The Trinity is a fascinating doctrine. It is important to always keep divine simplicity squarely in view when pondering the Trinity, in order to avoid slipping into idolatry. I recently realised that the classic "Father, Son, Spirit" presentation of the Trinity is not the only possible way to speak of this divine mystery. In fact, … Continue reading On the Interchangeability Between Different Models of the Trinity
Month: August 2018
Simplicity and Trinitarianism
In the previous post, we saw how pure reason, unaided by revelation, is able to arrive at an understanding of God which approximates the classical Christian presentation of the Trinity. In that article I used the words "Father", "Son" and "Spirit" to refer to the three hypostases out of habit, however this was something of … Continue reading Simplicity and Trinitarianism
Divine Plurality For Non-Trinitarians
Jews and Muslims stand united in their rejection of the Trinity. To them, the doctrine seems to compromise the divine unity; it seems to directly violate the Shema and the Shahada, which clearly state that there is only one God: Deuteronomy 6:4, The Shema Yisrael שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד Shema Yisrael Adonai eloheinu … Continue reading Divine Plurality For Non-Trinitarians
Divine Freedom and Necessity
I have been reading a brilliant series by Father Aiden Kimel over on his "Eclectic Orthodoxy" blog about psuedo-Dionysius and his deep, profound reflections on divinity. I had to pause to worship and set my thoughts down. As I paced around my room churning it all over in my mind I felt as if I … Continue reading Divine Freedom and Necessity
Commands, Invitations and Promises
Commands impose on peoples freedom, but in a negative sense, because there is always the threat of retribution for failing to obey the command - obey or die. Invitations do not impose on peoples freedom, they make people free. When an invitation is made, all of a sudden a world of opportunity has opened up … Continue reading Commands, Invitations and Promises
God is Perfectly and Entirely Free, and yet he can not Do Other than what he Does: Create us, Love us, Save us.
Hi Father, I’ve finally got around to reading the Dionysian ponderings series on your blog. I’ve been saving it for some months until i could find a time to properly settle into the armchair by the fireplace with the pipe and cheese and appreciate it. It was well worth the wait. I’m currently up to … Continue reading God is Perfectly and Entirely Free, and yet he can not Do Other than what he Does: Create us, Love us, Save us.
