Review: Theology in Three Dimensions by John Frame

John Frame. Theology in Three Dimensions.  Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, September 29^th, 2017. 136 pp.

4 out of 5

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Over the years I have really benefited from reading theologian John Frame especially in thinking more consciously of my theological method.  John Frame’s triperspectivalism and his exploration of the inter-relationship of doctrines, theology and different field of study has also caused me not only to think more clearly but more worshipful of the God who is the source of the unity of various disciplines, doctrines and foci in theology.  In this book John Frame gives us a short one volume introduction to his triperspectivalism and his perspectivalism in general.  I’m glad he wrote this work.

This book has eight chapters with the first one defining and introducing the readers to how John Frame understands the meaning of “perspectives” and how we all view the world perspectivally.  Frame quoted from his colleague Vern Poythress with the best definition of perspective: It is a “(1) view of something (2) by someone (3) from somewhere.”  I thought this book was nuanced enough to make it clear that Frame is not a relativists or a subjectivists despite what some of his ill-informed critics might say.  Frame’s perspectivalism humbles believers since we know we don’t see all the perspective of any given subject and only God is omniscient and omniperspectival.  Chapter two then summarized Frame’s perspectivalism as applied to the discussion of the Trinity with chapter three being perspectivalism applied to the Gospel and chapter four to all of life.  Chapters five through seven looks at Frame’s typical triad of the normative, situational and existential perspective respectively.  Chapter eight ends the book with a discussion of what to do with perspectives.

I enjoyed each chapter featuring review questions and reflection for each chapter.  In addition it was helpful to see a glossary at the end of each chapter.  In terms of the contents I felt I didn’t learn anything particular that was very new but it was good to see Frame summarize his perspectivalism and also the inter-relationship of various aspect of theology.  For example I enjoyed his point that all the attributes of God can be discussed from one attribute or another attribute since the other attributes shape any given attribute being discussed.  God’s love is to be understood in relations to His other attributes such as His eternity, Holiness, etc.  Thus God’s love is eternal, is holy, etc.  Yet I think Frame also is conscious of the doctrine of divine simplicity in that God is not just an impersonal collection of characteristics but that God is love, etc.  Even in the area of theological method Frame notes how facts and laws are inter-related since “there are norms in the facts, the norms are themselves facts; and the norms and facts are elements of our subjective experience” (chapter 4).  There’s plenty of these nuggets throughout the book.  This also is helpful for one’s apologetics such as the presuppositionalist’s discussion about the possibility of knowledge in a Christian and non-Christian worldview for “knowing requires facts (situational), minds able to know facts (existential) and rules for interpreting facts (normative)” yet somehow the three aspects are beautifully coherent with one another in the Christian worldview.

In terms of constructive criticism I must say I was hoping for more in the chapter on the Gospel.  I do think he’s made a good point about not being reductionistic of pitting secular against the sacred or the subjective aspect of salvation against the objective elements, etc but it wasn’t triperspectivalism per se.  I also disagreed with Frame’s example in chapter one of how Scripture sometimes can be not so clear from the question of whether or no Jesus cleared the money changers in the Temple early in his ministry (John 2:13-17), towards the end of his ministry (Matthew 21:12-17) or twice in the beginning and end of his ministry.  Now I do think some areas of Scripture might not as clear as other section or that it require more hard word in attaining the proper interpretation but I don’t think the example Frame gave was a good one since I think it is clear that Jesus clearing the money changers in the Temple happened twice.  In my master’s thesis I argued that the second event is best understood with the first event as part of the tactics of Jesus’ enemies to trap him.

Overall though I recommend this book and found it helpful.

NOTE: This book was provided to me free by P&R Publishing and Net Galley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.