The Trinity

An Introduction

Scott R. Swain

WHEATON, ILLINOIS

The Trinity: An Introduction

Copyright © 2020 by Scott R. Swain

Published by Crossway

1300 Crescent Street

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law. Crossway® is a registered trademark in the United States of America.

Cover design: Jordan Singer

Cover image: From the New York Public Library, catalog ID (B-number): b14500417

First printing 2020

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-6121-4

ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-6124-5

PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-6122-1

Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-6123-8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Swain, Scott R., author. | Cole, Graham A. (Graham Arthur), 1949 editor. | Martin, Oren R., editor.

Title: The Trinity : an introduction / Scott R. Swain.

Description: Wheaton, Illinois : Crossway, 2020. | Series: Short studies in systematic theology | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020014773 (print) | LCCN 2020014774 (ebook) | ISBN 9781433561214 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9781433561221 (pdf) | ISBN 9781433561238 (mobipocket) | ISBN 9781433561245 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Trinity.

Classification: LCC BT111.3 .S945 2020 (print) | LCC BT111.3 (ebook) | DDC 231/.044—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020014773

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020014774

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

SHORT STUDIES IN SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

Edited by Graham A. Cole and Oren R. Martin

To four friends

valiant for the truth and honor

of the blessed Trinity

Aimee Byrd

Liam Goligher

Todd Pruitt

Carl Trueman

Contents

Series Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1 The Bible and the Trinity: The Basic Grammar

2 The Bible and the Trinity: Three Types of Texts

3 The Simplicity of God

4 God the Father

5 God the Son

6 God the Holy Spirit

7 The Shape of God’s Triune Work

8 The End of God’s Triune Work

Glossary

Further Reading

General Index

Scripture Index

Series Preface

The ancient Greek thinker Heraclitus reputedly said that the thinker has to listen to the essence of things. A series of theological studies dealing with the traditional topics that make up systematic theology needs to do just that. Accordingly, in these studies, theologians address the essence of a doctrine. This series thus aims to present short studies in theology that are attuned to both the Christian tradition and contemporary theology in order to equip the church to faithfully understand, love, teach, and apply what God has revealed in Scripture ...