Description: A must read for anyone remotely interested in the Trinity. Easy to read but not simple. In this work, Olson starts from the beginning of the Trinitarian debates and leads you through an amazing ride through history as new thoughts on this essential doctrine develop. One of the things that is made evident is that what we have now is trully a develpment of doctrine, the Trinity is not something that was defined overnight. In the last chapter, Olson covers three contemporary theologians and how they define the Trinity today.
Never coming to any conclusions, Olson allows you to taste all that he's given you and chew on it. The best book on the Trinity that I've read in 2002.
Customer Reviews
Review Summary: Good introduction and overview for the beginner (namely, ME)
Date: 2006-12-29
Details: Roger Olson and Christopher Hall have done Protestants like me a great service by offering a readable survey and introduction to the history of Trinitarian thought. It is a short book, 115 pages, but it does get into some detail as it reviews the contributors from the Ante-Nicene fathers down to authors of the late 20th Century. Its brevity doesn't mean it covers all of the players in Trinitarian thought, but it gave me a good feel for how we got from there (the New Testament) to here (2006) and how the doctrine developed.
This survey gives an insight on how influential Augstine was in Medieval Catholic theology as well as the Reformation. They also do Anselm justice to show how he influenced the next move in the Trinity. I had not heard of Richard St. Victor, but they give some insights on his impact which can be seen in the writings of today. The very interesting thing for me is that I am reading other books on the Trinity, especially on the intra-Trinitarian relationships, and the Augustine-Anselm connection gave me insight as to how they have influenced Trinitarian thought even recently.
They also cover some of the heresies that were encountered such as Abelard and Michael Severus. Their discussion of the rise of Unitarianism and Deism is also very insightful and helps see the different currents at work while Trinitarian thought ebbed and flowed.
There is a very helpful annotated bibliography at the end. If you are looking for a survey-introduction to the thought and development of the Trinity, then this book is for you.
Review Summary: Great historical diagram of the development of doctrine
Date: 2003-01-14
Details: A must read for anyone remotely interested in the Trinity. Easy to read but not simple. In this work, Olson starts from the beginning of the Trinitarian debates and leads you through an amazing ride through history as new thoughts on this essential doctrine develop. One of the things that is made evident is that what we have now is trully a develpment of doctrine, the Trinity is not something that was defined overnight. In the last chapter, Olson covers three contemporary theologians and how they define the Trinity today.
Never coming to any conclusions, Olson allows you to taste all that he's given you and chew on it. The best book on the Trinity that I've read in 2002.
out of 2 Reviews
