Journal: Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Volume: SBJT 24:1 (Spring 2020)
Article: The Trinity In Hebrews
Author: Thomas R. Schreiner

SBJT 24:1 (Spring 2020) p. 9

The Trinity In Hebrews1

Thomas R. Schreiner

Thomas R. Schreiner is James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Associate Dean for Scripture and Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. A widely respected New Testament scholar, Dr. Schreiner is the author of countless articles and many books, including New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ (Baker, 2008), Galatians in the Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series (Zondervan, 2010), The King and His Beauty: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments (Baker, 2013), Faith Alone—The Doctrine of Justification (Zondervan, 2015); Romans, 2nd edition in the Baker Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament series (Baker, 2018); Handbook on Acts and the Pauline Letters (Baker, 2019); and Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ, 2nd edition (InterVarsity, 2020).

Introduction

The Trinity has rightly returned to the center of discussion in theology in recent days, and my purpose in this essay is to examine what the epistle of Hebrews contributes to our understanding of the Trinity. I will begin with a brief discussion of scholarship relative to the Trinity in the epistle and then turn to exegetical and theological reflection on major texts pertaining to the Trinity. The essay will conclude with a brief foray on Hebrews and the Trinity in the patristic period, and I will conclude by considering the relevance of our study for our own day.

Setting The Landscape

For some biblical scholars a study of the Trinity in Hebrews is like studying the life of fish on land. Perhaps such a statement is hyperbolical, but most scholars in the historical-critical tradition look askance at any notion of the

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Trinity in Hebrews.2 Harold Attridge doubtless represents many scholars in saying that “Trinitarian speculation” is lacking in Hebrews, and he particularly emphasizes that the references to the Spirit are not clear enough to support a Trinitarian reading.3 James Moffat thinks “it is irrelevant to drag in the dogma of the trinity.”4 In one sense, such sentiments are understandable and correct since the author of Hebrews never addresses the subject of the Trinity directly, and Attridge rightly claims that we don’t have Trinitarian speculation. Virtually all would agree that the theological reflection on the Trinity present in the church fathers is quite different...