The Scripture-Doctrine of the Trinity

Samuel Clarke

Jan 1719 · W. Wilkins

Ratings and reviews

Samuel Clarke's 'Scripture Doctrine of the Trinity' is an excellent work, and a worthwhile read for anyone seriously interested in deepening their understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity. The author's careful reasoning and exegesis present a compelling case for a strictly scriptural understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity. Clarke also provides relevant testimonies from the ancient church fathers throughout, making this work of special interest to those with an interest in patristics and historical theology. The book is divided into three sections; in the first part, all texts pertaining to the doctrine of the Trinity in the entire New Testament are arranged by category and set before the eyes of the reader. These categorized lists draw attention to details such as the way the term 'God' is used in the scriptures, and the various relations among the persons of the Trinity. In the second section, the doctrine of the Trinity found in the scriptures cited in the previous section is presented and explained in 55 theses. This positive presentation of doctrine includes many helpful explanatory notes and testimonies from various church fathers in support of the points being made. In the third section, Clarke applied the doctrine laid out in the first two sections to the liturgy of the Church of England found in the Book of Common Prayer. In the first chapter he notes the many sections of the liturgy which agree with doctrine laid out in the preceding sections, and in the next chapter, all the places which seem to disagree with it, which he then seeks to explain in ways which are consistent of the doctrine of the previous sections. The introduction to book is also worth reading, as it explains Clarke's methodology and provides a cogent presentation of the principle of sola scriptura. Due to the age of this book, and the peculiar style and font it was printed in, it can be a somewhat challenging read, but this difficulty is is well-worth working past in order to gain the rich insights this book offers on the doctrine of the Trinity.