Modalistic Monarchianism

Christianity

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

Modalistic Monarchianism is a Christian belief that emerged in the 2nd century. It is a form of Monarchianism, which emphasizes the sole deity of God the Father and opposes the idea of a distinct, personal subsistence of the Logos.

Modalistic Monarchianism specifically holds that God is one, and the names "Father" and "Son" are merely different designations for the same divine being, representing different modes or manifestations of God. This view posits that God the Father is the same entity as Jesus Christ, who appeared in human form. This position was taught by figures like Praxeas and was considered a heresy by mainstream Christian theology after the 4th century.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Saint Hippolytus of Rome
…he attacked as being a modalist (one who conceives that the entire Trinity dwells in Christ and who maintains that the names Father and Son are only different designations for the same subject). Hippolytus, rather, was a champion of the Logos doctrine that distinguished the persons of the Trinity. He…
Read More
…he attacked as being a modalist (one who conceives that the entire Trinity dwells in Christ and who maintains that the names Father and Son are only different designations for the same subject). Hippolytus, rather, was a champion of the Logos doctrine that distinguished the persons of the Trinity. He…
Read More

Monarchianism
Modalistic Monarchianism took exception to the “subordinationism” of some of the Church Fathers and maintained that the names Father and Son were only different designations of the same subject, the one God, who “with reference to the relations in which He had previously stood to…
Read More
Modalistic Monarchianism took exception to the “subordinationism” of some of the Church Fathers and maintained that the names Father and Son were only different designations of the same subject, the one God, who “with reference to the relations in which He had previously stood to…
Read More