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Copyright © 2010 Keith Wesley Goad All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. TRINITARIAN GRAMMARS: A COMPARISON OF GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS AND SOME CONTEMPORARY MODELS ________________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary __________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________________ by Keith Wesley Goad December 2010 APPROVAL SHEET TRINITARIAN GRAMMARS: A COMPARISON OF GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS AND SOME CONTEMPORARY MODELS Keith Wesley Goad Read and Approved by: __________________________________________ Stephen J. Wellum (Chair) __________________________________________ Michael A. G. Haykin __________________________________________ Gregg Allison Date_______________________________ To Lisa My beautiful wife TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . vii PREFACE . ix Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION . 1 Back to Tradition . 3 New Eastern Emphasis . 7 Thesis . 8 Why Gregory of Nazianzus? . 9 Chapter Summaries . 15 Translations . 16 2. GREGORY THE GRAMMATICAL THEOLOGIAN . 18 *UHJRU\¶V8VHRI6FULSWXUHDVD*UDPPDWLFDO7KHRORJLDQ *UHJRU\¶V*UDPPDUIRUWKH.QRZOHGJHRI*RG Conclusion . 65 *5(*25<¶6*5$00$5)257+(75,1,7< Paradox and Polemics. 70 Safeguarding the Three . 90 Safeguarding Monotheism . 111 iv Chapter Page Conclusion . 167 4. EAST AND WEST COMPARED . 169 Proposals for East and West Division . 170 Similar in Method . 180 Similar in Person-Essence Grammars . 188 $XJXVWLQH¶V8VHRI*UHJRU\ . 198 Conclusion . 200 5. ECONOMIC AND IMMANENT AS IDENTICAL OR REFLECTIVE: 5$+1(5¶658/($1' *5(*25<¶6*5$00$5 . 202 God the Creator . 203 God the Savior . 205 5DKQHU¶V5XOH. 206 God the Revealer . 209 Economic and Immanent: Identical or Reflective . 214 Trinitarian Distinctions . 216 Creator-Creature Distinctions . 221 The Proper Use of Philosophy . 226 Conclusion . 228 3/$17,1*$¶66,03/,&,7<%(,1*$1'3(5621 A DISCREPANCY IN DEFINITION. 230 Standards for Orthodoxy . 232 Primary-Secondary-Substance . 233 Homoousios . 236 v Chapter Page Problems with Simplicity . 239 Personal Properties . 243 Historical Analysis . 245 Methodological Analysis . 249 Theological Analysis . 253 Conclusion . 261 7. CONTEMPORAY SUBORDINATIONIST AND EQUIVALENCE MODELS: TAMPERING WITH THE TRINITY . 263 Eternal Subordinationists . 265 Equivalence Models . 274 Analysis of the Contemporary Similarities . 283 Analysis of the Contemporary Differences . 293 Conclusion . 298 8. CONCLUSION . 300 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 307 vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AGP Archiv für Geschichte der Philosophie ANF The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. A Roberts and J. Donaldson (Buffalo: Christian Literature, 1885-96; reprint, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1999) ATR Anglican Theological Review AugStud Augustinian Studies CTJ Calvin Theological Journal CD Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics, ed. G. W. Bromiley and T. F. Torrence (London: T&T Clark, 1975) CH Church History EJT European Journal of Theology FP Faith and Philosophy GNO Gregorii Nysseni Opera, ed. and trans. W. Jaeger (Leiden: Brill, 2000) GOTR Greek Orthodox Theological Review HeyJ Heythrop Journal HTR Harvard Theological Review IJST International Journal of Systematic Theology ITQ Irish Theological Quarterly JECS Journal of Early Christian Studies JR Journal of Religion JETS Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society vii JTS Journal of Theological Studies MT Modern Theology NPNF2 A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, Second Series, ed. P. Schaff (New York: Christian Literature, 1887- 94; reprint, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1999) PhilC Philosophia Christi PG Patrologia Graeca (Paris: J. P. Migne, 1857-66) ProEcc Pro Ecclesia RelS Religious Studies RSR Religious Studies Review SC Sources Chrétiennes (Paris: Éditions du Cerf, 1942-) SJT Scottish Journal of Theology StudPat Studia Patristica (Louvain: Peeters, 1984-) SVTQ 6W9ODGLPLU¶V7KHRORJLFDO4XDUWHUO\ TS Theological Studies TT The Thomist TynBul Tyndale Bulletin VC Vigiliae Christianae VCS Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae WTJ Westminster Theological Journal viii PREFACE I first became interested in the study of theology while at Liberty University after reading Karl Barth. His work made me think about what I believed and how little changes in one doctrine can have significant consequences for other doctrines. This was the beginning of a life of labor seeking to interpret Scripture with Scripture and understand how the various loci of theology relate to one another. The present work represents a major step in my process of becoming a theologian. It