Distinct Communion: The Believer's Relations with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

by Dan Peters

Dan Peters explores John Owen’s Communion with God, and examines what it means to relate specifically to each Person of the Trinity.

What is distinct communion? It is communing with each Person of the Godhead in a way that is distinct. It is experiencing a relationship with each that is distinguishable from one’s relationships with the others.

John Owen was a great advocate of this theme, especially in his work entitled Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Each Person Distinctly, in Love, Grace and Consolation. He was convinced that this is the pattern to which healthy Christian devotion should conform. He and other bright stars in the Puritan galaxy were able to marry the devotional vitality of the day with the best Trinitarian theology of the past – and the result was distinct communion.

In more recent days the church has slipped away from this focus, but Dan Peters, interacting with Owen’s work, argues that the Christian can find a greater love for, and joy in, each Person of the Godhead through a greater understanding of this.

Beginning with an analysis of relevant Scripture texts, before moving to some theological principles, Peters rounds off with some practical

Introduction

Part 1: Distinct Biblical Foundations

1. The Language and Imagery of Communion

2. Communion and the Divine Persons

3. Relating to the Three as Both They and He

Part 2: Distinct Theological Foundations

4. The Search for Three Distinct Persons

5. Gazing Through Salvation’s Window

Part 3: Distinct Practical Outworkings

6. The Joy of Tri–Personal Devotion

7. Praying to the Holy Spirit

May our churches be filled with men and women whose love extends to the three Persons of the Trinity equally, and who have a relationship with each that is distinct, and that this might increasingly be reflected in the way that we pray and sing together.

Genres: Christian

160 pages, Paperback

Published January 14, 2025

Reviews

[Bobby Bonser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little book with a narrowly focused topic. Peters unpacks:
1. What communion is
2. Why God is worthy of distinct communion in His ontology
3. Why God is worthy of distinct communion in His works (especially salvific works)
4. How this knowledge affects the way we pray

I found this book profoundly helpful in its basic explanations of the Trinity, and why each distinct person deserves unique communion in our prayer life. The arguments aren't merely intellectual. The author hopes and genuinely and passionately posits that this knowledge should affect our daily communion with God in three persons. Glorious Trinity!

This book is for anyone wanting to deepen their knowledge, communion and understanding of/with God.


Two minor criticisms:
1. Writing style - Peters love exclamation marks! In one sense, I am sympathetic to authors who use exclamation marks because it helps capture enthusiasm about an exciting or glorious point. But Peter's use was just a bit excessive in my opinion. Could be a bit distracting.
His sometimes random changing of the pronouns to "she" and "her" was distracting. I would prefer sticking with just one throughout.

2. Expansion of communion beyond prayer - I would have loved more explicit instructions or focus on communion with God the Father and Son beyond a few mentions about prayer. I think Peters focuses on the Spirit because He is the most overlooked member of the Trinity, or most misunderstood. I think it's helpful. But I found myself wanting a little bit more at the end about communion beyond prayer and the Spirit.

[Andrzej Stelmasiak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great idea for the book, not so great execution of it.
I don't know why Peters was overusing exclamation marks in his book!!!!!
Quite weak on the doctrine of appropriation, and it would be great if Peters would work with the doctrine of inseparable operations instead of treating it lightly because it doesn't fit his thesis. This is why he is a bit all over the place with the cross (i.e. pages 90-91).
And, I really don't understand why such a heavy reliance on Donald MacLeod, whose theology proper was, to put it simply, wanting.
I would appreciate it if more pages were devoted to practical implications instead of other stuff, then the book would perhaps be better.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful punchy read about the Trinity and how we are to pursue distinct communion with them. The book challenges us to question our thinking - for example, should we pray to the Holy Spirit - .

Even if you don’t agree with the author, he gives you much food for (biblical) thought.

A book worth reading again!