Paul

Paul OF SAMOSATA, the Socinus of the 3d century, was born at Samosata on the Euphrates, capital of a district of Syria, and in 260 became bishop or patriarch of Antioch, the most important see of the East. Antioch then belonged to the Palmyrene kingdom, and Paul was practically the viceroy of Queen Zenobia, from whom he received support in the maintenance of his heresy. This was monarchianism—the doctrine that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are the one God, and that the Father has from all eternity produced the Logos, who is his Son, but is rather an attribute than a person. Antioch being recaptured by Aurelian in 272, Paul's enemies procured his deposition by the heathen emperor; but his doctrines survived, and he had followers, Paulinists or Samosatensians, till the 4th century.