St. Gregory And Gordon Fee's Theology

The similarities and contrasts of both St. Gregory and Gordon Fee’s theology on the trinity are very interesting. Although their views are consistent, in that, the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit are one, their approach to this subject is very different.

In the book, On God and Christ, St. Gregory writes in depth about the Trinity. He emphasizes that God lacks nothing. God the Father, and Son and Holy Spirit are not unequal. However, “The Son is not the Father; there is one Father, yet he is whatever the Father is. The Spirit is not Son because he is form God; there is one only-begotten. Yet whatever the Son is, he is.”[1] He explains that they are distinct and yet whole in their singleness. In other words, the three are equal but have different properties. These properties are paternity, sonship and sanctification; each of the Godhead, with a unique characteristic.[2]

Gregory was very clear and direct in his approach. When he examined the Old Testament he discovered that there is really no doubt that God was known and seen as the Father. And the references that speak of the Son are there to speak of what was to come. When Jesus was born and introduced to mankind in the New Testament, it was evident that there was a divine connection to the Father. When the Holy Spirit is spoken of by Jesus, the Son, it is also clear that a divine connection was bridged to the Father.

As Gregory expounds in his book, he explains that it is difficult to use any earthly example or formula to explain the Trinity. However, he chose to use an analogy of “Sun, beam and light” but thought there was danger in that illustration.[3] St. Gregory effectively lays out his doctrine of the Trinity from the viewpoint of “why”. From the Old to the New Testament, from the Father to the Son to the Holy Spirit, Gregory shows why the Trinity is vital to Christian