Confessing the Trinity: Nicaea to Now

How did the Church arrive at the confession that God is Trinity? And how should Christians understand this confession today? This course argues that the patristic development of trinitarian theology is integral to understanding its meaning. We will engage with the extraordinary theological work of the fourth-century controversies, before and after the Council of Nicaea, into the fifth century, coming to understand their key terms and modes of argument. Through this, we will see how trinitarian theology intersects with biblical interpretation, ecclesiology, and spiritual practice, as well as broader socio-political currents. Overall, this course invites students into the study of the history of trinitarian theology as a means of knowing, worshipping, and loving the God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.