Journal: Emmaus Journal
Volume: EMJ 15:1 (Summer 2006)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Mark R. Stevenson

EMJ 15:1 (Summer 2006) p. 127

Book Reviews

Mark R. Stevenson

Understanding the Trinity, Edited by John H. Fish, III, Dubuque: ECS Ministries, 2006, 448 pages, paper, $15.95.

Understanding the Trinity is the second work by teachers and theologians from the Brethren movement primarily affiliated with Emmaus Bible College either as professors, administrators, or alumni. As with the earlier work, Understanding the Church, this latest volume arose from a series of lectures delivered at a symposium. These lectures were later published over time in “The Emmaus Journal.” Understanding the Trinity, then, is a compilation of these lectures with additional material and revisions not available to the original listeners of the lectures. The seven chapters deal with each member of the Trinity, as well as one article each dealing with the Trinity and Scripture and the doctrine of the Trinity in church history and two concluding articles on the practical outcomes of this vital doctrine of the faith. Even a cursory reading of this work evidences an attempt to make this teaching approachable. A great technique used by this book is the inclusion of both transliterated and original language entries when specific words from the text of Scripture are being referenced. This is a style that is not only applauded but which should be emulated by works such as this, which span a readership from the serious student with formal theological education to the dedicated believer who has not had the opportunity for formal studies in the biblical languages. In addition, for those who wish further study, footnotes are used throughout, rather than the annoying habit of publishing without documentation or banishing the documentation to poorly labeled pages at the end of the work.

The book begins with a fine article by David MacLeod entitled “The Trinity and Scripture.” This chapter leads the reader through the primary biblical concepts concerning the Trinity and the doctrine’s central importance to

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orthodox Christianity. More than this, MacLeod rightly orients the reader as he quotes another by writing, “The Trinity is not primarily a doctrine…. There is a doctrine about the Trinity…but if Christianity is true, the Trinity is not a doctrine; the Trinity is God” (p. 11). As MacLeod defines and unfolds the overall biblical concept of the Trinity, his article is well supported by copious footnotes referencing the voluminous material used and quoted.

The second chapter is a quick summary of the history of the doctrine of the Trinity by Donald Tinder. Supporting the importance of the doctrine as established in the first chapter, Tinder pertinently states, “The doctrine of the Trinity is...