ISBN: | 9781783687589 |
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Imprint: | Langham Academic |
Format: | Hardback |
Dimensions (mm): | 234 x 156 x 35 |
Publication Date: | 30/09/2020 |
Pages: | 652 |
Language: | English |
God With Us and Without Us, Volumes One and Two
The Beauty and Power of Oneness in Trinity versus Absolute Oneness
God as Trinity is at the core of the mystery and otherness of the divine nature of God. It has also been a frequent barrier to those who hold to the Absolute Oneness of God. In this combined work Dr Imad Shehadeh demonstrates the inevitability of the Trinity by exposing the conflict that Absolute Oneness faced historically. Dr Shehadeh presents the beautiful logic of the Trinity and explains how the display of God’s attributes in creation derives from the self-sustaining relationships in his triune nature as Father, Spirit and Son. The book climaxes in revealing the transforming power of the Trinity when applied to life.
Followers of Christ will find their worship and love of God enhanced through the rich truths this book contains; followers of Islam will find confusion about the Triune God cleared up removing stumbling blocks to understanding the Bible’s message.
Endorsements
The appeal of this work to the believer in Oneness in Trinity is to cease from viewing the Trinity as a problem to be solved. This is a call to see the Trinity as a beauty to be continually discovered and enjoyed.
Ida Glaser, PhD
The Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies, Oxford, UK
What distinguishes this work is that it exposes the predicament of nontrinitarian systems. It also reveals the beauty and power of Trinity that leads to a deeper worship of the true God.
Tony Maalouf, PhD
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Texas, USA
This work confirms that, without knowing God’s Trinitarian nature, there is no true knowledge of God. I highly recommend this great work.
Wageeh Mikhail, PhD
Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt
My worship and understanding of the Trinity are greatly enhanced by this experienced, thoughtful and studied expression.
Ramesh Richard, ThD, PhD
Ramesh Richard Evangelism and Church Health (RREACH)
The best work to date on the doctrine of Trinity.
Joseph Shao, PhD
Biblical Seminary of the Philippines, Valenzuela City, Philippines
No theologian of our generation has done more to advance such essential and true theology than this work by Dr Imad Shehadeh.
Rev John Barnett, DMin
Founder, Discover the Book Ministries
This work deserves to be a model for influential theological research in its surroundings. Indeed, according to the author’s introductory word, it is “a journey of reflection and discovery of the true and eternal nature of God.”
Milad Dagher, PhD
Director,
Christian Alliance Institute of Theology, Beirut, Lebanon
Imad Shehadeh has written an excellent primer on perhaps the most misunderstood teaching of the Christian faith – the biblical doctrine of the Trinity. For non-Christians, this book will usher them to the wondrous beauty and power of the triune vision of God that is the beating heart of the Christian faith.
Duane Litfin, PhD
President Emeritus,
Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, USA
Table of Contents
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Biblical Passages Studied
- List of Figures
- List of Figures
- Foreword
- Introduction: Passion for the Trinity
- The Appeal of This Book
- How to Benefit from This Book
- Part 1: Oneness in Trinity versus Absolute Oneness
- Readiness to Receive God’s Revelation of Himself
- The Fountain of All Thought about God Is the Bible
- The Christian Message Begins with the Gospel
- The Doctrine of the Trinity Is Not Confined to the Word “Trinity”
- The Finite Cannot See All of the Infinite
- What Is Necessary Is Often Unseen
- The Trinity Is Not a Problem to Be Solved
- There Is Need for Depth behind Simplicity
- Freedom from Confining Thinking about God’s Oneness
- Theological Preparation in the Progress of Revelation
- There Is Need for the Proper Use of Reason
- Knowing God Comes from a Pure Heart
- Only by Accepting the True God Can There Be Life Transformation
- Conclusion
- The Various Concepts of the Oneness of God
- Introduction
- God in Absolute Oneness
- God in Oneness in Trinity
- The Differences between Oneness in Trinity and Absolute Oneness
- The Various Uses of the Expression “God”
- Introduction
- “God” Pointing to the One and Only God
- “God” Pointing to the Father
- “God” Pointing to the Divine Nature
- Summary
- Avoiding Common Errors about the Trinity
- Introduction
- Understanding the Use of “Person” in the Trinity
- Understanding the Distinction between the Persons
- Understanding the Unity of Christ’s Two Natures
- Attention to Precision in Expression
- Avoiding Exaggeration in the Use of Illustrations
- Conclusion on Avoiding Common Errors about the Trinity
- Is It the Same God?
