The Trinity

Written by Philip W. Butin Reviewed By Allen Baird

Butin’s book is written as one of a proposed twelve volume series for lay persons and covers much of the material that might be expected of such an introductory book on the doctrine of the Trinity. The subjects he includes are: the relation of the specifically Trinitarian vision to OT monotheism; NT sources of the Trinitarian faith; and the development of Trinitarian theology from primitive baptism formulas, through the ancient controversies and creeds, to the Enlightenment decline and resurgence of interest in the twentieth century. Butin’s treatment of these themes is fresh and careful.

Butin’s treatment of the issue of gender and his appropriation of disparate Trinitarian thinkers is particularly noteworthy. Regarding the former, he intermittently returns to such issues as the appropriateness or otherwise of various traditional Trinitarian terms—especially the term ‘Father’—throughout the entire course of the book. His conclusion seems to be that while it is finally inadequate to refer to God as ‘Mother’ there is a real sense in which God may be perceived as possessing maternal characteristics. Regarding the latter, Butin shows little fear and some skill in hiring the works and ideas of scholars from various Christian traditions to the cause of his own evangelicalism. However he does make most use of those theologians from his tradition, such as Augustine, Barth, Torrance, Moltmann and especially Calvin.

Nevertheless, to classify this book as a basic textbook on the doctrine of the Trinity which is written for theological students would be to misjudge its nature and purpose. It should not even be identified with the sort of popular introductions to the subject with which British readers will already be familiar e.g. Alister McGrath’s Understanding the Trinity (Kingsway, 1987). The Trinity was published in conjunction with the Office of Theology and Worship of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Thus it was written very much with the Christian church member in mind. It is in this context that it finds a niche. From the very commencement of the book, Butin is concerned to relate the doctrine of the Trinity to the ordinances and life of the Christian church. The sacraments of Baptism—the book commences and terminates with a consideration of our baptismal calling—and the Lord’s Supper are explained in Trinitarian terms. Traditional Trinitarian terminology (e.g. coinherence) is interrelated with words that are more usually reserved for describing fellowship within the church (e.g. koinonia). The mission and future of the church is described as being bound up with God’s own Trinitarian story as it ‘has taken and continues to take tangible shape in human history’.

In conjunction with this ecclesiastical perspective, one noteworthy feature is the eight-page glossary at the end of the book. There are no subject, name or Scripture indexes which detracts from the book’s potential usefulness. This negation decreases the ease with which it might be referred back to after initial perusal. Taken as a whole, The Trinity can be judged as a successful attempt to introduce thoughtful lay persons to the complexities, but more importantly to the realities, of a self-conscious and vigorous Trinitarian Christianity.


Allen Baird

Ballymena