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David James on Trinity feuding

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Every so often I revisit a little gem of a book from 1780, which encapsulates much from the trinitarian-unitarian debates in England c. 1689-1780.

There were plenty of hotheads back then too, and yet it was in some ways, because of the Enlightenment, less of a reason-hating era. So, there were many interesting, sometimes even mutually respectful arguments, and David James, a Baptist minister, had read many of them. And, he managed to do this without coming to despise any of those involved.

It’s a bit depressing how little has changed since then, except for the worse! Obfuscation and confusion abound, for many reasons, and the positions James clearly lays out are oftentimes not clearly distinguished in people’s minds. The book is a testament to plain speaking, brevity (only 102 pages!), real and not feigned modesty, and unpretentious reasoning.

Eventually, you find out what his view is. But you have to read carefully for it, and it comes towards the end. He explains his fairly simple, scriptural grounds for rejecting the other views, but he rejects those views without trashing them or those who believe them.

In a way, he thinks that these theories make less of a practical difference to the Christian life than some suppose. (pp. 72-6) And he has an interesting Appendix on worship and idolatry. (77-102) In the end, he thinks that scripture is sufficient to guide Christian worship, and that Christians should be careful in going beyond what is written. (40, 102) Like many early modern Protestants, he’s wary of appeals to mystery, the memory being fresh of Catholics appealing to mystery in defense of transubstantiation. (49, 68)

Is it a perfect book? No. For my part, I’m not persuaded by all of his arguments, and he doesn’t consider all the possible views, or all the views which are out there nowadays. Still, it’s a worthy little book, and deserves to be read. Here are some of his words from near the start of the book:

It is well known, that the doctrine of the Trinity, from the fourth century to the present time, has been the occasion of much debate and enmity among Christians.

Christians are not yet agreed whether the one God whom they worship be one person, or three persons, or neither, but one essence; whether Jesus Christ be a mere man, or Almighty God and Man united in one person; or neither, but a super-angelic spirit made flesh; whether the Holy Ghost be a distinct spirit from the Father and the Son, or a mere attribute and energy of the Father.

Perhaps the divine being has permitted these differences as a part of men’s trial; that the lazy and implicit believer might be discriminated from the serious and intelligent enquirer, and that Christians, in maintaining their several opinions of the Trinity, might have an opportunity of exercising the virtues of meekness and candor, toleration and benevolence towards each other. To accomplish this desirable end, [in this book] the several tenets of Tritheists, Sabellians, Trinitarians, Arians, and Socinians are made to pass in review before the reader. The advantage proposed from this review is the attainment of a precise and determinate idea of what the doctrine of the Trinity is in itself, as received by those who have been generally approved for their learning and soundness; and what the extremes are on either side of it. It is certain, there are many among the unlearned who are very zealous for the doctrine itself, without any specific idea of what it is; while those who have such ideas… run into the extremes… many of those who use the same orthodox terms to express the doctrine, entertain opposite notions of it.

…The great difficulty is to keep clear of these several extremes in our ideas of the Trinity. If this difficulty were perceived, in a perspicuous manner, it seemed probable to the author, it would do more towards promoting a spirit of candor and benevolence among Christians of different opinions on the subject under consideration, than a thousand pious exhortations, however just and proper, to that end. …In the apprehension of the author, it seems hardly possible for a person of an ingenious, un-bigoted, and intelligent mind, who clearly perceived the facility of erring… could seriously believe that all who were not of his persuasion were either fools, or knaves, and that, without doubt, they should perish everlastingly.

The controversy relating to the Trinity is become very voluminous. …the truth of God needs not passionate invectives and malignant reproaches for its support and defense. The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. The end of the commandment is charity. Every man is to examine and judge in the best manner he can for himself, as every man is to stand or fall to his own master. “The lowest understanding,” (to use the words of Dr. Dodderidge) “the meanest education, the most contemptible abilities, may suffice to give hard names, and to pronounce severe censures; a harsh anathema may be learnt by heart, and furiously repeated by one that could scare read it, and as was in the truth the case in some ancient councils, may be signed by those that cannot write their Names.” (David James, A Short View of the Tenets of Tritheists, Sabellians, Trinitarians, Arians, and Socinians: Intended to assist plain Christians in forming a general Idea of the principal Opinions held on the Trinity, and of the Difficulties attending them, and to promote Candour and Charity among those who differ in their Apprehensions of that Subject, pp. 5-11, bold added)

How’s that for a title? 😉

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8 thoughts on “David James on Trinity feuding”

  1. Great discussion. I grew up with Santa Claus, and the Easter bunny… and the tooth fairy come to think of it.
    Glad to be reasoning better now, and trying to be nice about it!

  2. Pingback: books 25% off (Dale) » trinities

  3. Hi Dale
    Sorry to be a little sloppy there!
    I guess that what I was assuming that no self-consistent theory of the Trinity is consistent with two points
    (i) That the one God of the O.T. and the N.T.is the same person or ‘self’ as the Father
    (ii) That the Father is someone other than Jesus
    There are those who disagree – but they resort to incredible (literally) gymnastics to make their points.
    As aye
    John

  4. “logically inconsistent”

    It depends. If the formula can’t be understood, they can’t be understood to be inconsistent. And many Christian philosophers have suggested ways to understand the formula which are, arguably, self-consistent. The real rub, I think, comes in whether or not any such doctrine is in, or is supportable by the Bible.

    I wouldn’t be completely hostile to mystery-talk; Paul uses it a lot in sense (i) above.

    Thanks for the comments, John!

  5. Hi Dale
    You mentioned in an earlier blog that you were working on a paper on the subject of ‘Mystery”

    As you stated in your previous writings
    A mystery is said to be
    (i) A precious truth which has been hidden
    (ii)Something un-intelligible
    (iii)Something that cannot be understood

    Such matters are said to be contained in the
    “inspired” scriptures -but not clearly understood.

    The concept of “Father Christmas” is NOT a mystery – He is a product of human imagination.

    The Doctrine of the Trinity is NOT a mystery since it is a product of human reason and speculation
    (i) It is not in the scriptures
    (ii)It is logically inconsistant

    For these reasons one cannot accuse a person who cannot believe in the Doctrine of the Trinity of ‘lacking in faith’ (any more than one would accuse a person of refusing to believe in Father Christmas of the same lack of faith)

    The ‘Mystery’ is that something which cannot be grasped is central to orthodox Christian beliefs.

    Every Blessing
    John

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