Divine Truth or Human Tradition?: A Reconsideration of the Roman Catholic-protestant Doctrine of the Trinity in Light of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures

by Patrick Navas

In Divine Truth or Human Tradition? the author examines the viewpoints and Scripture expositions of prominent evangelical scholars and apologists; including popular author and debater Dr. James R. White (author of The Forgotten Trinity), John MacArthur (President of The Master's Seminary), Wayne Grudem (author of the widely-read Systematic Theology), Robert Bowman Jr. (author of Why You Should Believe in the Trinity), Robert Morey (Founder of California Biblical University and Seminary and author of The Trinity, Evidence and Issues), R. C. Sproul (President of Ligonier Ministries), Robert L. Reymond (author of Jesus, Divine Messiah and A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith), and others. According to what has long been considered mainstream Christian "orthodoxy," the doctrine of the Trinity (the idea that the one true God is-in the ultimate sense-a divine being made up of three co-equal and co-eternal persons) is not only central to the Christian faith, but absolutely necessary for one to accept in order to be counted as a true Christian and be saved. Such a demand on a Christian's faith has come across as strange and perplexing to many, especially so in light of the fact pointed out by one respected "[The Trinity] is not clearly or explicitly taught anywhere in Scripture, yet it is widely regarded as a central doctrine, indispensable to the Christian faith. In this regard, it goes contrary to what is virtually an axiom [that is, a given, a self-evident truth] of biblical doctrine, namely, that there is a direct correlation between the scriptural clarity of a doctrine and its cruciality to the faith and life of the church." (Millard J. Erickson, God in Three Persons, p. 11. Emphasis added) Understandably, this fact has raised questions in the minds of Christians and truth-seekers alike ever since the doctrine was first decreed as mandatory to confess in the late 4th century. Many Christians have How can a doctrine that is no

588 pages, Paperback

First published October 24, 2006

Reviews

[Sheryl Kauspedas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a bit intimidated by the title thinking this was going to be too "academic" to really enjoy, but I was wrong. It was an easier read that I anticipated. Well documented and researched, detailed and thought out...I didn't feel like Mr. Navas was pushing an idea as much as exploring some viable interpretations of biblical verses. An important work to have on one's shelf if truth in scripture is important.

[Al Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the author's position is not clearly articulated, he does do a good job at dispelling common trinitarian verse interpretations.
Overall the work is a usefull monograph of the subject, collecting a plethora of quotes and interpretations and viewpoints (on both sides of the argument). It does seem, at least at the beginning, to lack in structure. And it fails to articulate the correct dogma (or at least an alternative one), which is to be expected when one endeavors to demolish what was believed for thousands of years...