Book Recommendation: The Triune God

Allan Coppedge. The God Who is Triune: Revisioning the Christian Doctrine of God. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic 2007.

            The God Who is Triune is the result of an intensive, long-term project which examines the doctrine of the Trinity in the light of Old and New Testament data. At the time of publication the author, Allan Coppedge, served as Ralph Waldo Beeson Professor of Theology at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Additionally, he was serving as Affiliate Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Coppedge graduated with a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge.

            Coppedge began his study with a well-researched examination of the New Testament foundations for the Trinity. In this section, He verified that the concept of the Trinity was not a new doctrine that the New Testament writers invented, but an integral part of the Old Testament. Next, the author focused on the biblical frame for the Trinity, highlighting how God progressively revealed more about His nature as He added to the Old Testament corpus. Coppedge then described how a clear articulation of the Trinity (the Nicene Creed) became necessary as Christological heresies began to spread. These segments provide the foundation for all subsequent chapters.

            The remainder of the book concentrates on how the concept of the Trinity permeates–as well as illuminates–other Bible doctrines. Topics include the Triune God in relation to creation, the Triune God within Himself, the nature of the Triune God, the attributes of the Triune God, the roles of the Triune God, the Triune God's relationship to His creation, and the Triune God's work of providence and human freedom.

            Recognizing that his study proposed nothing new about the Trinity (p. 329), Coppedge's aim was to educate readers as to just how prolific the doctrine is. Many scholars and laypeople alike assume that Trinitarian passages in the Bible are few are far between, but the author unequivocally exposed this fallacy. The sentiment is no longer sustainable when one considers the biblical evidence. In fact, every act of God (such as creation, redemption, and sanctification) is trinitarian (p. 126).

            Further, Coppedge emphasized the need for a balanced approach to the doctrine of the Trinity. On the one hand, one must avoid the danger of "tritheism," which treats the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three gods rather than one. On the other hand, it is also erroneous to disregard the three Persons of the Godhead as modalism does. Echoing the Athanasian Creed, Coppedge declared that the statement "trinity in unity, unity in trinity" best reflects the biblical model (p. 132).

            The God Who is Triune is useful in at least five ways. First, Coppedge successfully demonstrated that the Old and New Testaments are consistent in their presentation of God as Triune. The author cited literally hundreds of biblical verses that substantiate the claim that the New Testament writers more clearly expressed–rather than invented–the concept of the Trinity, which is prevalent throughout the entire Old Testament.

            Second, the author provided a powerful apologetic for the concept of the Trinity. Numerous modern-day groups challenge the classical understanding of the Triune God

(e.g., Oneness Pentecostalism, Latter Day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses), and this text provides a strong defense of Trinitarianism that is not readily dismissed.

            Third, The God Who is Triune contains a number of helpful charts which make a significant contribution. Although it is true that mankind never will have complete mastery of the mystery of the Trinity, Coppedge through his diagrams clearly explained what God has revealed about Himself in the Bible.

            Coppedge, fourth, handled his investigation from the proper perspective. Rather than viewing his work as solely an academic exercise, Coppedge explained that a better grasp of the Trinity produces a richer, more intimate relationship with the Lord, which should be the goal of all believers.

            Finally, the author wrote  in such a way that one need not be a seminary student or a professor to benefit from it. The God Who is Triune is readable, edifying, and even enjoyable. If one is interested in learning what the Bible teaches concerning the interrelationship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, this volume will be an asset.

            In the final analysis, Coppedge has produced one of the most thorough and thoughtful studies of the Triune God to date. Since the doctrine of the Trinity is one of the most important, misunderstood, and debated Christian tenants, Coppedge's offering is timely. I highly and whole-heartedly recommend The God Who is Triune.