Theologial Term of the Week: Person

person
The three of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; “a subsisting relation, distinguished from another person by his eternal relations of origin alone (paternity, filiation, spiration). A divine person ‘is nothing but the divine essense subsisting in an especial manner’ (John Owen).” 1

• From the Belgic Confession, Article 8, The Trinity: 

  In keeping with this truth and Word of God we believe in one God, who is one single essence, in whom there are three persons, really, truly, and eternally distinct according to their incommunicable properties— namely, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is the cause, origin, and source of all things, visible as well as invisible. The Son is the Word, the Wisdom, and the image of the Father. The Holy Spirit is the eternal power and might, proceeding from the Father and the Son. Nevertheless, this distinction does not divide God into three, since Scripture teaches us that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit each has his own subsistence distinguished by characteristics—yet in such a way that these three persons are only one God. It is evident then that the Father is not the Son and that the Son is not the Father, and that likewise the Holy Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son.

• From Systematic Theology by Robert Letham, page 945:

  There has been much debate about whether person is an appropriate or adequate term for the three, in view of its modern usage, which entails separate individuals. However, no proposed alternatives have succeeded in establishing themselves, for they invariably yield a less-than-personal view of God.  

Learn more:

1. Ligonier Ministries: Three Distinct Persons
2. Sinclair Ferguson: What does it mean that the Trinity is three in person but one in essence? (video)

Related terms:

• essence
• Trinity

 1 Simply Trinity by Matthew Barrett, page 323.

Filed under Trinity

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Sunday's Hymn: Amazing Grace—How Sweet the Sound

Amazing grace—how sweet the sound—
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found—
Was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

And when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil
A life of joy and peace.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun.

—John Newton

Other hymns of worship songs for this Sunday:

• He Took My Feet From the Miry Clay at The Happy Wonderer 

Theological Term of the Week: Perichoresis

perichoresis 
A term (from the Greek) used to express the intimate union of the three persons in the Trinity as they mutually indwell or interpenetrate each other in the one being of God. Also called circumincession or coinherence.

• From scripture: 

  I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17: 20-21 ESV)

  So Jesus said to them,“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” (John 5:19 ESV)

  For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-11 ESV)

• From Systematic Theology by Robert Letham, page 108:

  Athanasius and the Cappadocians brought to the forefront the idea of the full mutual indwelling of the three persons in the one being of God. Although [the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed] does not use the idea, it is entailed by all that [the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed] openly expresses. It follows from the homoousial identity of the three and the indivisible divine being. Since all three persons are fully God, and the whole God is in each of the three, the three mutually contain one another.

Learn more:

1. Kevin DeYoung: Theological Primer: Perichoresis
2. Ligonier Ministries: Perichoresis

Related terms:

• essence
• Cappadocian fathers
• Trinity

Filed under Trinity

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Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.