The Same God Who Works All Things: Inseparable Operations in Trinitarian Theology
Overview
Classical trinitarianism holds that every action of Trinity in the world is inseparable. That is, the divine persons are equally active in every operation. But then, in what way did the Father create the world through Christ? How can only the Son be incarnate, die, and be resurrected? Why does Christ have to ascend before the Spirit may come? These and many other questions pose serious objections to the doctrine of inseparable operations.
In the first book-length treatment of this doctrine, Adonis Vidu takes up these questions and offers a conceptual and dogmatic analysis of this essential axiom, engaging with recent and historical objections. Taking aim at a common “soft” interpretation of the inseparability rule, according to which the divine persons merely cooperate and work in concert with one another, Vidu argues for the retrieval of “hard inseparability,” which emphasizes the unity of divine action, primarily drawing from the patristic and medieval traditions.
Having probed the biblical foundations of the rule and recounted the story of its emergence in nascent trinitarianism and its demise in modern theology, Vidu builds a constructive case for its retrieval. The rule is then tested precisely on the battlegrounds that were thought to have witnessed its defeat: the doctrines of creation, incarnation, atonement, ascension, and the indwelling of the Spirit. What emerges is a constructive account of theology where the recovery of this dogmatic rule shines fresh light on ancient doctrines.
- Emphasizes the unity of divine action, primarily drawing from the patristic and medieval traditions
- Argues for the retrieval of “hard inseparability”
- Engages with recent and historical objections
- Introduction
- A Biblical Theology of Inseparable Operations
- The Rise and Decline of Inseparable Operations
- Unity and Distinction in Divine Action
- Creation and Trinitarian Mediation
- The Incarnation of the Son Alone
- Christology and Trinitarian Agency
- Atonement
- Ascension and Pentecost
- The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit as Love
- Conclusion
Top Highlights
“It is for this reason that the operations ad intra are said to be divisible, namely that the relations establish the processions. The identity and personhood of each person are constituted by the relations each has with the other persons. In fact, these are nothing but those subsistent relations, since everything else is shared.” (Page 100)
“There is no implication here that unity is superior to distinction in the Trinity. The ascent does not imply leaving behind the diversity of the relations and processions. On the contrary, insisting on the unity leads to a truer understanding of the persons themselves, since their deepest identity lies not in autonomy but in unity.” (Page 69)
“It is not an act mediated through the triune persons in the sense of any exercise of a distinctive and proper causality of the persons, lest the ontological distinction between creature and Creator be blurred.” (Page 135)
“Beyond doubt, the principal kind of objection to the rule is epistemological: It blocks knowledge of the divine persons” (Page 83)
“First, if God truly gives himself to the experience of death, in virtue of what is death overcome? McCormack” (Page 224)
- Title: The Same God Who Works All Things: Inseparable Operations in Trinitarian Theology
- Author: Adonis Vidu
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Print Publication Date: 2021
- Logos Release Date: 2020
- Pages: 352
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Trinity
- ISBNs: 9780802874436, 0802874436
- Resource ID: LLS:SMGDWHPTRNTRNTH
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T03:02:38Z