Dogmatic Theology Vol 1 - Shedd - XX - Chapter 4 Trinity in unity continued

Required reading

Dogmatic Theology Vol 1 by William G.T. Shedd (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 4 Trinity in unity by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'The Deity of God the Son was the subject of one of the greatest controversies in the Patristic church' (page 312 in my edition).

My summary

Last week, we began to hear of the two classes of characteristics by which the trinitarian Persons are discriminated:

(i) Internal;

(ii) External.

We looked at the internal acts last week, this week we see the external characteristics, the activities and effects by which the Trinity is manifested outwardly:

(i) creation, preservation and government of the universe;

(ii) redemption;

(iii) inspiration, regeneration, and sanctification.

Then Shedd moves onto proofs of the deity of the persons of the trinity.  This week he demonstrates the deity of the Father, primarily by showing that the term 'Father' denotes an immanent and eternal relation.

What grabbed me

I liked this comment about prayer to the Father: 'A believer in the Trinity, in using the first petition of the Lord's prayer, may have the first person particularly in his mind, and may address him; but this does not make his prayer antitrinitarian. He addresses that person as the representative of the Trinity. And the same is true whenever he particularly addresses the Son, or the Spirit. If he addresses God the Son, God the Son implies God the Father. Each Divine person supposes and suggests the others. Each represents the others. Consequently, to pray to any one of the Divine Three is by implication and virtually to pray to all Three. No man can honor the Son without honoring the Father also. Says Christ, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father also," John 14:9. In like manner, he that prays to the Son prays to the Father also. Says Turrettin (III. xxv. 27), "The mind of the worshipper will not be distracted by the consideration that there are three Divine persons, if he remembers that the whole Divine essence is in each of the persons, so that if he worships one he worships all. With Gregory of Nazianzum, he may say: 'I cannot think of the one Supreme Being without being encompassed with the glory of the three persons; and I cannot discern the three persons without recurring to the unity of the essence.''

All our prayers are trinitarian, regardless of which person we call on.

Next week's reading

Continue Chapter 4 Trinity in unity by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'Before proceeding to prove the Deity of God the Holy Spirit...' (page 328 in my edition).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.