What Is the Trinity?

Basics of the Faith

by David F. Wells

Christianity's central and most distinctive doctrine, the trinity, is here explained showing how the doctrine developed in Scripture, how it was defended in the Church, and what the practical consequences are of it are for Christian life today.

Genres: Theology

38 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

David F. Wells (PhD, University of Manchester) is the Distinguished Senior Research Professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

In addition to serving as academic dean of its Charlotte campus, Wells has also been a member of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization and is involved in ministry in Africa.

He is the author of numerous articles and books, including a series that was initiated by a Pew grant exploring the nature of Christian faith in the contemporary, modernized world.

Reviews

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just ok. Wells was more concerned about the persons of the Trinity rather than the doctrine of the Trinity. That is, Wells gave sections to who God the father is, who God the Son is, and who the Holy spirit is. Peripheral issues like eternal generation and submission were not addressed here, but Wells did bring up the historical councils and creeds of the church - showing pretty clearly that the church has always believed in a monotheistic triune God.

[Dan Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always on the lookout for short, introductory books on different key doctrines of the Christian faith. There are some pretty good ones out there on a lot of topics but the Trinity is one aspect of doctrine that is at once at the very heart and centre of our faith and all too frequently neglected. There is much more written about what God has done and does for his people, far less about who God is in his Triune nature and how he relates within himself and works his purposes among the three persons of the Trinity. I am happy to say that this is a worthy introduction to the study of the Trinity. This much maligned and misunderstood doctrine has much benefit for the church, much to inform the functioning of the family and church body, and much to recommend itself in apologetics and philosophy. While this little booklet gives a great intro and a solid (albeit brief) explanation of what the doctrine of the Trinity is founded on (both Scripture and church history), my hope is that it will lead those who read it to pursue trinitarian studies further. A booklet this small can only scratch the surface of any aspect it discusses, afterall.

I find it interesting to note that this booklet comes very late in this series. Unfortunately it is often the same with systematic theology texts, which often begin with a discussion of the Scriptures and only half way through the volume, contain a brief discussion of the Trinity. Hopefully, with the fairly recent upswing in Protestant works on the Trinity, that is changing.

[Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wells writes, “If the gospel is so simple that the simplest can understand it, it is also so profound that none can fully plumb its depths.” The same could be said about the biblical doctrine of the Trinity; it is a clear doctrine and yet it is a mystery to attempt to understand it fully. Wells solidly defends and defines the Trinity as it is continuously unveiled throughout the Old and New Testaments. Also, he ends this little booklet on an encouraging note of prayer and what it means to pray to the Trinitarian Godhead.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

While large numbers of professing Christians shy away from discussions on the Trinity Wells argues that this neglect, even if not overtly malicious, remains dangerous. This booklet explains what the Trinity is and why it is an absolutely essential doctrine to the heart of Christian faith. Though only a surface-level examination, Wells does a serviceable job of surveying the Scriptures and teasing out the implications of embracing heretical ideas about the nature of the triune God.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good.