Treatise of Novatian on the Trinity

A Treatise on the Trinity, usually printed as The Treatise of Novatian on the Trinity, is a 3rd century work by the schismatic rigorist Novatian of Rome on the doctrine of the Trinity. It is largely based on the writings of Tertullian.

Contents

The work is not extensive, but includes statements largely compiled from Tertullian's writings, including an affirmation that the Father and the Son are of one substance.

Unfortunately, the work also explicitly endorses a radical form of Nestorianism, suggesting that Jesus Christ is in reality two persons, one divine (the Son of God) and one human (the Son of man):

"That Holy Thing which is born of her - that is, that substance of flesh and body - is not the Son of God primarily, but consequently, and in the secondary place; but primarily, that the Son of God is the Word of God, incarnate by that Spirit of whom the angel says, 'The Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you.' For He is the legitimate Son of God who is of God Himself; and He, while He assumes that Holy Thing, and links to Himself the Son of man, and draws Him and transfers Him to Himself, by His connection and mingling of association becomes responsible for and makes Him the Son of God, which by nature He was not, so that the original cause of that name Son of God is in the Spirit of the Lord, who descended and came, and that there is only the continuance of the name in the case of the Son of man; and by consequence He reasonably became the Son of God, although originally He is not the Son of God" - The Treatise of Novatian on the Trinity, chapter 24