Quote: Chaim
Rebecca,

Clement's writings no more prove the Trinity than they prove Philo's belief about the created Logos. The point being, there is nothing definitive from the earliest church fathers that shows the earliest christians believed in andworshipped a Trinity.


Chaim, you asked "Find for us the earliest church-father's teaching possible that unambiguously articulates a very clear view about God, Jesus, the trinity, etc...that mirrors what Protestant Christians believe in today."

I'm going to bring it, and if it's deleted, as my other posts have been, or I'm banned, as has been PM'd to me today as a possibility, so be it.

In addition to what I've already brought forward from 1 Clement, which can be sees as affirming the 'trinity' (including the phrase "God liveth, and the Lord Jesus Christ liveth, and the Holy Spirit,
who are the faith and the hope of the elect" which reflects and modifies the oft-repeated affirmation from the tanakh "The Lord liveth") .... we have Clement's parallels with what is written in Hebrews.

Clement's familiarity with, and frequent use of material from the "book" of Hebrews indicate his tacit agreement with the contents thereof.
He either quotes from or alludes to Hebrews ~ 37 times.


Regarding Jesus' position as higher than the angels, and about His nature here is what is written (following Hebrews 1):

Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and "the exact representation of His nature"
(Heb 1:3; reflected in 1 Clem 36:2)

Jesus is "better than the angels as
He has inherited a more excellent name."
( Heb 1:4; reflected in 1 Clem 36:2)

"For to which of the angels did He ever say
"Thou art my Son,
Today I have begotten thee."?"
(Heb 1:5; relflected in 1 Clem 36:4)

"And again,
"I will be a Father to Him,
And He shall be Son to Me."?"
(Heb 1:5)

"And when He again brings the firstborn into the world He says,
And let all the angels of God worship Him.""
(Heb. 1:6)

"And of the angels He says,
"Who makes his angels winds,
And his ministers a flame of fire."
"(Heb 1:7; 1 Clem 36:3)

"But of the Son He says,

"Thy Throne, O God, is forever and ever,
And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom" "
(Heb 1:8; 1 Clem 16:2- Jesus as righteous scepter)

.....

"But to which of the angels has He ever said,
"Sit at My right hand,
Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet?"
( Heb. 1:13; Clem 36:5 )

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You may note that Clement did not include the sections of Hebrews 1 which say "Let all the angels of God worship Him" and "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever". But in my opinion, no sincere devotee who was trying to relay TRUTH would rely on and reflect so heavily a work with which he was not in complete agreement.
He was under no obligation to quote from Hebrews at all. The fact that he does so with regards to Hebrews 1 (and other sections I haven't mentioned) indicates his agreement with what is written there.

And what is written there is a strong statement regarding the divine nature of Christ Jesus.