Theses theologicae de sacrosancta trinitate contra antitrinitarios

TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCES AND LORDS,
THE LORDS WILLIAM AND LOUIS, BROTHERS,
Landgraves of Hesse, Counts in Catzenelnbogen, Dietz, Zi-
genhain & Nidda, etc., their most Clement Lords.

WHEN I had decided to institute a discussion regarding the supreme mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, Most Illustrious Princes, Most Clement Lords, there came to my mind the Law of the Emperor Marcian, by which he cautioned that no cleric, soldier, or person of any other condition should attempt to treat of the Christian faith in public with assembled crowds listening. He threatened the contemners of this law with a most severe penalty, because they would not only act against the faith as truly expounded, but would also profane venerable mysteries in such contests before Jews and pagans. Weighing this decree, although I feared that I might incur the reproach of many through my disputation, yet when I thought about the purpose of the law, I was certainly persuaded that it would not hinder my undertaking. For I did not believe that every disputation concerning faith was prohibited by it, since that would conflict with the precept of the Lord Apostle, who desires the Bishop to be instructed πρὸς τὸ τὰς ἀντιλέγοντας ἐλέγχειν καὶ διδάσκειν to reprove and teach those who contradict, which surely cannot be done without disputation. There are, however, certain profane and curious disputations, by which contentious and πολυπράγμονες meddlesome men do not inquire into the majesty from the prescription of the Word of God, but from the sole acuteness of their own mind, and they break into the court of divine mysteries. It is certain that these contentions of petulant minds, which are pernicious to their very authors, blasphemous to God, inclined toward tumult and perfidy, and by which sacred mysteries are set before Jews and pagans to be mocked, are restrained by the law of emperors. But there are other discussions that are pious, placid, and confined within the limits of the Divine Word, by which the foundations of our faith are sought, those things which have been arranged by synods are examined according to the norm of the Word of God—upon which alone our faith rests—the impiety of Jews and pagans is not confirmed, but refuted, and the νόημα thought of our mind is led captive into the obedience of faith. I have no doubt that such disputations are both necessary and permitted by imperial law. Therefore, with this intention, I have proposed these Theses on the Holy Trinity for discussion, both that I might imprint that supreme article more deeply in my mind, and that I might strengthen my soul against the madness of fanatic men by the Word of God. I judged these to be inscribed to You, Most Illustrious Princes, Most Clement Lords, so that I might testify to some sign of a grateful mind toward Your Highnesses, by whose liberality and benefit I have pursued the study of sacred Theology thus far, reverently and humbly asking that you receive them with a placid and clement spirit. May the Triune and One God preserve Your Highnesses long safe and unharmed for the benefit of the Church and the fatherland. Given at Basel on the 11th day before the Calends of June, in the year of our salvation 1581.

Your Highnesses'
Subject,
JOHANNES WINCKELMANN.