Editing Sabellianism (section)

==Patripassianism==
The chief critics of Sabellianism were [[Tertullian]] and [[Hippolytus of Rome|Hippolytus]]. In his work ''Adversus Praxeas'', Chapter I, Tertullian wrote "By this Praxeas did a twofold service for the devil at Rome: he drove away prophecy, and he brought in heresy; he put to flight the [[Paraclete]], and he crucified the Father."<ref name="Against Praxeas, Chapter 1"/> Likewise Hippolytus wrote,
<blockquote>Do you see, he says, how the Scriptures proclaim one God? And as this is clearly exhibited, and these passages are testimonies to it, I am under necessity, he says, since one is acknowledged, to make this One the subject of suffering. For Christ was God, and suffered on account of us, being Himself the Father, that He might be able also to save us.... See, brethren, what a rash and audacious dogma they have introduced, when they say without shame, the Father is Himself Christ, Himself the Son, Himself was born, Himself suffered, Himself raised Himself. But it is not so.<ref name="Against the Heresy of Noetus"/></blockquote>
From these notions came the pejorative term "[[Patripassianism]]" for the movement, from the Latin words ''pater'' for "father", and ''passus'' from the verb "to suffer" because it implied that the Father suffered on the Cross.

It is important to note that our only sources extant for our understanding of Sabellianism are from their detractors.  Scholars today are not in agreement as to what exactly Sabellius or Praxeas taught.  It is easy to suppose that Tertullian and Hippolytus at least at times misrepresented the opinions of their opponents.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10448a.htm| title = ''Monarchians'', New Advent, Catholic Encyclopedia}}</ref>