Chapter 3 a Trinitarian Pneumatology

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Chapter 3 A Trinitarian Pneumatology

1. INTRODUCTION

This chapter is intended to show where the liberating work of the Holy Spirit comes from and begins. Although we already discussed Molt mann's doctrine of the Trinity, we once again more specifically ex amine the trinitarian significance of the cross event. This is extremely important because of the fact that in Moltmann's theology the Spirit comes out of the cross event. Before our investigation of trinitarian pneumatology begins, it might be helpful to trace the development of Moltmann's view on it. In his Theology of Hope, Moltmann considers the Spirit as the driving force to bring an eschatological future into the present world. At this stage the Spirit is in relation to the horizon of history. 1 Thus Molt mann does not pay much attention to the Spirit in relation to God the Father and God the Son, that is to say to trinitarian pneumatology. As Dorothee Solle pointed out,2 while maintaining in his The Crucified God that even the event of the cross must be interpreted in 'trinitarian terms, ' 3 Moltmann discusses it in terms of the Father and the Son only. This is because of the fact that Moltmann's main concern is to see Jesus' death on the cross mainly in relation to the Father, though the work of the Holy Spirit is mentioned. In other words, the event of the cross is the trinitarian event between God the Father and God the Son in the Spirit.4 Nevertheless, Moltmann concentrates upon the cross event between God the Father and God the Son. This fact can also be found in Moltmann's own statements, as follows, 'However, in my book (The Crucified God) I came no further than a view of a binity consisting of God the Father and Jesus the Son of God. Where was the Holy Spirit who, according to

I. J. Moltmann, Theology ofHope, London 19786, 211-212, 224-225, 289-290. 2. She found fault with Moltmann for aiming at a trinitarian involvement of his theol ogy of the cross, and said 'Ichjedenfalls habe nichts Neues Ober den Heiligen Geist und seine Functionen herausbekommen kOnnen.' in: M. Welker (ed.), Diskussion iiber Jurgen Moltmanns Buch, 'Der gekreuzigte Gott·, Milnchen 1979, 113. Cf. G. Milller-Fahrenholz, The Kingdom and the Power, 79. 3. J. Moltmann, The Crucified God, 207,240, 246-247. 4. J. Moltmann, The Crucified God, 245-246. 66 CHAPTER3

the Nicene Creed, is together with the Father and the Son "to be both worshipped and honoured"? What role does the Spirit play in the history of Jesus with God, his Father, and the his tory of this God with Jesus, the Son? Thus it was necessary, after the trinitarian theology of the cross, to develop a pneu matology, to avoid having that theology of the cross become a binitarian theology. '5 Of course, he does mention the Spirit briefly. But the Spirit does not play an important role in the event between God the Father and God the Son. The Spirit is dealt with as an addendum. Indeed, Moltmann does not see the Spirit in the perspective of the doctrine of the Trinity until he comes to The Trinity and the Kingdom of God, and even ear lier The Church in the Power of the Spirit. In this sense Solle's obser vation is right. Nevertheless, as we pointed out in the beginning of this chapter, it is necessary to investigate the work of the Spirit in the light of God the Father and God the Son in The Crucified God, because on the one hand the Spirit comes out of the cross event between God the Father and God the Son, and on the other the Spirit also is regarded as the bond of love between God the Father and God the Son on the cross.6 Furthermore, we will investigate the Father's role in Christological pneumatology and pneumatological Christology for ascertaining Moltmann's further development of a trinitarian pneurnatology in the later work, especially The Spirit of Life, which is the clearest descrip tion on this subject in Moltmann's writings. In the course of this so, we will also consult other works by Moltmann as far as these elucidate Moltmann's view. For the purpose of this chapter, we will first investigate the trini tarian event on the cross. Second, we will discuss the origin of the Spirit. Third, we will focus on the conformity of will between God the Father and God the Son in the Spirit. Fourth, we will study the rela tionship between the Spirit and the Son in the light of God the Father, and fifth between the Spirit of God and of the Spirit of Christ. Sixth,

5. J. Moltmann, 'An Autobiographical Note' in: A.J. Conyers, God, Hope, and His tory, Georgia 1988, 213. Also, J. Moltmann, In der Geschichte des dreieinigen Got tes, 231. 6. At this stage, Moltmann remains a Western theologian in the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, because he has not expressed his personal opinion about the Filioque in favor of Eastern theology. Rather, he clings to an Augustinian and Barthian understanding of the Spirit as the bond of love between the Father and the Son. Cf. R.J. Bauckham, The Theology ofJurgen Moltmann, 154.