The Tribune

By Rev J Emmette Weir

Ask any group of Christian scholars, “What is the most challenging of all the doctrines of the Christian faith,” and the answer inevitably is, “The doctrine of the Trinity.” Aptly described as most complex by the Rev Mark Lindsay-Fox, this particular tenet has throughout the ages tested the intellectual and theological acumen of many of the most brilliant scholars of Christendom.

Now, a budding Bahamian theologian has taken up the challenge to make his contribution to the major historical discussion on this enigmatic tenet.

Rev Denrick E Rolle, a young Anglican priest, has just written his first book called “ ‘Person’ in Relation to the Trinity.”

This is a book on the Holy Trinity. While there is much on the nature of God and Christ, the first and second persons of the Trinity, there is very little on the third person of the Trinity – the Holy Spirit. This of course reflects the teaching of the early church, in which most of the discussion focused on the nature of the second person of the Trinity. Thus, the creeds have much more to say about the Father and the Son than about the Holy Spirit.

The book was inspired by the thesis he wrote for his Master of Philosophy in Theology and in it the writer demonstrates great academic ability and a knowledge of the Trinity.

He discusses in a critical manner the contribution of scholars both ancient and modern, Catholic and Protestant, Orthodox and liberal to our understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity.

Considering this meaty volume – it spans 216 pages – the writer must be commended for providing an excellent, most useful introduction to the topic.

Like an experienced guide who at the beginning of a long journey gives his followers a description of the terrain they will encounter, so Rev Rolle here presents the reader with a preview of the theological ground he will cover.

Rev Rolle gives a summary of the content of each of the book’s eight chapters at the beginning of this scholarly work. Persons attempting to read and dissect the content of the work – especially those who have little or no training in theology – should pay careful attention to what the writer reveals in the brilliant, comprehensive introduction.

Discussing the book’s third chapter, Rev Rolle says: “The objective of this chapter is to make the point clear that scripture does not have to be explicit in its account of the Trinity as a doctrine, for the sake of believing in God as Trinity or believing in a Trinity of ‘Persons’.”

Here, Rev Rolle points to the major reason why the doctrine of the Trinity remains so challenging after 2,000 years of discussion. It is not stated explicitly in the Bible, though there are many tests in which it is implicit (Is. 6:1-8; Mt. 28:16-20). Systematic theologians have developed the doctrine of the Trinity on the basis of the Bible and philosophy. It is precisely for this reason that there are numerous interpretations in the Church with regard to the doctrine of the Trinity. Therefore it has to be stated that “ ‘Person’ in Relation to the Trinity” is not a book for the faint-hearted, fickle, merely curious or leisure seeking reader.

Rather, it calls for concentration, determination and intellectual grit to digest its discussion of the teaching of theologians on the Trinity from ancient times to the present.

Those, however, who are prepared to expend the time and effort required for the careful study of this book will be richly rewarded by a greater understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity.

This book is a significant contribution to our understanding of the nature of God. Theologians, pastors, teachers of religious knowledge in our schools and lay persons can all benefit greatly from reading and reflecting on it, as there several observations which are relevant.

Rev Rolle’s intellectual capacity is matched only by his humility. (He expresses appreciation not only of his professors but also of the clergy, including retired Archbishop Drexel W Gomez, Bishop Laish Boyd, Bishop Gilbert Thompson, the late Bishop Cornel Moss, and Archdeacon I Ranfurly Brown, whom he refers to as a friend and mentor.)

A minor critique, however, would be while Rev Rolle concentrates on the church fathers, Aquinas, and the Reformation, more could have been said about the contributions of modern theologians such as Tillich, Pannenberg, Ogden and Hans Kueng.

In this book, in which the author cites the contribution of many scholars, an index would have been quite helpful. By the same token, in a work in which theological terms such as “moralism” “sabellianism” and “tritheism” may occur in one sentence, a glossary would have proven most helpful since most readers would not know the meanings of these words.

This essentially excellent theological contribution would have been greatly enhanced had the writer balanced the informative acknowledgements section and introduction at the beginning with an index and glossary at its end. But these things can be corrected in a later edition or in contributions in the future. After all, this is the budding theologian’s first book and there is reason to believe that it is by no means his last.

“ ‘Person’ in Relation to the Trinity” is published by Convention Associates and is available at Christian bookshops and from the author himself at the price of $20.