CHAPTER #

Theological Analysis of the Trinity

as a mutually glorifying Team

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A Paper

Presented to

Dr. Lanier Burns

Dallas Theological Seminary

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In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Course

RS102 Research and Summary of Christian Doctrine

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By

Kevin Goldsmith

March 30, 2012

Box #640

Theological Anaylysis of the Trinity

as a mutually Glorifying Team

Introduction

A.W. Tozer once said, What comes to mind when you think about God is the most important thing about us.[footnoteRef:2] This quote has inspired the pursuit of knowing and understanding who God is as well as man can in this temporary state until Christ returns. Of all things that matter in our lives, to know God through a purposeful study of His nature, His character, and His perfections should be our driving force. Only then will we be able to define everything else accurately.[footnoteRef:3] [2: A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy (San Francisco: Harper Collins Publishers, 1961), 1. ] [3: Tony Evans, Theology You Can Count On (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2008), 22.]

The character and nature of the Triune God intrigues the mind to marvel at Gods simplicity in light of Gods mind-boggling complexity. The nature of the Trinity has caused difficulty for man to combine the thought of one God with the understanding of His existence in three persons. Reasoned and careful inferences drawn from Scripture about God do make sense, even though they are not ultimately comprehensive.[footnoteRef:4] Although the Triune nature of God has caused the mind to struggle, it has also helped theologians defend Gods existence and answer questions about a God who is holy and gracious. [4: Kenneth R. Samples, Without a Doubt: Answering the 20 Toughest Faith Questions (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2004), 72.]

Scripture and theologians have helped us understand Gods incredible character and attributes. The list of Gods attributes is long and includes his infinite nature, independence, immutability, omnipresence, omniscience, goodness, holiness, righteousness, graciousness, loving-kindness, and sovereignty. These attributes of God are found in almost every conservative theologians writings concerning the Trinity, but rarely will you find one of the most interesting and fascinating characteristics of God. The Triune God is humble.

Many theologians are uncomfortable saying the all-powerful, eternal, and immutable God is humble, but scripture argues for this being a characteristic of our Holy God. Also, there is no passage that contains this doctrine on Gods humility, much like there is no scripture that contains the doctrine of the Trinity. The church fathers saw the doctrine of the Trinity as a necessary inference of the Scripture.[footnoteRef:5] So, we can glean Gods humility from scripture, in the same way scripture bears witness to a God who demands to be understood in a Trinitarian manner.[footnoteRef:6] [5: Samples, Without a Doubt: Answering the 20 Toughest Faith Questions, 66.] [6: Alister E. McGrath, Theology: The Basics (Blackwell Publishing, Malden, MA, 2004), 162.]

God displays humility by the actions of the Trinity being a mutually glorifying team, through an accurate definition of humility, Gods command to demand worship, and through seeing the persons of God never demand worship, but instead glorify the other persons of the Godhead. This understanding of Gods humility and desire to glorify the Godhead will lead to the believer not only wanting to be obedient to Gods desire for man to live humbly, but the believer will see mans humility as a way of glorifying an attribute of God by living as a witness through displaying humility.

Definition of Humility

The initial response of most theologians to the idea of God displaying humility goes to Phil 2:8, Being foundin appearanceas a man,He humbledHimselfby becomingobedientto the pointof death,evendeathon a cross. Although this is a good start, the use of humility in this passage does not carry the exact meaning of the humility that the Triune God displays.

This translation of etapeinwsen shows the Son of God underwent death by crucifixion, a form of execution that was without equal in its pain and humiliation.[footnoteRef:7] This type of humiliation is also seen in scriptures that explain this in Deut 21:23; and Gal 3:13, which says, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. Paul cites this text to make the point that Christ, suspended from a cross, thereby took upon himself the curse associated with such a display of divine wrath and judgment.[footnoteRef:8] [7: Thomas Constable, Philippians, unpublished notes for BE106 Pauline Epistles (Dallas Theological Seminary, 2012), 29.] [8: NET Bible, note on Deut 21:23, http://net.bible.org (accessed March 14, 2012).]

The humility, which is displayed in the Trinity, is a humility seen in the individual person of God not seeking glory for his person, but instead glorifying the other persons of the Triune God. This same humility is seen in the command by Paul in Phil 2:3 with the noun form, tapeinofrosu/nh, saying, Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard another as more important than yourselves. This humility carries the definition of modesty[footnoteRef:9] demonstrated by the person of God demanding praise upon the other persons of God, instead of on his own person. [9: Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, rev. and ed. Frederick W. Danker, 3rd ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 989.]

However, the modesty displayed by the persons of the Godhead is at a level of such great depth that man cannot even fathom a comparison of this level of modesty with what is achievable by all other beings. The reason for this other level of modesty is because the human does not deserve praise, but God clearly does. The humility the Father, the Son, and the Spirit displays is beyond the capability of man, because the encouragement of praise for the other persons of the Trinity is out of loving desire. The fact that God is Father, Son, and Spirit emphasizes the fact that he is a God of love and fellowship within his own being.[footnoteRef:10] For it was inconceivable that God should not love the self which he knew, since that self was in every way perfect.[footnoteRef:11] [10: Charles C. Ryrie, A Survey of Bible Doctrine (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1972), 34.] [11: Gerald Bray, The Doctrine of God: Contours of Christian Theology (Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 170.]

God Demands Worship of Himself

To say that the Triune God is humble does not mean that God does not demand his creation worship him. God in his oneness demands the praise from all. Gods glory is uppermost in His own affections. This means God puts a greater value on it than anything else, and He delights in His glory above all else.[footnoteRef:12] [12: John Piper, Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Press, 2003), 41-42.]

God Calls for His Worship

This is clearly seen in Scripture that God calls man to glorify and worship only the one true God. Exaltthe LORDour GodAnd worshipat His holyhill,For holyis the LORDour God (Ps 99:9) and You shall fearonly the LORDyour God;and you shall worshipHim and swearby His name (Deut. 6:14). In Matthew 4:10 we are commanded to worship the Lord our God, and serve him only. The Westminster Shorter Catechism says the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Man has been created in Gods image to reflect God in all that he does. God commands his praise because this is the ultimate goal of all He does, to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed (2 Thess 1:10).[footnoteRef:13] [13: Ibid, 45.]

Not only man is called to worship God, but also all of creation. To him (God) is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, he is pleased to require of them.[footnoteRef:14] According to Psalm 148:5 everything that has ever been created including the spiritual, natural, and man is to worship God. [14: John H. Leith, The Westminister Confession of Faith in Creeds of the Churches: A Reader in Christian Doctrine from the Bible to the Present, 3rd ed. (Louisville, KY: Westminister Knox Press, 1982), 197.]

These commands are by the one God to worship him in his oneness as God. And God is right to demand worship. It is clear that scripture supports the worship of the one true God, therefore God demands his own worship.

God Hates the Worship of Others

God hates when man worships someone other than God, himself, and he is right to be wrathful in his response. Tis not fitting that the honor of a Being of infinite glory should be laid in the dust; but as God created the world for His glory, tis fitting that the world should be so ordered and disposed that His glory should be maintained against all those who oppose it.[footnoteRef:15] Gods warning is seen all throughout scripture. God tells man, and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them (Deut 28:14). [15: Jonathan Edwards, Unless You Repent: Fifteen Previously Unpublished Sermons on the Fate Awaiting the Impenitent, ed Dr. Don Kistler (Orlando, FL: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2005), 17.]

But, when man gives the credit due God to anything else, Gods jealousy is clearly seen. Jeremiah 25:6 says, and do not goafterothergodsto servethem and to worshipthem, and do not provokeMe