What do you think?
Rate this book
Why Does Everything Come in Threes?: A Short Book about Everything
Since the beginnings of the Church, much has been written about the Trinity in the Creator. In this accessible book for ordinary Christians, Peter Kreeft reflects on a different the Trinity in the creation.
Because, as G. K. Chesterton put it, in creating us, God "broke His own law, and made a graven image of Himself", it comes as no surprise that we find a Trinitarian structure embedded in our lives—not to mention the universe itself. While the fact that so many things come in threes does not prove the dogma of the Trinity, it does give powerful clues to this truth about the nature of ultimate reality.
Join the journey with Peter Kreeft and explore the threefold structure of everything.
Because, as G. K. Chesterton put it, in creating us, God "broke His own law, and made a graven image of Himself", it comes as no surprise that we find a Trinitarian structure embedded in our lives—not to mention the universe itself. While the fact that so many things come in threes does not prove the dogma of the Trinity, it does give powerful clues to this truth about the nature of ultimate reality.
Join the journey with Peter Kreeft and explore the threefold structure of everything.
146 pages, Paperback
Published April 9, 2024
7 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Peter Kreeft
197 books1,067 followersPeter Kreeft is an American philosopher and prolific author of over eighty books on Christian theology, philosophy, and apologetics. A convert from Protestantism to Catholicism, his journey was shaped by his study of Church history, Gothic architecture, and Thomistic thought. He earned his BA from Calvin College, an MA and PhD from Fordham University, and pursued further studies at Yale. Since 1965, he has taught philosophy at Boston College and also at The King’s College. Kreeft is known for formulating “Twenty Arguments for the Existence of God” with Ronald K. Tacelli, featured in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics. A strong advocate for unity among Christians, he emphasizes shared belief in Christ over denominational differences.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Read
June 6, 2024Kreeft does it again.
He’s a playful philosopher who is both deep- and light. A rare combination.
Theology and philosophy.
Religion and pop-culture.
I can’t think of a Kreeft book I’ve read and haven’t both enjoyed and thought deeply- many times changing my language or practice to adapt to truth I’ve seen in a new way.
Why Does Everything Come in Threes has given me some wonderful new paradigms to think through my life and practice.
Take up and read.
“The most remarkable thing about the Trinity is not the threeness, and not the oneness, but the oneness of the threeness with the oneness.”
I don’t really know all that this means- but I love it.
He’s a playful philosopher who is both deep- and light. A rare combination.
Theology and philosophy.
Religion and pop-culture.
I can’t think of a Kreeft book I’ve read and haven’t both enjoyed and thought deeply- many times changing my language or practice to adapt to truth I’ve seen in a new way.
Why Does Everything Come in Threes has given me some wonderful new paradigms to think through my life and practice.
Take up and read.
“The most remarkable thing about the Trinity is not the threeness, and not the oneness, but the oneness of the threeness with the oneness.”
I don’t really know all that this means- but I love it.
May 29, 2024
Peter Kreeft's book never fails to give me much joy. If ever there were a successor to C.S. Lewis, it would have to be this puckish Professor of Philosophy from Boston College. Erudite and accessible, witty and sly, and always on point, Dr. Kreeft brings his distinct style and keen mind to unraveling the riddle of the trinitarian universe. Why does everything come in threes?
Perhaps you had not realized that there is a trifold nature to the created world. Dr. Kreeft disabuses the reader of that blindness immediately, and immerses him into a whirlwind tour of the universe, which sets the stage for God's great salvation story, the characters within it, the plot of this drama, as well as its values and themes - all of which are revealed to be trinitarian in structure. The physical universe, for example, consists of matter, time and space. The human characters with whom God has chosen to populate this story each possess a mind, will, and heart. Within the plot, we find recurring threesomes such as superhuman, human, and subhuman or life, death, and resurrection. And, within the values that fill the soul and motivate the spirit, are the transcendental trio of truth, goodness, and beauty. This is not an exhaustive listing of the groupings of threes that Dr. Kreeft unearths in this slim volume, but merely a sample.
Of course, the universe is trinitarian because our God is a Divine Trinity. And Dr. Kreeft boldly decides to tackle the whys of this mystery in his penultimate chapter. Dr. Chris Hall once told a group of us that it is impossible to speak at length about the Trinity without falling into one heresy or another. That doesn't mean we should not spend time engaging with this incomprehensible revelation; rather, we should do so with humility and softness of heart and caution. With this caveat in my mind - and with, I am sure, great fear and trembling in his when writing it - I enjoyed Dr. Kreeft's exploration of the whys of the Trinity very much. And, for me, the best part was this banger with which he finished the chapter:
If it does not amaze and discombobulate and turn you upside down (that is, really right side up) [note: how very Chestertonian of Kreeft here!], it is not God. If you can understand it, it is not God. If it is what you expected, it is not God. The very last thing I want to do in this book is to make the Trinity tame and expected and domesticated. The supreme manifestation of God was what [William] Blake called "Christ the Tiger," not Christ the kitten. (p. 104)
The final chapter is an exhortation to prayer, and Kreeft includes three appendices (naturally) to help us nourish our inner-nerds on metaphysics, Kierkegaard, and the inseparable nature of body and soul in the human person. A worthwhile read all around.
Perhaps you had not realized that there is a trifold nature to the created world. Dr. Kreeft disabuses the reader of that blindness immediately, and immerses him into a whirlwind tour of the universe, which sets the stage for God's great salvation story, the characters within it, the plot of this drama, as well as its values and themes - all of which are revealed to be trinitarian in structure. The physical universe, for example, consists of matter, time and space. The human characters with whom God has chosen to populate this story each possess a mind, will, and heart. Within the plot, we find recurring threesomes such as superhuman, human, and subhuman or life, death, and resurrection. And, within the values that fill the soul and motivate the spirit, are the transcendental trio of truth, goodness, and beauty. This is not an exhaustive listing of the groupings of threes that Dr. Kreeft unearths in this slim volume, but merely a sample.
Of course, the universe is trinitarian because our God is a Divine Trinity. And Dr. Kreeft boldly decides to tackle the whys of this mystery in his penultimate chapter. Dr. Chris Hall once told a group of us that it is impossible to speak at length about the Trinity without falling into one heresy or another. That doesn't mean we should not spend time engaging with this incomprehensible revelation; rather, we should do so with humility and softness of heart and caution. With this caveat in my mind - and with, I am sure, great fear and trembling in his when writing it - I enjoyed Dr. Kreeft's exploration of the whys of the Trinity very much. And, for me, the best part was this banger with which he finished the chapter:
If it does not amaze and discombobulate and turn you upside down (that is, really right side up) [note: how very Chestertonian of Kreeft here!], it is not God. If you can understand it, it is not God. If it is what you expected, it is not God. The very last thing I want to do in this book is to make the Trinity tame and expected and domesticated. The supreme manifestation of God was what [William] Blake called "Christ the Tiger," not Christ the kitten. (p. 104)
The final chapter is an exhortation to prayer, and Kreeft includes three appendices (naturally) to help us nourish our inner-nerds on metaphysics, Kierkegaard, and the inseparable nature of body and soul in the human person. A worthwhile read all around.
June 8, 2024
Fascinating...Peter Kreeft tackles a complicated topic with his usual wit and wisdom.
July 22, 2024
Some easy concepts and others more advanced. Like metaphysics talk. Over my head a bit but I enjoyed the quick, short read and simple graphs to explain unique three-ness.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews