1/11. What does it mean to be Trinitarian?
In a previous thread I critiqued the thin Trinitarianism that is common in modern Evangelical theology as inadequate for passing on the Nicene tradition in our day. In this thread I will describe a thick Trinitarianism.
In a previous thread I critiqued the thin Trinitarianism that is common in modern Evangelical theology as inadequate for passing on the Nicene tradition in our day. In this thread I will describe a thick Trinitarianism.
2/11. The Nicene doctrine of the Trinity is that God is one being (ousia), three persons (hypostases). Jesus Christ is “begotten by his Father before all ages” & “begotten not made.” The Son is eternally generated by the F & the F & S are mutually constitutive.
3/11. There are 5 principles that flesh out this understanding of God. Space limitations do not allow me to spell them out fully here. A chapter in a book of systematic theology would be needed to spell out these principles in their historical context.
4/11.
P1: The 3 persons are co-equal in glory & majesty & are to be worshipped as one simple God. Any account of the doc. of the Trinity that violates divine simplicity is inadequate & in danger of denying monotheism.
P1: The 3 persons are co-equal in glory & majesty & are to be worshipped as one simple God. Any account of the doc. of the Trinity that violates divine simplicity is inadequate & in danger of denying monotheism.
5/11.
P2: The only difference we can identify between the persons is the relations of origin (paternity, filiation, spiration). Any specification of differences bet the persons beyond this is a violation of the Divine mystery.
P2: The only difference we can identify between the persons is the relations of origin (paternity, filiation, spiration). Any specification of differences bet the persons beyond this is a violation of the Divine mystery.
6/11.
P3: The immanent or eternal Trinity is to be distinguished conceptually from the economic T & the processions within the immanent T must be distinguished from the missions of the persons in the economy. The latter are fittingly related to the former.
P3: The immanent or eternal Trinity is to be distinguished conceptually from the economic T & the processions within the immanent T must be distinguished from the missions of the persons in the economy. The latter are fittingly related to the former.
7/11.
P4: The 3 persons have one unified will by which they operate inseparably by one divine power in all that they do. Each person is God, so the actions of each person are the actions of the one God & never exclude the other persons.
P4: The 3 persons have one unified will by which they operate inseparably by one divine power in all that they do. Each person is God, so the actions of each person are the actions of the one God & never exclude the other persons.
8/11. Note: The human nature of the Son in the incarnation does things that the F & HS, who are not incarnate, do not do – eg. it is heresy to say that the F suffers. The incarnate S suffers in his human nature as a creature suffers but he suffers impassibly in his divine nature.
9/11.
P5: Whenever Scrip. speaks of X as having a beginning or as subordinate to the F, it is referring to the human nature of the incarnate Word in hist & whenever Scrip speaks of X as eternal or equal to the F, it is speaking of the divine nature of the eternal Word to the F.
P5: Whenever Scrip. speaks of X as having a beginning or as subordinate to the F, it is referring to the human nature of the incarnate Word in hist & whenever Scrip speaks of X as eternal or equal to the F, it is speaking of the divine nature of the eternal Word to the F.
10/11. Note: This hermeneutical principle was used by pro-Nicenes from Athanasius to Augustine & beyond to refute the Arians. It presupposes the unity of Scripture & the true meaning of Scripture as being the Divine authorial intent.
11/11. This kind of thick account of the meaning of Nicene Trinitarian theology is necessary to understand, teach & confess if the church today is going to be successful in passing on the orthodox theological tradition. Much more could be said, but this, after all, is Twitter.
