"The Trinity in the revelation of God points back to the Trinity in His existence.
This revelation did not happen in a single moment. It was not presented and perfected in a single point of time. Rather, this revelation has a long history, spread out over the centuries. It began at the creation, continued after the fall in the promises and deeds of grace which accrued to Israel, and reached its apex in the person and work of Christ, in the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, and the establishment of the church. It maintains itself now throughout the centuries, and over against all opposition, in the ineradicable witness of Scripture and in the rock-firm confession of the church. Because the revelation has had this long history, there is progress and development also in the confession of God's triune existence. God undergoes no change, remaining always the same. But in the progress of revelation, He makes Himself always clearer and more glorious to people and to angels. As His revelation continues, our knowledge grows."
See https://www.the-highway.com/trinity_Bavinck.html
It would be interesting to do a study on "revelation" and the Modalists. How they thought "God" had made "revelations" to them. For therein, is the first three into/as one "imperfect" revelations from which Tri{3}nity was "developed".
ReplyDeleteThat would be interesting to study. I've gotten away from the early church history books, for the most part, but I would say the resources are there for doing serious investigation on that topic. And it would be a worthy study IMO.
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