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Monarchianism is a doctrine that emphasizes God as one indivisible being, Encyclopædia Britannica: Monarchianism Monarchians at Catholic Encyclopedia, newadvent.orgOxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford University Press 2005 ): Monarchianism in direct contrast to Trinity, which defines the Godhead as three co-eternal, consubstantial, immanence, and equally divine hypostatic union.
Monarchians were opposed by Logos theologians (Tertullian, Hippolytus, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen). The Trinitarian view gained prominence and was adopted at the First Council of Constantinople in 381. The SCM Press A-Z of Patristic Theology, entry Monarchianism, p. 227 Monarchianism was considered a heresy after the 4th century.
Modalistic monarchianism (or Modalism) considers God to be one, who appears and works through the different "modes" of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Following this view, all of the Godhead is understood to dwell in the person of Jesus from the incarnation. (2025). 9781405157629, Blackwell Pub. Ltd. ISBN 9781405157629 The terms "Father" and "Son" are then used to describe the distinction between the transcendence of God and the incarnation. Lastly, since God is understood as a Spirit in the context of the Gospel of John, it is held that the Holy Spirit should not be understood as a separate entity but rather as a mere descriptor of God's action. Notable adherents included Noetus, Praxeas, and Sabellius, hence why the view is commonly called Sabellianism. Nevertheless, Sabellius's writings did not survive and so the little that is known about his beliefs is from secondary sources.
The name "Monarchian" properly does not strictly apply to the Adoptionists, or Dynamists, as they (the latter) "did not start from the monarchy of God, and their doctrine is strictly Christological". Catholic Encyclopedia - Monarchians
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