Ancient Christian Trinitarian Metaphors And A Contemporary Analogy From Music -- By: James D. Smith III

Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 33:3 (Sep 1990)
Article: Ancient Christian Trinitarian Metaphors And A Contemporary Analogy From Music
Author: James D. Smith III


Ancient Christian Trinitarian Metaphors And A Contemporary Analogy From Music

James D. Smith III*

“Explain the Trinity.” The challenge conveyed by these words, whether delivered by the seminary professor (to students), the fourth grader in Sunday school (to the teacher) or the neighbor across the fence (to any witnessing Christian) is mind-boggling. The doctrine of the Trinity continues to draw the attention of systematic theologians.1 Its early development, especially in the context of Christology, has been admirably presented.2 The witness of historic orthodoxy is manifest. Yet, twenty centuries after Jesus emerged from the baptismal waters to be greeted by the Father’s thunderous voice and the descent of the Spirit-dove, the challenge of explanation remains.3

In this struggle to connect the nature of God with human comprehension we are at one with the ancient Christians. The fourth-century churches labored, in council and creed, to formulate doctrinal definitions of divine realities.4 “Explain the Trinity.” As varieties of Nicene and Arian parties engaged, terminology (e.g. prosōpon, hypostasis, ousia, physis) became increasingly crucial. Yet, as soteriology was the concern that underlay all such deliberations, one truth was clear: Only the Lord, not mere words or theological abstractions, could bring salvation. It was this conviction that led some to further the search for trinitarian metaphors, concrete analogies from daily life that would point others to the life of God. Perhaps Hilary of Poitier best stated the case:

If in our discussion of the nature and birth of God we adduce certain analogies, let no one suppose that such comparisons are perfect and complete. There can be no comparison between God and earthly things, yet the weakness of our understanding forces us to seek for illustrations from a lower sphere to explain our meaning about loftier themes. The course of daily life shows how our experience in ordinary matters enables us to form conclusions on unfamiliar subjects. We must therefore regard any comparison as helpful to man rather than as descriptive of God, since it suggests, rather than exhausts, the sense we seek … On this principle I proceed with

* James Smith is senior pastor of Elim Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

my task, intending to use the terms supplied by God, yet colouring my argument with illustrations drawn from human life.5...

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