, contend

John Thomson and the Shaping of American Presbyterianism with Stephen A. Fix
Life and Books and Everything
September 29, 2025
If you are looking for a deep dive into the history of early American Presbyterianism, you have come to the right place! Listen in as Kevin talks with

Since Most People Are Wrong When They Make Supernatural Claims, Why Didn't God Do Better?
Risen Jesus
September 17, 2025
Dr. Matthew McCormick, a philosophy professor at California State University, Sacramento, doesn’t believe that there is satisfactory historical eviden

Faith Journeys: Similar Road, Different Conclusions - A Licona Ehrman Discussion
Risen Jesus
September 24, 2025
On the Risen Jesus podcast today, Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Bart Ehrman join Justin Brierly on his Unbelievable podcast to discuss their faith journe

The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Licona vs. Ehrman - Part 2
Risen Jesus
September 10, 2025
In this episode, frequent debate opponents Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Bart Ehrman face off on the historical reliability of the gospels. Held in 2018

Should You Believe Things You Can’t Fully Comprehend?
#STRask
September 25, 2025
Questions about whether you should believe things you can’t fully comprehend, whether it’s just an arbitrary escape hatch to say God doesn’t require a

Mike Takes on World Ranked Debator on the Topic of Jesus' Resurrection from the Dead
Risen Jesus
August 27, 2025
Dr. Shane Pucket was ranked the 32nd best debater in the world in 2012. That year, he faced off against Dr. Michael Licona at Monroe Baptist Church in

How Can I Explain Modesty to My Daughter?
#STRask
November 27, 2025
Questions about how to explain modesty to a nine-year-old in a way that won’t cause shame about her body, and when and how to tell a child about a pre

The Man on the Middle Cross with Alistair Begg
Life and Books and Everything
November 10, 2025
If you haven’t seen the viral clip, go see it right now. In this episode, Kevin talks to Alistair about the preaching clip he didn’t intend to give, h

How Can I Improve My Informal Writing?
#STRask
October 6, 2025
Question about how you can improve your informal writing (e.g., blog posts) when you don’t have access to an editor.
* Do you have any thoughts or

“Jesus Had Two Dads, and He Turned Out Just Fine”
#STRask
August 28, 2025
Questions about how to engage someone wearing a button that reads, “Jesus had two dads, and he turned out just fine,” and how to be kind and loving wi

Could the Writers of Scripture Have Been Influenced by Their Fallen Nature?
#STRask
October 23, 2025
Questions about whether or not it’s reasonable to worry that some of our current doctrines were influenced by the fallen nature of the apostles, and h

How Could the Similarities Between Krishna and Jesus Be a Coincidence?
#STRask
October 9, 2025
Questions about how the similarities between Krishna and Jesus could be a coincidence and whether there’s any proof to substantiate the idea that Jesu

“Christians Care More About Ideology than People”
#STRask
October 13, 2025
Questions about how to respond to the critique that Christians care more about ideology than people, and whether we have freedom in America because Ch
