Overview

A defense of equality among the persons of the Trinity In response to those complementarian theologians who assert that the Son is eternally subordinate to the Father, the contributors to Trinity Without Hierarchy contend that this view misconstrues the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity and reduces the Son to a lower level of glory and majesty than the Father. Surveying Scripture, church history, and theology, sixteen contributors present a defense of the full and equal authority of all three members of the Trinity while critiquing approaches that border on semi-Arianism. In particular, the creedal confessions of Nicaea are upheld as the historical standard by which any proposed Trinitarian doctrine should be judged. While some contributors hold complementarian and others egalitarian viewpoints, all agree that Trinitarian relations are not a proper basis for understanding gender roles. Trinity Without Hierarchy is indispensable reading for anyone interested in the current debate over the relationship between Trinitarian theology and the roles of men and women.

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9780825444623

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In recent years, the waters of evangelical Trinitarian theology have been roiled and muddied by unfortunate debates about the subordination of the Son. The very fine essays collected in this volume make genuine progress in exegetical and biblical as well as historical and systematic theology, and they will do much to help bring an end to this debate. -- (01/07/2019) It is wonderful to see this new collection of Trinitarian studies, theologically sensitive, biblically attuned and historically concerned. Everyone interested in the future of Trinitarian theology within Evangelical Protestantism will find this book a good and encouraging guide. -- (01/07/2019) Written as a contribution to an important Evangelical debate, this erudite volume deserves a readership across ecclesial divisions. All Thomists, for example, will find Tyler Wittman's brilliant account of Aquinas's Trinitarian theology to be necessary reading. May this volume's Trinitarian reflections have a healing and unitive effect, not only among the Evangelicals involved in the debate, but also across ecclesiastical lines so that we 'may all be one'! -- (01/07/2019) Orthodoxy matters. Who is the God we are confessing, worshipping, and living for in faith and obedience? Who is the God whom we long to share eternal communion with on the New Heavens and the New Earth? What theological cultures are we receiving? It is incumbent upon the church to retrieve an orthodox confession and pass that down to the next generation. Trinity Without Hierarchy addresses the different academic, dogmatic, historic, and practical camera angels of a contemporary debate regarding whether there is hierarchal distinction between the persons of the Godhead. The impact of this teaching has already left a heavy fingerprint on the church. As a laywoman, I see who pays the price when academics try to apply an unorthodox view of the Trinity to gender relations. What will the continuing inter-generational impact be if we do not call for renewal of the orthodox faith? -- (01/07/2019) First, open theism; now, eternal functional subordination of the Son. Evangelical theology has shown itself to be soft at the very point on which the gospel depends: the doctrine of the triune God. This collection of essays rightly reminds us that the primary purpose of Trinitarian theology is to enable the right reading of Scripture and to preserve the integrity of the gospel message, not to serve as a template for human social relations. The authors of The Trinity without Hierarchy carefully examine key New Testament texts, as well as the work of past and present theologians. The result is a compelling and comprehensive case that Evangelicals are most biblical when they adhere to the catholic and orthodox tradition. -- (01/07/2019)

