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Summary:

On this episode of inContext, Michael Easley welcomes Dr. Bryan Litfin for a rich and engaging conversation about the Trinity and the making of the Nicene Creed.

Dr. Litfin argues the Trinity was not invented in the fourth century; it was clarified. From the Shema in Deuteronomy to the Son of Man in Daniel, Scripture presents God’s oneness and mysterious plurality. The Old Testament shows God enthroned in heaven yet active on earth. He appears, speaks, wrestles, judges, and redeems. The New Testament does not introduce a new God; it reveals what was always true.

Easley and Litfin explore how Jesus understood Himself as the obedient Son sent by the Father. They explain how the Holy Spirit completes Trinitarian revelation through His indwelling presence. They also discuss why evangelicals are rediscovering historic creeds. Creeds do not replace Scripture; they summarize and safeguard it.

This conversation shows the Trinity is not abstract doctrine. It is the foundation of salvation. Without a Trinitarian God, there is no gospel, no incarnation, and no New Covenant fulfillment.

Takeaways:

• The church did not create the Trinity in the fourth century—it was clarified in response to controversy.
• The Old Testament reveals both God’s unity and His mysterious plurality.
• Jesus consistently understood Himself as the obedient Son sent by the Father.
• The Holy Spirit’s indwelling fulfills the promises of the New Covenant.
• Creeds summarize Scripture and guard orthodoxy without replacing the Bible.
• Without a Trinitarian Godhead, there is no incarnation, no atonement, and no salvation.

ABOUT DR. BRYAN LITFIN

Dr. Litfin received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia and a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. His undergraduate work was at the University of Tennessee in the field of Communications.

After serving for 16 years as a professor at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and 3 years as an editor and writer at Moody Publishers, Dr. Litfin came to Liberty in 2022. He is the author of four non-fiction books on the ancient church—Wisdom from the Ancients (Harvest House, 2022), After Acts (Moody, 2015), Early Christian Martyr Stories (Baker, 2014), and Getting To Know the Church Fathers (Brazos, 2007, 2016)—and six novels (The Chiveis Trilogy and the Constantine’s Empire trilogy), as well as several scholarly articles and essays.

Dr. Litfin is married to Carolyn and they have two adult children. He enjoys writing, European travel, hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and being involved in his local church.

Links Mentioned:

More about Dr. Litfin

The Story of The Trinity by Dr. Bryan Litfin

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