Grace Institute: Systematic
Theology: Trinitarianism
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Trinitarianism
Grace Institute for Biblical Leadership
Winter 2006 |
Trinitarianism
Many of the attributes ascribed to God within the Christian understanding of Theology Proper would be shared with other monotheistic religions. Judaism and Islam would attest to the holiness of God. They would agree that God is transcendent and benevolent. However, there is one important distinction between Christian Theology Proper and other monotheistic religions: namely, the Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity is a uniquely Christian teaching.
Often times Christians seem to be embarrassed by the doctrine of the Trinity. The simplicity of a single God found in the Judaic and Islamic views of God, along with the philosophical clarity of a non-Trinitarian God that makes it easy to believe and understand in such a God. However, because it seems to be biblical, we have to believe in it. But we won't emphasize it or consider it foundational.
However, Trinitarianism is not a doctrine to be tolerated. The Trinity should not be taught along side other doctrines of the Christian faith. It should be the center point of our Christian faith. It is the doctrine which most readily defines orthodoxy and which gives us an insight into the beauty, mystery and depths of God which non-Trinitarians will never understand.
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