Paradox and Truth
Rethinking Van Til on the Trinity
by Comparing Van Til, Plantinga, and Kuyper
by Rev. Ralph Allan Smith (1999)
DEDICATION:
This book is dedicated to Frank, a Christian businessman
who has generously and faithfully supported the ministry of our research
center for over ten years. Frank's kindness is all the more remarkable
in that he does not entirely agree with our theological position. On the
doctrine of the Trinity and its importance for the Christian life, however,
I am sure he fully concurs. Without Frank's support, this book would hardly
have been possible.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
- Relative Neglect of Van Til
- The Evangelical Worldview and the Trinity
I. Plantinga's View of the Trinity
- The Oneness/Threeness Problem
- Three Analogies of the Trinity Compared
- Interacting with Plantinga's View
II. Van Til's Doctrine of the Trinity
- Problem of Contradiction
- Question of Novelty
- Purpose of Paradox
III. Comparing Van Til with Plantinga
- Person
- Perichoresis
- One and Many
- Logic
- Worldview
IV. Kuyper, Covenant, and Worldview
- The Trinitarian Covenant in Reformed Theology
- Covenantal Language and God's Attributes
- Direction for Reformation
Appendix One: On the Trinity, Book 5, by Hilary of Poitiers
Appendix Two: Lee Irons on Van Til
Appendix Three: John Frame on Van Til's Trinitarianism
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