"""In recent years, the waters of evangelical Trinitarian theology have been roiled and muddied by unfortunate debates about the subordination of the Son. The very fine essays collected in this volume make genuine progress in exegetical and biblical as well as historical and systematic theology, and they will do much to help bring an end to this debate.""--Thomas H. McCall, Professor of Biblical & Systematic Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1/7/2019 12:00:00 AM) ""Written as a contribution to an important Evangelical debate, this erudite volume deserves a readership across ecclesial divisions. All Thomists, for example, will find Tyler Wittman's brilliant account of Aquinas's Trinitarian theology to be necessary reading. May this volume's Trinitarian reflections have a healing and unitive effect, not only among the Evangelicals involved in the debate, but also across ecclesiastical lines so that we 'may all be one'!""--Matthew Levering, Chair of Theology, Mundelein Seminary (1/7/2019 12:00:00 AM) ""It is wonderful to see this new collection of Trinitarian studies, theologically sensitive, biblically attuned and historically concerned. Everyone interested in the future of Trinitarian theology within Evangelical Protestantism will find this book a good and encouraging guide.""--Lewis Ayres, Durham University and Australian Catholic University (1/7/2019 12:00:00 AM) ""First, open theism; now, eternal functional subordination of the Son. Evangelical theology has shown itself to be soft at the very point on which the gospel depends: the doctrine of the triune God. This collection of essays rightly reminds us that the primary purpose of Trinitarian theology is to enable the right reading of Scripture and to preserve the integrity of the gospel message, not to serve as a template for human social relations. The authors of The Trinity without Hierarchy carefully examine key New Testament texts, as well as the work of past and present theologians. The result is a compelling and comprehensive case that Evangelicals are most biblical when they adhere to the catholic and orthodox tradition.""--Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Research Professor of Systematic Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1/7/2019 12:00:00 AM) ""Orthodoxy matters. Who is the God we are confessing, worshipping, and living for in faith and obedience? Who is the God whom we long to share eternal communion with on the New Heavens and the New Earth? What theological cultures are we receiving? It is incumbent upon the church to retrieve an orthodox confession and pass that down to the next generation. Trinity Without Hierarchy addresses the different academic, dogmatic, historic, and practical camera angels of a contemporary debate regarding whether there is hierarchal distinction between the persons of the Godhead. The impact of this teaching has already left a heavy fingerprint on the church. As a laywoman, I see who pays the price when academics try to apply an unorthodox view of the Trinity to gender relations. What will the continuing inter-generational impact be if we do not call for renewal of the orthodox faith?""--Aimee Bird, author of Why Can't We Be Friends? and No Little Women, cohost of Mortification (1/7/2019 12:00:00 AM)"

Written as a contribution to an important Evangelical debate, this erudite volume deserves a readership across ecclesial divisions. All Thomists, for example, will find Tyler Wittman's brilliant account of Aquinas's Trinitarian theology to be necessary reading. May this volume's Trinitarian reflections have a healing and unitive effect, not only among the Evangelicals involved in the debate, but also across ecclesiastical lines so that we 'may all be one'! -- (01/07/2019) It is wonderful to see this new collection of Trinitarian studies, theologically sensitive, biblically attuned and historically concerned. Everyone interested in the future of Trinitarian theology within Evangelical Protestantism will find this book a good and encouraging guide. -- (01/07/2019) In recent years, the waters of evangelical Trinitarian theology have been roiled and muddied by unfortunate debates about the subordination of the Son. The very fine essays collected in this volume make genuine progress in exegetical and biblical as well as historical and systematic theology, and they will do much to help bring an end to this debate. -- (01/07/2019) First, open theism; now, eternal functional subordination of the Son. Evangelical theology has shown itself to be soft at the very point on which the gospel depends: the doctrine of the triune God. This collection of essays rightly reminds us that the primary purpose of Trinitarian theology is to enable the right reading of Scripture and to preserve the integrity of the gospel message, not to serve as a template for human social relations. The authors of The Trinity without Hierarchy carefully examine key New Testament texts, as well as the work of past and present theologians. The result is a compelling and comprehensive case that Evangelicals are most biblical when they adhere to the catholic and orthodox tradition. -- (01/07/2019) Orthodoxy matters. Who is the God we are confessing, worshipping, and living for in faith and obedience? Who is the God whom we long to share eternal communion with on the New Heavens and the New Earth? What theological cultures are we receiving? It is incumbent upon the church to retrieve an orthodox confession and pass that down to the next generation. Trinity Without Hierarchy addresses the different academic, dogmatic, historic, and practical camera angels of a contemporary debate regarding whether there is hierarchal distinction between the persons of the Godhead. The impact of this teaching has already left a heavy fingerprint on the church. As a laywoman, I see who pays the price when academics try to apply an unorthodox view of the Trinity to gender relations. What will the continuing inter-generational impact be if we do not call for renewal of the orthodox faith? -- (01/07/2019)

Author Information

Michael F. Bird is academic dean and lecturer in theology at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia, and visiting research professor at Houston Baptist University. Scott Harrower is lecturer in Christian thought at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia.

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