Scott Swain. The Trinity: An Introduction. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, October 20, 2020. 161 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Are you looking for a summary book on the Trinity that is under two hundred pages? This is a book I recommend. This is from the Short Studies in Systematic Theology series from Crossway and it’s the second volume I read from this series. Previously I read the book on the Holy Spirit in this series and it impressed me so I was eager to see how the work on the Trinity would turn out. I was also interested to see if it would be as good as the Short Studies in Biblical Theology Seriesthat I have immensely enjoyed reading for years from the publisher.
After the series preface and introduction there is eight chapters. The first two chapters is concerned with the Bible and the Trinity then a chapter on the Simplicity of God. Chapter four through six is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit respectively. This is followed by chapter seven on the shape of God’s Triune Work and the final chapter is on the end of God’s Triune Work (end in terms of goal).
These chapters were immensely helpful to understand the historic and orthodox doctrine of the Trinity as professed by the church for centuries. The chapter on Divine Simplicity was great and the explanation of three types of Trinitarian passages in the Bible in chapter two was also extremely helpful. Don’t take the subtitle that this is “an Introduction” to mean that this is easy. The author Scott Swain does bring it down to make it more understandable for the general reading audience than the typical book on Christian Classical Theism but still it does have a rigor about it. I also appreciated the author’s take on the Eternal Functional Subordination controversy (note: the author is against it) and he addressed the issue without the heat and rhetoric that one sees on social media concerning this topic. I appreciate that. I do recommend this book!
NOTE: This book was provided to me free by Crossway without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
The volume on predestination is a must buy
I need to get that next
yes do get it
Thanks for this review! I’m grateful for authors and resources that defend the Biblical truth of the Trinity.
Yes I am grateful too! The more authors show this doctrine is from the Bible the more it also argue against Roman Catholic apologists who say that one needs the Magistratium from them to establish the doctrine of the Trinity. Praise be to the Lord God speaks through His Word primarily amen???
Thanks for the great review. Blessings.
Thanks for reading this review
This was the first time I heard of the “Eternal Functional Subordination controversy”. The Wikipedia article on it was informative. Thank you for reviewing the book and noting this controversy.
I love how you have this spirit of research brother that is so awesome!!
eye-opening insights here
Thanks for reading this review
I wish I can read and understand faster
I appreciate the discussion of Eternal Functional Subordination, which is something that I’m not well-versed. I will be encouraged to learn more.
Thanks for reading this weekend. I really do appreciate.