Builders and Boardrooms … The Trinity II

Before reading this entry, please read The Trinity first.

When discussing the Trinity, people often over emphasize the ways the Trinity can be seen.

Firstly we have the Economic Trinity, this has nothing to do with money or savings. This is all about what the Triune God has done, or is doing in the world. This covers things including Creation (see also: In the beginning), Salvation and the daily lives of Christians. This view of the Trinity does not consider the relationship between the Trinity.

This is the Trinity doing stuff, a bit like a builder on site. The building site being our world.

The other way the Trinity is often viewed is as the Immanent Trinity. This refers to the inner relationship between God The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. This does not have any reference to God’s relationship with the world.

This is a bit like a behind closed doors meeting in a boardroom of a building company. Lots of discussions are had, but they show no relation to the work on the building site.

A good view of the Trinity will see a balance between the work of the Triune God in the world and the relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. A balance between the Economic Trinity and the Immanent Trinity.

Another issue we face when looking at the Trinity is the balance between the elements of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the One Triune God

Relational or Social Trinitarianism over emphasizes the three persons of the Trinity and not the one Triune God. If you go too far down this road, you end up with Tritheism (again see: The Trinity).

Classical Trinitarianism  over emphasizes the oneness of God at the expense of the three elements of the Trinity. If you go too far down this road, you end up with Modalism (again see: The Trinity).