Search results for: “trinity”

The doctrine of the Christian life –that is, a theological account of what it is to exist as a Christian– is a wonderful part of theology, but also one that is open to distortions in two directions. In one direction, the doctrine can become overly practical, and get reduced to a kind of applied spirituality.…

The call for papers is now open for the 2015 Los Angeles Theology Conference, and will be open until July 15. This year’s theme is “Locating Atonement,” and the plenary speakers are Michael Horton, Matthew Levering, Bruce McCormack, Ben Myers, and Eleonore Stump. In addition to those five presentations, we are seeking nine shorter papers to…

At the 2014 Los Angeles Theology Conference, I presented a paper that gave an overview of the work that the doctrine of the Trinity does in systematic theology. It was the first plenary session of this conference called Advancing Trinitarian Theology, and my task was to kick things off for the many fine papers and…

Not Your Grandpa’s Anti-Trinitarianism It is a disturbing fact that the most vigorous form of anti-trinitarianism currently on the market is to be found within the sphere of conservative evangelicalism. In the nineteenth century, the dominant variety of anti-trinitarianism was the old-world Unitarianism which found fertile soil in America. (See Earl Morse Wilbur, A History…

This week’s Future of Protestantism discussion was serious fun, a big success, and, I think, a helpful exploration of some crucial issues confronting the churches today. Though it was sparked by an online disagreement, Tuesday’s event was not a debate. It was more like three medical doctors looking at the same ailment and disagreeing about its…

Last fall, Peter Leithart–a brilliant, eloquent, quirky mind—called for “the end of Protestantism.” “The Reformation isn’t over,” Leithart began. “But Protestantism is, or should be.” Fred Sanders quickly countered that rumors of Protestantism’s demise had been greatly exaggerated by Leithart. Leithart responded with a “yes, but…” And someone got the bright idea to open up…

In July 2013 in Cambridge (UK), the Tyndale Fellowship’s Historical Theology Study Group gathered to hear papers responding to Steve Holmes’s book The Holy Trinity: Understanding God’s Life (published in the U.S.A. as The Quest for the Trinity).  I got to attend because I was already in the area for Torrey’s annual July class in…

Here are some key passages I have long cherished from a wonderful little book, God’s Life in Us (Denville, NJ: Dimension Books, 1969), by Jean Daniélou. If “God’s Life in Us” sounds a little too devotional for you, be encouraged: the book was originally published in French under the title La Trinite et le mystere de l’existence:…

Whether the doctrine of the Trinity is in the Bible is a nice question. Yes or no? When asked, I routinely answer “yes,” and then backpedal from there: I concede that the key terminology (person, substance, Trinity) is not to be found in the words of Scripture, that the whole conceptual package is not assembled in…