ultimately represents a change in disposition toward theology. I used to desire to be a new, clever theologian, but now my highest value is to be faithful and clear. After studying contemporary doctrines of the Trinity and Patristic doctrines, I have concluded that there is nothing new under the sun, or at least there should not be. I have thoroughly enjoyed studying the Fathers because they have spiritually edified and challenged me in new ways. The main aspect of their work is that doctrine has the intent of changing one¶VPLQGDQGDIIHFWLRQV7KHLUGRFWULQDOGLVDJUHHPHQWV PDWWHUEHFDXVHWKH\DUHVHHNLQJWRSURWHFWWKHFKXUFK¶VVDlvation and spirituality. These two aspects are especially clear in their confessions of the Triune God. I have chosen to study the Trinity because it is the most important and defining doctrine for the church. How the church understands and confesses the Trinity affects the way she worships, lives, receives salvation, and pursues godliness. At the end of this step in my studies I can only say ZLWK$XJXVWLQHWKDW,KDYHVHHQWKHGHSWKRI*RG¶V7ULXQHQDWXUHEXW,KDYH ix not seen the bottom. I can only stand in awe and worship the Triune God who has saved me. God has greatly blessed me with help in this process. It started with my professors at Liberty University. They gave me the tools I needed to understand Scripture and evaluate doctrine according to Scripture. These skills were sharpened during my time at Southern Seminary. Stephen Wellum shaped me in many ways during my time at Southern, the most significant of which was how to understood all of Scripture as one authoritative work that provides all the components one needs for a worldview. Paul Helm, while only a visiting professor, had a large impact on me as well because his words of caution finally brought about the change that made me a faithful theologian who feared clever novelty. His friendship and willingness to read all my papers has been encouraging and helpful in my training. Michael Haykin complemented my theological studies by helping me learn how to read the Fathers well and understand their arguments in their own contexts. He has helped me see their doctrine in light of Scripture and the real spiritual significance of what they believed. These professors have walked through this process with me sharpening and correcting my thoughts along the way, and I am extremely grateful for them. I have received encouragement from my families. My church family, Third Avenue Baptist Church, has been supportive and caring through the doctoral program. I am still humbled that they called me to be their elder. The Lord used them in his providence so that I remained faithful and active in the church doing his kingdom work. My work at the church has made me think about how the doctrines I study have real significance in the church as I have grown in my desire to help the church worship the x Triune Savior more faithfully. Bruce, Dustin, Sam, Jeff, and Riley have been dear brothers during my time at seminary and I pray will be in the future. My parents, Charles and Debbie Goad, have been a constant source of wisdom, care, and provision through the process of completing the work. My father finished his MDiv while I have been working on the PhD. He has been able to encourage me and has constantly challenged me to pursue godliness above academics. My mother has been a constant encouragement because she really thinks I can do anything and she tells me such. First and foremost my wife, Lisa, with her constant love and support has kept me motivated and faithful through this process. She modeled godliness and perseverance to challenge me spiritually like no one else. She has kept our home peaceful and a place of rest. Her love and care have been my joy. She deserves more recognition than I could ever give her for the man I have become and for what I have been able to accomplish. Keith W. Goad Louisville, Kentucky December 2010 xi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The Trinity has always been the doctrine that most distinguishes Christianity from other religions and is the primary test for Orthodoxy. While being central to the confession of Christianity, both East and West traditions always taught that the doctrine was ineffable and mysterious. The doctrine could not be approached by reason alone, but only by faith seeking understanding. This explains why little was written on the Trinity during the time when Modernity held primary influence over the intellectual world. F. Schleiermacher placed the Trinity at the end of his systematic theology, setting pace for the doctrine to remain obsolete and irrelevant for many generations of theologians.1 This is due in large part to Schleiermacher following the lead of Immanuel Kant. According WR.DQW³7KHGRFWULQHRIWKH7ULQLW\WDNHQOLWHUDOO\KDVno practical relevance at all, even if