South African discourse on the Triune God : some reflections

• Published in: Hervormde teologiese studies Vol. 75; no. 1; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Author: Conradie, Ernst M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pretoria AOSIS 2019; African Online Scientific Information Systems (Pty) Ltd t/a AOSIS; AOSIS (Pty) Ltd; Reformed Theological College of the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Pretoria and Society for Practical Theology in South Africa
• Subjects: Christianity; Colleges & universities; Creation; Discourse; Economic trinity; Economics; Filioque; Immanent trinity; Inter-religious dialogue; Portrayals; Public opinion; Religion; Religious aspects; Salvation; South Africa; Spirit; Theology; Trinity; South Africa; Southern Africa; Salvation; Inter-religious dialogue; Creation; Filioque; Immanent trinity; South Africa; Economic trinity; Spirit
• ISSN: 0259-9422; 2072-8050; 2072-8050
• DOI: 10.4102/hts.v75i1.5483

This contribution offers a critical rejoinder with regard to 12 articles submitted for publication in HTS Theological Studies ‘to stimulate a discussion on the Holy Trinity for the 21st century within the South African environment’. It raises the provocative question: what if these 12 articles may be regarded as a barometer for contemporary South African discourse on the Trinity – even if this is evidently (and hopefully!) not the case? It addressed five questions in this regard: (1) who are the authors that contributed articles and where are they situated? (2) Who are their conversation partners or interlocutors? (3) What issues, themes and problems have they focused on? (4) How is the public significance of the doctrine of the Trinity portrayed within the (South) African context? (5) What issues, themes and problems were not discussed? It concludes that there are crucial problems related to the economic Trinity that are, by and large, not addressed in this set of contributions.