Resources on the Trinity
Have you ever wondered where to find good book recommendations for difficult doctrines? We are so blessed in this day and age to have so many resources available to us, but this can also make it difficult to know which resources to get. So many products means that we sometimes have to wade through multiple online pages of possibilities.
Books on the doctrine of the Trinity fit into this description. There are numerous books written on the Trinity, some of them good, some less helpful, and others are just plain deadly. The Enlightenment produced generations skeptical of the Trinity, and the 20th century saw a “revival” of Trinitarianism that was actually less a revival than it was a creation of something new. What do I mean? Theologian Matthew Barrett illustrates by sharing the story of going to a used book store and finding a book showing that the Trinity promotes a socialist society, another used the Trinity to argue for ecumenism between denominations, another argued for ecology from the Trinity, and still yet other books manipulated the Trinity to argue for sexual identity and feminism. Who knew this doctrine could be so helpful for our agendas! Those books obviously fit under the “less helpful” or “deadly” category I mentioned earlier.
“The best books on the Trinity treat it not as a doctrine to be manipulated for a specific cause, or even a doctrine to be studied merely for intellectual advancement. The Trinity is not just a doctrine, it is who our God is. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and to treat the study of God as anything other than a worshipful task falls short. ”
This week’s Sunday School class is covering the Nicene Creed and using it as a springboard to meditate on our Triune God. In light of this it seemed resourceful to use this week's article as more of a book guide, pointing us toward biblically faithful works on the doctrine of the Trinity. This article is by no means an exhaustive list, but I pray it will be a helpful list. Links will be provided for the books, and I will try to use the links to online bookstores that are trustworthy.
The Must Have
I’m not putting the Bible down first to be funny. In our study of the Trinity we cannot neglect to actually meditate on the Bible and see how God reveals Himself. This is God’s own self-revelation we’re talking about. All other books or creeds do their best to faithfully conform to the Bible. Study John’s gospel, the apostle known in the early church as “The Theologian” because of all the Trinitarian statements and references he records.
Tried & True
Creeds, Confessions, and Catechism's: A Reader's Edition
This book contains the Apostles, Nicene, Chalcedonian, and Athanasian Creeds — which is why it is listed. These early creeds are so helpful. Nicea faithfully communicates and preserves the full deity of the Son of God, which was the battle raging during the Arian controversy. The concepts and terminology found here are faithful to the Scriptures. The Athanasian Creed is in some ways a further meditation on Nicea, as well as on the Chalcedonian creed.
Introductory Books
This title says it all. This book is part of Crossway’s “Short Studies in Systematic Theology” series, a series that does a fantastic job at introducing essential doctrines of the Christian faith. This book is an introduction, but it is packed with insights and helpful concepts. What to learn about the “ABC’s” of how the Bible talks about the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit? Read this book.
The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything
Fred Sanders is one of the foremost modern theologians writing on the Trinity. His demeanor and style of writing is easy to read. Sanders has a good grasp on historical developments and constantly points the reader to Scripture. He does a great job encouraging believers today to return to a robust understanding of God’s Triune nature.
Simply Trinity: The Unmanipulated Father, Son, and Spirit
Barrett begins by diagnosing the present climate when it comes to Trinitarian thought. He correctly identifies a problem he coins “Trinity Drift.” Why is it that robust Trinitarian thinking seems to be less than centuries before? He seeks to remedy this issue by pulling from some of the best minds of Church history, showing that the Bible is clear on God’s Triune nature. This book is quite a bit larger than Swains (see above).
This puritan paperback is written by John Owen, and is rich with insight and practical application. Owen shows how Christians have communion with God, specifically, with “each Person of the Godhead Individually” (Chapter 2). This book is just as devotional as it scholarly. It focuses on how Redeemed people know and experience the special love of the Father, fellowship with Christ, and communion with the Holy Spirit. Abridged versions are available to help bridge a possible language barrier.
Systematic Theologies
Reformed Systematic Theology, Volume 1: Revelation and God
The strength of this book is not only its thorough treatment of the Trinity, but also it’s treatment of God’s attributes in the preceding chapters. While the books listed in the “Introductory” Section will also explain relevant attributes, this book gives chapters and chapters. As the title suggests, it draws on the Reformed tradition, and it is also devotional. Each chapter ends with questions for discussion as well as a hymn that matches the doctrine you read.
Herman Bavinck’s work has made a comeback in recent years, and this book is the fruit of that resurgence. Bavinck himself condensed his large four volume systematic theology into this one volume in an attempt to make it accessible to every Christian. He did a great job, and the chapter on the Trinity not only detailed but readable. He ends the chapter with this quote:
“Thus the confession of the Trinity is the sum of the Christian religion.”
Happy reading!