Understanding Modalism

Modalism is a term created by modern theologians to categorize the beliefs of ancient Christian groups, particularly those from the second to fourth centuries, about the nature of God. The historical understanding of modalism largely comes from descriptions given by its opponents, making it difficult to ascertain the original beliefs of those labeled as modalists. Moreover, Dr. Bernard expresses his reluctance to adopt the term for himself due to its potential misrepresentation of his beliefs and the ancient beliefs about God. He emphasizes the importance of evaluating beliefs based on biblical scripture rather than on modern or ancient labels that can restrict meaningful theological discussion.