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THEOLOGY IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Trinity: Nexus of the Mysteries of Christian Faith
In this first book in Orbis Books Theology in Global Perspective Series, Professor Anne Hunt explores the interconnections between the docrtine of the Trinity and other elements of Christian faith. Providing a useful survey of related topics, she discusses a wide range of Trinitarian theologians, and shares a vision of why the Trinity is the central doctrine of Christian faith.
272 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2005
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November 24, 2024
In Trinity: Nexus of the Mysteries of Christian Faith (2004), Anne Hunt offers an academically rigorous exploration of how the doctrine of the Trinity illuminates other central mysteries of the Christian faith. Conversely, she also demonstrates how these mysteries, in turn, shed light on the theological meaning of the Trinity. This reciprocal approach enriches our understanding of the interconnectedness of Christian doctrine.
Hunt's methodological choice is particularly noteworthy. She draws upon the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Filius from the First Vatican Council (1869–1870), which proposes three strategies to speak about the mysteries of faith: (1) through analogies with naturally known truths; (2) through the interconnection of mysteries; and (3) in reference to humanity’s ultimate end and destiny. Hunt adopts the second approach as the central framework for her work. This “interconnection of mysteries” (nexus mysteriorum) serves as the foundation for her exploration of the relationship between the Trinity and other key areas of Christian theology, including Christology, the Paschal mystery, soteriology, creation, ecclesiology, moral theology, spirituality and worship, and eschatology.
Each chapter focuses on a specific mystery, and Hunt typically highlights the perspectives of two theologians to explore it in a Trinitarian framework. The diversity of theologians featured is impressive, ranging from systematic thinkers like Karl Rahner to more spiritually oriented writers like Sebastian Moore OSB. Liberation theologians such as Leonardo Boff and feminist theologians like Elizabeth Johnson are also given significant attention. This wide array of theological perspectives makes the book both intellectually rich and broad in scope. While some figures, such as Rahner and Jürgen Moltmann, are to be expected, others, like Moore, may come as a surprise to many readers. The book thus provides not only an in-depth study of its central theme but also an introduction to less familiar theological voices. The bibliography provides an excellent resource for identifying interesting sources for further research.
I read this book as part of my academic studies, and it proved to be highly instructive, both in terms of its substantive content and its methodological approach. The individual mysteries are treated with precision and clarity. While it is impossible to exhaustively cover each topic within the book’s 230 pages—each chapter or even each theologian could easily merit a book of its own—the main outlines are presented in a clear and accessible manner. Methodologically, the book served as an excellent introduction to the nexus mysteriorum approach in its application to Trinitarian theology. I found the strategy, as outlined by Vatican I, to be both insightful and constructive, especially in highlighting the interplay between the mysteries. The mutual illumination between the Trinity and other doctrines enriches our theological understanding. This I fully endorse.
Nevertheless, I am left with certain questions about this approach. While the nexus mysteriorum framework is robust and fruitful, when it is applied from the vantage point of a single mystery (in this case, the Trinity), the starting point inevitably shapes the entire theological enterprise. This could risk subordinating all other mysteries to the logic of the chosen starting point. This is a personal critique, however, and does not detract from the theological excellence, depth, and conciseness of Hunt’s work.
In conclusion, Trinity: Nexus of the Mysteries of Christian Faith is a compelling and well-crafted study that offers valuable insights into the interconnectedness of Christian doctrines. It is a noteworthy contribution to contemporary theology and serves as both a resource for seasoned scholars and an accessible entry point for those new to Trinitarian studies.
Hunt's methodological choice is particularly noteworthy. She draws upon the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Filius from the First Vatican Council (1869–1870), which proposes three strategies to speak about the mysteries of faith: (1) through analogies with naturally known truths; (2) through the interconnection of mysteries; and (3) in reference to humanity’s ultimate end and destiny. Hunt adopts the second approach as the central framework for her work. This “interconnection of mysteries” (nexus mysteriorum) serves as the foundation for her exploration of the relationship between the Trinity and other key areas of Christian theology, including Christology, the Paschal mystery, soteriology, creation, ecclesiology, moral theology, spirituality and worship, and eschatology.
Each chapter focuses on a specific mystery, and Hunt typically highlights the perspectives of two theologians to explore it in a Trinitarian framework. The diversity of theologians featured is impressive, ranging from systematic thinkers like Karl Rahner to more spiritually oriented writers like Sebastian Moore OSB. Liberation theologians such as Leonardo Boff and feminist theologians like Elizabeth Johnson are also given significant attention. This wide array of theological perspectives makes the book both intellectually rich and broad in scope. While some figures, such as Rahner and Jürgen Moltmann, are to be expected, others, like Moore, may come as a surprise to many readers. The book thus provides not only an in-depth study of its central theme but also an introduction to less familiar theological voices. The bibliography provides an excellent resource for identifying interesting sources for further research.
I read this book as part of my academic studies, and it proved to be highly instructive, both in terms of its substantive content and its methodological approach. The individual mysteries are treated with precision and clarity. While it is impossible to exhaustively cover each topic within the book’s 230 pages—each chapter or even each theologian could easily merit a book of its own—the main outlines are presented in a clear and accessible manner. Methodologically, the book served as an excellent introduction to the nexus mysteriorum approach in its application to Trinitarian theology. I found the strategy, as outlined by Vatican I, to be both insightful and constructive, especially in highlighting the interplay between the mysteries. The mutual illumination between the Trinity and other doctrines enriches our theological understanding. This I fully endorse.
Nevertheless, I am left with certain questions about this approach. While the nexus mysteriorum framework is robust and fruitful, when it is applied from the vantage point of a single mystery (in this case, the Trinity), the starting point inevitably shapes the entire theological enterprise. This could risk subordinating all other mysteries to the logic of the chosen starting point. This is a personal critique, however, and does not detract from the theological excellence, depth, and conciseness of Hunt’s work.
In conclusion, Trinity: Nexus of the Mysteries of Christian Faith is a compelling and well-crafted study that offers valuable insights into the interconnectedness of Christian doctrines. It is a noteworthy contribution to contemporary theology and serves as both a resource for seasoned scholars and an accessible entry point for those new to Trinitarian studies.
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