On Classical Trinitarianism

The Gospel Coalition Book Awards Winner - Theological Studies Modern theology claimed that it ignited a renaissance in trinitarian theology. Really, it has been a renaissance in social trinitarianism. Classical commitments like divine simplicity have been jettisoned, the three persons have been redefined as three centers of consciousness and will, and modern agendas in politics, gender, and ecclesiology determine the terms of the discussion. Contemporary trinitarian theology has followed the spirit of this trajectory, rejecting doctrines like eternal generation which were once a hallmark of Nicene orthodoxy and reintroducing subordinationism into the Trinity. Motivated by the longstanding need to retrieve the classical doctrine of the Trinity, theologian Matthew Barrett brings together Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox scholars to intervene in the conversation. With over forty contributions, this ecumenical volume resurrects the enduring legacy of Nicene orthodoxy, providing a theological introduction that listens with humility to the Great Tradition. In On Classical Trinitarianism, you find contributions from a wide range of scholars, including: - Katherin Rogers - Andrew Louth - Gilles Emery - Steven Duby - Gavin Ortlund - Adonis Vidu - Carl Trueman - Matthew Levering - Fred Sanders - Scott Swain - Karen Kilby - Amy Peeler - Thomas Joseph White - and more! The distinct yet united voices of On Classical Trinitarianism summon the next generation to move past modern revisionism for the sake of renewing classical trinitarian theology today. Together, they demonstrate that Nicene orthodoxy can endure in the modern world and unite the church catholic.

Scott R. Swain is assistant professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary.
Carl L. Beckwith (Ph.D., University of Notre Dame) is associate professor of church history at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University. He has authored articles on church history for a variety of monographs and journals.
Donald Fairbairn is the Robert E. Cooley Professor of Early Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a part-time professor at Evangelische Theologische Faculteit in Leuven, Belgium. He received his PhD in patristics from the University of Cambridge in England, and his books include Grace and Christology in the Early Church (Oxford University Press) and Eastern Orthodoxy Through Western Eyes (Westminster John Knox Press).
Christopher R. J. Holmes (ThD, Wycliffe College and University of Toronto) is associate professor in systematic theology at the University of Otago in New Zealand. He is an Anglican priest, and he is the author of The Holy Spirit, Ethics in the Presence of Christ, and Revisiting the Doctrine of the Divine Attributes: In Dialogue with Karl Barth, Eberhard Jüngel, and Wolf Krötke.
Amy Peeler is the Kenneth T. Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies at Wheaton College and Associate Priest at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Geneva, IL. She is the author of Women and the Gender of God and a commentary on Hebrews.
Ronni Kurtz (PhD, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is an assistant professor of theology at Cedarville University. He is also the author of No Shadow of Turning: Divine Immutability and the Economy of Redemption and the Fruitful Theology: How the Life of the Mind Leads to the Life of the Soul.
Samuel G. Parkison (PhD Midwestern Seminary) is Associate Professor of Theological Studies at Gulf Theological Seminary in the United Arab Emirates. He is the author of several books, including Proclaiming the Triune God: The Doctrine of the Trinity in the Life of the Church (co-author), as well as Thinking Christianly: Bringing Sundry Thoughts Captive to Christ, and Irresistible Beauty: Beholding Triune Glory in the Face of Jesus Christ.
J. V. Fesko (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and Harriet Barbour Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. He initially served as a church planter from 1998 until 2004 when the church particularized and called him as their pastor. He served as pastor of Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church from 2004 until 2009 when he was called to serve as Academic Dean and Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Westminster Seminary California until June of 2019. Dr. Fesko's research interests include the integration of biblical and systematic theology, soteriology, and early modern Reformed theology.
Matthew Barrett is Research Professor of Theology at Trinity Anglican Seminary. He was also appointed the McDonald Agape Visiting Scholar at the Dominican House of Studies and Thomistic Institute. He is the author of award-winning books like On Classical Trinitarianism (IVP Academic). He is coeditor of Pillars of Christian Dogmatics (IVP Academic). Currently he is writing a Systematic Theology. He is the founder of Credo, as well as the Center for Classical Theology. He is Theologian-in-Residence with Anselm House at St. Aidan's Anglican Church, a one-year residency where Fellows follow a rule of life under Dr. Barrett.
Steven J. Duby (PhD, University of St Andrews) is associate professor of theology at Grand Canyon University. He is the author of Divine Simplicity: A Dogmatic Account.
Andrew Louth is professor emeritus of patristic and Byzantine studies at Durham University, England, and visiting professor of Eastern Orthodox theology at the Amsterdam Centre of Eastern Orthodox Theology (ACEOT), in the Faculty of Theology, theFree University, Amsterdam.
Christopher A. Hall (PhD, Drew University) is the president of Renovaré.

