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Simply Trinity: The Unmanipulated Father, Son, and Spirit

Simply Trinity: The Unmanipulated Father, Son, and Spirit

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  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-05-06 08:51:07
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Matthew Barrett
  • ISBN：154090007X
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Summary

What if the Trinity we've been taught is not the Trinity of the Bible？ In this groundbreaking book， Matthew Barrett reveals a shocking discovery: we have manipulated the Trinity， recreating the Father， Son， and Holy Spirit in our own image。

With clarity and creativity， Barrett mines the Scriptures as well as the creeds and confessions of the faith to help you rediscover the beauty， simplicity， and majesty of our Triune God。 You will be surprised to learn that what you believe about the Trinity has untold consequences for salvation and the Christian life。 To truly know God， you must meet the One who is simply Trinity。

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Reviews

Jordan B Cooper ，

A great and readable treatment of the subject。 The book as a whole lays out the classical Nicene （in its Western formulation） doctrine through Scripture and history， while countering modern deviations from the classical approach。 The most valuable chapter is a critique of the EFS view promoted by Ware and Grudem。 There is a bit of Calvinism thrown in with the final chapter， but that is the only place where Barrett offers anything that is distinctively Reformed。

Alex Sachak ，

Lots to like here。 An accessible and robust defence of Nicene Trinitarian theology。 The chapter arguing against the Eternal Subordination of the Son was pretty convincing and probably the most scriptural argument， somewhat ironically， （though I haven't read Grudem， Ware or really any others so maybe I'm missing something）。 However， maybe I'm just a "biblicist"， but something didn't seem quite right。 If you are going to call yourself an "evangelical" who believes in the ultimate authority of Scri Lots to like here。 An accessible and robust defence of Nicene Trinitarian theology。 The chapter arguing against the Eternal Subordination of the Son was pretty convincing and probably the most scriptural argument， somewhat ironically， （though I haven't read Grudem， Ware or really any others so maybe I'm missing something）。 However， maybe I'm just a "biblicist"， but something didn't seem quite right。 If you are going to call yourself an "evangelical" who believes in the ultimate authority of Scripture it does seem a little odd to make so many arguments that seem so detached from the simplicity of the biblical revelation of God。 Had some quibbles with the silly illustrations as well。 But a topic I want to read more on and， to be fair， I probably will try and go read some of the Church Fathers in the near future。 。。。more

Kevin ，

I couldn’t properly describe this book in a brief review。 Of the handful of books on the Trinity I’ve read in the last few years this one stands out。 Barrett does a great job laying out immanent / economic， ad extra / ad intra， inseparable operations， and especially pulls the curtain on the incredible errors and possibly straight up Arianism of Eternal Functional Subordination that has been ushered in to the modern church。 This book will be one of the greatest contributions to understanding the I couldn’t properly describe this book in a brief review。 Of the handful of books on the Trinity I’ve read in the last few years this one stands out。 Barrett does a great job laying out immanent / economic， ad extra / ad intra， inseparable operations， and especially pulls the curtain on the incredible errors and possibly straight up Arianism of Eternal Functional Subordination that has been ushered in to the modern church。 This book will be one of the greatest contributions to understanding the doctrine of the Trinity from this generation of theologians。 。。。more

Dave Carrig ，

Great book - addresses some serious issues going on in the church today with regards to the Trinity。 I almost gave it four stars because I felt like Luke 22:42 should have gotten addressed directly but unfortunately didn’t。 Stayed with five because what is presented is probably the best description and defense of the orthodox view of the Trinity I have ever read。

curtis ，

This was undoubtedly the most-anticipated title of 2021， and I’m thrilled to say it was worth every minute of the wait！ As was the case with the equally-superb None Greater， Barrett explains incredibly complex technical issues with patience and lucidity。 He also—and even more importantly—goes to great lengths to demonstrate why the classically orthodox formulations of the Trinity MATTER。 The chapter on Eternal Functional Subordination alone is worth the price of the title， in my judgment。My only This was undoubtedly the most-anticipated title of 2021， and I’m thrilled to say it was worth every minute of the wait！ As was the case with the equally-superb None Greater， Barrett explains incredibly complex technical issues with patience and lucidity。 He also—and even more importantly—goes to great lengths to demonstrate why the classically orthodox formulations of the Trinity MATTER。 The chapter on Eternal Functional Subordination alone is worth the price of the title， in my judgment。My only real quibble with this book （and it is just that， the most minor of annoyances） is that some of the illustrative motifs are inconsistent or just don’t land well （e。g。， the Back to the Future references seem really forced and unnecessary）。 That aside， this is a superb volume on Classical Trinitarianism that I recommend wholeheartedly to everyone。 And read alongside Barrett’s None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God， this is a masterful introduction to the Doctrine of God that will stimulate the intellect and provoke the heart to worship and to the fear of the Lord。 。。。more

