Mobile Ed: BI295 The Trinity and the Bible (5 hour course)

by Wesley Hill

Publisher:

Lexham Press

, 2022–2024

Overview

The doctrine of the Trinity—the idea that God exists eternally, as Father, Son, and Spirit—is a foundational teaching of Christianity even though the word “trinity” never appears in the Bible. How can the Trinity be an essential biblical teaching if the word isn’t even found in the Bible? That question is among the issues Dr. Wesley Hill addresses in BI295 The Trinity and the Bible. After exploring how the doctrine of the Trinity developed in the early church, Dr. Hill shows how the Bible displays a Trinitarian theology. He begins in the Old Testament and moves through key passages in Paul’s writings and the Gospel of John showing how New Testament writers portrayed Jesus as equal with the God of Israel and how the Spirit is shown to be an equal person to complete the Trinity. This course will be useful for those wanting a scriptural-based apologetic for the Trinity as well as for those wanting to plumb the depths of the mystery of the Trinity to enrich their life of faith.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion you should be able to:

• Explain that the doctrine of the Trinity can be found in the Bible even the word “Trinity” is not found in it
• Explain why the Trinitarian rule of faith is not forced onto the text of Scripture, but rather emerges from it
• Describe how tension may arise between systematic and biblical theology
• Explain what it means that the pre-existent Son regarded equality with God, not as excusing Him from the task of redemptive suffering and death, but actually, as uniquely qualifying Him for that vocation
• Explain that the word “LORD” (which is set in small caps in the Old Testament) refers to the personal name of God rather than a title, function, or role
• Differentiate and explain the use of the language of essence (nature), person, relationship, postures, roles, and functions in Trinitarian theology
• Explain how Paul in 1 Cor 6:8 uses the Shema of Deut 6:4 as an interpretive key
• Identify three ways in which the Spirit empowers the church
• Explain how a right understanding of the Trinity leads to an assurance of salvation

Course Outline

Introduction

• Introducing the Speaker and Course

Unit 1 Classical Ideas of the Trinity

• The Trinity and the Bible
• Augustine and the Pillars of Trinitarian Theology

Unit 2 Reading the Bible in Light of the Trinity

• Reading the Bible with a Trinitarian “Rule”
• Does Trinitarian Theology Imply that the Bible Should Be Read Diachronically?

Unit 3 Biblical Theology of the Trinity

• Beginning with Paul
• God Reveals His Divine Name
• The Narrative Context Signifies Commitment
• Who God Is within Himself?
• Greek Translation of “The Name”

Unit 4 Paul: The Giving of the Name in Philippians 2:6–11

• Dunn Presents a Non-Trinitarian Interpretation of Philippians 2:6–11
• Dunn’s Points and Hill’s Counterpoints
• Philippians 2:6–11 as a Trinitarian Text
• “Every Knee Shall Bow” as a Proof of Equality with God
• Adjusting Our Understanding of Glory, Power, and Majesty
• “The Name That Is above Every Name”
• The Problem of “Subordination” Versus “Equality”
• Introducing “Redoublement”
• Distinction between Father and Son
• Don’t Confuse Essence and Relationship
• Harmonious Cohesion Rather Than Tension

Unit 5 The Identification of Jesus with the God of Israel in 1 Corinthians 8:6

• Key Terms in 1 Corinthians 8:6 and Deuteronomy 6:4
• Two Observations Confirm This Interpretation
• The Distinction between God the Father and Jesus the Son (the Lord)
• Pauline Redoublement and 1 Corinthians 8:6

Unit 6 The Spirit and the Resurrection: Romans 8:9–11

• The Pattern of the Trinity in Romans 8
• A Relational Pattern

Unit 7 Summarizing Theses Regarding Paul and the Trinity

• Union with Differentiation but without Division
• Kyriotic Overlap
• The Identity of the Father, Son, and Spirit Requires Knowledge of All Three Persons
• The Trinity Works Asymmetrically but Cooperatively
• Nascent Trinitarianism

Unit 8 The Gospel of John and the Trinity

• The Prologue
• God Both Creates and Sustains
• The Incarnation: He Made His Dwelling among Us
• The Only Begotten Son of God
• The Gospel of John and the Spirit
• The Spirit Testifies, Comforts, and Bears Witness
• The Spirit Spotlights Jesus and Reminds Us of His Truth

Unit 9 Practical Implications

• Is God Really Like Jesus?

Conclusion

• Conclusion to the Course

Product Details

• Title: BI295 The Trinity and the Bible
• Instructor: Wesley Hill
• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Publication Date: 2022
• Product Type: Logos Mobile Education
• Resource Type: Courseware, including transcripts, audio, and video resources
• Courses: 1
• Video Hours: 5

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About Wesley Hill

Wesley Hill (PhD, Durham University) is assistant professor of biblical studies at Trinity School for Ministry. He is the author of Paul and the Trinity: Persons, Relations, and the Pauline Letters and the much-discussed Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality. Hill is on the editorial board of and is a columnist for Christianity Today. He also contributes to Books and Culture and First Things.