Theology in Three Dimensions: A Guide to Triperspectivalism and Its Significance

by John Frame

Publisher:

P&R

, 2017

Overview

Because God created all things with coherent unity, everything can be understood from the perspective of everything else. We experience the world in the context of our own bodies, but every day we broaden our understanding through the perspectives of others. Meanwhile, our omniscient God is also omniperspectival. Through his revelation, he allows us a glimpse of his own divine perspective.

What does this mean for us? One valuable dimension of this reality is that theological issues can also be helpfully viewed from multiple perspectives without compromising their unity and truth. In this accessible introduction to his Bible study and theological method, John Frame teaches us to approach doctrine with situational, normative, and existential perspectives modeled on the Trinity.

Contents

• Perspectives
• Perspectives and the Trinity
• The Threefold Gospel
• Perspectives in All of Life
• The Normative Perspective
• The Situational Perspective
• The Existential Perspective
• What to Do with Perspectives

Top Highlights

“The discrepancy is not only quantitative, that God knows all the facts and we only know some. Rather, it is qualitative, that God’s knowledge of every fact is different from our knowledge of the same fact.” (Page 8)

“For one thing, God’s knowledge is original, ours derivative. God made the robins and equipped them to do what they do.” (Page 8)

“The expansion of my perspective is a critical task. I have to make judgments about whether and to what extent the perspectives of others are reliable, and to what extent their testimonies about their experience are true. But my critical thoughts are also part of my perspective on the world.” (Page 6)

“Humility and wisdom require us to distinguish when we have certainty and when we don’t” (Page 11)

“He sees all these things from every possible perspective.” (Pages 4–5)

Praise for the Print Edition

A clear and refreshing explanation of John Frame’s insightful approach to studying the Bible (and everything else!) from three different ‘perspectives.’ It is the fruit of a lifetime of thinking and teaching.

—Wayne Grudem, research professor of theology and biblical studies, Phoenix Seminary

As one of the foremost Christian philosophers and theologians of our day, Frame argues for us to think of theology not only as the accumulation and memorization of doctrinal ideas, but also as the practical application of those ideas to hearts and lives.

—Steve Childers, president, Pathway Learning

Frame shatters the common notion that profundity and scholarship must be long, tedious, arcane, and impractical. . . . The crisp text, usable discussion questions, handy glossary, and additional resources make this work an accessible gateway for exploring and habituating ‘what God’s Word requires me to do now.’

—Jeffery J. Ventrella, senior counsel, senior vice-president, strategic training, Alliance Defending Freedom

Product Details

• Title: Theology in Three Dimensions: A Guide to Triperspectivalism and Its Significance
• Author: John Frame
• Publisher: P&R
• Publication Date: 2017
• Pages: 136
• Christian Group: Reformed
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Topic: Theology

About John Frame

John M. Frame (b. 1939) is an American philosopher and a Calvinist theologian especially noted for his work in epistemology, presuppositional apologetics, systematic theology, and ethics. He is one of the foremost interpreters and critics of the thought of Cornelius Van Til. Dr. Frame formerly taught at Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, and Westminster Theological Seminary.