Father, Son and Spirit: The Trinity and John's Gospel, By Andreas J. Köstenberger and Scott R. Swain
Father, Son and Spirit
Paperback
  • Length: 224 pages
  • Dimensions: 5.5 × 8.5 in
  • Published: May 15, 2008
  • Imprint: IVP Academic
  • ISBN: 9780830826254
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From the patristic period until today, John's Gospel has served as a major source for the church's knowledge, doctrine and worship of the triune God. Among all New Testament documents the Fourth Gospel provides not only the most raw material for the doctrine of the Trinity, but also the most highly developed patterns of reflection on this material—particularly patterns that seek to account in some way for the distinct personhood and divinity of Father, Son and Spirit without compromising theunity of God. While there have been recent, fine studies on aspects of John's doctrine of God, it is surprising that none summarizes and synthasizes what John has to say about God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In order to fill this gap, Köstenberger and Swain offer a fresh examination of John's trinitarian vision in this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume.Part One situates John's trinitarian teaching within the context of Second Temple Jewish monotheism. Part Two examines the Gospel narrative in order to trace the characterization of God as Father, Son and Spirit, followed by a brief synthesis. Part Three deals more fully with major trinitarian themes in the Fourth Gospel, including its account of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, andmission. A final chapter discusses the significance of John's Gospel for the church's doctrine of the Trinity, and a brief conclusion summarizes some practical implications.Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studiesin Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.

CONTENTS

Series preface
Authors' preface
Abbreviations
Introduction: John's Gospel and the church's doctrine of the Trinity
Part I: Historical Context
1. John's Gospel and Jewish Monotheism
Part II: Biblical Foundations
2. God in John's Gospel
3. The Father in John's Gospel
4. The Son in John's Gospel
5. The Spirit in John's Gospel
6. Father, Son and Spirit in John's Gospel
Part III: Theological Reflections
7. Christology in John's trinitarian perspective: Jesus' filial identity
8. The Spirit who rests and remains on God's Son and his brothers
9. 'As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you': Toward a Trinitarian mission theology
10. The Trinity and John's Gospel
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index of authors
Index of Scripture references
Index of ancient sources

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Andreas J. Köstenberger

Andreas J. Köstenberger is research professor of New Testament and biblical theology and director of the Center for Biblical Studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri.

Scott R. Swain

Scott R. Swain is assistant professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary.

D. A. Carson

D. A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.