Cody Barnhart ，

The Good: Barrett concisely offers， with clarity， an overview of orthodox Trinitarianism and a takedown of social Trinitarianism。 He does not mince words， offers an extensive vocabulary for his readers to pull from， and shows how early arguments over Trinitarianism were predicated on central theological concerns—not unnecessary， secondary issues。The Not-so-good: I felt the entire tenor of the book was one on the offense。 I think social Trinitarianism （and， specifically， EFS/ERAS） is as big of a The Good: Barrett concisely offers， with clarity， an overview of orthodox Trinitarianism and a takedown of social Trinitarianism。 He does not mince words， offers an extensive vocabulary for his readers to pull from， and shows how early arguments over Trinitarianism were predicated on central theological concerns—not unnecessary， secondary issues。The Not-so-good: I felt the entire tenor of the book was one on the offense。 I think social Trinitarianism （and， specifically， EFS/ERAS） is as big of a threat to orthodoxy as the next guy; however， there are times the depiction of Ware， in particular， felt a bit。。。uncharitable？ It was a tad off-putting。 I likewise didn’t love the reliance on the vocabulary of immanent/economic Trinity， and I felt some of the examples were cheesy （Dream Team， in particular）。Overall， a net helpful and welcome contribution， but I would recommend handing another book alongside this one if used as a primer to Nicene theology。 。。。more

Aaron Carlberg ，

I don't want to start this review by anyone thinking I am calling people dumb， I am not。。。but I swear I know so many people who wouldn't make it past chapter 2 in this book。 Again， that is not to say people are dumb， the book is simply a little dense and （at times） parses nuances in words and phrases that most people will find tiresome and miss the point。 Having said that， the reason Barrett does spend a lot of time speaking about certain concepts is to ultimately make his points more clear in a I don't want to start this review by anyone thinking I am calling people dumb， I am not。。。but I swear I know so many people who wouldn't make it past chapter 2 in this book。 Again， that is not to say people are dumb， the book is simply a little dense and （at times） parses nuances in words and phrases that most people will find tiresome and miss the point。 Having said that， the reason Barrett does spend a lot of time speaking about certain concepts is to ultimately make his points more clear in a modern （and ancient） misunderstandings of the Trinity。 Where many of the ideas （in my opinion） don't effect our salvation， it could change how we trust and live in God's grace in a practical way as it could change how we understand HIM。 In short， the book is more concerned with orthodoxy （right belief） than orthopraxy （right living）。 If you can make it deep enough into the book I believe chapters 8 and 9 are by far the best。 Anyone who takes on Grudem and Ware without batting an eye has some serious deep theological clout。 He speaks about the “eternal generation” of the Son， the “eternal procession” of the Spirit， and the “inseparable operations” of the triune God。 I think he does a good job explaining these， but again many people might get lost walking through unbegotten vs begotten vs spiration。 The Trinity has ONE WILL， not three beings who agree on a direction。 The Trinity is ONE GOD， not three separate beings who simply agree。 I think one of the best examples was at the end in dealing with adoption。。Father=author， Son=model， Spirit=imprint。 If you want a good book on the Trinity， this would be the best of the current crop （in my oh so humble opinion）。 。。。more

Kenneth Clayton ，

Wow。 Loved it。 Was like drinking from a fire hydrant。 Read Barrett’s “none Greater” followed by “simply Trinity” and I don’t think you will be disappointed

Bryan Matheson ，

Worth reading and studyingChapter 8 alone is worth the price of the book。 Truly enjoyed reading this。 Plan to read it more often

