Social trinity
Encyclopedia
Social Trinity is an interpretation of the Christian
doctrine of the trinity
. Its central idea is that the trinity consists of three persons whose unity consists of a loving relationship.
This teaching is especially associated by modern theologians (Karl Rahner
, Jürgen Moltmann
, and others with various emphases and distinctives) , with the Cappadocian Fathers
, who can be said to have developed it both positively and negatively. The Fathers explain the Trinity as three individualities in one indivisible being, while at the same time emphatically asserting that Christian community is an analogy , or as the Eastern Orthodox typically say, "an icon", of God's love, and a mutual participation in an ethical life that is comparable to God, but only analogous to God's being. The newer theologians may stress, controversially , "Being as communion" (John Zizioulas
), as a mode of relation found in God's very subsistence to which human relations can and ought to be conformed.
Positively, the traditional teaching emphasizes that God is an inherently social being.. Human unity approaches conformity to the image of God's unity through self-giving, empathy, adoration for one another, etc.. Such love is a fitting ethical likeness to God - but is in stark contrast to God's unity of being.
Negatively, the orthodox conception refutes the adoptionism which some attribute to the Anomoeans (an "Arian
" sect) and other anti-trinitarians, which reduce the conception of the unity of God with Christ to a purely ethical concept, strictly comparable to a human relationship between two (or three) individuals. In contrast, the basis for human relationship pointed to by the Cappadocian Fathers (as they are interpreted by advocates of the social trinity ) is within God as such, not in God in relation to another that is not God.
Many proponents of Social Trinity criticise modern individualism, suggesting that individual is not over against other persons. On the contrary, say these proponents, a person's identity and self are deeply constituted by their relationships, such that a person could not be the same person were it not for the relationship - the relationship, in some sense at least, precedes the person rather than the person preceding the relationship.
Two theological keys to the idea of person found in the social trinity are, the trinitarian concept of perichoresis
(associated most strongly with Saint John of Damascus), and the Christological
doctrine of two wills in one person (which was central to Maximus the Confessor
's defense of orthodoxy).
of the persons of the trinity as providing at least part of this greater unity.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
doctrine of the trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
. Its central idea is that the trinity consists of three persons whose unity consists of a loving relationship.
This teaching is especially associated by modern theologians (Karl Rahner
Karl Rahner
Karl Rahner, SJ was a German Jesuit and theologian who, alongside Bernard Lonergan and Hans Urs von Balthasar, is considered one of the most influential Roman Catholic theologians of the 20th century...
, Jürgen Moltmann
Jürgen Moltmann
Jürgen Moltmann is a German Reformed theologian. The 2000 recipient of the Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Religion.-Moltmann's Youth:...
, and others with various emphases and distinctives) , with the Cappadocian Fathers
Cappadocian Fathers
The Cappadocian Fathers are Basil the Great , who was bishop of Caesarea; Basil's brother Gregory of Nyssa , who was bishop of Nyssa; and a close friend, Gregory of Nazianzus , who became Patriarch of Constantinople...
, who can be said to have developed it both positively and negatively. The Fathers explain the Trinity as three individualities in one indivisible being, while at the same time emphatically asserting that Christian community is an analogy , or as the Eastern Orthodox typically say, "an icon", of God's love, and a mutual participation in an ethical life that is comparable to God, but only analogous to God's being. The newer theologians may stress, controversially , "Being as communion" (John Zizioulas
John Zizioulas
John Zizioulas is the Eastern Orthodox metropolitan of Pergamon. He is the Chairman of the Academy of Athens and a noted theologian.-Academic Education and Career:...
), as a mode of relation found in God's very subsistence to which human relations can and ought to be conformed.
Positively, the traditional teaching emphasizes that God is an inherently social being.. Human unity approaches conformity to the image of God's unity through self-giving, empathy, adoration for one another, etc.. Such love is a fitting ethical likeness to God - but is in stark contrast to God's unity of being.
Negatively, the orthodox conception refutes the adoptionism which some attribute to the Anomoeans (an "Arian
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
" sect) and other anti-trinitarians, which reduce the conception of the unity of God with Christ to a purely ethical concept, strictly comparable to a human relationship between two (or three) individuals. In contrast, the basis for human relationship pointed to by the Cappadocian Fathers (as they are interpreted by advocates of the social trinity ) is within God as such, not in God in relation to another that is not God.
The Concept of three 'Persons' in Social Trinity
As in almost all orthodox versions of the trinity, the term 'person' is used to identify what the 'three' is. Social trinity argues that the three persons are each distinct persons, e.g. by suggesting that they have distinct centers of consciousness.Many proponents of Social Trinity criticise modern individualism, suggesting that individual is not over against other persons. On the contrary, say these proponents, a person's identity and self are deeply constituted by their relationships, such that a person could not be the same person were it not for the relationship - the relationship, in some sense at least, precedes the person rather than the person preceding the relationship.
Two theological keys to the idea of person found in the social trinity are, the trinitarian concept of perichoresis
Perichoresis
Perichoresis is a term in Christian theology first found within the Church Fathers but now reinvigorated among contemporary figures such as C. Baxter Kruger, Jurgen Moltmann, Miroslav Volf and John Zizioulas, amongst others. The term first appears in Gregory of Nazianzus but was explored more...
(associated most strongly with Saint John of Damascus), and the Christological
Christology
Christology is the field of study within Christian theology which is primarily concerned with the nature and person of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament. Primary considerations include the relationship of Jesus' nature and person with the nature...
doctrine of two wills in one person (which was central to Maximus the Confessor
Maximus the Confessor
Maximus the Confessor was a Christian monk, theologian, and scholar. In his early life, he was a civil servant, and an aide to the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius...
's defense of orthodoxy).
The Concept of one 'being' in Social Trinity
As in almost all orthodox versions of the doctrine of the trinity, the term 'being' is used to identify the 'one' in the trinity. Social trinity argues that this one being comes to exist as a result of a loving relationship between Father, Son, and Spirit. This relationship is in some respects like human relationships, but in many respects it promotes a greater unity. They often understand the idea of perichoresisPerichoresis
Perichoresis is a term in Christian theology first found within the Church Fathers but now reinvigorated among contemporary figures such as C. Baxter Kruger, Jurgen Moltmann, Miroslav Volf and John Zizioulas, amongst others. The term first appears in Gregory of Nazianzus but was explored more...
of the persons of the trinity as providing at least part of this greater unity.