LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Final Essay
Submitted to Dr. Todd Buck
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
THEO 626
Doctrine of God
1
The Concept of Holy Trinity: A Modern Theological Approach
The concept of the trinity of God's person is developed by Cornelius Plantinga as an
attempt to revive this religious idea. The Trinity as an image is at the heart of the Christian
concept, but it gradually fell out of use throughout the 19th century. The concept of the trinity
is revealed by the theologian using the example of the structural analysis of Gospel John. This
is a famous New Testament text describing Christ in the metaphysical categories of eternal
values "Word-Wisdom-Reason." Plantinga analyzes the compositional elements of the text and
discovers a certain dynamic in Gospel. According to Plantinga, John's Gospel provides the
reader with crude material that, through patterns of reflection and internal pressure,
successfully captures the presence of God in the life.
Fred Sanders, theologian and editor of various companions in Christian Theology, set
out to develop Plantinga's description and deduce a conceptual framework from these
metaphors. "Raw material" for Sanders is nothing more than the naked presence of spiritual
entities in the text of John. If Gospel were limited to this, claims Sanders, the entire Christian
concept would be reduced to the existence of separate divine personalities, similar to ancient
mythologies.
1
However, "patterns of reflection" turn a mythological text into a religious-philosophical
one, since John asks epistemic and logical questions about the relationship of three essences.
Through reflection, the metaphysical equality of Christ to two other entities is established. But
this also happens due to pressure, which, according to Sanders, implies a feat not only of
1
Fred Sanders. Three Elements of Trinitarianism in the New Testament. The
Scriptorium Daily (14 Mar. 2014): https://scriptoriumdaily.com/three-elements-trinitarianism-
new-testament/
2
faith, but also of philosophical perception. To be able to think of God as simultaneously
containing the world and at the same time showing a clearly expressed personality.
Despite an appeal to a senior religious scholar, Fred Sanders is convinced that religious
studies in relation to the doctrine of the Trinity are in deep crisis. He refuses to list any
noteworthy names of his contemporaries in his monographs.
2
The theologian claims that the
Trinity has become something in the spirit of presupposition, that is, a concept from which
meaning has been taken away, leaving only a shell, a term. Only by reflecting on these
polysemantic images and applying it to the surrounding life and one's own perception, is it
possible to experience God in life.
3
Trinity for Sanders is the absolute harmony of all-
encompassing love that finds comfort in being multiple and one at the same time.
21st century theologian John Feinberg offers his unique perspective on the Trinity
power alignment. The researcher revises classical texts based on the idea of the ontological
presence of God for himself. According to many traditional texts, for example, Byzantine,
God exists "in himself". At the same time, man encounters him "economically" - through the
Son and the Holy Spirit. Feinberg considers this concept unconvincing and puts forward his
own hierarchy, in which God lies behind the trinity. God is at the heart of the Father, and so
is the situation with the Son and the Holy Spirit.
2
Fred Sanders. The State of the Doctrine of Trinity in Evangelical Theology.
Southwestern Journal of Theology 47, no. 2 (2005): 153-176
3
Aaron Armstrong. Book Review: "The Deep Things of God" by Fred Sanders.
Blogging Theologically (26 Oct. 2010): https://bloggingtheologically.com/2010/10/26/book-
review-the-deep-things-of-god-by-fred-sanders/
3
God appears to be an even more powerful, but even less visible essence, and the
significance of each of the elements of the Trinity is thus downplayed.
4
By rejecting the
eternal presence of the Son and the Holy Spirit in human life, Feinberg runs the risk of
rhetorically depriving them of their relevance for modern society, striking a blow to collective
faith. The researcher uses a hierarchical structure aimed at separation much more than unity,
so his ideas deviate significantly from Plantinga's concept.
The concept of the Trinity is deeply philosophical in itself and requires not only
thoughtfulness, but the ability to reflect and ask questions. The beauty and perfection of the
concept of the Divine Trinity can be discussed in church meetings and provide motivation to
talk about God and learn about the purpose. Religious texts, on the basis of which modern
theologians develop the concept of the Trinity, are considered one of the highest points of
knowledge of Christ.
5
The doctrine of the Trinity, in all its mysteriousness and metaphysical
complexity, should stimulate the religious person to study the Bible. It is by meaningfully
working with the biblical text and looking for answers to philosophical dilemmas in it that not
only faith, but also the consciousness of a religious person can be strengthened.
Another innovation of Plantinga was that the theologian drew an interesting analogy
between the trinity of divine essences and the social order on Earth. Moved by love and
action, divine unity appears as a single Personality, including literally everything. It is safe to
4
John D. Morrison. Review of "No One Like Him" by John S. Feinberg. Liberty
University (2003):
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsr
edir=1&article=1045&context=lts_fac_pubs
5
J. Scott Horrell. "The Eternal Son of God in the Social Theory in Jesus" in
Trinitarian Perspective: An Introductory Christology ed. Fred Sanders (Tennessee: B&H,
2007): 46-79
4
say that such a sociological approach to the concept of trinity found its distribution in the 20th
century.
6
This metaphor can be applied to the relationship of oneness between God, humans
and the Christian Church. Unity, perceived on a symbolic and practical level, implies the work
of a coherent social mechanism. The doctrine of the Trinity is able to unite Christians not only
within one church parish, but also on a more global level of a common religious mission.
6
Jason S. Sexton. The State of the Evangelical Trinitarian Resurgence. Journal of the
Evangelical Theological Society 54, no. 4 (2011): 787-805
5
Bibliography
Armstrong, Aaron. Book Review: "The Deep Things of God" by Fred Sanders. Blogging
Theologically (26 Oct. 2010): https://bloggingtheologically.com/2010/10/26/book-
review-the-deep-things-of-god-by-fred-sanders/
Horrell, J. Scott. "The Eternal Son of God in the Social Theory in Jesus" in Trinitarian
Perspective: An Introductory Christology ed. Fred Sanders (Tennessee: B&H, 2007):
46-79
Morrison, John. D. Review of "No One Like Him" by John S. Feinberg. Liberty University
(2003):
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/
&httpsredir=1&article=1045&context=lts_fac_pubs
Sanders, Fred. Three Elements of Trinitarianism in the New Testament. The Scriptorium Daily
(14 Mar. 2014): https://scriptoriumdaily.com/three-elements-trinitarianism-new-
testament/
Sanders, Fred. The State of the Doctrine of Trinity in Evangelical Theology. Southwestern
Journal of Theology 47, no. 2 (2005): 153-176
Sexton, Jason S. The State of the Evangelical Trinitarian Resurgence. Journal of the
Evangelical Theological Society 54, no. 4 (2011): 787-805