- Introduction
- The Early Use of the Expression “Allah”
- The Common Root in Semitic Languages
- The Use of “Allah” by Arab Christians Today
- Dealing with the Difficulty of the Question
- The Giant Leap
- Appeal to Believers and Non-Believers
- The Historical Conflict of Absolute Oneness
- Introduction
- Defining the Conflict
- Classification of the Attributes
- The Conflict Regarding the Attributes of Action
- The Conflict Regarding the Attributes of Essence
- Summary and Conclusion
- The Answer of Oneness in Trinity
- Introduction
- The Answer to the Inevitable Question
- The Answer in Regard to the Attributes of Action
- The Answer in Regard to the Attributes of Essence
- Two Parallel Lines
- Appeal to Believers and Non-Believers
- Consistency of the Trinity with Logic
- Introduction
- The Eternal Existence of God Is in Harmony with the Eternal Activity of His Attributes
- The Eternal Activity of God’s Attributes Presupposes a Relationship between Persons
- The Relationship Is Protected by Threeness of Persons
- The Threeness of Persons Is Guaranteed Perfection through Oneness
- Summary and Conclusion
- Part 2: The Beauty and Power of Oneness in Trinity
- The Difference between Old Testament Oneness and Absolute Oneness
- Introduction
- God’s Desire to Be Known
- God’s Trustworthiness
- God’s Initiative to Save Human Beings from Their Fallen Condition
- The Nature of the Activity of God’s Attribute
- God’s Activity With Us Stemming from His Activity Without Us
- God’s Revelation of Plurality within His Oneness
- Conclusion
- The Activity of the Attributes of God Without Us
- Introduction
- The Reality of the Activity of God’s Attributes Without Us
- Classification of the Attributes of God
- Eight Themes of the Activity of God’s Attributes Without Us
- Conclusion
- The Activity of the Attributes of God With Us
- Introduction
- The Reality of God’s Attributes With Us
- Eight Themes of the Activity of God’s Attributes With Us
- Conclusion
- The Significance of the Name “Father” and the Name “Son”
- Introduction
- The Importance of Names in the Bible
- Sonship in God Is Superior to Human Sonship
- Sonship in God Is the Source of Human Sonship
- Eternal Generation or Eternal Sonship?
- Introduction
- Support for Eternal Generation
- Other Difficulties with Eternal Generation
- Conclusion
- The Significance of the Name “Holy Spirit”
- The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
- The Holy Spirit in the New Testament
- Synthesis: The Significance of the Name “Holy Spirit”
- The Procession of the Holy Spirit: Single or Double?
- Introduction
- Historical Background
- Arguments for Single Procession
- Arguments for Double Procession
- Another Biblical Look at the Procession of the Holy Spirit
- Summary and Conclusion
- The Manifestation of the Trinity in Christ’s Submission to God
- Introduction
- General Principles Related to God Without Us
- General Principles Related to God With Us
- Special Cases
- Conclusion on the Submission of Christ to God
- The Purpose of God in Coming to Us in the Flesh
- Introduction
- The Reality of Absolute Beginning
- God’s Relational Nature
- God’s Resulting Creation
- God’s Continual Light
- God’s Genuine Invitation
- The Earned Sonship to God
- God’s Humble Work
- God’s Rich Grace
- The Promised Vision of God
- Conclusion on John’s Prologue
- The Humility of God in Coming to Us in the Flesh
- Introduction
- The Reason for Adopting the Thinking of Christ
- The Method of Communicating the Humility of God
- Christ’s Self-Emptying
- Summary and Conclusion
- The Life-Transforming Power of the Trinity
- Introduction
- The Life-Transforming Power of the Trinity in Humanity’s Relationship to God
- The Life-Transforming Power of the Trinity in Humanity’s Relationship to Their Fellow Human Beings
- The Power behind the Life-Transforming Power of the Trinity
- Appendixes
- Bibliography
- Arabic Sources
- Sources in English, French and German
- Complete Scripture Index