The Tripersonal God: Understanding and Interpreting the Trinity
by Gerald O'Collins, SJ (Paulist Press, 1999)
As I write this review, the Church is entering into the eve of Trinity Sunday, a feast day in which Catholics everywhere are invited to reflect in a special way upon the central mystery of our Christian faith, namely our belief that God is a communion of three divine Persons who share one divine nature. Belief in God as Trinity lies at the heart of Christian theology and spirituality, but it would be safe to say that many of us struggle to understand and articulate this belief. One resource which I have found very helpful in deepening my own grasp of this great mystery is The Tripersonal God by Jesuit theologian Gerald O'Collins. In this work, O'Collins offers a synthesis of Trinitarian theology from its foundations in the biblical texts to the writings of contemporary theologians. He roots his presentation of God as Trinity in the Sacred Scriptures, examining not only the New Testament writings but also those writings in the Old Testament which would later provide a springboard for Trinitarian language (e.g. the personification of divine Wisdom in Proverbs, Sirach, and the Wisdom of Solomon). This is followed by a thorough historical review of developments in Trinitarian thinking in the patristic, medieval, and modern periods. O'Collins concludes with a section in which he addresses contemporary issues in Trinitarian theology, including a worthwhile chapter in which he critiques the efforts of some theologians and liturgists to replace the traditional appellations of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with alternative designations.
The Tripersonal God is an excellent "introductory" work on Trinitarian theology, but it does demand serious effort on the part of the reader. It is often used as a textbook in seminary courses on the Trinity. O'Collins writes in an accessible style, however, and includes a glossary in which he defines terms with which readers may be unfamiliar. Absolute newcomers to the study of God's triune identity might want to check out Frank Sheed's chapters on the Trinity in his classic work Theology for Beginners before proceeding to The Tripersonal God. That said, Fr. O'Collins text is a highly recommended "next step" for all who wish to deepen their understanding of this central mystery of our Christian faith.
by Gerald O'Collins, SJ (Paulist Press, 1999)
As I write this review, the Church is entering into the eve of Trinity Sunday, a feast day in which Catholics everywhere are invited to reflect in a special way upon the central mystery of our Christian faith, namely our belief that God is a communion of three divine Persons who share one divine nature. Belief in God as Trinity lies at the heart of Christian theology and spirituality, but it would be safe to say that many of us struggle to understand and articulate this belief. One resource which I have found very helpful in deepening my own grasp of this great mystery is The Tripersonal God by Jesuit theologian Gerald O'Collins. In this work, O'Collins offers a synthesis of Trinitarian theology from its foundations in the biblical texts to the writings of contemporary theologians. He roots his presentation of God as Trinity in the Sacred Scriptures, examining not only the New Testament writings but also those writings in the Old Testament which would later provide a springboard for Trinitarian language (e.g. the personification of divine Wisdom in Proverbs, Sirach, and the Wisdom of Solomon). This is followed by a thorough historical review of developments in Trinitarian thinking in the patristic, medieval, and modern periods. O'Collins concludes with a section in which he addresses contemporary issues in Trinitarian theology, including a worthwhile chapter in which he critiques the efforts of some theologians and liturgists to replace the traditional appellations of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with alternative designations.
The Tripersonal God is an excellent "introductory" work on Trinitarian theology, but it does demand serious effort on the part of the reader. It is often used as a textbook in seminary courses on the Trinity. O'Collins writes in an accessible style, however, and includes a glossary in which he defines terms with which readers may be unfamiliar. Absolute newcomers to the study of God's triune identity might want to check out Frank Sheed's chapters on the Trinity in his classic work Theology for Beginners before proceeding to The Tripersonal God. That said, Fr. O'Collins text is a highly recommended "next step" for all who wish to deepen their understanding of this central mystery of our Christian faith.
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