The Story of the Trinity: Controversy, Crisis, and the Creation of the Nicene Creed

by Bryan M. Litfin, Donald Fairbairn (Foreword)

One God. Three Persons. But how?

· Discover the incredible true story of how Christians came to understand the doctrine of the Trinity
· Understand the Nicene Creed as a beautiful and balanced confession of our faith
· From a dynamic writer and respected professor

Christians believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One God in three persons. Yet many would be hard-pressed to explain why they believe this, or even where it might be found in Scripture. In engaging, accessible prose, The Story of the Trinity relates the settings, characters, and conflicts that led to the Council of Nicaea and the creation of the Nicene Creed, a simple yet beautiful statement of faith that expresses core Christian beliefs that continue to be affirmed worldwide.

Rather than getting bogged down in dry semantics, Bryan M. Litfin recounts the dynamic story of how the one God revealed himself as triune in both the Old and New Testaments, unfolding this core doctrine of the church so that it not only makes sense, but brings glory to God and expresses the true nature of the gospel.

***

"Refreshingly unstuffy. It's a glorious gift to get to sit at the feet of a brilliant theological scholar who has the tender heart of a pastor. The Story of the Trinity is that kind of experience."--Lisa Harper, bestselling author, speaker, and host of the Back Porch Theology podcast

"A masterclass in distilling biblical, theological, and historical content into an engaging and enjoyable narrative of cosmic proportions. Skeptics and believers alike will profit from Litfin's charm and sagacity."--Coleman M. Ford, PhD, assistant professor of humanities, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Highly recommended. How encouraging to observe such a rigorous study from a well-known evangelical theologian!"--Patrick Henry Reardon, senior editor, A Journal of Mere Christianity

Genres: History, Church History, Christianity, Theology

165 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

Bryan Litfin received his PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia and a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. His undergraduate work was at the University of Tennessee in the field of Communications.

Bryan now works as Head of Strategy and Advancement at Clapham School, after serving for 16 years as Professor of Theology at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and 3 years as an editor and writer at Moody Publishers. He is the author of The Conqueror (Revell, 2020), Every Knee Shall Bow (Revell 2021), the Chiveis Trilogy (Crossway, 2010, 2011, 2012), Early Christian Martyr Stories (Baker, 2014), After Acts (Moody, 2015), and Getting To Know the Church Fathers (Brazos, 2007, 2nd ed. 2016), as well as numerous scholarly articles and essays. In early 2022, he will release Wisdom from the Ancients (Harvest House).

Bryan is married to Carolyn, and they have two adult children. He enjoys writing, traveling, teaching, reading, spending time with family, and being involved in his local church.

Reviews

[Kaelyn Prince · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book! Going into it, I knew little about church history, and I felt like this book was written in a way that could be easily understood. I appreciated the author laying some of the theological foundation at the beginning of the book, and I felt like the rest of the book was much more history-focused. The trinity is something that is impossible to comprehend with our human minds, but this book helped me understand a little bit more, and I especially learned about the development of beliefs in the early church. I would recommend this to someone researching the early church or anyone interested in how a clear view of the trinity shapes the church.

Thank you to Baker Publishing Group for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Brian Derksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very readable and enjoyable book. He does such a good job of taking the time at the beginning to set the stage for the need for and the mindset of the day leading up to the formation of the Nicene Creed. Then he explains the controversies that were part of the reason for the creed and the different iterations that g the creed. He keeps it interesting throughout.

[Márcio Gibeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a pleasure to offer this literary and theological review of The Story of the Trinity: Controversy, Crisis, and the Creation of the Nicene Creed, by Bryan M. Litfin. This work stands out as a remarkable contribution to contemporary Christian literature by combining historical rigor, biblical faithfulness, and narrative accessibility in a way that few books on this subject achieve.

Rather than presenting the doctrine of the Trinity as a merely abstract or technical theological construct, Litfin masterfully tells the story behind one of the most central confessions of the Christian faith. From the opening pages, the reader is invited into a dramatic historical journey—one marked by controversy, pastoral concern, ecclesial conflict, and deep devotion to the truth of the gospel. The book succeeds not only in informing the mind, but also in engaging the imagination and stirring a deeper appreciation for the church’s theological heritage.

One of the greatest strengths of this work is its narrative approach. Litfin does not reduce the formation of Trinitarian doctrine to dry theological formulas or detached academic debates. Instead, he introduces the reader to the real people, cultural pressures, and spiritual crises that shaped the early church’s struggle to faithfully articulate who God is. The controversies surrounding Arius, the courageous leadership of key church fathers, and the intense theological and pastoral stakes surrounding the Council of Nicaea are presented in a way that feels both historically grounded and personally compelling.

The historical context is handled with clarity and balance. The reader gains a strong sense of why the fourth century was such a decisive moment for Christian theology, and how the formulation of the Nicene Creed was not a mere institutional exercise, but a vital defense of the gospel itself. Litfin shows that what was at stake was nothing less than the identity of Christ, the nature of salvation, and the very being of God. This historical framing helps modern readers understand that the doctrine of the Trinity was not an optional theological refinement, but a necessary confession rooted in biblical faithfulness.

Equally commendable is the book’s biblical orientation. Throughout the narrative, Litfin consistently emphasizes that the doctrine of the Trinity arises from the witness of Scripture itself. By tracing Trinitarian themes across both the Old and New Testaments, the author demonstrates that the church’s confession is not a later theological invention, but a faithful response to God’s self-revelation. This approach strengthens the reader’s confidence that the Nicene formulation is deeply grounded in the biblical story and in the essence of the Christian gospel.

