Friday, May 15, 2009

Trinitarian Theology After Barth

Well, that was the title of the conference I've just attended. What an excellent selection of speakers and papers, which has provoked much thought. Bruce McCormack, Paul Molnar, Murray Rae, Ivor Davidson, Hayden Nelson, Ben Myers and Ashley Moyse among others gave papers on aspects of Barth's thought in light of his Trinitarian doctrine.
As someone devoted to biblical studies, I was completely unaware of the debate between Molnar and McCormack on Barth's understanding of the trinity. The discussion is thick, and I had one of those "Eureka!" moments as I understood what the discussion amounted to. The short of it is that Barth does not have a second doctrine of the trinity (sorry Ben). I am also now thoroughly convinced that Bauckham was absolutely right to abandon ontic and functional categories in favour of a Christology of Divine Identity - See Jesus and the God of Israel for a further exploration.
Anyway, Paul Molnar will be teaching a post-grad seminar on Christology and the Trinity next week, and I've managed to sneak my way into that one, so that'll be interesting. It's good being a student again. This is the life I was meant to live...

6 comments:

andrewbourne said...

Will the papers be available at some point to be read either on the Internet or in Book form

Sean said...

According to Myk Habits the conference organiser, the papers will be published, but as of yet I have no more details than that.

K.M. Delport said...

Needless to say, I am green with envy. By the way, from my understanding, Myers and McCormack do not deny an eternal trinity. What McCormack is saying (Myers seems very similar), from my understanding, is that Barth's doctrine of election (particularly his concept of Jesus Christ as the electing God)logically (not actually) results in a priority of election over trinity. Whether you disagree or agree, its quite a provocative proposal. On different days, I feel different about it. Its possible that Col. 1: 20 might insinuate something like this, but interpretation will differ.

Sean said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
K.M. Delport said...

That's interesting, I've a read a bit of McCormack's stuff and he has never admitted or said that there was a time when the trinity was not since he seems to state emphatically that the election of Jesus Christ is an eternal decision.

Anyway, check your email...back at ya

Sean said...

Khegan, you're right. I misunderstood McCormack and so I've removed my comment and resolved to delve deeper. This issue is complex, and I can't judge something I've not read and clearly understood. My apologies.