The Doctrine of the Trinity: What does it Mean and Why do We Need It?

The fourth and final session of Eastertide 2020, held at the School of Theology and Prayer, at Church of the Ascension and Saint Agnes in Washington DC.
Taught by:
Rev'd Professor Sarah Coakley. Coakley was formerly Norris-Hulse Professor at the University of Cambridge. She was an assisting priest and theologian-in-residence at the Church of the Ascension and St. Agnes from 2019-2020. Future teaching from Professor Coakley may be found at this webpage: www.jericho-pr....

[@peterbyrne6910]

Confusion can be caused early in this discussion by continually referring to Jesus as "Christ", which "reads the answer into the questions," to an extent. Surely at that stage of the discussion it is best to stick to referring to him as Jesus of Nazareth. Another problem is caused by using the expression "person" or "persons" without elaboration of the fact that "person" in the sense used by "the fathers" of the early church, is very different to our idea of persons and personhood now. The problem with describing, for example, the Spirit as being the "entity" or "person" which effectively prays on our behalf (the Romans 8 reference), is that it tends towards "modalism," an ever-present danger in any of our attempts to define or delineate different "roles" or modes of operation of the different "persons." I think that as humans we have created and perpetuated a wholly shambolic idea with the doctrine of the trinity (if indeed it can be described as a doctrine, understandings of it being still so diverse and multivarious), an idea that is wholly human in the sense that it encapsulates and demonstrates the human desire to "explain away" all mystery, including the mysteries surrounding and penetrating the ineffable divine.

[@bayreuth79]

Does the Logos have aseity? If he does not then how can he be fully divine? Surely, aseity is an essential attribute of the divine

[@samfishersplinter6057]

Say, "He is Allah, The Only One,
Allah, Who is in need of none and of Whom all are in need,
He has not begotten and has not been begotten,
And to Him none could be co-equal."