From a literary and pedagogical standpoint, The Story of the Trinity is exceptionally accessible. Litfin’s prose is engaging, clear, and well-paced, making complex theological and historical material approachable for lay readers, students, pastors, and thoughtful Christians alike. The book avoids unnecessary technical jargon while maintaining theological precision, achieving a rare balance between scholarly integrity and broad readability.

One of the most valuable outcomes of reading this book is the renewed appreciation it fosters for the Nicene Creed. Many readers will find that, after engaging with Litfin’s narrative, the words of the Creed take on fresh depth, weight, and spiritual meaning. What might once have been recited as familiar liturgical language becomes a living testimony to the church’s costly and faithful witness to the truth about God.

Overall, The Story of the Trinity succeeds as both a historical account and a spiritual invitation. It helps readers see that theology is not merely about abstract ideas, but about faithfully confessing who God is in the midst of real challenges, real questions, and real opposition. Bryan M. Litfin has produced a work that is historically rich, biblically grounded, pastorally sensitive, and narratively compelling.

This book is highly recommended for anyone seeking to understand not only what the church believes about the Trinity, but why it matters, how it was forged in crisis, and how it continues to shape Christian faith and worship today. It stands as a valuable resource for churches, seminaries, study groups, and individual readers who desire a deeper, more historically informed, and more worshipful understanding of the triune God.

Sincerely,
Márcio Gibeli

[Ortinel G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished The Story of the Trinity by Bryan M. Litfin, and wow, this is a book the contemporary church desperately needs.

Bryan writes from both a pastoral and academic perspective, aiming to show readers that the Trinity is far more than an ancient theological debate. It is at the very core of the gospel and our understanding of the triune God revealed in Jesus.
He beautifully provides the background to Trinitarian theology embedded within Jewish monotheism, as showcased throughout the Scriptures.

Bryan then introduces the various heresies and controversies that arose in the early church regarding the Trinity, exploring in depth what their proponents taught and how these views aligned or misaligned with Scripture. These chapters eventually culminate in the Council of Nicaea and its affirmation of the Trinity, as summarized in modern translations of the Nicene Creed.

Despite the rich history and exegesis, Bryan finishes the book phenomenally by highlighting why the Trinity is at the crux of the gospel and the Christian faith. He shows how it reveals that Jesus is God incarnate and, in doing so, emphasizes the triune God’s unwavering love and commitment to humanity. He closes with the quote by Karl Barth, “God does not exist without man,” and the confronting question, “Will humans continue to live without God?”

There is so much more I could say, but for now I want to thank Bryan M. Litfin for his faithfulness and heart for God’s people, and thank you to @readbakerbooks for the copy. This book is profoundly needed in the contemporary church and is one that clergy, laypeople, believers, and non-believers alike will return to for years to come.

[Samuel Cocha · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are curious about the Trinity, this book provides a clear and approachable introduction to one of Christianity’s cornerstone doctrines. If you are looking to grow in your faith, it will help you explore theology and see how a better understanding of God can shape your life. If you enjoy learning about Church history, you can discover how the early Church wrestled with profound questions about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

The Story of the Trinity does a remarkable job connecting theology with history, showing how emperors, bishops, and church leaders played a role in preserving the truth Christians still confess today. By the end, you won’t just know the story of the Trinity—you will see God at work in history, shaping the Church and guiding believers across generations.

[olivia thompson · Rating 1 out of 5]

i hated this book. i hated it when it started and when i finished it. the last lines of this book say, “God does not exist without man. amen. He exists for the sake of humanity.” what. this quote follows a lengthy quotation of karl barth who denied an orthodox doctrine of scripture. quoting barth on a book about nicaea (a council that existed to debate the interpretation of scripture) is wild and insane and maybe one of the worst choices (of all the other bad ones) that litfin makes. even without this blatant erroneous theology, this book just simply isn’t good. if you want to learn about nicaea, a simple wikipedia search will teach you more than this book. i would give it 0 stars if i could.

[Paul Narvaez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not typically the kinda book I would be reading, but I wanted to gain some clarity on the Nicene Creed so I decided this sounded like a fairly compact, and not overly preachy way to get some information. Amidst the doctrinal slants that you would expect from a book such as this...it did give me the basic information I was not clear about as well as sending me off in other tangents about terms we don't use anymore like "asia minor", etc...

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just what it says it is - the story of the development of the doctrine of the Trinity, from polytheism and the ancient Hebrews through the early church councils that helped define what Christians believed. It's very readable, and while well researched, it's not too academic. I listened to it as an audio book and really enjoyed it.

[Daniel Silliman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most readable, normal-person friendly, single-volume history of the doctrine of the Trinity and the development of the Nicene Creed. I have a few quibbles, of course, about framing and phrasing and narrative structure, but this is a notable and valuable contribution and very much appreciated.

[Julian Haigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the preface the author asserts that the idea of the trinity is essential to how to seek salvation which I immediately thought was a load of crock. Looked at more to understand why it was important to the people back in 325 his enthusiasm in archaic beliefs helps the reader get back to the times.

[Kelton Zacharias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Litfin’s skills as a storyteller are on full display. This is a helpful and concise review of the history of the development of the doctrine of the Trinity with all the major players.

[Trevor Atwood]

Short and helpful for understanding the development of Trinitarian understanding and the councils that cemented that theology for the church.