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The Father's Spirit of Sonship: Reconceiving the Trinity
This book attempts to reconceive the Trinity. Its thesis is that the Father begets the Son in or by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit proceeds from the Father as the one in whom the Son in begotten. While some contemporary authors have proposed a similar view, no-one has done so in such a complete and systematic fashion.
Reconceiving the Trinity in this way has a number of advantages. Firstly, it is more in keeping with the New Testament proclamation, and thus it more closely aligns the economic and immanent Trinity. Secondly, it overcomes the inadequacies of traditional trinitarian formulations, in both Eastern and Western Churches, which incorporate erroneous philosophical presuppositions. Thirdly, it offers a resolution to the filioque controversy, which may be acceptable to both the Latin and the Orthodox Churches. This book is, therefore, highly ecumenical in importance. Fourthly, it gives a more active and essential role to the Holy Spirit within the immanent Trinity, something that has been lacking throughout the trinitarian tradition. The true subjectivity or personality of the Holy Spirit is more clearly defined.
Reconceiving the Trinity in this way has a number of advantages. Firstly, it is more in keeping with the New Testament proclamation, and thus it more closely aligns the economic and immanent Trinity. Secondly, it overcomes the inadequacies of traditional trinitarian formulations, in both Eastern and Western Churches, which incorporate erroneous philosophical presuppositions. Thirdly, it offers a resolution to the filioque controversy, which may be acceptable to both the Latin and the Orthodox Churches. This book is, therefore, highly ecumenical in importance. Fourthly, it gives a more active and essential role to the Holy Spirit within the immanent Trinity, something that has been lacking throughout the trinitarian tradition. The true subjectivity or personality of the Holy Spirit is more clearly defined.
- GenresTheology
158 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1995
21 people want to read
About the author
Thomas G. Weinandy
25 books17 followersThomas G. Weinandy was born January 12, 1946, in Delphos, Ohio. He entered the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin in 1966, was solemnly professed in 1970, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1972.
He earned a B.A. in Philosophy at St. Fidelis College, Herman, Pennsylvania in 1969, an M.A. in Systematic Theology at Washington Theological Union in 1972, and a Doctorate in Historical Theology at King’s College, University of London, in 1975.
Father Weinandy’s major fields of specialty are History of Christology, especially Patristic, Medieval and Contemporary, History of Trinitarian Theology, History of Soteriology, and Philosophical Notions of God.
He has held academic positions at Georgetown University, Mount St. Mary’s College, Emmitsburg, Maryland, Franciscan University of Steubenville, and Loyola College, Baltimore. Father Weinandy has served at the University of Oxford since 1991. He is the Warden of Greyfriars and tutor and lecturer in History and Doctrine in the Faculty of Theology. He was Chairman of the Faculty of Theology from 1997 to 1999. He also administers the Greyfriars Year Abroad Program.
Father Weinandy is a member of the Catholic Theological Society of America, the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, the Catholic Theological Society of Great Britain, the North American Patristics Society, and the Association Internationale D’Etudes Patristiques.
His books include Does God Change? The Word’s Becoming in the Incarnation, which has been translated into Romanian; In the Likeness of Sinful Flesh: An Essay on the Humanity of Christ; The Father’s Spirit of Sonship: Reconceiving the Trinity; Does God Suffer, which has been translated into Polish; The Lord Jesus Christ: An Introduction to Christology and Soteriology; Jesus the Christ; Receiving the Promise: The Spirit’s Work of Conversion; Be Reconciled to God: A Family Guide to Confession; and Sacrament of Mercy: A Spiritual and Practical Guide to Confession.
Father Weinandy has published scholarly articles in such journals as The Thomist, New Blackfriars, Communio, First Things, Pro Ecclesia, Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture, and the International Journal of Systematic Theology. His popular articles include those written for New Covenant, National Catholic Register, Pastoral Life, Canadian Catholic Review, New Oxford Review, the Arlington Catholic Herald, and The Family.
He earned a B.A. in Philosophy at St. Fidelis College, Herman, Pennsylvania in 1969, an M.A. in Systematic Theology at Washington Theological Union in 1972, and a Doctorate in Historical Theology at King’s College, University of London, in 1975.
Father Weinandy’s major fields of specialty are History of Christology, especially Patristic, Medieval and Contemporary, History of Trinitarian Theology, History of Soteriology, and Philosophical Notions of God.
He has held academic positions at Georgetown University, Mount St. Mary’s College, Emmitsburg, Maryland, Franciscan University of Steubenville, and Loyola College, Baltimore. Father Weinandy has served at the University of Oxford since 1991. He is the Warden of Greyfriars and tutor and lecturer in History and Doctrine in the Faculty of Theology. He was Chairman of the Faculty of Theology from 1997 to 1999. He also administers the Greyfriars Year Abroad Program.
Father Weinandy is a member of the Catholic Theological Society of America, the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, the Catholic Theological Society of Great Britain, the North American Patristics Society, and the Association Internationale D’Etudes Patristiques.
His books include Does God Change? The Word’s Becoming in the Incarnation, which has been translated into Romanian; In the Likeness of Sinful Flesh: An Essay on the Humanity of Christ; The Father’s Spirit of Sonship: Reconceiving the Trinity; Does God Suffer, which has been translated into Polish; The Lord Jesus Christ: An Introduction to Christology and Soteriology; Jesus the Christ; Receiving the Promise: The Spirit’s Work of Conversion; Be Reconciled to God: A Family Guide to Confession; and Sacrament of Mercy: A Spiritual and Practical Guide to Confession.
Father Weinandy has published scholarly articles in such journals as The Thomist, New Blackfriars, Communio, First Things, Pro Ecclesia, Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture, and the International Journal of Systematic Theology. His popular articles include those written for New Covenant, National Catholic Register, Pastoral Life, Canadian Catholic Review, New Oxford Review, the Arlington Catholic Herald, and The Family.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 20, 2012
This is a reasonably short book with a single point. Because of the evidence of the Spirit's role in fashioning Jesus as the Son(in birth, ministry and resurrection), and because of the Spirit's role in fashioning believers as Sons, the Spirit's role in the immanent Trinity should be seen as the one in whom the Father begets the son. The begetting of the Son and the procession of the Spirit are different but inseperable. Weinandy goes a little further to say that the Spirit 'persons' the Father by fashioning the Son, and 'persons' the Son by being the love with which the Son loves the Father.
Weinandy reckons his conception provides a way through the filoque debate. I like the thesis, but I'm not sure the debate will end.
The only downfall of the book is its length. If you are convinced of his thesis, it is too long. If you are unconvinced, it will probably be too short. Take a look at David Hohne's 'Spirit and Sonship'
Weinandy reckons his conception provides a way through the filoque debate. I like the thesis, but I'm not sure the debate will end.
The only downfall of the book is its length. If you are convinced of his thesis, it is too long. If you are unconvinced, it will probably be too short. Take a look at David Hohne's 'Spirit and Sonship'
February 15, 2021
A great overview to anyone looking to find a start to the conversation on the Trinity (relationships of Father, Son & Spirit and within history)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews