The doctrine of the trinity did not immediately come about through the understanding of the post-apostolic age. BB Warfield said of the Old Testament, that all the elements were there in a dimly lit majestically furnished room. The New Testament threw light upon the darkness, but it took time for eyes to adjust and hearts to understand what they were seeing. As the church fathers learned from scripture and the Holy Spirit actively worked on their hearts they were able to form the doctrine of the trinity out of the biblical text and revealed truths of the word of God.
Both the Old and New Testaments show us that God is one. He is the alpha and the omega, the almighty one (Revelation 1:8). There is a singularity of God revealed in his command to alone be worshiped (Exodus 20:3). Also and not contradictorily, God is three. This is revealed prominently at Christ’s baptism, as the Father declares his love for the Son and seals his baptism with the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21-22). There is no contradiction here because this revelation shows God as the Father, God as the Son and God as the Holy Spirit – the single God in three.
The revelation of the trinity is thus further understood as the three persons of trinity. Thus each person of the trinity reveals to us that God is an absolute person that each person is distinct and yet each are related. There are both an ontological relationship and an economic relationship revealing a perfectly harmonious, single purpose, single will and single plan made manifest through each person of the trinity. All three persons of the trinity are present and active in the creation and re-creation of the world. The Father eternally decrees, the Son is eternally begotten and the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from both the Father and the Son. There is an immanent relationship and profound mystery in the absolute person of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment