C1.2 Trinity

• perichoresis: mutual interpenetration of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, allowing the individuality of each to be maintained while still acting as one; a communal reality with one being
• “we are speaking not of three divine I’s, but thrice of the one divine I.” – Barth

  • Trinity is not 3 separate entities, it is one
• St Patrick Trinity analogy: shamrock - one with 3 parts
• Gregory of Nyssa Trinity analogies:

  • rainbow - one light, diff colours
  • spring, fount, stream - same substance; distinguishable but inseparable
  • chain - connected to one link = connected to all
• Augustine Trinity model


  • Trinity is union of equals
  • FSS each have role to play:
  • Father = creation, Son = wisdom, Spirit = love (binds Father & Son)
• Irenaeus Trinity model


  Economy of salvation – 1 God brought salvation playing 3 roles:

  • Father – without bounds, invisible
  • Son – became human, destroyed death, brought life
  • Holy Spirit – acted to renew humanity
• Ward Trinity model


  • Perichoresis – FSS are individual but still acting as one
  • 3 cosmic minds acting together in mutual interdependence
  • Links to appropriation – Trinity is a unity + works as a unity
• Sabellius anti-Trinitarian model


  • Modalism - God is a single person revealed in 3 modes
  • Consecutive, never simultaneous
  • Denies the distinctiveness of the three persons
• Cappadocian Trinity model


  • One Godhead in 3 diff modes of being: Father, Son & Spirit
  • Father given priority
  • Son begotten of Father, HS proceeds from Father
• Barth Trinity model


  • Trinity is starting point to talk about God + explanatory framework showing he’s primal source of all beings
  • Father is revealed in Son
  • Jesus = only way to knowledge of God – God’s self-revelation
  • God is one reality existing in 3 forms:
  • Father = transcendent creator, Son = liberating saviour, Spirit = immanent in all things, unites us to divine life
  • Distinct but unified
• Rahner Trinity model


  1. Immanent Trinity– God’s essence, how God actually is
  2. Economic Trinity – how God appears to humanity

  God communicates himself to humanity (2) as he really is (1)
• Moltmann Trinity model


  • Builds on perichoresis, saying Trinity is “community of being”
  • Each person maintains identity within mutual relationship
  • God is mutually loving + interacting to sustain society
  • Trinity has social + theological function
• Augustine Trinity model

  • Trinity union of equals
  • FSS each have role to play:
  • Father = creation, Son = wisdom, Spirit = love (binds F+S)
• Irenaeus Trinity model

  • Economy of salvation – one God brought salvation by playing 3 roles:
  • F – without bounds, invisible
  • S – became human. Destroyed death, brought life
  • HS – acted to renew humanity
• Cappadocian Trinity Model

  • One Godhead in 3 diff modes of being
  • Father given priority
  • S begotten of F, HS proceeds from F
• Keith Ward Trinity model

  • Perichoresis – FSS individual but act as one
  • 3 cosmic minds acting together in mutual interdependence
  • Links to appropriation – Trinity’s works are unity + they work as unity
• Biblical evidence for Trinity:

  “Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised […] the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love” (Mark)
• Biblical evidence for Trinity:

  “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (Corinthians)
• Biblical evidence for Trinity:

  “The Father and I are one” (John)
• give a criticism of this arg for Trinity:

  “The Father and I are one” (John)

  Arius: just means Jesus + Father one purpose, not one being

  (*Jesus hopes disciples “may all be one” (John), suggesting purpose)
• Hick's arg against Trinity

  ‘Son of God’ common title for special human chosen by God, e.g. Adam
• strengthen Hick's arg against Trinity:

  ‘Son of God’ common title for special human chosen by God, e.g. Adam

  Bart Ehrman: Jesus only claims he’s God in John (last Gospel), not others – attributed to him
• strengthen Hick's arg against Trinity:

  ‘Son of God’ common title for special human chosen by God, e.g. Adam

  Bart Ehrman: Jesus only claims he’s God in John (last Gospel), not others – attributed to him
• Moltmann's criticism of Barth's view of the Trinity

  modes implies modalism, denying true distinctness of FSS and saying just diff ways God perceived
• give Barth's response to Moltmann's criticism:

  modes implies modalism, denying true distinctness of FSS and saying just diff ways God perceived

  not modalism - just to show God is "wholly other", not person