Title: A Brief History of the Doctrine of the Trinity in the Early Church
Abstract: A Brief History of Doctrine of Trinity in Early Church. By Franz Diinzl. Translated by John Bowden. New York: T & T Clark Ltd., 2007. 148 pp. $26.95 (paper). Franz Dunzl condenses some three hundred years of complex theological debate into a mere 148 pages. Each chapter resembles a class lecture in seminary that has been collected and bound in paperback. By end of book, readers will have fundamentals concerning formative years of doctrine of Trinity at their disposal. Dunzl starts out with situation that essentially begins whole Trinitarian discussion: appearance of a man named was confirmed dead by crucifixion just a few days before. First, author reminds us that inquisitiveness about was already present before his Easter appearances, when people gathered hear popular charismatic preacher speak. Those encountered undoubtedly asked themselves who he could (p. 3). Then, Diinzl drives home important point that resurrection event changed linear fashion in which lives of historic figures are typically understood. For early Christians, the resurrection of took on abiding significance, since it was regarded not as conclusion but as centre of story of Jesus (p. 3). This means inquiry into was modified on other of Easter appearances for believers living under strict monotheism of Judaism. The new question that would eventually give birth area of theology we now call Christology was, How can he be? In that light, real problem be worked out for early Christians was how to harmonize monotheism with significance of for salvation and his place in world and history (p. 2). After disclosing this basic problem, Diinzl lays out immediate challenge early thinkers faced in finding a solution. As Jesus' life, death, and resurrection were put into writing, an assortment of Christological models emerged. Diinzl introduces differing versions of Jesus' divine origin as found in gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as a foundational example. Only Matthew and Luke provide an account of Jesus' divine conception. Absent an infancy narrative, Jesus' divinity is signaled in adulthood during baptismal scene in Mark's gospel. John advances beyond any of other gospel writers in regards Jesus' divine origin, for he locates Son at beginning of time itself. Thus already in New Testament, notes Dunzl, traditions which give very different answers question of of Nazareth stand by side (p. 6). While some movements, such as Ebionites mentioned in book, leaned heavily toward only one gospel portrayal of Jesus, mainstream church would find itself taking a more synthesized approach. Narrow depictions such as those of Ebionites were deemed heretical. Dunzl can be appreciated here for not painting a picture of a close-minded mainstream church insulating itself from new reflections about and his relationship God Father. To contrary, mainstream identity formed as it faced these emerging expressions, integrating some while rejecting others. There is also fact that atmosphere was as much charged politically as it was emotionally. One of apparent objectives of this book is help reader understand that a harmonization of Christological concepts which could adequately articulate a doctrine of Trinity evolved over time. …
Publication Year: 2009
Publication Date: 2009-04-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot