Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith (2012)

Why is God love? Because God is a Trinity. Why can we be saved? Because God is a Trinity. How are we able to live the Christian life? Through the Trinity. In this lively book, we find an introduction to Christianity and the Christian life that is from start to finish rooted in our triune God - Father, Son and Spirit. Not only do we understand the person and work of Christ through the Trinity, but also prayer, the church and every aspect of our faith. With wit and clarity, Reeves draws from church history down to the present referencing a wide range of notable teachers and preachers. Here is a rich and enjoyable portrayal of the basic beliefs of Christianity that opens up the profound and life-changing truths of our faith."--Publisher description.

"If even the thought of books on the Trinity scares you, this is the one I would recommend. Reeves, president of Union School of Theology in Oxford, pulls off an amazing feat, discussing the Trinity in a way that is witty, practical, and deeply informed by the orthodox tradition but without overwhelming readers in the process. There are even pictures!" (Kelly M. Kapic, Christianity Today, May 2018)
"[T]he book is an easy and pleasurable read with a down-to-earth articulation of the three-in-one God who loves and invites us into the deepest parts of his eternal love. Charming in its wit and winsome in its emotional appeal, it will motivate readers to love God more deeply and fully. I wish I had this book when I began my seminary studies. If only there were more theological treatments of the Trinity (or other Christian doctrines) written like this book, learning theology, and in a deeper sense, knowing and loving God, would be a delight." (John Cheong, Trinity Journal, Spring 2014)

I wanted to like Michael Reeves' Delighting in the Trinity. I purchased this book (Kindle version) based on the recommendation of Ken Samples from his "Straight Thinking" podcast (which I listen to regularly during my commute and highly recommend). I see eye-to-eye with Samples theologically and appreciate his conservative, erudite perspective. Coupled with the numerous positive reviews for this book both on Goodreads and Amazon, my expectations were high.

But if there's one thing I learned from reading this book it's this: I doubt I'll ever again buy another book with "Delighting" in the title. I was warned; I just didn't listen. Perhaps I've been reading too many academic books, but I found Delighting in the Trinity a bit cloying, too conversational, too touchy-feely, and maybe a little too "delightful" for the subject matter. (As I write this, I'm finding I also don't like "delight" in verb or participle form..."Delighting": it's just so...frilly. Not my cup of tea).

The following sums it up:

"First up: God's holiness. 'Oh dear!' you might sigh -- and I'd understand, for without the Trinity, holiness does have the smell of mothballs about it, the look of a Victorian matron administering castor oil. And much of what purports to be holiness has just that aura about it: all prickliness and prudery. People even say things like, 'Yes, God is loving, but he is also holy' -- as if holiness is an unloving thing, the cold side of God that stops God from being too loving. Balderdash! Poppycock! Or at least, it is if you are talking about the holiness of the Father, Son and Spirit" (p. 114).

It's not that Reeves can't be interesting, or isn't educated: not only are there numerous scripture references, but he moves freely from Aristotle to Jonathan Edwards to Schliermacher to Miroslav Volf, a Croatian theologian. I would love to see the content completely rewritten in a more serious form.

Samples -- who says his goal is to read for 4 hours a day (and I believe him) -- says that Reeves' book is the best on the Trinity outside of Augustine's De Trinitate. If that is the case, a few theologians need to get to work. ( )

Excelente! ( )

Mixed feelings about this book. Firstly, it is a short, easy read. The author explains why the doctrine of the Trinity is central to Christian life and practice. He focuses on the fact that God (the Father) has been showing love eternally to the other members of the Trinity because He is three in one. If He was a single entity then there would have been no opportunity for Him to show love and therefore He would have become used to being distant, aloof and selfish. With this, the author contrasts Christianity with other faiths. I'm not sure that limiting God through this observation is helpful, but it's worth thinking about the idea.

His assessment of God and His attributes is interesting but perhaps somewhat skewed in favour of the points he wants to make. That said, I learned a lot about the Trinity some of which I had not considered before or had just accepted from reading other books.

I didn't like the graphic illustrations of all three members of the Trinity in the book. I could hardly believe it when I saw God the Father depicted in one of the pictures. I understand that these are historical drawings, but surely the second commandment applies here as well.

I also struggled with the emphasis on feelings and emotions that we should have towards God and our relationship with Him. A lot of Christian authors seem to be placing greater emphasis on the subjective and changeable and less on obedience and perseverance in the faith. This may just be my personal opinion though.

Despite being short, the book was a bit repetitive in places. I would still recommend it for those wanting to learn about the Trinity as it provides a useful perspective and is clear that the Trinity is a fundamental doctrine that we cannot be without.

( )

This is an excellent book! So often, the doctrine of the Trinity is one that only "serious" Christians give thought to. Mike Reeves, though, does a great job of explaining this beautiful doctrine with clarity and theological precision. Reeves doesn't write for mere knowledge, but he seeks to impact readers' hearts with the love of our Triune God.

One additional feature of the book that I enjoyed was his regular use of quotes from church history. I believe this is a great way to familiarize many Christians with theologians that they would not normally read.

Overall, I highly commend this book to everyone. It is written on a level that the average layperson can understand, but the depth of the content will affect even the most seasoned theologian. Get it. Read it. Love it. Love God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit more. ( )