Foreword by J. Todd Billings Acknowledgments The Nicene Creed: Or the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, AD 381 Introduction: The Prospect and Promise of Classical Trinitarian Theology Matthew Barrett
Part 1: Retrieving Nicene Trinitarianism 1. Ante-Nicene Trinitarianism: From Confession to Theology Donald Fairbairn 2. The Nicene Creed: Foundation of Orthodoxy Christopher A. Hall 3. The Beginnings of a Pro-Nicene Trinitarian Vision: Athanasius of Alexandria on the Activity of the Son and the Spirit Amy Brown Hughes and Shawn J. Wilhite 4. Hilary of Poitiers, on the Unity and Distinction of Father and Son: A Pro-Nicene Reading and Use of John 5:19 Carl L. Beckwith 5. The Cappadocians and the Maturity of Nicene Vocabulary Stephen Hildebrand 6. Maximos and John Damascene: Mid-Byzantine Reception of Nicaea Andrew Louth 7. Augustine ofHippo: Will the Real Augustine Please Stand Up? Keith E. Johnson 8. Anselm of Canterbury: Faith Seeking Trinitarian Understanding David S. Hogg 9. Thomas Aquinas's Appropriation of Pro-Nicene Theology of the Trinity Gilles Emery, OP 10. Creedal Critics or Creedal Confessors? The Reformers and the Reformed Scholastics J. V. Fesko 11. A Fading of the Trinitarian Imagination: The Fight for Nicene Confessionalism in the Eighteenthand Nineteenth Centuries Michael A. G. Haykin
Part 2: Trinitarian Hermeneutics and Nicene Dogmatics 12. The Incomprehensibility of the Holy Trinity Ronni Kurtz 13. Trinity, Creatures, and Hermeneutics: Accounting Properly for both Theologia and Oikonomia Richard C. Barcellos 14. The Unity of God and the Unity of the Economy Steven J. Duby 15. Perfect Being Theology and Classical Trinitarianism Katherin A. Rogers 16. Trinity and Divine Simplicity James E. Dolezal 17. Three Persons, One Will Stephen J. Wellum 18. Trinity and Aseity Gavin Ortlund 19. The Immutable and Impassible Trinity-Part 1: The Biblical Teaching and Early Patristic Thought Thomas G. Weinandy 20. The Immutable and Impassible Trinity-Part 2: The Early Councils, Further Theological and Christological Developments, and Soteriological and Pastoral Implications Thomas G. Weinandy 21. Trinity and Love Matthew Levering 22. The Unbegotten Father John Baptist Ku 23. Only Begotten God: Eternal Generation, a Scriptural Doctrine Charles Lee Irons 24. Only Begotten Son: The Doctrinal Functions of Eternal Generation Fred Sanders 25. No Impassibility, No Eternal Generation: Retrieving a Pro-Nicene Distinctive Matthew Barrett 26. The Procession of the Spirit: Eternal Spiration Chris R. J. Holmes 27. The Spirit's Procession Revealed in the Spirit's Mission: An Augustinian Account Adonis Vidu 28. Three Agents, One Agency: The Undivided ExternalWorks of the Trinity Scott R. Swain 29. Trinity and Appropriations: Meaning, Practice, and Significance Josh Malone
Part 3: The Renewal of Nicene Fidelity Today 30. Social or Classical? A Theological Dialogue Michael Allen and Matthew Barrett 31. Three Versus One? Some Problems of Social Trinitarianism Stephen R. Holmes 32. Perichoresis and Projection: Problems with Social Doctrines of the Trinity Karen Kilby 33. Is There Obedience in God? Nicene Orthodoxy and the Eternal Procession of the Son in Aquinas and Barth Thomas Joseph White 34. Renaissance or Revision? Metaphysical Departures from Classical Trinitarian Theism Craig A. Carter 35. Are Evangelicals Nicene Trinitarians? Evangelicalism's Debt to Social Trinitarianism D. Blair Smith 36. Reforming the Trinity? The Collapse of Classical Metaphysics and the Protestant Identity Crisis Carl Trueman 37. The Need for Nicene Exegesis: Eternal Functional Subordination's Hermeneutical Innovation Amy Peeler 38. The Need for Nicene Dogmatics: Eternal Functional Subordination's Dogmatic Inadequacy Glenn Butner 39. The Trinity Is Still Not Our Social Program: The Trinity and Gender Roles Samuel G. Parkison 40.