Tag Archives: trinity

Zizioulas: Being as Communion

Posted on November 18, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

If I criticized Western models of the Trinity in the last post, I am going to push back against some fashionable Eastern models in this one. Zizzy notes that ancient Greek thought maintained a diversity in spite of apparent unity … Continue reading →

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Review: Augustine on the Trinity

Posted on November 18, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Long review.  I’ll put my cards on the table. I am not a huge fan of Augustine.  I’ll try to not let that color the review too much. I didn’t realize I hadn’t posted a review.  Ligonier had a list … Continue reading →

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Review: Jonathan Edwards among the Theologians (Crisp)

Posted on November 16, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Crisp, Oliver. Jonathan Edwards Among the Theologians. Grand Rapids, MI: 2015. Oliver Crisp paradoxically expands and summarizes key elements of his previous research. By contrasting Edwards with several Reformed thinkers, Crisp highlights some of Edwards’ unique (and sometimes bizarre) views. … Continue reading →

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One Being/Three Persons (Thomas Torrance)

Posted on October 28, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

The homoousion is a decisive step in the life of the church.  It guarantees how we understand the internal relations in the Trinity.  Not only are the persons homoousion, but so are the relations. “Only in Christ is God’s self-revelation … Continue reading →

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Pannenberg, Systematic Theology (Vol. 1)

Posted on October 20, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Some important sections. Largely eclipsed by his student Robert W. Jenson. Outstanding remarks on the Vincentian canon, the spirituality of God, and Gregory Palamas. He gives critical reflection on the Cappadocian fathers. Evaluation: Hard to recommend to most students and … Continue reading →

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Gregory, On God and Christ

Posted on September 5, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

One critical fault:  The translator opts for “But monotheism we hold in honor” when all other renditions have “But Monarchy is what we hold in honor.” As Gregory is contrasting Christianity with Judaism, a simple monotheism doesn’t make sense. The … Continue reading →

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Old Van Til reviews

Posted on September 3, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

I know this is going to be a long post, but it is mainly for research purposes.  I am not a Van Tillian. I am closer to Klaas Schilder, so I sort of transcend these debates. Introduction to Systematic Theology … Continue reading →

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Review: The Mind of the Maker (Sayers)

Posted on August 18, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Sayer argues that the laws of creative imagination are analogues of the Trinity.   Or to say it another way, there is a Trinitarian structure in the mind of man. This is also mirrored in the writing of a book: Book … Continue reading →

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Study notes on Caspar Olevian and Substance

Posted on July 11, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

I will write a formal review later.  R. Scott Clark has several fascinating sections reconstructing German Calvinism in the 16th century, along with rebutting the Heppe-thesis and such.  The review will cover those parts. This book is so useful on … Continue reading →

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Review: Richard Muller’s Triunity of God

Posted on July 6, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Muller, Richard.  The Triunity of God. Post Reformation Reformed Dogmatics, volume 4.  Grand Rapids: MI, Baker Academic. Given that there aren’t many specifically Reformed constructions of Trinitarianism, I would say that this book fills a woeful lacuna.  However, since it has … Continue reading →

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