(3.) Their destruction: more likely than the last, but still improbable. On the whole the statement of the Creed seems fully justified.
(C.) The Importance of a True Belief.
This is strongly insisted on in the warning clauses of the Athanasian Creed.
(1.) Their meaning.
(2.) Their truthfulness: they merely repeat similar warnings in the New Testament.
(3.) The objection as to dogmatism.
We have now reached the last stage in our inquiry. We have shown in the previous chapters that there is very strong evidence in favour of what may be called in a general sense, Christianity or the Christian Religion—i.e., the Religion founded by Christ and taught in the New Testament. We have, lastly, to inquire, is this Religion correctly summarised in the doctrines and statements of the Three Creeds? And the only doctrines that can be disputed, are found in the Athanasian Creed, and refer to the Trinity; the Final State of the Wicked; and the importance of a True Belief: each of which we will examine in turn.
(A.) The Doctrine of the Trinity.
Now, although there are no statements in the New Testament identical with those in the Creed, yet the latter are merely logical deductions from the former. For the New Testament asserts that, besides God the Father, there are two other Divine Persons, Christ and the Holy Spirit, and yet but one God.