Classical Trinitarian Theology: A Textbook

Description

Classical Trinitarian Theology for Seminary Students is a textbook on patristic Trinitarian doctrines. Part I introduces classical Trinitarian theology with the help of short discussion, definitions, and comparisons. It is designed for incoming seminary students, who have never formally studied theology. Part II is for intermediate students. It comments on three charts, which attempt to depict graphically the patristic search for Christian Trinitarian theology. This section is geared towards seminary students who have already studied for a few years and would like to revisit the classical doctrine of the Trinity at a more advanced level, but who are not really ready for engaging primary texts independently, whether in Greek, Latin, or English. Part III is composed for advanced students who enjoy tackling primary texts. It provides a list of some important Greek or Latin primary texts and the accessible translations in English

Tarmo Toom is Associate Professor, Latin Patristic Studies, at the Catholic University of America

'Tarmo Toom knows the Trinitarian landscape, and he knows how to familiarize others with the terrain. Classical Trinitarian Theology provides a methodology for both teaching and learning ... The structure encourages beginning students, more advanced inquirers, and scholars to engage the materials at their own level and to progress at their own pace. Toom has combined fine scholarship with fine pedagogy.' - Rebecca H. Weaver, John Q. Dickinson Professor of Church History, Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education, Richmond, VA "There is every reason to expect that Toom's work will be widely used as a textbook, and deservedly so - its scope is wide, its grasp of detail outstanding, and it compresses its vast subject into a mere 192 pages." - Theology "...Tarmo Toom offers an excellent summary of Trinitarian doctrine up to Augustine and the Cappadocian Fathers. Although it is an almost impossible task to expound the Trinity at a basic level without simplifying and distorting the subject, Toom has managed both to explain some very difficult material succinctly while retaining enough complexity to ensure that students are challenged to read further. To help them full bibliographies of primary and secondary material are offered in Part Three...relatively user-friendly...Also impressive is Toom's command of judiciously chosen primary sources, as well as important secondary texts. This book will help students relate modern to early doctrine....overall, this is a very helpful book..." Expository Times, November 2009