St. Gregory And Gordon Fee's Theology

The similarities and contrasts of both St. Gregory and Gordon Fee’s theology on the trinity are very interesting. Although their views are consistent, in that, the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit are one, their approach to this subject is very different.

In the book, On God and Christ, St. Gregory writes in depth about the Trinity. He emphasizes that God lacks nothing. God the Father, and Son and Holy Spirit are not unequal. However, “The Son is not the Father; there is one Father, yet he is whatever the Father is. The Spirit is not Son because he is form God; there is one only-begotten. Yet whatever the Son is, he is.”[1] He explains that they are distinct and yet whole in their singleness. In other words, the three are equal but have different properties. These properties are paternity, sonship and sanctification; each of the Godhead, with a unique characteristic.[2]

St.

Gregory was very clear and direct in his approach. When he examined the Old Testament he discovered that there is really no doubt that God was known and seen as the Father. And the references that speak of the Son are there to speak of what was to come. When Jesus was born and introduced to mankind in the New Testament, it was evident that there was a divine connection to the Father. When the Holy Spirit is spoken of by Jesus, the Son, it is also clear that a divine connection was bridged to the Father.

As Gregory expounds in his book, he explains that it is difficult to use any earthly example or formula to explain the Trinity. However, he chose to use an analogy of “Sun, beam and light” but thought there was danger in that illustration.[3] St. Gregory effectively lays out his doctrine of the Trinity from the viewpoint of “why”. From the Old to the New Testament, from the Father to the Son to the Holy Spirit, Gregory shows why the Trinity is vital to Christian

doctrine.
Gordon Fee emphasizes the mystery of “how” God could be three in one. He unfolds his thought process by using the Apostle Paul’s writings and states that the Trinity is not only probable, but is vital to a Christian’s beliefs.[4] It is also important to point out; that behind all of Paul’s theology, including the Trinity, salvation was at the core. [5] The death of Christ and his resurrection had decisively shaped Paul’s belief in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each of the Godhead had a very distinct role in that experience.
For most Christians, the doctrine of the Trinity is accepted. However, the thought process for determining one’s beliefs is rarely investigated. After all, the word “trinity” is not found in the Bible.
St Gregory beautifully provides a strong doctrinally study on the Trinity and delivers the answers of “why.” Gordon Fee, on the other hand carefully answers the questions of “How.” Both are desperately needed for a strong foundational belief in the theology of the Trinity.