N. T. Wright on Paul’s Trinitarian Theology

In his lecture “The One Triune God Amidst Religious Pluralism, Clashing Kingdoms, and Prevalent Evil” delivered at the 2014 Fuller Forum, N. T. Wright, New Testament scholar and former bishop of Durham, considers Paul’s Trinitarian theology, which involves high Christology, robust monotheism, and ecclesial unity.

[@fearinghubris6796]

What a deeply learned and wonderfully crafted speech. Always in awe of Tom Wright's learning and ability to convey complex subject matter clearly, concisely and accessibly. Thank you!

[@mdiazu]

This is gold, fuller, you’ve made a great gift to the church by sharing this, hope it comes many more lectures from N T Wright

[@dagwould]

NTW makes theology as exciting as it should be. Alas, few ministers, preachers (teachers), and even theologians follow his example in this respect!

[@christiangadfly24]

"Some of the Stoics were better than their own theory, but that's another story..." Ok, where can I go to hear that story? I want to hear that story!

[@circleofchristchurch8360]

Her shines the beauty of Biblical Theology.

[@GerritGrobler]

Thanks!

[@kathrynwhittle4659]

Thank you In this Advent season!

[@shiningbright3925]

❤️❤️❤️ U NT Wright 👍👍👍🙏 Praise God

[@scottmercer86]

This is brilliant!!

[@aletheiaquest]

What an amazing and eye-opening message. Well done!

[@rosmarisanz]

Gracias

[@simonskinner1450]

Paul wrote Romans in a format of 1-4 God the Father, 5-8 Jesus the Son, and 9-16 the Holy Spirit. Grace of the Father, grace of the Son, and grace of the true believer.

[@toddstevens9667]

Not exactly … lol … but maybe kinda sorta

[@raymonddscott4711]

I appreciate Tom's emphasis that there is only one God, the Creator, and for us, one Lord, Jesus Christ. As Moses was the prophet/leader of the Exodus, so Jesus is the prophet/leader of the Church. Tom is a great teacher. God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world unto himself.

[@MichaelTheophilus906]

Rom 15.6, Rom 16.27, I Cor 15.6, II Cor 1.3, II Cor 16.27, Eph 1.17, I Tim 2.5 This is the theology of the Apostle Paul.

[@ziontheelder1697]

17:20 Paul's Christology Isa. 45:23 explosive Isa. 40-55 the return But how? Through the person and work of Messiah. Col. 1 & 2 - time 19:12 22:53 - Phlpp. Work out their own salvation. 24:15 Phlpp. 2 & Isa. 45 & 1 Cor. 8:6 Shema. 25:01 31:34 - Shema Greek Jesus is Lord. 34:35 - Paul's use of the phrase Son of God Gal. 4:11 45:50 50:35 - High Christology

[@Tybourne1991]

Excellent insights as always. But why say 'Y_h_w_' since it offends our Jewish brothers and sisters? Surely we could replace it with 'LORD'.

[@arliegage1380]

God the FATHER..SON ..and HOLY GHOST = ONE🎉Jesus said: I and my Father are ONE!!!

[@Eagel999]

To N T Wright: THE TRINITY WAS THERE IN THE OLD TEASTAMENT. The ONE GOD, is in opposition to the pagan practice of many gods, hence the commandement, you should have no other gods.... The name ELOHIM is plural. THE SPIRIT OF GOD was fluttering on waters at the creation. Then the SON OF GOD was present with the three angels who visited Ibrahim,remaining for him to interceed on behalf of the belivers in request of forgiveness. So Ibrahim recognised the SON OF GOD, his power to forgive and power to execute judgement. He appeared to Jacob, as a link between heaven and earth, faught him later with a blessing. The SON OF GOD was present with Danial in the den and between the fire with his three friends. The list goes on. Culminating in the words of John, no one ever seen GOD. THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, who is in the bosom of THE FATHER revealed it all.

[@aioniansage6081]

Paul's Trinitarian Theology ? 1Cor.8:6; Eph. 4:6.

[@ken440]

Exactly our Sage friend. And 1Tim2:5. "there is ONE God, and ONE mediator between God and man, the MAN Jesus anointed" And in John where Jesus prays "....that they (believing people) might be 'one' in them as they father and son are one." This implies by the trinity concept where they claim "the father and son are one" that we humans will all be equal to God as well, so instead of a trinity there will be a "millionsinity." (and if christians really do go to heaven at death and are glorified with Christ as Paul says risen christians will be, then there is already no trinity but the counter would be ticking hourly to the total of that millionsinity.... So obviously that one also nullifies the heaven at death belief as well )

[@hans.stein.]

@@ken440 The Son of Man is the coming one. He shall be with mankind. They shall inherit the earth. (That is the Kingdom of Heavens. See Daniel, ch.2)

[@timisa58]

I continue to have the same question...why doesn't the OT EVER mention the trinitarian nature of god? Why would he keep it a secret from the Jews? It should have been clear to the Jews, the OT believers and not needed someone like Paul to suddenly explain (or try) god's nature ...