Landon Warren ，

Outstanding！ Dr。 Barrett is a courageous advocate for the Great Tradition， and like myself， Evangelicals don’t realize how much they need this book until they pick it up and begin reading。

Aaron Ventura ，

Another nail in the coffin of social trinitarianism。 Some of the examples and analogies were a bit cheesy for my taste （Dream Team， Back To The Future， etc。） but the substance of the book is solid。 Highly recommend for people who think Wayne Grudem or Bruce Ware are good theologians （hint: they are not）。

Andy Dollahite ，

Barrett is a superb scholar and communicator。 He offers here a modest unpacking of basic trinitarian theology that can be digested by normal laymen。 There has been a resurgence of interest in the Trinity over the last several decades， which unfortunately in some corners of broader evangelicalism has lead to distorted doctrine （and potentially practice）。 So， the real impetus of this book is to help the average churchgoer understand the controversies surrounding the heresy of "eternal relations of Barrett is a superb scholar and communicator。 He offers here a modest unpacking of basic trinitarian theology that can be digested by normal laymen。 There has been a resurgence of interest in the Trinity over the last several decades， which unfortunately in some corners of broader evangelicalism has lead to distorted doctrine （and potentially practice）。 So， the real impetus of this book is to help the average churchgoer understand the controversies surrounding the heresy of "eternal relations of authority and submission" （aka ERAS or EFS or ESS）。 This significant distortion from orthodoxy has been especially popularized by Wayne Grudem， Bruce Ware， and Owen Strachan and enjoys wide acceptance。 Barrett is able to level sustained criticism from biblical， theological， philosophical， and historical grounds。 And he's able to do this in firm but irenic manner， speaking as former pupil of Ware， honoring his superiors according to the 5th commandment。 There are several rhetorical and literary conceits utilized that I found distracting， but aren't major flaws。 。。。more

Randy Ruth ，

Absolutely one of the best books I’ve read。 It clearly explains the classic view of the Trinity in a way that makes it understandable and relates that view among the theological greats of history。 This is a book I’ll have to read again and again。

Adam Kareus ，

A fantastic read and study on the orthodox view of the Trinity。 This is a much needed book for our time to ground us in not only what the Trinity is but why it is important for our faith。Barrett writes with clarity about an often confusing subject。 While academic terms are used （as is needed in this discussion） they are explained in ways anyone can handle。 One of the highlights is how Barrett uses a fictional storyline of a woman who saw Jesus while he was ministering on earth as a launch point A fantastic read and study on the orthodox view of the Trinity。 This is a much needed book for our time to ground us in not only what the Trinity is but why it is important for our faith。Barrett writes with clarity about an often confusing subject。 While academic terms are used （as is needed in this discussion） they are explained in ways anyone can handle。 One of the highlights is how Barrett uses a fictional storyline of a woman who saw Jesus while he was ministering on earth as a launch point to several chapters。 。。。more

David Bruyn ，

UsefulAccessible treatment of simplicity and the classical view of the Trinity。 Important response to Eternal Functional Subordinationism。 In Trinitarianism， some words， such as 'appropriating eternal subsisting relations' are rather opaque to the understanding。 UsefulAccessible treatment of simplicity and the classical view of the Trinity。 Important response to Eternal Functional Subordinationism。 In Trinitarianism， some words， such as 'appropriating eternal subsisting relations' are rather opaque to the understanding。 。。。more

Corey Dyck ，

If you have ever had to suffer through a poorly written chapter/appendix on the Trinity in a systematic theology book， here is your salve。 Barrett does an excellent job of unpacking the Trinity and inter-Trinitarian relationships in the great tradition of the early church fathers。 This return to the classical， catholic， and orthodox understanding of the relations which has been held for the better part of the last 2000 years is certainly refreshing。

Brandi Breezee ，

Doctrine matters。 This doctrine matters most of all。 Why？ Because theology affects doxology。 Worship is at stake。

Zach Hollifield ，

Excellent！ While probably not the book I’d recommend to those who have not read on the Trinity （I’d recommend Sander’s The Deep Things of God for that） before， this serves as an excellent primer on the orthodox understanding of the doctrine and it’s many distortions。 The chapter on EFS is worth the price of the book。

