The Importance of Trinitarian Theology (Part 3)
In Part 1, we discussed how the Trinity is central to the Gospel, revelation, and the Christian life and its evolution. In Part 2, we defined the Trinity – what it is and what it isn't.
Dr. James White provides the best definition for the Trinity in his The Forgotten Trinty book, that we are aware of, as it is succinct.
Within the one Being that is God, there exists eternally three coequal and coeternal persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
In Part 3, we look at two common objections to the Trinity.
The Trinity is not in the Bible
The NT writers assume the Trinity; their theological foci were salvific, doctrinal, and pastoral issues in the church (e.g., passages affirming the deity of Christ and the Holy Spirit and the "oneness" of God).
Trinity is a "label" describing a biblical revelation (e.g., the word aseity is also not in the Bible, but it is proper to use it in reference to God).
The early church developed technical terms to help them interpret what was revealed in the Bible. Fred Sanders points out, "The canonical dynamic of the biblical material was the main factor to determine the direction the doctrine took in the early centuries. The early church grew increasingly skillful at drawing the implications of a biblical witness that started with the one God and saw that oneness unfold into a threefold unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In a wide variety of ways, theologians gained fluency in speaking of God as one and as three; considered from outside (the one God) and from inside (the three persons); described absolutely (a single being) and relatively (Father, Son, and Spirit in relation). The key idea was that what happened in Christ and the Spirit was of ultimate significance for identifying the one true God, yet it was not a change in God'sGod's identity. In need of nouns, theologians soon enough settled on the terms "one being in three persons."
The Trinity was "invented" at the Council of Nicaea (325 AD)
This is patently false. The main issue at the Council of Nicaea was Christology, namely the deity of Jesus, which does have a bearing on the doctrine of the Trinity, but Ante-Nicene Fathers had already affirmed the Trinity.
The Trinity's doctrine is derived from the truth of the Incarnation and is to be tested by it. Jesus Christ is truly God the Son and distinctly God the Son (John 1:1,18; 20:28; Col. 2:9; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8,10). John Calvin observed that words like Trinity are necessary mainly because of the church's commitment to theological precision.
Of course, there are many more objections, but space and time constraints prevent us from dealing with them here. But remember, when present the Gospel, baptize converts or celebrate the Lord'sLord's Supper, we present and remember the one who was sent by the Father into the world, and we do so by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In conclusion
We can defend the truth of the doctrine of the Trinity from the Scriptures. Consider these points from Dr. James White:
The Trinity is revealed primarily in acts of God — specifically, in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit'sSpirit's coming to indwell the church.
The most significant proof that God is Triune is found in the ministry, death, burial, and resurrection of the Son of God and in the coming of the Spirit.
These events took place between the writing of the Old and New Testaments.
The Old Testament contains predictions and glimpses of what comes into clear view only in the ministry of Christ recorded in the New Testament.
In the same way, the Trinity is revealed before the writing of the New Testament, so that is written by Trinitarians for Trinitarians.
The apostle Peter, for example, had personally experienced the Trinity, for he had heard the Father speak from heaven, had walked with the Son, and was then indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
We end with an observation from B.B. Warfield: "We may understand also, however, from the same central fact, why it is that the doctrine of the Trinity lies in the New Testament rather in the form of allusions than in express teaching, why it is rather everywhere presupposed, coming only here and there into incidental expression, than formally inculcated. It is because the revelation, having been made in the actual occurrences of redemption, was already the common property of all Christian hearts."
The revelation of God is clear -- he is a Triune God.