[@TheFilipaze]

Have you heard of The Angel of The Lord in the OT? Also google "two powers in heaven"

[@Christfollower123]

It was in the old testament

[@arpadedes1560]

At creation you find the Creator who creates with his Word and Spirit.

[@markfuller5297]

You'll find there are patterns and motifs for us that clearly give us an understanding of God in the OT.

[@robbraun9704]

John 1:1-5 is the Jewish Apostle John’s commentary on Genesis 1:1-5. When God speaks, the Logos, then the Spirit moves and creates. Colossians 1:16-20. The Jews knew of the plurality of God as is mentioned in Gen.1:26 (Let us) as an expression of this trinitarian operation of God in the creation story. The ultimate revelation of Messiah is found in Is.52:13- Is.53 as the only perfect sacrifice for man’s sins. The sacrifice of the God/Man Messiah. No other sacrifice could bridge the chasm of sin between mortal man and God. The words of Psalms 2:7, “He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.” Interpreted in Matt 3:17 as Jesus being God’s one and only son. Also in John 3:16. Or Psalms 110:1 echoing Matt.22:44, ““‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” Again, the pluralistic way in which God refers to himself and his activity in Creation. John 14:15-21 re-echoes this trinitarian operation of God, the Father, and the Son, the Word and the Spirit, or the implementor. Also, John 16:13-15 which all echoes back to Genesis 1:1-5.

[@ziontheelder1697]

11:23 the good news Isa. 40, 52

[@julienkinsale4957]

I and My Father are One

[@melroycorrea7720]

The life and message of Jesus forced all those who believd in him to have a different idea of the Oneness of God, where his Oneness did not come from the unity of substance but primarily from the Trinity of Persons, so perfectly united in love that One who sends and the One who is sent are not two different entities but they are One having the One Spirit. This is because, the one who is sent humbles himself so fully, that God could have complete sway in Him, and then could exalt hiim on his right side, to share in His Eternal glory which was his, even before the Incarnation, the one through whom all things came to exist. This is what Wright is saying, if i get him correctly.

[@ziontheelder1697]

14:15 Christology Isa. 40, Eze. Mal. 3

[@ziontheelder1697]

32:00

[@georgekoshy4656]

Isa. Ch.42 has just 25 verses !

[@christiangadfly24]

He uses modern Greek vowels instead of Erasmean vowels and it throws me off.

[@Christfollower123]

Gen 6: 1-4 Deut 32 job 1 & 2 &38 Jude psalm 82

[@fmvalerie]

Not a comment ; an open question, to any and all trinitarians. When Jesus died, were there only two persons left in God?

[@margaretharvey5414]

No, He died in the flesh but his spirit is still alive. All three, in one in our midst

[@kylebarney3126]

I would say no. While dead, he went down to hell or the underworld, and preached to dead before coming back to life.

[@Elizabethbeach1]

You cannot answer a theological question with a mathematical equation. To understand the trinity one must think theologically, not mathematically. Mathematics is to do with numbers, theology is to do with God. The answer to your question is in the scriptures if you look for it theologically. It may not be the answer you are looking for. In the NT Jesus did not always directly answer questions; remember Jesus’s reply to Nicodemus,”you must be born again”. Or could we say in the context of your question “you must think theologically!” I hope that is helpful.

[@henriquelucastristan]

I find it hard to speak about the trinity in terms of "person" or "nature". I believe that Jesus is the embodiment of "something" about the One True God. Particular in this case, Jesus is the embodiment of the Faithful Obedient Love of God towards his good Creation. The Spirit is not a *body* at all but it's still "something" about the One God - His energizing creative self, operating in and through his redeemed body, God's people.

[@wilfredmancy]

I would think that, for the period, that manifestation of God (the father) , Jesus, didn't exist, other than in principal, in the father. Jesus, the Same as God knew/trusted his Father to reconstitute Him. God took, what sin is, the destruction of life, life sourced in himself, into himself, and offers us union with himself thru which new life comes to us. Forgiveness is the act of, the offended party, God, accepting the loss caused by the offence. The offence is, we have destroyed life in the Kingdom of God.

[@robertheder7023]

From 31:15-32:00 Wright speaking quickly, switches the words around to make his point that Jesus is also God. Wright switches the words to “there is one God, one lord…” That’s an entirely different meaning then the actual verse below. 1Cor. 1:8. “yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.” Lord means ruler or master, and is also used in the Bible to describe humans, such as Abraham. We are new creatures in Christ and are spiritually alive if we believe that Jesus is the Son of God. “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God  -  God remains in him and he in God.” The Shema is “Hear O Israel. Yahweh is God, Yahweh is one.”

[@toddstevens9667]

I think you misunderstand his point. His point is that the word used for “Lord” in reference to Jesus is the same word that the Septuagint uses for Yahweh. Therefore, he thinks that this passage works Jesus into the shema. I’m not sure he’s right about this passage, but he thinks that the “one God” and “one Lord” (referring to both God the Father and God the Son) is part of Paul’s Trinitarian theology.