Samuel Bierig ，

It is Simply Great （did you see what I did there？）。But seriously， Barrett does a fantastic job spanning the gap between the pew and the lectern。 I think you'll find this book to be both stretching and very doxological！ Tolle Lege！ It is Simply Great （did you see what I did there？）。But seriously， Barrett does a fantastic job spanning the gap between the pew and the lectern。 I think you'll find this book to be both stretching and very doxological！ Tolle Lege！ 。。。more

Samuel Parkison ，

I had the privilege of reading this before publication， and I have been downright antsy to see it hit the shelves。 Dr。 Barrett is thorough， biblically faithful， historically conscious， and refreshingly clear。 It’s not a polemic but it is polemical， because it absolutely must be。 If there is any question about whether or not that is true before reading this work， I will be so bold as to say the first two chapters will put that question to bed: where the doctrine of the Trinity stands in the minds I had the privilege of reading this before publication， and I have been downright antsy to see it hit the shelves。 Dr。 Barrett is thorough， biblically faithful， historically conscious， and refreshingly clear。 It’s not a polemic but it is polemical， because it absolutely must be。 If there is any question about whether or not that is true before reading this work， I will be so bold as to say the first two chapters will put that question to bed: where the doctrine of the Trinity stands in the minds of most Christians on this side of the twentieth century is depressing （I mean no hyperbole: concluding the second chapter of Simply Trinity left me *sorrowful*）。 But the way back is clear。 Barrett leads his readers through the great Christian tradition and shows how virtually all Christians （until the last couple hundred years or so） read their Bibles to faithfully and fruitfully contemplate the simple Triune God。In case you’re wondering， the answer is yes: EFS/ERAS （eternal functional subordinationism/eternal relations of authority and submission） is dealt with。 And yes， decisively so。 I sincerely don’t know how it will be able to raise its head at this point， after this book。 In terms of the status of the Trinity and EFS in evangelicalism， it may very well be that we have to talk about EFS pre and post “Simply Trinity。” That may be wishful thinking， but I hope I’m right。To be clear， Barrett’s not cruel or bitter or vindictive。 He’s cool-headed and loving， but he’s clear and firm。 He’s firm in a way that is reminiscent of most Christians throughout church history—before we all got so thin-skinned and learned to interpret criticisms of thought as personal injuries or betrayal。 This is important because many of the attempts to “present both sides” on topics like the Trinity seem to give the impression—by the end of all the countless layers of caveats and compliments and “Of course such in such is an amazing and faithful Christian”s—that the differences are inconsequential。 Both are orthodox， and you’re fine to pick your fancy。 Barrett argues， forcefully， that such an impression is misguided on this particular issue。 It actually is a very big deal if you reject Nicaean orthodoxy， not because Nicaea is our authority， but because Nicaean orthodoxy really is a faithful articulation of Scripture。 As Barrett demonstrates by the end of the book， nothing short of worship is at stake here。 。。。more

Peter LeDuc ，

"Indivisible in essence。 Inseparable in operation。" Barret defends God as triune AND simple against modern （manipulated） social trinitarianism by revealing that inseparable operations of the economic Trinity （ad extra） reflect the eternal relations of origin in the ontological Trinity （ad intra）—filiation， generation， and spiration。 Barrett provides a compelling defense of classical theism and a cogent critique of novel approaches such as EFS which conflate the economic and ontological and dange "Indivisible in essence。 Inseparable in operation。" Barret defends God as triune AND simple against modern （manipulated） social trinitarianism by revealing that inseparable operations of the economic Trinity （ad extra） reflect the eternal relations of origin in the ontological Trinity （ad intra）—filiation， generation， and spiration。 Barrett provides a compelling defense of classical theism and a cogent critique of novel approaches such as EFS which conflate the economic and ontological and dangerously flirt with heresies of the past。 A faithfully biblical， historical， orthodox， and practical treatise on the Trinity。 He answered so many of my questions surrounding these issues with such clarity。 。。。more

Jared ，

Very clear articulation of the doctrine of the divine simplicity against social trinity proponents。 Loved the NBA references。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Simply Trinity: The Unmanipulated Father, Son, and Spirit

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Simply Trinity: The Unmanipulated Father, Son, and Spirit&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Simply Trinity: The Unmanipulated Father, Son, and Spirit&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0