Theological movement of the third century. Preferred doctrine of the followers of Sabellius (resident in Rome around the year 215), who taught that the Trinity forms a single person manifested under three successive aspects: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In a way it was a version of an earlier theological movement, the monarchianism of the second century in Asia Minor and Rome.
Despite certain appearances of orthodoxy, the term ® MONARCHIANISM was applied to supporters of a one-person, non-Trinitarian point of view. The word “monarchy”, used by some to describe this position, is related to the primacy of God as Father, while the Son and the Holy Spirit would be revealing and temporary modes of the Father’s self-revelation. They were the subject of strong criticism by Tertullian.
In Sabellius’ version, he insisted on accepting the deity of Christ while maintaining the unity of God. The persons of the Trinity were actually modes or manifestations of God. (® MODALISM; PATRIPASIANISM.)
Source: Dictionary of Religions Denominations and Sects
Heresy of Sabellius, presbyter of Rome in the 3rd century, who lived and taught under Pope Zephyrinus. He was condemned by Pope St. Callistus (217-222) and more forcefully by Pope St. Dionysius (259-268) in his letter of the year 260.
Sabellius’ error was Trinitarian. He denied the Trinity in practice and only admitted in God three names or ways of speaking of the same God.
Pedro Chico González, Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy, Editorial Bruño, Lima, Peru 2006
Source: Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy
The word is derived from the name of a third-century theologian, Sabellius. The term indicates an inadequate concept of the Trinity. Sabellius tried to avoid tritheism by reducing the three persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit respectively to three forms, modes, or relations that the Deity takes in his dealings with man. In this way, God is eternally and essentially one, but economically, that is, for specific purposes, he takes the form of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and can be confessed and worshiped as such. This simplistic solution to the mystery of the triunity attracted many followers, but it was soon realized that although Christ is fully God, he is not a mere mode or function, but the eternal and preexistent Son (Jn. 17:3 , 5, 24), thus demanding a confession of an essential trinity or triunity. Because of the opposition of Dionysius of Alexandria, Sabellius and his teaching were condemned at a council in Rome (under Pope Dionysius) in 263 AD.
William Kelly
Harrison, EF, Bromiley, GW, & Henry, CFH (2006). Dictionary of Theology (547). Grand Rapids, MI: Challenge Books.
Source: Dictionary of Theology