[@anneviggiano3801]

Basic Jewish Monotheism. The One True God. Deuteronomy 6:4. Yahweh is Christ who, came in the flesh. A new Tabernacle. Fully flesh. Fully divine. We are now temple of the Holy Spirit as is given in Acts 2. Romans 8 if the Spirit of God is in you, you are His. The spirit of Christ. IS the Spirit of God in Genesis 1:1-3. By which Jesus (His Spirit) was in the beginning And Jesus says I AM the beginning and the end. Alpha and Omega. “ Personal expression” Jesus is God. Now in His final glorified Body. We will soon see Him as He really is.

[@DjMakinetor]

JOHN 20:28 My Lord and My Triune God JOHN 20:17 My Triune God and My Father JOHN 1:1 The word with Triune God and The Word was triune God JOHN 3:16 Triune God sent Triune God the Son

[@fredrolinners8903]

John 20:28 demonstrates Jesus is God.

[@evegershom5041]

Read John 14 where Jesus is trying to show Thomas and Philip the Father. By power and truth he demonstrated that he was the Messiah chosen of God. But Thomas still didn't get it. He finally got it at seeing the resurrected Christ and declared Jesus "my lord" and acknowledged the spirit of God in Christ "my God." Finally recognizing Jesus as Messiah son of God. Ergo my lord and my God. The gospel is a whole and interprets itself.

[@bezahmugera9671]

​@@fredrolinners8903so who was Jesus praying to?

[@pamelalc63]

Explaine why Yeshua constantly commanded NOT to eat food sacrificed to Idols!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@anneviggiano3801]

Well. God walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. Yes. One of Him. Not distant. With you. And. In you. God manifest. In the flesh. A better covenant. The Lamb. Without blemish. The second Adam. Genesis 1:1-3 The invisible Spirit made. Visible. What father would send his only son to die. To save strangers? We are the Father’s children. God could have laid down His own life. He Did that. His own Spirit. Robed in flesh. Type. OT VEIL. NT anti type. We get to the Father. Through Him.

[@setapart3452]

The Prophets and the Apostles did not teach a triune God or a Trinity. Stop lying on Paul for he did not teach a Trinity, so stop reading a Trinity out of his doctrine. The Trinity is a perfect example of confusion and nonsense. It was designed to prevent men from knowing the One true God.

[@thirdelijah]

Paul was not a trinitarian 1 Timothy 2:5 KJV - For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Ephesians 4:6 KJV - One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 1 Corinthians 8:6 KJV - But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

[@Jehaan2022]

He is one of the reasons why people are departing from their faith in the Western part of the world.

[@jaggedstarrPI]

If by "He" you mean that Bieber kid, I completely agree. Thankfully someone finally said it.

[@NotMyOwn-xd5iu]

I don’t think any early Christians where trinitarian, I think, was actually brought in by the Latin Romans during the Nicaea council. Jesus was definitely not a trinitarian, his words: I only do what I see my father doing as He does it, He alone has the words of eternal life. He causes his brothers. He said “ just as my father sent me I send you” “ do not worry about what you shall say my father will give you the words” it’s blatantly clear, if you read the words of Jesus. The trinity was created to control people.

[@naomiw357]

Paul was not a Trinitarian, he distinguished between The Lord Christ and God the Father in certain passages.

[@losingonlotto3449]

Trinitarians Distinguish the Lord Jesus and The Father, they are two different Persons, we believe that The Father and The Son and the Holy Spirit are the same essence, in other words what their isness is.

[@simonskinner1450]

The sin mongers were the Pharisees known as the lost sheep of Israel. But God did not condemn sin in the flesh, Jesus by his own sanctification mortified sin in his own sinful flesh. The Cross only changed the covenant of Moses to allow the curse of death to be pardoned, it is by judgement of our sanctification that Christ's grace be given in forgiveness, else the so-called believers go back under the law.

[@samuellundin5328]

Paul was not a Trinitarian.

[@simonskinner1450]

I may be in agreement with you. Paul revealed the mystery of God the Creator, and Jesus the high priest and judge, both being grace givers but Jesus being Holy but not divine. I have a series of Ytube videos 'Myths in so-called Christianity', and #6 is 'The Holy Trinity is not Divine'. Paul never changed anything from Abraham and Jesus is his seed made under the law.

[@timothyseals3791]

Of course Paul was a trinitarian. He said Jesus was God several times.

[@HashimWarren]

Paul said Jesus is God, and he said the Spirit is the Spirit of Christ Romans 8 "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him."

[@brucewayne9847]

I don't know of what Paul you're talking about. But the Apostle Paul definitely was. Just pay attention to the Video.

[@pekde]

God and Jesus were always separated and God somehow higher. They had some different role on greetings. Contonuously. This is what can be studied.