Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Notes on contributors
- Preface
- Part I Introduction
- Part II Retrieving the sources
- 3 Like a finger pointing to the moon: exploring the Trinity in/and the New Testament
- 4 The Trinity in the Greek Fathers
- 5 Latin trinitarian theology
- Part III Renewing the tradition
- Part IV Contemporary theologians
- Part V In dialogue with other religions
- Part VI Systematic connections
- Index
- References
4 - The Trinity in the Greek Fathers
from Part II - Retrieving the sources
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 July 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Notes on contributors
- Preface
- Part I Introduction
- Part II Retrieving the sources
- 3 Like a finger pointing to the moon: exploring the Trinity in/and the New Testament
- 4 The Trinity in the Greek Fathers
- 5 Latin trinitarian theology
- Part III Renewing the tradition
- Part IV Contemporary theologians
- Part V In dialogue with other religions
- Part VI Systematic connections
- Index
- References
Summary
in search of the trinity
In terms of this overview of the Greek patristic theology of the Trinity, it might keep us from sinking into a welter of details to imagine five great acts of a play, each of which is differently weighted, to be sure, but which are all, in their own ways, progressive variations upon biblical premises, mediated through the lived experience of the church. The first is the sparse collection of second-century theologians. The second is the quickening of pace that occurred in the third-century Apologists. The third is the towering genius of Origen of Alexandria, whose work began a revolution. The fourth (a long-drawn-out scene) is the Nicene and post-Nicene reactions to Origen. Finally, Act Five – are we still in it? – is the bemused aftermath, a long quieting-down as the Trinity becomes a fixed dogma, a quieting that often lapses into silence.
This patristic period may be startling because of the speed and variety with which schools of thought during this time spun out new reflections on deeply mysterious ideas about God and his action in the cosmos. Yet it is also illuminating in that it shows how fluid and inter-reactive the early Christian theologians were. In general, for the Fathers, the scriptures and the liturgical mysteries of the church were always more immediately influential than anything else.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Cambridge Companion to the Trinity , pp. 49 - 69Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011
References
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